Evaluation of Psychometric Estimates of Vibratory Hand-Tool Grip and Push Forces

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dong, Ren G. ; McDowell, Thomas W. ; Schopper AW ; Welcome DE ; Wiker, S. F.
• Description:
  Tool grip and push forces are important determinants of health risk associated with operation of powered hand tools. In the field, use of sophisticated hand-force instrumentation can be impractical. This study investigated the potential for using psychophysical force recall methods to estimate grip and push forces when operating vibratory hand tools. This study examined various combinations of handle vibration and grip and push force exposures upon one's ability to recall those forces using psychophysical methods. Twelve male subjects grasped and pushed an instrumented handle for 45 s at one of three levels of force while it vibrated sinusoidally at one of five frequencies (0, 12.5, 40, 125, or 250 Hz). We examined the effects of post-exertion rest periods of 10 and 20 s upon force recall performance, and day-to-day test-retest reliability. Results showed vibration frequency and force level differentially influenced grip and push force recall accuracy. Subjects characteristically overestimated grip and push forces; especially during vibration exposures of 40 and 125 Hz. The magnitude of the overestimations increased as target force levels decreased. Test-retest correlations were reasonably strong. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Exposure Assessment Hand-injuries Hand Tools Risk Analysis Tools Vibration Exposure
• ISSN:
  0169-8141
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  119-128
• Volume:
  36
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20029620
• Citation:
  Int J Ind Ergon 2006 Feb; 36(2):119-128
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Engineering & Control Technology Branch, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, MS 2027, WV 26505, USA
• Email:
  TMcDowell@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20100630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:95d37040088edfd2fc4f6f1f31d35d8b7680aa2a1d07b3ac79869bdee595bc8ee741e9c3beadec980d91b41013868bc0da7f15d9ad10d61b0e1a34300b1215e4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190561/cdc_190561_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 252.71 KB ]