作业姿势舒适性评价研究

将人体划分为四个节段，并对每个节段的不同姿势进行编码，实现了维修作业姿势的参数化定义，由12位健康的男性被试者参加，根据主观感觉利用自由模量幅度估计法对这些姿势的舒适性进行了评价和分级，得出了各种作业姿势的舒适级别，实现了对作业姿势舒适性的定量评价。     

拉力作业上肢肌肉疲劳评价模型研究

为避免作业人员肌肉疲劳累积,预防工作相关肌肉骨骼系统疾患(WMSDs),提出一种基于肌力降幅(FD)-主观疲劳评分(RPE)的肌肉疲劳评价模型。首先设计并开展模拟拉车作业试验,招募10名大学男生参与测试,测量不同时刻右手最大剩余肌力,并记录基于Borg CR-10量表的RPE值;然后归一化处理各时刻FD,建立不同姿势、不同负荷下的3个拉力作业上肢肌肉疲劳评价模型,并结合试验条件分析不同模型之间的差异。研究表明:RPE与FD间有线性关系,RPE-FD关系可能具有姿势属性;所建模型合理,可用于评价拉力作业人员工作过程肌肉疲劳,并可为施力作业过程肌肉疲劳监测与作业任务分析提供依据和手段。     

人体上肢关节活动范围的舒适性评价

为探究人体上肢关节活动范围(ROM)的舒适性,将主观量表评价法和表面肌电测量相结合,开展外加1. 5 kg载荷作用下的人体上肢舒适性试验。选择12名男性为被试,采集其肩关节、肘关节、尺桡关节和腕关节等12个关节参数在不同活动角度(0%ROM、25%ROM、50%ROM、75%ROM和100%ROM)的表面肌电信号(sEMG),并进行主观量表评价。研究表明:在外加1. 5 kg负载下,主观感受最舒适的关节活动是肘关节屈曲,其次是肩关节前伸和水平屈曲;最不舒适的是肩关节水平伸展,其次是腕关节背屈;肘关节屈曲等5个动作的主观评分与sEMG指标值相关性显著;sEMG能比主观评分更灵敏地反映关节活动的舒适性。     

常用高、低温防护服着装舒适性研究

防护服装的全面评价通常涉及安全性、工效学特性等多个方面。在常用高、低温防护服隔热性能研究基础上,对服装的舒适性进行了初步研究,以期为高低温防护服的选用和设计改进等提供依据。本研究应用热平板仪、人工气候室等研究设备以及真人着装实验,对高低温作业典型工种常用的耐高温防护服和低温防护服的舒适性能进行了研究。研究结果显示,不同类型高、低温防护服的透气性、透湿性、着装压力、肢体活动角度等均表现出一定差异,防护服的面料、结构和工艺等均影响到其整体舒适性,并提出了相应的改善建议。     

姿势对单手拉叉车肌肉疲劳影响的试验研究

为分析不同姿势下单手拉车作业肌肉疲劳情况,设计并完成模拟手拉叉车试验,测量拉车前与拉车过程中单臂拉力的变化,记录基于Borg CR-10主观疲劳量表的身体疲劳度。选取20名男大学生作为被试。结果表明,手臂姿势和拉车时间均显著影响拉力;Duncan多重比较结果显示,手臂伸直姿势下的拉力值显著高于手肘屈曲姿势下的值;手肘屈曲姿势下,手臂拉力的最大自主收缩力(MVC)下降更快;手肘屈曲姿势和手臂伸直姿势下的疲劳速率分别为(0.137±0.065)和(0.133±0.057)。构建起以指数函数为基础的2种姿势下单臂拉车作业肌肉疲劳预测模型,其预测结果与实际情况吻合较好。     

深井高温热环境的数值评价

根据井下工作面热环境的特点,采用了数值模拟的方法,对高温巷道中的热环境进行数值模拟计算,并应用预计热舒适指标(PMV)对不同设计参数的井下环境的热舒适程度进行科学的评价,给出了高温巷道中的速度场、温度场、热舒适PMV值。以某矿山高温巷道为实例进行了热环境评价,得出了热环境评价结果。结果表明在温度为40℃的高温巷道中,采用入口处风速为0.8m/s即可满足通风降温的要求,所得结果更具有直观性、准确性,为最优通风降温方案的确定提供了技术依据。     

