Physical exposure during boxes handling in real and simulated environment with experienced workers

• Grant number: 13/04605-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Beatriz de Oliveira
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A trying to reduce the musculoskeletal risks of handling loads is the use of handles in boxes. In order to contribute to the limited and inconclusive knowledge available in the literature about the effect of adapting boxes, verified through a previous systematic review conduced by this research group, the Study 1 aims evaluating the physical workload of upper limbs of experienced subjects during the manual handling of a new box design compared to conventional boxes. Twenty experienced workers will handle all the boxes moving them from a fixed surface to an adjustable one (at floor, trochanter, and shoulder height). The order of height and the box will be randomized. Besides direct measurements (electrogoniometry, inclinometry and electromyographic recordings) a subjective scale will be used to evaluate pleasantness and perceived exertion. The Study 2 is proposed to evaluate physical exposure in real work environment in order to measure exposure on other tasks than manual handling. The aim are (1) evaluating physical exposure from electromyographic and movement recordings of upper limbs during a regular working period of workers who do manual handling and other tasks in their workday, and (2) to evaluate contrast of exposure between manual handling and other tasks also performed in industrial environment. The physical exposure will be assessed through the recording of electrical muscle activity and upper limb movements during a representative period of the workday. Fifteen workers will be random selected to participate. Musculoskeletal symptoms will be identified through the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and a standardized physical examination will also be performed. The results of this study will allow a better understanding of the representativeness of manual handling tasks on the total exposure of the worker, as well as the comparison to the exposure on other tasks also performed in the occupational setting. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

NOGUEIRA, HELEN CRISTINA; DA CUNHA BUENO SILVA, LUCIANA CRISTINA; COTE GIL COURY, HELENICE JANE; BARBIERI, DECHRISTIAN FRANCA; OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ. Can experience modulate handler responses to boxes designed to decrease musculoskeletal load?. ERGONOMICS, v. 60, n. 6, p. 867-875, 2017. (13/04605-4, 13/04839-5)

NOGUEIRA, HELEN CRISTINA; LOCKS, FRANCISCO; BARBIERI, DECHRISTIAN FRANCA; OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ. How does the biomechanical exposure of the upper body in manual box handling differ from exposure in other tasks in the real industrial context?. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS, v. 68, p. 8-14, NOV 2018. (13/04839-5, 13/04605-4)