scholarly journals Integrated Measurement System of Postural Angle and Electromyography Signal for Manual Materials Handling Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isa Halim ◽  
◽  
Adi Saptari ◽  
Mohd Fairil Abulais ◽  
Vinothini Padmanathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Body Posture ◽  
Microsoft Kinect ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Materials Handling ◽  
Emg Signal ◽  
Manual Materials Handling ◽  
Effort Assessment

Improper design of manual materials handling (MMH) tasks at workplace can cause musculoskeletal disorders such as muscle strain to industrial workers. To avoid these disorders, ergonomists and engineers require an integrated measurement system which allows them to study the interaction of body posture and muscle effort during performing MMH tasks. However, far too little attention has been paid to develop an integrated measurement system of body posture and muscle activity for assessing MMH tasks. The aim of this study was to develop and test a prototype of integrated system for measuring postural angles and electromyography (EMG) signals of a worker who doing MMH tasks. The Microsoft Visual Studio software, a 3D camera (Microsoft Kinect), Advancer Technologies muscle sensors and a microcontroller (NI DAQ USB-6000) were applied to develop the integrated postural angle and EMG signal measurement system. Additionally, a graphical user interface was created in the system to enable users to perform body posture and muscle effort assessment simultaneously. Based on the testing results, this study concluded that the patterns of EMG signals are depending on the postural angles which consistent with the findings of established works. Further study is required to enhance the validity, reliability and usability of the prototype so that it may facilitate ergonomists and engineers to assess work posture and muscle activity during MMH task.

A Comparison of Selected Work Muscle Strengths

1978 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 317-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.D. Herrin ◽  
W.M. Keyserling ◽  
D.B. Chaffin ◽  
T.J. Stobbe
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Classical Problem ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Materials Handling ◽  
Job Match ◽  
Modeling And Prediction ◽  
Battery Design ◽  
Manual Materials Handling ◽  
Broad Cross Section ◽  
New Hire

This paper summarizes the isometric volitional strengths measured for a broad cross-section of 1239 industrial workers. A total of 12 different postures were studied representing the variety of lifting, pushing, pulling tasks commonly encountered in manual materials handling industries. These norms should be useful to those engaged in the design of such tasks. In terms of the matching of particular workers to particular jobs, the viability of predicting gross strength capability as a function of worker height, weight, age, gender, and experience (incumbent versus new hire) is examined. The tradeoffs between job specific testing and standardized testing are discussed as they relate to the modeling and prediction of worker/job match. Finally, the classical problem of test battery design and scoring is outlined in relation to these weakly correlated multi-attribute capabilities.

scholarly journals A Study of Postural Safety and Low-Cost Electromyography (EMG) Device Towards Grocery Workers in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Mohd Azrin Mohd Said ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Posture ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Emg Signal ◽  
Lower Back

Body posture is one of the most important parts when lifting an object as it can causes injury if the wrong technique and body posture were used. A worker will injure their low back if a bad posture is not in consideration. A good body posture is recommended among workers to reduce the chance of injury while lifting and improve their postural safety. The main objectives of this study are to observe the body posture of the worker during lifting and study the comparison of using lower back support when lifting. It also investigates the muscle activity of the worker during heavy lifting using EMG and simulates the worker's movement using CATIA Software for Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) results. The selected grocery was chosen in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak with 7 male respondents are identified to undergo this study. The results show that the worker with lower back support tends to show raw EMG signal with lower muscle activity compared to without using lower back support. Thus, using belt support can reduce muscle activity by up to 67.4% compare to not wearing back support. Raw EMG signals also show 3010 amplitude (mV) muscle activity if postural safety of the workers improved by following the NIOSH lifting Recommendations.