常用高、低温防护服隔热性能研究

为评价常用类型高、低温防护服的防护性能,本研究应用热平板仪、人工气候室和暖体假人等研究设备,对高低温作业典型工种常用的耐高温防护服和低温防护服的隔热性能进行了研究。研究结果显示,不同类型高、低温防护服的服装面料、服装整体的隔热性表现出一定差异,模拟环境下的着装生理学测试结果也存在不同,防护服的面料、结构和工艺等均影响到其整体隔热性能。防护服装的全面评价通常涉及安全性、工效学特性等多个方面,有必要从服装的舒适性、工效学特性等方面进一步研究,并开展大规模的现场人体穿着实验,从而为高低温防护服的选用和设计改进等提供依据。     

热环境中透气式防护服的舒适性评价指标研究

本文依据热环境下人体穿着透气式防护服的散热形式以及舒适性要求,提出了热环境下透气式防护服舒适性评价指标,为热环境下透气式防护服舒适性评价提供了依据。     

连体防护服样板结构的优化研究

防护服的结构和尺寸直接影响穿着者的舒适性及安全性。本研究是在现场观察的基础上，模拟作业人员的动作，对工作服的穿着状态进行了评价；并通过对服装样板的结构和尺寸进行分析，提出了修改方案，制作了新的样板及工作服。试穿结果表明，改进后的服装结构和尺寸更加合理，穿着舒适性也有所改善。本文的研究结果对合理设计防护服的结构及尺寸，保证穿着者的活动舒适性及安全性有一定的意义。     

基于JACK的机务人员上肢职业性损伤的仿真与评估*

为客观评价机务人员上肢职业性肌肉骨骼损伤风险,选取作业姿势、肌肉负载和暴露时间作为评估工作过程中机务人员肌肉骨骼损伤的指标,结合工效学和仿真技术,建立机务维修中肌肉骨骼损伤风险仿真评价方法,定量评估工作过程中机务人员肌肉骨骼损伤程度。采用动素理论分解A330飞机六号肋改装作业任务,对作业人员、工作场景、维修动作进行建模,使用JACK软件中的人因分析工具（TAT）分别对选取指标进行分析评估。研究结果表明:在六号肋改装作业中,机务人员存在严重的上肢职业性肌肉骨骼损伤的隐患,此研究方法可客观高效评估机务人员上肢职业性肌肉骨骼损伤的程度。     

Infrared thermography reveals effect of working posture on skin temperature in office workers

Introduction. Musculoskeletal symptoms related to using traditional computer workstations are common. Quantitative methods for measuring muscle stress and strain are needed to improve ergonomics of workstations. We hypothesize that infrared thermography (IRT) is suited for this purpose. Methods. This hypothesis was evaluated by estimating muscle activity in upright and traditional working postures with IRT and surface electromyography (sEMG). IRT and sEMG measurements were conducted in 14 female participants with both working postures. First, measurements with the traditional posture were performed. Later, participants had 1?month to adjust to the upright working posture before repeating the measurements. IRT images were acquired before and after a full working day, with sEMG recordings being conducted throughout the measurement days. Participants evaluated their neck pain severity using neck disability index (NDI) questionnaires before the first and after the second measurement day. Results. Spatial variation in upper back temperature was higher (p?=?0.008) when working in traditional posture and the upright working posture reduced (p?p?=?0.003) after working in the upright posture. Conclusion. IRT was found suitable for evaluating muscle activity and upright working posture to reduce the NDI and muscle activity in the upper back.     

