Ergonomics biomechanics

BIOLOGICAL/Physiology, Biomechanics, Ergonomics (Astrand and Rodahl 1977 Grandjean, 1980 Tichauer, 1978)... 

Tichauer, E. R. (1978), The Biomechanical Basis of Ergonomics Anatomy Applied to the Design of Work Situations, John Wiley Sons, New York. 

Workers who perform heavy physical work are subjected not only to forces and stresses from the immediate physical environment but also to mechanical forces generated from within the body. As a result of these forces and stresses, a strain is produced on the worker s musculoskeletal system as well as on other systems such as the cardiopulmonary system. One of the most important issues in the apphcation of ergonomics to work design is to reduce the stresses imposed on the musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary systems (Ayoub and Mital 1989). Several approaches have been used by different investigators to estabhsh safe handling limits, including the psychophysical approach, the physiological approach, and the biomechanical approach. 

Marras, W. S. (1997), Biomechanics of the Human Body, in Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2nd Ed., G. Salvendy, Ed., John Wiley Sons, New York. 

Low-back injury is estimated to cost the U.S. industry tens of biUions annually through compensation claims, lost workdays, reduced productivity, and retraining needs (NIOSH 1997 Cats-Baril and Fry-moyer 1991 Frymoyer et al. 1983). Approximately 33% of aU workers compensation costs are for musculoskeletal disorders. Experience has shown that these injuries can be avoided with the proper ergonomic intervention. Biomechanical models available can be used for job analysis either proactively, during the design phase, or reactively in response to injury incidence, to help identify the injurious situations. The most common types of injury-assessment analyses performed using human models include low-back compression force analysis and strength analysis. 

Panter, W. (1993), Biomechanical Damage Risk in the Handling of Working Materials and Tools Analysis, Possible Approaches and Model Schemes, in Ergonomics Action in the Steel Industry, O. Berchem-Simon, Ed., EUR 14832 EN, Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg. 

Berme, N. and Cappozzo, A., Eds., Biomechanics of Human Movement Applications in Rehabilitation, Sports and Ergonomics, Bertec Corporation, Worthington, OH, 1990. 

Unfortunately, ergonomics has been narrowly and inappropriately perceived by some to include only cumulative trauma disorders. Opportunities for risk reduction and improving productivity and cost efficiency are lost if ergonomics concepts are not applied to all aspects of workplace and work methods design presenting excessive biomechanical stresses—cumulative or instantaneous. 

Knapik, J. J., Harman, E. and Reynolds, K. (1996), Load carriage using packs A review of physiological, biomechanical and medical aspects j Applied Ergonomics, 27,3,207-16. 

ESI Group (2000) A First Step Towards FE Modelling of Ergonomics and Comfort , 11 October 2000. Biomechanics Group, ESI Software, 20 Rue Saarinen, Silic 270, 94578 Rungis CEDEX, France. 

Stevenson, J. M., Bryant, J. T., Reid, S. A., Pelot, R. P, Morin, E. L. and Bossi, L. L. (2004a). Development and Assessment of the Canadian personal load carriage system using objective biomechanical measures. Ergonomics 47(12) 1255-71. 

Explain the role of biomechanics when solving ergonomic problems... 

In human bodies, all movement is possible due to the application of load and stress to biological levers. The field of biomechanics, which teaches about joints, bones, and muscles, provides safety professionals with an understanding of how the musculoskeletal levers of the body are designed to work. This awareness can be applied to identify and eliminate unnatural movements resulting in ergonomic problems. Evaluation activities such as monitoring frequency and duration of... 

The level of ergonomic risk can effectively be determined by performing ergonomic task analyses. This requires the breakdown of an activity into discrete behavioral steps. Once the steps have been sequentially developed, each can be logically broken down into the movements observed. Steps are recorded and used for calculating repetition rates and duration. Ergonomic problems may correlate with frequency and duration of biomechanical motions. 

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