Ergonomic Study of Fire Service Musculoskeletal Injuries

Details

• Personal Author:
  Conrad KM ; Lavender SA ; Meyer FT ; Reichelt PA
• Description:
  The objective of this study was to describe the frequently performed strenuous emergency medical service tasks that place firefighter/paramedics (FF/Ps) at risk for musculoskeletal injury and to hypothesize ways in which this risk can be reduced. The study group included 542 FF/Ps from 14 suburban fire departments. An initial list of tasks was identified through structured interviews with 29 FF/Ps. A list of the 11 most frequent and strenuous tasks identified in the interviews was validated through a mail survey returned by 374 FF/Ps. The five more frequently performed strenuous tasks identified were simulated, and the working postures and the forces applied by the workers were recorded and described. Each task was simulated and video data were used to determine gross postures and movement ranges. The biomechanical stresses were analyzed and the relative risk of low back disorder was quantified. The lower back disorder risk analysis identified the task components that contribute the most to the development of cumulative trauma back injuries. The strength limitation calculation indicated the task components during which musculoskeletal overexertion injuries were most likely to occur. The spine compression calculations indicated the task components during which disc related back injuries were most likely to occur. Several equipment modifications were suggested as being possible ways of reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries during frequently performed, strenuous tasks. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accident Prevention Accidents Cumulative Trauma Disorders Epidemiology Firefighters Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Accident-prevention Back-injuries Cumulative-trauma-disorders Firemen Musculoskeletal-system-disorders NIOSH-Grant Risk-factors
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-82
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00240633
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB98-130776
• Citation:
  Department of Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 1997 Jun; :1-82
• Contact Point Address:
  Pub Hlth/mental Hlth/admin NUr University of Illinois P O Box 6998 Chicago, IL 60680
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19931101
• Source Full Name:
  Department of Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• End Date:
  19960929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6f832878f50856eb545100557119a27159ddc8927157ddaef715f2d8a23dc18c5f88f4b24b1bded33f76b5f2ca021a0c98267715d5297186e15428ae0f149442
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217929/cdc_217929_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 6.29 MB ]