Biomechanical Modeling and 3D Simulation of Firefighting Tasks

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hu M ; Powell J ; Xu S ; Zhuang Z
• Description:
  Firefighting is an injury prone occupation. The self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) included as part of a firefighter ensemble contributes to these injuries by affecting a firefighter's balance. The objective of this study was to establish a method to determine the maximum allowable weight that would prevent firefighter injury by using a 3-Dimensional Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP). Four representative firefighting tasks (stair climb, hose carry, weighted carry, and rope pull) were used to perform the simulation. A representation of a 50th percentile male firefighter was used in 100 simulated trials. Based on a biomechanical model, 3DSSPP calculated lower back (L4/L5) compression forces and the results were compared to the NIOSH guidelines. The maximum safe weight of an SCBA ranged from 35 to 75 lbs. for the tasks examined. Policymakers may use this study's methods and findings to inform evaluation methods and performance requirements that will drive SCBA design improvements, ultimately reducing the risk of injury among firefighters. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Environmental Exposure Fires Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  3D 3DSSPP Author Keywords: Biomechanical Modeling Biomechanical Modeling Exposure Levels Firefighter Firefighter Activities Fire Fighting Fire Fighting Equipment Injuries Risk Factors SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Simulation Simulation Methods Task Performance Three Dimensional Weight Factors

  More +
• ISBN:
  9783030510633
• ISSN:
  2194-5357
• Publisher:
  Springer Publishing
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  174-179
• Volume:
  1206
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060505
• Citation:
  Advances in simulation and digital human modeling: proceedings of the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conferences on Human Factors and Simulation, and Digital Human Modeling and Applied Optimization, July 16-20, 2020, San Diego, California (Advances in intelligent systems and computing). Cassenti DN, Scataglini S, Rajulu SL, Wright JL eds. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Publishing, 2020 Jul; 1206:174-179
• Contact Point Address:
  Susan Xu, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA
• Email:
  mxu9@cdc.gov
• Editor(s):
  Cassenti DN; Scataglini S; Rajulu SL; Wright JL
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Advances in simulation and digital human modeling: proceedings of the AHFE 2020 Virtual Conferences on Human Factors and Simulation, and Digital Human Modeling and Applied Optimization, July 16-20, 2020, San Diego, California (Advances in intelligent systems and computing)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4d1b458afb1e723e90b61c1ab42dd40f7ee8fc4f883ac0e9e1aef589bed4d91644a1b53e7f768b3a72d68e00d6b6a889468db998f9b9d46aa9743b96d5a16ef4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224378/cdc_224378_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 975.64 KB ]