Effects of Different Block Designs on Low Back and Shoulders Biomechanical Loads and Postural Stability During Crab Pot Handling

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chan A ; Kia K ; Kim JH ; Kincl, Laurel ; Salehi M
• Description:
  In commercial Dungeness crab fishing vessels, the block pulls crab pots for harvesting and typically positions them to the side of vessels, rather than the sorting tables on board. Consequently, fishermen must reach outside the vessel to grab the pots, posing increased risk of musculoskeletal and fall-related injuries. To investigate the effects of block design on these risks, 25 participants in a repeated-measures laboratory study handled a pot under two block conditions: away-from-table (conventional setting) and above-table (intervention). Low back and shoulder muscle activities, angles, moments, perceived exertion, and postural stability were measured. The results showed reduced L5/S1 and shoulder moments and angles; decreased muscle activities in the low back, shoulders, and upper extremities; and lower perceived exertion ratings and postural sway measures with the intervention. These findings indicate that positioning the pot closer to fishermen onboard could reduce the injury and fall risk associated with crab pot handling. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Hunting Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  3-D Motion Capture Author Keywords: Commercial Fishing Biomechanics Electromyography Fishing Industry Intervention Effectiveness Low Back Stress Motion Studies MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Posture

  More +
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Dallas Region [OSHA] ; Oregon ; San Francisco Region [OSHA] ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  124
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070332
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2025 Apr; 124:104423
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeong Ho Kim, 212 Adriance Lab Rd. 1266 TAMU College Station, TX 77843, USA
• Email:
  jay.kim@tamu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Oregon State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:55bbaaa47f573f44908155d58956661bb2db7c53fd729fdf909fe95d9f4f26c94cb5074e32d663a146e3bd25944f865c99c61ea18b193688c4a521fbc9a8d048
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208565/cdc_208565_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.75 MB ]