Ergonomic exposure case studies in Massachusetts fishing vessels

Details

• Personal Author:
  Buchholz B ; Fulmer S
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders may not have been studied as much as greater risks in the dangerous environment of commercial fishing. Primary prevention of risk for these kinds of injuries and illnesses begins by a detailed understanding of what risks are likely to be common in the different fisheries, and how those risks might be reduced. METHODS: Ergonomic job analyses were conducted on three different types of fishing vessels in Massachusetts: gillnetting, otter trawling, and lobstering. Direct observation was used to link posture to task. Noise measurements, tool analysis, and cycle time measurements were also included. RESULTS: Production speed, materials handling, and vessel movement contributed to musculoskeletal stress by affecting observable postural deviation, repetition, and forceful exertions. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to reduce ergonomic risk factors might be possible through utilization of below deck space in certain boats, through better technology, or through simple tool adjustments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Ergonomics Hunting Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Noise Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Fishing Vessel Control-technology Cumulative-trauma-disorders Cumulative Trauma Environmental-hazards Exposure-assessment Fishing-industry Force Human-factors-engineering Job-analysis Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Physical-stress Posture Repetitive-work Risk-factors Seaman Task-performance Tools Work-environment

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; New York ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  10-18
• Volume:
  42
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040163
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2002 Aug; 42(S2):10-18
• Contact Point Address:
  Scott Fulmer MS, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, 01854
• Email:
  scott_fulmer@uml.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• Performing Organization:
  The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19920930
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20010929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a2cbda28edce59300fb5e309dc5776939832c05c8bedf8be4a8be1ff711394b68f89afc99a1656a75c57e7304302c1c9b0f60d882559941c9afbf5e12d5f182c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193118/cdc_193118_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 144.26 KB ]