Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Grocery Express Checkstand Workers

Orgel, David L.; Milliron, Monica J.; Frederick, Linda

doi:10.1097/00043764-199208000-00017

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Although numerous studies have proposed workstation modifications to reduce the risk of cumulative trauma disorders in supermarket checkout operators 6,20,21 , no experimental studies have analyzed these propositions. Rodacki et al 6 proposed a modified checkout workstation with a continuous conveyor belt that would position products near the checkout operator's mid-line to attenuate/reduce the postural demand of the task.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

Rodacki¹,

Vieira²

2010

Rev. bras. fisioter.

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Objectives: This study analyzed the effect of a standard and a modified checkout workstation during a simulated task on trunk postures of a supermarket checkout operator. Methods: Eight participants performed a task involving grasping, scanning and depositing products, while 3D images of the trunk were collected. Results: A number of kinematic changes were observed in trunk posture. A greater anterior flexion (3.0±1.2 o ) and lateral bending during grasping (7.1±1.4 o ) were found in the standard checkout workstation when compared to the modified model (p<0.05). Other variables did not show significant differences (p>0.05). Discussion: The modified checkout workstation provided less lateral bending of the trunk to grasp products (8.1 o ± 2.8; p<0.05), which was considered an advantage with respect to the standard model. Changes in the sagittal and transversal planes were not observed (p>0.05), irrespective of the checkout workstations (p>0.05). The modified checkout workstation successfully reduced risk of injury in some aspects, particularly the problems associated with lateral bending of the trunk. Other studies are required to test whether such potential benefits are obtained on a daily basis. Conclusions: Supermarket checkout operators may be at high risk of occupational injury due to different workstation demands.Modifications to checkout workstation design are an attractive possibility to reduce postural stress and fatigue in checkout operators.Longitudinal studies are required to test whether changes observed in the present study are sustained in the long term.Key words: supermarket checkout operators; supermarket checkout workstation; checkout workstation design; posture. ResumoObjetivos: Analisar o efeito de um modelo padrão e de um modificado de checkout durante uma tarefa simulada de um operador de caixa de supermercado. Métodos: Oito participantes desempenharam uma tarefa envolvendo apanhar, ler e depositar produtos, enquanto imagens 3D do tronco foram coletadas. Resultados: Um número de mudanças cinemáticas foram observadas na postura do tronco. Uma maior flexão anterior (3.0±1.2 o ) e uma inclinação lateral durante o apanhar (7.1±1.4 o ) foram encontradas no checkout padrão quando comparadas ao modelo modificado (p<0.05). Outras variáveis não apresentaram mudanças significativas (p>0.05).Discussão: O checkout modificado causou menor inclinação lateral do tronco para apanhar produtos (8.1 o ± 2.8; p<0.05), o que foi considerado como uma vantagem em relação ao modelo padrão. Mudanças nos planos sagital transverso não foram observadas (p>0.05), independente do modelo do checkout (p>0.05). O modelo modificado se mostrou eficaz paras prover reduções de risco de lesão em alguns aspectos. Especificamente, problemas associados com as inclinações laterais do tronco podem ser reduzidos quando o checkout modificado é empregado. Outros estudos são necessários para testar se tais benefícios potenciais são obtidos em uso de base diária. Conclusões: Operadores de supermercado podem ter elevado risco de le...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

Rodacki¹,

Vieira²

2010

Rev. bras. fisioter.

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“…Although cashiers are exposed to additional risk factors for back pain (e.g. prolonged standing and lifting), there is some evidence that redesigning checkstands to reduce trunk flexion can lessen musculoskeletal discomfort (Orgel et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An analysis of scanning postures among grocery cashiers and its relationship to checkstand design

Grant

Habes

1995

Ergonomics

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Mounting evidence suggests that musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among US retail food workers. Cashiers who use electronic scanners appear to be at especially high risk for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Checkstand design has been implicated as a contributor to musculoskeletal injury among cashiers because workstation design can significantly impact working posture. The present study examines working posture among two groups of cashiers to determine if checkstand design is associated with substantial differences in posture and movement during scanning. The work activities of twenty grocery cashiers using one of two checkstand designs (front-facing and right-hand takeaway) were examined. Videotapes of cashiers performing scanning tasks were observed and associated postures and movements were visually coded. The right-hand takeaway design was associated with a significantly higher percentage of non-neutral trunk postures than the front-facing design. However, there were no significant differences in shoulder posture, grasp, or scanning motion associated with checkstand/scanner design. Factors that appeared to affect cashier work posture during scanning included stature, order size, and product type. Although improving the checkstand design may reduce the occurrence of certain awkward postures and static muscle loading conditions among cashiers, the success of these interventions is likely to be limited unless follow-up programmes are instituted to ensure that cashiers are able to use these designs effectively. Furthermore, fundamental changes in cashier work may be required to fully eliminate hazards for musculoskeletal disorders from this job.

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“…Studies on musculoskeletal disorders among supermarket checkout operators and cashiers (Wallersteiner 1981;Lannersten and Harms-Ringdahl 1990; Baron and Habes 1992;Orgel et al 1992;Hinnen et al 1992;Grant and Habes 1995;Niedhammer et al 1998;Lehman et al 2001) have generally reported varying degrees of neck, shoulder, upper-limb and back pain, attributed to constant standing, reaching, bending and twisting. Carpal tunnel syndrome has been the main subject of study (Margolis and Kraus 1987;Barnhart and Rosenstock 1987;Morgenstern et al 1991;Harber et al 1993;Panzone et al 1996;Osorio et al 1994) among cashiers or grocery store workers, with a reported prevalence of 63% (self-reported symptoms) in the former (Margolis and Kraus 1987) and 23% (clinical diagnosis) in the latter (Osorio et al 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relations between occupational, psychosocial and individual factors and three different categories of back disorder among supermarket workers

Violante

Graziosi

Bonfiglioli

et al. 2005

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Grocery Express Checkstand Workers

Cited by 27 publications

References 0 publications

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

The effect of different supermarket checkout workstations on trunk kinematics of checkout operators

An analysis of scanning postures among grocery cashiers and its relationship to checkstand design

Relations between occupational, psychosocial and individual factors and three different categories of back disorder among supermarket workers

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