Physical Limitations of Handling Materials in Restricted Postures

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gallagher S
• Description:
  The posture assumed by the body during manual lifting tasks is one of the most important considerations in evaluating the risk of experiencing a back injury. As posture is changed, a number of factors are affected that may significantly influence the ability of the body to withstand the stresses of manual materials handling (MMH). For instance, changes in posture have been shown to affect muscular strength, lifting capacity, the metabolic cost of performing MMH tasks, development of muscular fatigue, and pressure on the intervertebral disks. In many cases, redesign of the workplace can easily remedy the postural stresses experienced by workers. However, not all work environments lend themselves to easy design modifications. Low-seam coal mines require a significant amount of MMH to be performed in awkward or restricted lifting postures. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about the biomechanical stresses, physiological cost, and psychophysical responses of the body to lifting in positions such as kneeling or stooped. This paper discusses Bureau of Mines research examining the stresses of lifting in restricted postures, such as those often used by miners. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Coal Coal Mining Energy Metabolism Environmental Exposure Ergonomics Fatigue Mental Health Mining Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Back Injuries Biomechanics Coal Mining Exposure Levels Humans Injuries Lifting Lifting Capacity Manual Lifting Manual Materials Handling Metabolic Effects Mining Industry Muscle Function Muscle Physiology Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Physiological Effects Physiological Fatigue Physiological Stress Physiology Posture Psychological Effects Repetitive-work Risk Factors Stress Task-performance Underground Miners Underground Mining Weight Factors Work Environment Workers

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISBN:
  9780969854412
• Publisher:
  Human Factors Association of Canada
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRC - Pittsburgh Research Center
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048565
• Citation:
  IEA '94, proceedings of the 12th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, August 15-19, 1994, Toronto, Canada, Volume 2: Ergonomics in Occupational Health and Safety. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: Human Factors Association of Canada, 1994 Aug; 2:441
• Contact Point Address:
  U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, P.O. Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  IEA '94, proceedings of the 12th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, August 15-19, 1994, Toronto, Canada, Volume 2: Ergonomics in Occupational Health and Safety
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1d599e608ab826ae24fd21af4f0a33c2b4851fdfbab8e27700328d88a514ae341f9d3d5b8295c2bc89205aff9b7d5a048cf1d403e3b563c7ccf629b87d81a7d8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228289/cdc_228289_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.32 MB ]