Predicted Endurance Times During Overhead Work: Influences of Duty Cycle and Tool Mass Estimated Using Perceived Discomfort

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hager K ; Nogueira HC ; Nussbaum MA ; Sood D
• Description:
  A need for overhead work remains in several industries and such work is an important risk factor for shoulder musculoskeletal problems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of duty cycle and tool mass on endurance times during overhead work. A psychophysical approach was used, via a new methodology that was implemented to more efficiently estimate endurance times (rather than through direct measurements). Participants performed a simulated overhead task in specified combinations of tool mass and duty cycle. Both duty cycle and tool mass have substantial effects on the development of fatigue and estimated endurance times, though the former was more substantial and an interactive effect was evident. Gender differences were not substantial, except when using the largest tool mass. We recommend that, for two-hour periods of overhead work, tool masses greater than 1.25 kg should be avoided, as should duty cycles greater than 50%. Practitioner Summary: The current results may facilitate enhanced design and evaluation of overhead work tasks. In addition, the new estimation approach that was employed may enhance the efficiency of future studies using a psychophysical approach (ie using extrapolation of patterns of reported discomfort to predict longer term outcomes). [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Body Height Ergonomics Fatigue Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Sex Characteristics

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Overhead Work Biomechanical Modeling Endurance Tests Gender Guideline Guidelines Heavy Equipment Height Factors Job Design Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Perceived Discomfort Physical Capacity Physiological Fatigue Psychophysics Psychophysiological Testing Risk-factors Sex Factors Simulation Methods Task Performance Tools Upper Extremities Workers Work Intervals Work Schedules

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• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  60
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051576
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2017 Oct; 60(10):1405-1414
• Contact Point Address:
  Maury A. Nussbaum, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
• Email:
  nussbaum@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5c0cf648b487c75126c62fc97ceb4f354f66365bcd97bcf36307e84a12d10d5eb62a012120429d910bf73e9413d65f3c1623d097599f40e4ad3910495148e408
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211465/cdc_211465_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 985.03 KB ]