Uso de carretilla de acero en transporte de carga para prevención de trastornos musculo-esqueléticos en los trabajadores de despacho de la empresa Ecovasti S.A.

Introduction. Manual lifting and carrying of loads that are equal to or greater than 25 kg are considered high ergonomic risk for causing musculoskeletal disorders in any activity where there is no load sharing or mechanical assistance. Objective. This research applies the use of a steel mask as a mechanical aid to attenuate musculoskeletal disorders in the workers of the company Ecovasti S.A. who lift and move the jars of alcoholic beverages in the delivery of the product to the customers. Methodology. A preliminary analysis of the lifting and moving of loads in the manual dispatch of alcoholic beverage jars was made using Snook and Ciriello tables to find the maximum acceptable weight and the level of ergonomic risk, then the key indicators of pull and push method (KIM PP) was applied to demonstrate the ergonomic improvement by implementing the help of a mobile steel forklift. Results. The preliminary study with the Snook and Ciriello tables indicates a maximum load handling weight for lowering, lifting, transporting and dragging: 11.9 kg; 7.79 kg; 16.43 kg and 25.67 kg respectively, considering male gender, with a protection percentage of 90%, maximum distance traveled of 8 m, load weight of 23 kg per jug of alcoholic beverage, average transfer height of 0.8 m, with a frequency of 15 transfers per hour. The result of the application of the ergonomic improvement with the use of the key indicators of pull and push method (KIM PP) was a value of 1, which corresponds to a low ergonomic risk with a low probability of physical overload. Conclusion. The result of the application of a steel trolley for the manual transport of alcoholic beverage jugs in the dispensing to customers attenuates the level of ergonomic risk to low risk values and could help prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

Postural Analysis on Manual Pine Resin Collecting Work: Lifting Index and L5/S1 Compression-Shear Forces

Even though pine oleoresin harvesting is labor-intensive forestry work involving manual material handling (especially lifting) and is massively carried out in Indonesia, there is a lack of ergonomics studies on manual pine oleoresin harvesting. This study focused on lifting-related postures in pine oleoresin harvesting. A Three Dimension Static Strength Prediction Program Version 7.1.0 was used to identify the injury risk on the lower back (lumbosacral joint, L5/S1) using biomechanical criteria (compression and shear forces) at extreme postures. Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) and Lifting Index (LI) were calculated for a comprehensive analysis. The exceeding compression and shear forces indicated that the L5/S1 injury risk on oleoresin collecting work (part of oleoresin harvesting) is high. The psychophysical analysis confirmed the findings, as several main postures in this work were categorized as intense manual lifting due to the excessive score of LI. A significant reduction in the L5/S1 compression and shear forces were shown at a simulation using a proposed load threshold (using the calculated RWL). Keywords: biomechanics, ergonomics, forestry work, manual lifting, oleoresin harvesting

Validation of a Wireless Sensor System for the Estimation of Cumulative Lumbar Loads in Occupational Settings

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of 3D L5/S1 moment estimates from a wearable inertial motioncapture system during manual lifting tasks. Reference L5/S1 moments were calculated using inversedynamics bottom-up and top-down laboratory models, based on the data from a measurement systemcomprising optical motion capture and force plates. Nine groups of four subjects performed tasks consistingof lifting and lowering 10 lbs. load with three different heights and asymmetry angles. As a measure ofsystem performance, the root means square errors and absolute peak errors between models werecompared. Also, repeated measures analyses of variance were calculated comparing the means and theabsolute peaks of the estimated moments. The results suggest that most of the estimates obtained from thewireless sensor system are in close correspondence when comparing the means, and more variability isobserved when comparing peak values to other models calculating estimates of L5/S1 moments.

Psychophysiological responses to manual lifting of unknown loads

Background The handling of unknown weights, which is common in daily routines either at work or during leisure time, is suspected to be highly associated with the incidence of low back pain (LBP). Objectives To investigate the effects of knowledge and magnitude of a load (to be lifted) on brain responses, autonomic nervous activity, and trapezius and erector spinae muscle activity. Methods A randomized, within-subjects experiment involving manual lifting was conducted, wherein 10 participants lifted three different weights (1.1, 5, and 15 kg) under two conditions: either having or not having prior knowledge of the weight to be lifted. Results The results revealed that the lifting of unknown weights caused increased average heart rate and percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) but decreased average inter-beat interval, very-low-frequency power, low-frequency power, and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio. Regardless of the weight magnitude, lifting of unknown weights was associated with smaller theta activities in the power spectrum density (PSD) of the central region, smaller alpha activities in the PSD of the frontal region, and smaller beta activities in the PSDs of both the frontal and central regions. Moreover, smaller alpha and beta activities in the PSD of the parietal region were associated only with lifting of unknown lightweights. Conclusions Uncertainty regarding the weight to be lifted could be considered as a stress-adding variable that may increase the required physical demand to be sustained during manual lifting tasks. The findings of this study stress the importance of eliminating uncertainty associated with handling unknown weights, such as in the cases of handling patients and dispatching luggage. This can be achieved through preliminary self-sensing of the load to be lifted, or the cautious disclosure of the actual weight of manually lifted objects, for example, through clear labeling and/or a coding system.