Alignment of the Lumbar Vertebrae in a Driving Posture

The purpose of this study was to define the anatomical arrangement of the lumbar spine in the mid-body sagittal plane of a human volunteer while in three postures: a driving posture; full flexion; and full extension. Radiographic images of the lumbar spine were made of a 33-year old 50th percentile male subject seated in a comfortable driving posture. Additional radiographs were made of the lumbar spine while the subject was postured in full voluntary flexion, and full voluntary extension. Anterior and posterior mid-sagittal vertebral endplate positions were plotted on an x-y coordinate system for each posture. Anterior and posterior disk thicknesses, and the positions of the centers of each vertebra were numerically determined using information from the plots. Disk thicknesses were then graphed and comparisons made for each posture. The arrangements of the centers of vertebrae were graphed and compared for the three different postures. The arrangement of the lumbar vertebrae tended toward that of full voluntary flexion while the subject was in a normal driving posture. Anterior disk thickness was a sensitive indicator of posture, while posterior disk thickness was not. While in a driving posture, the lower back approximated a straight-line that was nearly parallel to the seat back axis. The observations support those of an earlier study. Since soft tissue spinal elements can only be damaged by applying tensile forces in excess of their tolerance, the anterior elements of the lumbar spine would not be directly threatened in low velocity frontal collisions, since anterior elements would be in relative compression. Tension injury to the anterior structures as a result of a rear-end collision would first require reversing the preimpact conditions imposed by the normal driving posture. Tension injury to the posterior spinal elements resulting from low velocity rear-end collisions would be unlikely since axial compression loading would also diminish tension stress in posterior soft tissue structures. Any compression injury to posterior elements resulting from rear-end collisions would first require reversing the pre-impact conditions imposed by the normal driving posture.     

Posture and belt fit in reclined passenger seats

Abstract

Objective: Highly reclined postures may be common among passengers in future automated vehicles. A laboratory study was conducted to address the need for posture and belt fit in these seating configurations.

Methods: In a laboratory vehicle mockup, the postures of 24 men and women with a wide range of body size were measured in a typical front vehicle seat at seat back angles of 23°, 33°, 43°, and 53°. Data were gathered with and without a sitter-adjusted headrest. Posture was characterized by the locations of skeletal joint centers estimated from digitized surface landmarks.

Results: Regression analysis demonstrated that the pelvis rotated rearward and lumbar spine flexion decreased with increasing recline. The lap portion of the 3-point belt was more rearward relative to the pelvis in more-reclined postures, and the torso portion crossed the clavicle closer to the midline of the body. Regression equations were developed to predict posture and belt fit variables as a function of passenger characteristics, seat back angle, and the use of the headrest.

Conclusions: Spine posture changes as the torso reclines in an automotive seat, and belt fit is altered by the change in posture. The results can be used to accurately position crash test dummies and computation human models and to guide the design of belt restraints.     

Comparisons of ergonomic evaluation tools (ALLA,RULA, REBA and OWAS) for farm work

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to validate the agricultural lower limb assessment (ALLA) ergonomic checklist, which was developed for various agricultural tasks in Korea. Methods. One hundred and ninety-six working postures were selected from the real agricultural tasks to verify ALLA, a lower limb body posture assessment tool, and then evaluated by 16 ergonomic experts. Hit rate, quadratic weighted κ, one-way analysis of variance and t-test analyses were applied to compare ALLA with other assessment tools. Results. ALLA analysis had a superior hit rate with ergonomic expert assessment compared with other assessment tools. Quadratic weighted κ analysis also showed that ALLA provided superior estimates of risk levels for farm working postures. Discussion. ALLA would be an appropriate assessment tool to estimate risk factors for various lower limb body postures which frequently occur in agricultural tasks in Korea. ALLA is a simple and accurate risk assessment tool that could be usefully applied to identify and mitigate risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in agricultural tasks, and also to evaluate the effects of control and intervention for working conditions.     

The Contribution of Pre-impact Posture on Restrained Occupant Finite Element Model Response in Frontal Impact

Objective: The objective of this study was to discuss the influence of the pre-impact posture to the response of a finite element human body model (HBM) in frontal impacts.

Methods: This study uses previously published cadaveric tests (PMHS), which measured six realistic pre-impact postures. Seven postured models were created from the THUMS occupant model (v4.0): one matching the standard UMTRI driving posture as it was the target posture in the experiments, and six matching the measured pre-impact postures. The same measurements as those obtained during the cadaveric tests were calculated from the simulations, and biofidelity metrics based on signals correlation (CORA) were established to compare the response of the seven models to the experiments.

