Abstract
Many jobs leading to a risk of cumulative trauma do not have highly stereotyped motions. This study developed and employed a novel method of ergonomic characterization to describe quantitatively the actions associated with grocery checking. Fifty workers were videotaped for three 15-minute segments each. Eight object types were selected to represent the variety of items in a supermarket. Nine types of motion were coded for each of the eight objects for 10 replications for each subject. The motions coded were: grip type (power versus pinch), wrist flexion, wrist extension, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, supination, pronation, body (lumbar) flexion, and drag versus lift. The results were then weighted according to relative frequency of the object type. In this manner, an ergonomic risk index can be assigned to each specific object type. This method permits identification of objects presenting the greatest risk. It also allows specificity of preventive interventions (object redesign, work practice change) as well as providing a quantitative measure to evaluate work station redesign. Furthermore, it has the potential of quantitatively describing the risk of each individual worker.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 518-528 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Occupational Medicine |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - 1992 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
The ergonomic challenge of repetitive motion with varying ergonomic stresses : Characterizing supermarket checking work. / Harber, Philip I; Bloswick, D.; Pena, L.; Beck, J.; Lee, J.; Baker, D.
In: Journal of Occupational Medicine, Vol. 34, No. 5, 1992, p. 518-528.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The ergonomic challenge of repetitive motion with varying ergonomic stresses
T2 - Characterizing supermarket checking work
AU - Harber, Philip I
AU - Bloswick, D.
AU - Pena, L.
AU - Beck, J.
AU - Lee, J.
AU - Baker, D.
PY - 1992
Y1 - 1992
N2 - Many jobs leading to a risk of cumulative trauma do not have highly stereotyped motions. This study developed and employed a novel method of ergonomic characterization to describe quantitatively the actions associated with grocery checking. Fifty workers were videotaped for three 15-minute segments each. Eight object types were selected to represent the variety of items in a supermarket. Nine types of motion were coded for each of the eight objects for 10 replications for each subject. The motions coded were: grip type (power versus pinch), wrist flexion, wrist extension, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, supination, pronation, body (lumbar) flexion, and drag versus lift. The results were then weighted according to relative frequency of the object type. In this manner, an ergonomic risk index can be assigned to each specific object type. This method permits identification of objects presenting the greatest risk. It also allows specificity of preventive interventions (object redesign, work practice change) as well as providing a quantitative measure to evaluate work station redesign. Furthermore, it has the potential of quantitatively describing the risk of each individual worker.
AB - Many jobs leading to a risk of cumulative trauma do not have highly stereotyped motions. This study developed and employed a novel method of ergonomic characterization to describe quantitatively the actions associated with grocery checking. Fifty workers were videotaped for three 15-minute segments each. Eight object types were selected to represent the variety of items in a supermarket. Nine types of motion were coded for each of the eight objects for 10 replications for each subject. The motions coded were: grip type (power versus pinch), wrist flexion, wrist extension, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, supination, pronation, body (lumbar) flexion, and drag versus lift. The results were then weighted according to relative frequency of the object type. In this manner, an ergonomic risk index can be assigned to each specific object type. This method permits identification of objects presenting the greatest risk. It also allows specificity of preventive interventions (object redesign, work practice change) as well as providing a quantitative measure to evaluate work station redesign. Furthermore, it has the potential of quantitatively describing the risk of each individual worker.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0026762660&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 1593292
AN - SCOPUS:0026762660
VL - 34
SP - 518
EP - 528
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
SN - 1076-2752
IS - 5
ER -