A deep learning approach for lower back-pain risk prediction during manual lifting

Occupationally-induced back pain is a leading cause of reduced productivity in industry. Detecting when a worker is lifting incorrectly and at increased risk of back injury presents significant possible benefits. These include increased quality of life for the worker due to lower rates of back injury and fewer workers’ compensation claims and missed time for the employer. However, recognizing lifting risk provides a challenge due to typically small datasets and subtle underlying features in accelerometer and gyroscope data. A novel method to classify a lifting dataset using a 2D convolutional neural network (CNN) and no manual feature extraction is proposed in this paper; the dataset consisted of 10 subjects lifting at various relative distances from the body with 720 total trials. The proposed deep CNN displayed greater accuracy (90.6%) compared to an alternative CNN and multilayer perceptron (MLP). A deep CNN could be adapted to classify many other activities that traditionally pose greater challenges in industrial environments due to their size and complexity.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in an informal porter

Background<br />Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is a rare condition, in which job-related arm movements and repetitive, forceful or overhead arm activities have been recognized as the predisposing factor for this condition. UEDVT can occur among informal porters. This report describes a case of UEDVT in an informal porter due to manual lifting of heavy goods and reviews the literature for occupational reports of this condition.<br /><br />Case description<br />A 35-year-old male informal porter presented with marked swelling, pain, and numbness of his right arm 3 days after a prolonged episode of lifting heavy goods. A Doppler ultrasound showed thrombosis in the right subclavian and axillary veins and laboratory tests found elevated D-dimer. Patient was diagnosed as having axillo-subclavian thrombosis and treated with low molecular-weight heparin. One month after the last follow-up, patient returned to work with modified capacity and after 3 months of return to work, patient was able to resume his regular duties without impairment or disability.<br /><br />Conclusion<br />The occupation of informal porter should be considered a risk factor for upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT), thus the occupational medicine physician should be aware of this condition in the context of manual workers. Detailed occupational history to aid the diagnosis and future risk assessment are needed, and education for preventing UEDVT should be provided to porters.

Evaluasi Aktivitas Manual Material Handling dan Penerapan K3 Bagian Palletizing Kemasan Jerigen di PT. XYZ

<span lang="EN">Production results that are handled manually are lifting the burden of jerry cans weighing 24 kg from the conveyor to the pallet. This removal process is risky for musculoceletal and can cause lower back pain. The appointment process takes place in the packing line section D. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of risk, find out the form of conveyor in accordance with working conditions and provide recommendations for corrective actions to be taken when the operator's work attitude has the risk of injury. The assessment of work posture is based on the assessment of RULA for each part (upper arm, forearm, wrist, wrist rotation, back, neck, and leg position) which are then categorized based on the results of the grand score on the action level indicating that the posture is required repair or not. The results of this study found that 3 workers for the grand score of work posture an average of 7 which indicates the need for action now. This is influenced by heavy loads with manual lifting</span>.

Efficacy of Netraseka in Blepharospasm w.s.r to Kruchronmeelana

Blepharospasm is an act of involuntary blinking. In most of the cases, symptoms last for few days then disappear without any intervention. However in few cases, disease becomes chronic with symptoms of persistent blinking and the person will be able to open his eyes only with a great effort which could eventually lead to a functional blindness. Most of the times it is associated with ALO (Apraxia of lid opening). ALO is an inability to initiate voluntary eyelid opening following a period of eyelid closure. Manual lifting of the eyelid often resolves the problem and lid is able to stay open for a while thereafter. Botulinum toxin injections are the treatment of choice for both Blepharospasm and ALO, which is too expensive and at the same time have only a temporary improvement. In Ayurveda such condition is comparable with Kruchronmeelana which is postulated to be resultant of vata vitiation. Netrakalpana is the therapy of choice to treat above conditions. A single case study done at our department has shown significant improvement both in pain, blinking after the patient was subjected to Netraseka. Before Netraseka the same patient was treated with Aksitarpana which was done with triphala ghrita for seven days, but which hasn't produced much difference neither in pain nor in blinking. Netraseka was given with a specific kashaya for a period of 14 days following Tarpana therapy.

The Risk Assessment of Low Back Pain Based on Allowable Weight Limits for Manual Lifting in Iranian Women Workers

Background: Manual load lifting is one of the most important risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, including occupational low back pain. These disorders are common in women workers who perform manual load lifting and displacement tasks at the workplace. Objectives: To determine the level of musculoskeletal disorders and to evaluate the recommended limits of manual load lifting in women workers using WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV, the recommended limits of Iran, and compare the results of two methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women workers who performed manual loading tasks in 2018. Nordic questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, and two methods, WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV, were used to determine the recommended allowable limits for manual load lifting. Results: The results of the prevalence assessment of musculoskeletal disorders showed that most of the musculoskeletal disorders were in the low back (55%) in the past 12 months. The results of the assessment of the allowable lifting limits also showed that 8% of women in the WISHA checklist method and 31% in the ACGIH TLV method were at risk for low back injuries. The kappa coefficient test (0.031) also showed that there is a poor and insignificant agreement between the two methods of WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV in determining the allowable limits for manual lifting. Conclusions: The results of this study showed a poor agreement between the WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV in determining the allowable limits for manual lifting, which suggest that the two methods are not mutually exclusive. Hence, owing to the increasing presence of women in various occupations and raising the hand load-lifting and, naturally increasing occupational low back pain among them, it is necessary that in a comprehensive study, the allowable limits of lifting loads according to anthropometric and physiological characteristics of Iranian women, prepare and compile according to a comprehensive instruction.