Evaluation of a Computer-Simulation Model for Human Ambulation on Stilts

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chiou S ; Miller KM ; Pan, Christopher S. ; Wu, John Z.
• Description:
  Stilts are elevated tools that are frequently used by construction workers to raise workers 18 to 40 inches above the ground without the burden of erecting scaffolding or a ladder. Some previous studies indicated that construction workers perceive an increased risk of injury when working on stilts. However, no in-depth biomechanical analyses have been conducted to examine the fall risks associated with the use of stilts. The objective of this study is to evaluate a computer-simulation stilts model. Three construction workers were recruited for walking tasks on 24-inch stilts. The model was evaluated using whole body center of mass and ground reaction forces. A PEAK motion system and two Kistler force platforms were used to collect data on both kinetic and kinematic measures. Inverse- and direct-dynamics simulations were performed using a model developed using commercial software ADAMS and LifeMOD. For three coordinates (X, Y, Z) of the center of mass, the results of univariate analyses indicated very small variability for the mean difference between the model predictions and the experimental measurements. The results of correlation analyses indicated similar trends for the three coordinates. Plotting the resultant and vertical ground reaction force for both right and left feet showed small discrepancies, but the overall shape was identical. The percentage differences between the model and the actual measurement for three coordinates of the center of mass, as well as resultant and vertical ground reaction force, were within 20%. This newly-developed stilt walking model may be used to assist in improving the design of stilts. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Construction Industry Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Software
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Computer Simulation Biomechanics Computer-models Computer-software Construction-equipment Construction-workers Direct-dynamics Gait Injuries Inverse-dynamics Model Evaluation Models Multi-body Dynamics Risk-analysis Risk-factors Simulation-methods Stilts Tools

  More +
• ISSN:
  0219-5194
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  283-303
• Volume:
  4
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20025585
• Citation:
  J Mech Med Biol 2004 Sep; 4(3):283-303
• Contact Point Address:
  NIOSH, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
• Email:
  cpan@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Traumatic Injuries
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6ec1e869e07be1ba774d4ec936172c21f7b54e1f059f4d7c1e25e5df9f443564fdad899eafcdf4d8c5c58ac5d4c029db6ebe2e5f8af863273793329b1f054521
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196879/cdc_196879_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.78 MB ]