Relationship between Lifting Capacity and Injury in Occupations Requiring Lifting

1978 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 469-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mital ◽  
M. M. Ayoub ◽  
S. S. Asfour ◽  
N. J. Bethea
Keyword(s):  
Work Rate ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Important Work ◽  
Single Measure ◽  
Materials Handling ◽  
Manual Materials Handling ◽  
Lifting Capacity ◽  
Physiological Approach ◽  
Task Variables

There are several factors which affect the lifting capacity. These factors can be categorized under the following: 1. individual characteristics, 2. task variables, and 3. environmental conditions. This paper presents the methods used to determine the lifting capacity for male and female industrial workers, as well as the models developed to predict this capacity under several conditions of the task variables (height level, frequency, and box size). Since overloading and underloading in manual materials handling is undesirable, field data were collected to investigate the effects of job demands on manual materials handling injuries. As opposed to the physiological approach, no difference was found in the lifting capacity due to age. While both weight and work rate are important, work rate was a more effective and logical single measure of back injuries or stress than weight.

Survey of One-handed Lifting in Manufacturing Industry: A Cross-sectional Study of the BackWorks Study Cohort

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 942-946
Author(s):  
Ruoliang Tang ◽  
Jay M. Kapellusch ◽  
Andrew S. Merryweather ◽  
Matthew S. Thiese ◽  
Kurt T. Hegmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Materials Handling ◽  
Manual Materials Handling ◽  
Lost Productivity ◽  
The One

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem and a major cause of lost productivity in workplaces. Manual materials handling (MMH) jobs have traditionally been regarded as risk factor for LBP. Compared to two-handed lifting, one-handed lifting has received little attention in both epidemiological and biomechanical research. In addition, one frequent complaint of the revised NIOSH lifting equation (RNLE) has been the lack of capability to directly evaluate one-handed lifting. Modifications have been proposed by the European Union, however their efficacy and influence have not yet been evaluated. This cross-sectional study provided objective survey of the MMH jobs, especially the one-handed lifting performed in manufacturing industry and investigated the outcomes of three proposed methods to address one-handed lifting using RNLE approach. Preliminary results suggest that workers with some one-handed lifting are associated with higher physical exposure. However, the increase was more significant among those who perform primarily one-handed lifting.

scholarly journals Trunk Posture during Manual Materials Handling of Beer Kegs

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7380
Author(s):  
Colleen Brents ◽  
Molly Hischke ◽  
Raoul Reiser ◽  
John Rosecrance
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Inertial Measurement Unit ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Materials Handling ◽  
Kinematic Measurement ◽  
Manual Materials Handling ◽  
Trunk Posture ◽  
Data Design

Craft brewing is a rapidly growing industry in the U.S. Most craft breweries are small businesses with few resources for robotic or other mechanical-assisted equipment, requiring work to be performed manually by employees. Craft brewery workers frequently handle stainless steel half-barrel kegs, which weigh between 13.5 kg (29.7 lbs.) empty and 72.8 kg (161.5 lbs.) full. Moving kegs may be associated with low back pain and even injury. In the present study, researchers performed a quantitative assessment of trunk postures using an inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based kinematic measurement system while workers lifted kegs at a craft brewery. Results of this field-based study indicated that during keg handling, craft brewery workers exhibited awkward and non-neutral trunk postures. Based on the results of the posture data, design recommendations were identified to reduce the hazardous exposure for musculoskeletal disorders among craft brewery workers.

Ergonomic Analysis of Materials Handling and Design Guidelines for a New Central Public Library

1992 ◽  
Vol 36 (15) ◽  
pp. 1148-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Village ◽  
Brian Campbell ◽  
John Cull
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Library Management ◽  
Materials Handling ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Workplace Factors ◽  
Ergonomic Analysis

In the first phase of this two-year project, workplace factors contributing to hand, arm and back injuries among employees at a large central public library were identified and prioritized. A central research committee was established consisting of Library Management, Union representatives and an Ergonomist. The next phase involved formation of four sub-committees to procure and prototype new equipment, develop new methods of working, evaluate the new equipment and methods, and make recommendations to the central research committee. The Ergonomist facilitated the process by helping committees remain systematic and objective in their approach and evaluations. In some cases more detailed analyses were conducted using computerized lifting models and electromyographic (EMG) analysis of muscle activity. Efforts resulted in recommendations for the current library facility and conceptual design guidelines for architects planning the new Central Public Library.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document