Assessing work-related body-part discomfort: Current strategies and a behaviorally oriented assessment tool

An improved musculoskeletal discomfort assessment tool

Electromyographic and discomfort analysis of confined-space shipyard welding processes.

A previous pilot study demonstrated that a force and frequency-weighted filter network could be developed for processing continuous biomechanical measures of repetitive wrist motions and exertions. The current study achieves the objective by modelling subjective discomfort for repetitive wrist flexion using controlled posture, pace and force. A three-level fractional factorial experiment was conducted involving repetitive wrist flexion (2 s/motion, 6 s/motion, 10 s/motion) from a neutral posture to a given angle (10 degrees, 28 degrees, 45 degrees) against a controlled resistance (5 N, 25 N, 50 N) using a Box Behnken design. Ten subjects participated. Discomfort was reported on a 10 cm visual analogue scale. Results of response surface regression analysis revealed that main effects of force, wrist flexion angle, and repetition were all significant (p 0.05). The continuous model was compared and agreed with discrete psychophysical data from other published studies. The model was used for generating parameters for a force and frequency-weighted digital filter that weighs continuous wrist postural signals with corresponding force in proportion to the equal discomfort function as a function of frequency of repetition. These filters will enable integration of large quantities of biomechanical data in field studies.

Agreement between a frequency-weighted filter for continuous biomechanical measurements of repetitive wrist flexion against a load and published psychophysical data

Thirty subjects drove screws into perforated sheet metal mounted on a horizontal surface using three air-powered tools that varied in shape (right-angle, in-line, and pistol-shaped). The four horizontal work locations ranged from 13–88 cm in front of the body and were placed at 25 cm intervals. The vertical placement of the horizontal beam was at midthigh, elbow, and midchest height. Subjects drove 25 screws at each tool/work location combination before rating that condition using the Borg 10-point ratio rating scale. The ratings of perceived exertion increased with increasing horizontal distance from the body. When tool shape was not considered, the perceived exertion was virtually equal for driving screws at midthigh or elbow height. The ratings at midchest height were significantly higher than elbow and midthigh height. When tool shape was taken into account, subjects perceived less exertion driving screws with the pistol-shaped tool at midthigh height. The in-line and right-angle tools had the lowest ...

Effect of tool shape and work location on perceived exertion for work on horizontal surfaces

A musculoskeletal discomfort survey was conducted to assess musculoskeletal discomforts among rural mail carriers in two post offices. Perceived musculoskeletal discomfort was collected directly from the workforce by means of a computerized discomfort assessment system (DAS). This investigation aimed at: (1)assessing the rural mail carrier's perception of DAS; and (2) assessing the rural mail carrier's musculoskeletal discomforts resulting from work. Most participants in the study found the computer tool easy to learn and easy to use. The information collected by DAS was used: (1) to determine the number of participating employees who were experiencing some kind of musculoskeletal problem; (2)to determine subtasks associated with discomfort; (3) to determine the body areas most affected by different subtasks; and (4) to investigate the patterns of discomfort that occurred with time.

Norka Saldan¯A

Papers

A computerized method for assessment of musculoskeletal discomfort in the workforce: a tool for surveillance.