Development and Validation of a Wearable Inertial Sensors-Based Automated System for Assessing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workspace

Abstract

The industrial societies face difficulty applying traditional work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) risk assessment methods in practical applications due to in-situ task dynamics, complex data processing, and the need of ergonomics professionals. This study aims to develop and validate a wearable inertial sensors-based automated system for assessing WMSD risks in the workspace conveniently, in order to enhance workspace safety and improve workers’ health. Both postural ergonomic analysis (RULA/REBA) and two-dimensional static biomechanical analysis were automatized as two toolboxes in the proposed system to provide comprehensive WMSD risk assessment based on the kinematic data acquired from wearable inertial sensors. The effectiveness of the developed system was validated through a follow-up experiment among 20 young subjects when performing representative tasks in the heavy industry. The RULA/REBA scores derived from our system achieved high consistency with experts’ ratings (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.83, classification accuracy >88%), and good agreement was also found between low-back compression force from the developed system and the reference system (mean intersystem coefficient of multiple correlation >0.89 and relative error <9.5%). These findings suggested that the wearable inertial sensors-based automated system could be effectively used for WMSD risk assessment of workers when performing tasks in the workspace.

A Wearable Sensor-Based Platform for Surgeon Posture Monitoring: A Tool to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders

“…Moreover, the sensor platform design derives also from the consideration that in the observational methods for the estimation of ergonomics, the movement of the back, such as for neck, is associated with a single-segment biomechanical model. Consequently, considering for example spine as a single joint segment, trunk angle can be calculated from a single IMU commonly placed either on the chest [ 22 ] or on the upper back [ 21 , 25 ] or through 2 IMUs positioned respectively at the sacral level (as a body reference) and the other at the mid-thoracic level [ 33 ]. Our selection was based on this last configuration; in fact, the first sensor was placed in correspondence with the sacral level (IMU1), the second at the thoracic level (IMU2), and the last in the head region (IMU3) (see Figure 3 ).…”

A Review of Relevant Regulations, Requirements and Assessment Methods Concerning Physical Load in Workplaces in the Slovak Republic

“…It follows from the above that technical, organizational, and other measures can be proposed in two basic areas: measures to reduce the level of excessive physical strain at work, and measures to reduce the level of excessive mental workload. The basic technical measures that eliminate or reduce the increased physical load at work to the lowest possible level can generally include: (according to Decree 542/2007 of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic): ergonomic adjustment of the workplace; restriction or complete ban on the use of products, tools, and equipment, which cause increased physical strain at work, i.e., technological processes; requirements for adequate microclimatic conditions [50][51][52][53].…”

Implementation of Kinetic and Kinematic Variables in Ergonomic Risk Assessment Using Motion Capture Simulation: A Review

“…Ergonomic risk assessment is an important task in evaluating risk activities in the workplace [1,44]. Ergonomic risk assessment supports provision of a healthy work environment and the design of a workplace for optimum work performance [1].…”

“…This approach is also suitable to be conducted on a large scale of issues [48]. In a recent study, Huang et al [44] developed a method for assessing WMSDs in the workspace using a wearable inertial sensor-based automated system to overcome the limitations of traditional WMSDs risk assessment methods. The study reported that the wearable inertial sensor-based automated system has the potential to be used for WMSDs risk assessments of workers when performing tasks in a workspace.…”