Promoting Human Resource Development by Physical Ergonomics Risk Assessment and Preventive Activities in the Wood-Processing SMEs in Latvia
In Latvia like in other countries in last years increases work related muscular skeletal disorders (WMSD) caused by ergonomics risks at the workplaces. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in wood-processing industry were chosen for the research. Such professions as sawyers, plank loaders, millers, grinders, and furniture assemblers are the most common and important ones in these enterprises; therefore, the aim of investigation was to find out how does the workload influence the workers and assess the ergonomic risks. For the ergonomic risk assessment was chosen several methods: Key indicator method (KIM) for estimation of risk hardness degree; Quick Exposure Check (QEC) for strain estimation of different body parts, NIOSH lifting equations for estimation of manual handling limits, and heart rate monitoring (HRM) was used as the objective work-load assessment method which allows to concretize energy consumption in the different work conditions (work phases). The performing of workers job requires bending and leaning body movements. Surveying workplaces of the employed we found out that discomfort in the back and neck region of the vertebral column is caused by statistic and dynamic work. HRM data shows that the work heaviness degree for workers varies from light work to hard work and depends from work intensity, work phases and human factors. Association between both physical and psychosocial exposures in the work environment was found, as well as the feeling of discomfort (pain, quivering) in different body parts for different workers profession. Assessing risk levels by KIM in the mentioned professions they can be subdivided: loaders and assemblers. the most disadvantaged risk (level IV), but millers and grinders. the smallest risk (level II). These data correspond with the quantitative energy consumption (kcal/min) determined by HRM. Work related muscular skeletal disorders are contributed by: improper lifting of heavy objects; steady body turnings or bowing postures; body vibrations; psychoemotional tensions. Therefore there is a need for ergonomics risk assessment, early workers rehabilitation, who suffers from WMSD, as well as preventive activities in ergonomics field in order to prevent mentioned problems in time.
Ergonomics SMEs Wood processing Workload Heart rate monitoring
Henrijs Kalkis Zenija Roja Irina Rezepina
University of Latvia, Faculty of Economics and Management, Latvia University of Latvia, Ergonomics R Riga Stradins University, Institute of Rehabilitation, Latvia University of Latvia, Ergonomics Resea University of Latvia, Faculty of Economics and Management, Latvia
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-5
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）