Electromyographic and Discomfort Analysis of Confined-Space Shipyard Welding Processes

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hudock, Stephen D. ; Lowe, Brian D. ; Shulman, Stanley A. ; Wurzelbacher, Steven J.
• Description:
  This study examined muscle fatigue and discomfort in a confined-space welding operation at a shipyard. Surface electromyography (SEMG) was recorded from seven upper extremity and torso muscles of welders welding in a mock-up of the work environment. Following spectral transform of the SEMG data the percentage of the total signal power in the 10-30 Hz frequency band was compared over time during welding. For the conventional stick electrode welding process (SMAW) several muscles exhibited an increase in the percent of the total signal power in the low-frequency band. Fewer muscles exhibited this fatigue-related spectral density shift with a wire welding process (FCAW) the shipyard has considered adopting. This finding suggests that localized muscle fatigue may be reduced by a change to the wire welding process. Subjectively reported discomfort was generally low for both processes, but confirmed the finding that discomfort in the low back and shoulder regions is experienced in this welding operation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Confined Spaces Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Ships Welding Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Muscle Fatigue Confined Space Electromyography Muscle-function Shipyard-workers Welders Welding Welding-industry Workplace-monitoring
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  255-269
• Volume:
  32
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021797
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2001 Jun; 32(3):255-269
• Contact Point Address:
  Brian Lowe; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS C-24, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998, USA
• Email:
  blowe@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f408945b404bacef321efbc568eecfb2de3bf65238a8e493dcba218b9633a394f13409f8d532eac6dc65998d61e4b048f445e871c1e4c00145cd86ded44c72e7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198902/cdc_198902_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 376.14 KB ]