Characterizing Exposure to Physical Risk Factors Among Reforestation Hand Planters in the Southeastern United States

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chen H ; Fethke NB ; Granzow RF ; Huangfu R ; Schall MC Jr. ; Smidt MF
• Description:
  Low back and neck/shoulder pain are commonly reported among reforestation hand planters. While some studies have documented the intensive cardiovascular demands of hand planting, limited information is available regarding exposures to physical risk factors associated with the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among hand planters. This study used surface electromyography (EMG) and inertial measurement units (IMUs) to characterize the muscle activation patterns, upper arm and trunk postures, movement velocities, and physical activity (PA) of fourteen Southeastern reforestation hand planters over one work shift. Results indicated that hand planters are exposed to physical risk factors such as extreme trunk postures (32.5% of time spent in ≥ 45 degrees trunk flexion) and high effort muscle exertions (e.g., mean root-mean-square right upper trapezius amplitude of 54.1% reference voluntary exertion) that may place them at increased risk for developing MSDs. The findings indicate a need for continued field-based research among hand planters to identify and/or develop maximally effective interventions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Forestry Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders Biomechanics Electromyography Inertial Measurement Unit Low Back Low Back Pain MSD Muscle Physiology Musculoskeletal Disorders Neck Injuries Physical Activity Posture Shoulder

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• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; Iowa ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 7 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-8
• Volume:
  66
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051562
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2018 Jan; 66:1-8
• Contact Point Address:
  Mark C. Schall Jr., Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University, 3301 Shelby Center for Engineering Technology, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
• Email:
  mark-schall@auburn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8c643794817df029b05114650f3d47f8cdba67fd5c52d4bfe3f380159d49ed034d1faa459779ec7146d64e74ddb8f52af118dd292da8152406a9c607de40eb78
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211457/cdc_211457_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 760.36 KB ]