Ergonomics assessment methods used by ergonomics professionals

Lowe, Brian D.; Dempsey, Patrick G.; Jones, Evan

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102882

Cited by 90 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…More recently, the 1995 SI has shown predictive validity in prospective cohort studies of specific DUE MSDs such as CTS (Silverstein et al 2006, lateral and medial epicondylalgia (Fan et al 2014;Garg et al 2014), hand/wrist tendinitis (Harris-Adamson et al 2014), and trigger digit (Kapellusch et al 2014). As of 2019 the 1995 SI was reported as among the most widely used distal upper extremity assessment methods used by ergonomics professionals in the United States and Canada (Lowe, Dempsey, and Jones 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the Revised Strain Index for Predicting Risk of Incident Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Prospective Cohort

et al. 2021

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The Revised Strain Index (RSI), a model that quantifies physical exposure from individual hand/ wrist exertions, tasks, and multi-task jobs, was used to quantify exposure for 1372 incident-eligible manufacturing, service and healthcare workers. Workers were followed for an average of 2.5 years (maximum 6 years) and had an average carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) incidence rate of 4.6 per 100 person-years. Exceeding the a-priori RSI limit of 10.0 showed increased risk of CTS (Hazard Ratio (HR) ¼ 1.45, 95% CI: 1.11-1.91, p ¼ 0.01). There also was a dose-response relationship using proposed low (RSI 8.5, HR ¼ 1.00), medium (HR ¼ 1.42 (95% CI: 0.96-2.09, p ¼ 0.08)), and high limits (RSI > 15, HR ¼ 1.79 (95% CI: 1.19-2.69, p ¼ 0.01), respectively. RSI as a continuous variable showed CTS risk increased steadily by between 1.9% and 3.3% per unit increase in RSI (p 0.03). These results suggest that the RSI is a useful tool for surveillance as well as for job intervention/design and continuous improvement processes. Practitioner Summary The Revised Strain Index (RSI) quantifies physical exposure from individual hand/wrist exertions, tasks, and multi-task jobs. Increased cumulative RSI scores (i.e. daily exposure score) are associated with increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The RSI is potentially useful as a risk surveillance and intervention design tool.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the Revised Strain Index for Predicting Risk of Incident Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Prospective Cohort

et al. 2021

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“…In order to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, it is necessary to evaluate workplaces ergonomically [ 3 ]. In one common approach, an ergonomics expert observes the employee performing the movements necessary for the planned work process at his/her workplace [ 4 ]. Observed postures and the dynamic ranges of movement are incorporated into a risk assessment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Motion Trackers with Virtual Reality Sensor Technology in Comparison to a Marker-Based Motion Capture System Based on Joint Angles for Ergonomic Risk Assessment

Vox

Weber

Wolf

et al. 2021

Sensors

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The reproduction and simulation of workplaces, and the analysis of body postures during work processes, are parts of ergonomic risk assessments. A commercial virtual reality (VR) system offers the possibility to model complex work scenarios as virtual mock-ups and to evaluate their ergonomic designs by analyzing motion behavior while performing work processes. In this study a VR tracking sensor system (HTC Vive tracker) combined with an inverse kinematic model (Final IK) was compared with a marker-based optical motion capture system (Qualisys). Marker-based optical motion capture systems are considered the gold standard for motion analysis. Therefore, Qualisys was used as the ground truth in this study. The research question to be answered was how accurately the HTC Vive System combined with Final IK can measure joint angles used for ergonomic evaluation. Twenty-six subjects were observed simultaneously with both tracking systems while performing 20 defined movements. Sixteen joint angles were analyzed. Joint angle deviations between ±6∘ and ±42∘ were identified. These high deviations must be considered in ergonomic risk assessments when using a VR system. The results show that commercial low-budget tracking systems have the potential to map joint angles. Nevertheless, substantial weaknesses and inaccuracies in some body regions must be taken into account. Recommendations are provided to improve tracking accuracy and avoid systematic errors.

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“…An alternative is to shift the focus to proactive risk management [ 19 ], where risk assessments of potential hazards are performed at earlier stages before symptoms such as work-related pain have emerged [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Such risk assessments are often performed by professional ergonomists with the direct or indirect support of observation-based assessment tools [ 14 , 24 , 25 ]. Despite the broad applicability of observation-based assessment tools [ 26 , 27 ], they can have low precision and reliability [ 28 , 29 ], and can additionally be less cost-efficient than technical measurement instruments when considering the precision of the obtained data [ 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Technical measurement instruments for the recording of work postures and movements have in the past mainly been applicable for research, and they are still scarcely used among professional ergonomists compared to observation-based tools [ 24 ]. For example, among professional ergonomists in the US, only about 12% reported using non-optical motion capture instruments at least once every six months, and less than 5% reported using electronic goniometer for the wrist or trunk at least once every six months.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Wearable Sensor System for Physical Ergonomics Interventions Using Haptic Feedback

Lind

Diaz-Olivares

Lindecrantz

et al. 2020

Sensors

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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a major concern globally affecting societies, companies, and individuals. To address this, a new sensor-based system is presented: the Smart Workwear System, aimed at facilitating preventive measures by supporting risk assessments, work design, and work technique training. The system has a module-based platform that enables flexibility of sensor-type utilization, depending on the specific application. A module of the Smart Workwear System that utilizes haptic feedback for work technique training is further presented and evaluated in simulated mail sorting on sixteen novice participants for its potential to reduce adverse arm movements and postures in repetitive manual handling. Upper-arm postures were recorded, using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), perceived pain/discomfort with the Borg CR10-scale, and user experience with a semi-structured interview. This study shows that the use of haptic feedback for work technique training has the potential to significantly reduce the time in adverse upper-arm postures after short periods of training. The haptic feedback was experienced positive and usable by the participants and was effective in supporting learning of how to improve postures and movements. It is concluded that this type of sensorized system, using haptic feedback training, is promising for the future, especially when organizations are introducing newly employed staff, when teaching ergonomics to employees in physically demanding jobs, and when performing ergonomics interventions.

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Ergonomics assessment methods used by ergonomics professionals

Cited by 90 publications

References 15 publications

Validation of the Revised Strain Index for Predicting Risk of Incident Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Prospective Cohort

Validation of the Revised Strain Index for Predicting Risk of Incident Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Prospective Cohort

An Evaluation of Motion Trackers with Virtual Reality Sensor Technology in Comparison to a Marker-Based Motion Capture System Based on Joint Angles for Ergonomic Risk Assessment

A Wearable Sensor System for Physical Ergonomics Interventions Using Haptic Feedback

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