Using Mechanical-Assist Devices to Reduce Musculoskeletal Injuries

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bobick, Thomas G. ; Unger, Richard L.
• Description:
  Devices designed by the Bureau of Mines for the purpose of offering mechanical assistance to the miner and reducing the frequency and severity of musculoskeletal injuries from handling heavy items were described. These devices included the machine mounted swivel crane, a mine jack, and a beam raising vehicle. The mount for the crane could be attached at a variety of locations on any underground machine, thereby providing access to all machine components. Design features included a load capacity of 500 pounds, boom height from 24 to 68 inches, arm radius from 24 to 48 inches, light weight, no tools needed for assembly, and able to be fabricated in a typical mine shop. The mine jack used a standard automotive type hydraulic floor jack to provide the lift mechanism. The jack traveled along the frame of the device by means of a sump drive mechanism, permitting forward and backward movement of the heavy components during removal and installation. Oversized tires increased its stability. The beam raising vehicle assisted in installing I-beams with weights of 400 to 600 pounds, sections of rail or heavy wooden beams in haulageways needing extensive roof support. Tests of these three devices showed they were well received by the workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Materials-handling-equipment Mining-equipment Mining-industry NIOSH-Author Safety-research Underground-mining Work-practices
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0882-8032
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRL - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  4
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00190489
• Citation:
  Appl Ind Hyg 1989 Aug; 4(9):F22-F23
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1989
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Industrial Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e0a9c9549a25cc0556b8493d582fa250aae3343f8d25580f9650dbf89388c00e4930abee97df3970d82375e14f3a83d3009d54903c1b2adb8c335a4ca1a4926c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/219324/cdc_219324_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 512.10 KB ]