Field Assessment of Biomechanical and Physiological Demands in Sand and Limestone Bagging Operations

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gallagher S ; Heberger J ; Manke N ; Pollard J
• Description:
  Bagging operations are common in the mining industry and are associated with numerous musculoskeletal injuries. To better understand the physical demands of bagging operations, field evaluations quantifying low back loading and physiological costs of bagging tasks were performed at two bagging operations. A biomechanical model employing electromyography (EMG) and goniometry was used to estimate lumbar compression and a portable metabolic system used to assess heart rate and oxygen consumption. Manual palletizing of bags was found to generate a load of approximately 1,500 Newtons on the spine, with a few larger loads of 2,000-3,000 Newtons. The average oxygen cost for stacking was 5.3 METS, indicating moderately intense physical activity. Bag filling resulted in lower lumbar loads and a reduced physiological cost (3.2 METS), or a moderate level of energy expenditure. Use of a vacuum hoist resulted in a 39% reduction in the peak compressive load on the worker's spine compared to manual lifting when palletizing 75-lb bags. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Coal Coal Mining Ergonomics Fatigue Mining Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Biomechanics Coal-miners Coal-mining Mine-workers Miners Mining-industry Musculoskeletal-system Physical-stress Physiological-effects Physiological-fatigue Physiological-measurements Posture Quantitative-analysis Risk-analysis Statistical-analysis Work-analysis Work-environment Work-performance Work-practices Workplace-studies

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISBN:
  9780945289395
• ISSN:
  1071-1813
• Publisher:
  Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Nevada ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  55
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20039781
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting, September 19-23, 2011, Las Vegas, Nevada. Southwick SM, Litz BT, Charney D, Friedman MJ, eds. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2011 Sep; 55:1002-1006
• Contact Point Address:
  Sean Gallagher, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of Mine Safety and Health Research Pittsburgh, PA
• Editor(s):
  Southwick SM; Litz BT; Charney D; Friedman MJ
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Performing Organization:
  State University of New York at Buffalo
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060701
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting, September 19-23, 2011, Las Vegas, Nevada
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b79b7e4d7cd8c7c6a5db2261d1716eb3dea03a73248e9a1cd25a60249d9f35b1e83feaf4f2bfb040cd0c596a6e80b9fe23987ea8f03b718ce9ef7499ca3b15cc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227375/cdc_227375_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 739.86 KB ]