Task-Specific Postures in Low-Seam Underground Coal Mining

Details

• Personal Author:
  Moore SM ; Nelson ME ; Pollard, Jonisha P. ; Moore SM ; Nelson ME ; Pollard, Jonisha P.
• Description:
  The objective of this study was to determine low-seam mine worker exposure to various postures as they pertain to job classifications and job tasks. Sixty-four mine workers from four low-seam coal mines participated. The mine workers reported the tasks they were required to complete and the two postures they used most frequently to perform them. They were provided with a schematic of postures from which to select. The two postures reported most frequently were identified for each task along with the job classification of the workers performing the tasks. Of the 18 tasks reported, over two thirds were performed by at least two different job classifications and over one third were performed by four or more job classifications. Across tasks, the postures used appeared to vary greatly. However, when grouped by job classification, the most frequently reported posture across all job classifications was kneeling near full flexion. Operating the continuous miner was associated with frequent squatting and was likely used because it affords great mobility, allowing operators to move quickly to avoid hazards. However, for environments with a restricted vertical height such as low-seam mining, the authors recommend squatting be avoided as data demonstrates that large amounts of femoral rollback and high muscle activity for the extensors when performing lateral lifts in this posture. Kneeling near full flexion was reported as the most frequently used posture by all job classifications and was likely due to the fact that it requires the least amount of muscle activity to maintain and has reduced pressures at the knee. However, the authors recommend this posture be avoided when performing lateral lifting tasks. Like squatting, kneeling near full flexion results in increased femoral rollback and may increase the stresses applied to the meniscus. Unlike lateral lifting, maintaining a static posture results in knee loading and muscle activity such that the mine worker should consider kneeling near full flexion and sitting on their heels. Although kneeling near full flexion is associated with injuries, there are benefits to this posture that are realized when statically kneeling (minimal muscle activity, allows worker to maintain an upright torso in low heights, and decreased loading at the knee). However, cartilage is avascular and nourished by synovial fluid. Therefore, one should frequently rotate between postures, assuming a more upright kneeling posture when possible and frequently fully flexing and extending the knee allowing nutrients to the cartilage. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Movements Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Vehicle Emissions Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Knee Coal Coal-mining Crawling Ergonomics Injury-prevention Knee-disorders Knee-injuries Kneeling Mine-workers Miners Mining-industry Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Posture Underground-miners Underground-mining

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• Series:
  Mining Publications   ; Mining Publications  
• ISSN:
  0169-8141
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research ; OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  241-248
• Volume:
  42
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040511
• Citation:
  Int J Ind Ergon 2012 Mar; 42(2):241-248
• Contact Point Address:
  Susan M. Moore, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, PO Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, United States
• Email:
  SMMoore@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8b4360ad655c7691cc4d900904ffa641c70bf5473bc0aad3dda07733d81974e4cf98ac3887a5800ac1e3ca6f101109ec18cca57d3f88cb20d797ba5701f855dc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227422/cdc_227422_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 681.44 KB ]