Results: The HBM responses showed good agreement with the PMHS responses for the reaction forces (CORA = 0.80 ± 0.05) and the kinematics of the lower part of the torso but only fair correlation was found with the head, the upper spine, rib strains (CORA= 0.50 ± 0.05) and chest deflections (CORA = 0.67 ± 0.08). All models sustained rib fractures, sternal fracture and clavicle fracture. The average number of rib fractures for all the models was 5.3 ± 1.0, lower than in the experiments (10.8 ± 9.0).

Variation in pre-impact posture greatly altered the time histories of the reaction forces, deflections and the rib strains, mainly in terms of time delay, but no definite improvement in HBM response or injury prediction was observed. By modifying only the posture of the HBM, the variability in the impact response was found to be equivalent to that observed in the experiments. The postured HBM sustained from 4 to 8 rib fractures, confirming that the pre-impact posture influenced the injury outcome predicted by the simulation.

Conclusions: This study tries to answer an important question: what is the effect of occupant posture on kinematics and kinetics. Significant differences in kinematics observed between HBM and PMHS suggesting more coupling between the pelvis and the spine for the models which makes the model response very sensitive to any variation in the spine posture. Consequently, the findings observed for the HBM cannot be extended to PMHS. Besides, pre-impact posture should be carefully quantified during experiments and the evaluation of HBM should take into account the variation in the predicted impact response due to the variation in the model posture.     

A Comparative Ergonomics Postural Assessment of Potters and Sculptors in the Unorganized Sector in West Bengal,India

Potters and sculptors perform their work in very awkward postures. The purpose of this study was to analyse these postures. The modified Nordic questionnaire was used to analyse musculoskeletal discomfort. Rapid entire body assessment (REBA) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used to evaluate the subjects’ postures. There were no significant differences between times of discomfort and the group of subjects. However, there were significant differences in discomfort in different body parts. The analysis indicated that various body postures were harmful to the subjects and that there were profound deviations from natural curvature of various body parts due to awkward body postures. Ergonomics intervention was required to improve the quality of life.     

Ergonomic analysis of working postures using OWAS in semi-trailer assembly,applying an individual sampling strategy

In semi-trailer assembly, workers are exposed to several physical risk factors. Awkward working postures have not yet been investigated in semi-trailer assembly, although they are known to be a major risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders. We therefore conducted a comprehensive ergonomic analysis of working postures using the Ovako working posture analysing system (OWAS), with an individual sampling strategy. The postural load in semi-trailer assembly was assessed on the basis of 20,601 observations of 63 workers executing a representative set of nine work tasks. According to the OWAS, the postural load of various working postures and body part positions may have a harmful effect on the musculoskeletal system. We therefore give examples of corrective measures that could improve awkward working postures. Applying an individual sampling strategy was revealed to have advantages over a collective strategy, so this is recommended for future ergonomic analyses.     

Perceptions of postural stability after transitioning to standing among construction workers

Falls are a leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in the construction trades. This study explored construction workers’ self-reports of postural stability upon standing after working in different postures. One hundred and eighty-nine workers in 10 construction trades provided stability ratings by completing a written questionnaire. Additional data collected included age, gender, years of experience, and rating of overall balance. Construction workers rated their overall balance as high, furthermore, no difference was found between trades or age groups. Significant differences in stability ratings were provided for the various postures. The most commonly used non-erect postures (bent over at waist, squatting, and forward kneeling) resulted in the largest self-reports of instability. Sitting on elevated surface and sitting on level surface resulted in the highest levels of self-reported stability and are recommended when maintaining balance is a concern. Differences associated with construction trade and age were also found, but were thought to be attributed to differences in tasks performed since no differences were found when each posture was analyzed separately. The results suggest that the working posture used to complete a task affects the postural stability upon standing regardless of construction trade and age of worker. Findings may lead to recommendations for redesign of tasks or tools to reduce the use of certain working postures, particularly in high-risk environments such as construction.