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Volume 43 (2014)
- Issue 2 Pages 67-
- Issue 1 Pages 1-
Volume 43, Issue 1
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Displaying 1-5 of 5 articles from this issue
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Originals
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TELAPROLU NEERAJA, BHANWAR LAL I.A.S, CHEKURI SWAROCHISH2014 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 1-8
Published: 2014
Released on J-STAGE: June 03, 2016
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSEvidence regarding possible risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can guide the selection of possible intervention measures and the work towards developing appropriate ergonomic and safety measures. The intention of the study was to explore the factors associated with developing MSDs among construction workers. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to measure the severity, duration, frequency and prevalence of symptoms of MSDs in nine anatomical body regions. Physical fitness was assessed based on the workers’ answers regarding the perception of their own physical fitness. Psychosocial work demands were measured in terms of job control, psychological demands, social support and job dissatisfaction. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to upper back, neck and upper limb MSDs. Results from multiple logistic regression showed that distal upper limb MSDs were related to manual handling, work repetitiveness, psychosocial demands, job dissatisfaction and gender. Neck, shoulder or upper back MSDs were related to manual handling, work repetitiveness, psychosocial demands, job dissatisfaction and physical unfitness. The findings suggest that reducing neck, shoulder upper back and distal upper limb MSDs in the workplace requires appropriate measures aimed at making the physical environment more suitable with regard to equipment, machinery, tools and furniture, in order to reduce repetitiveness, the use of force and manual handling.View full abstractDownload PDF (268K) -
KADEK HERI SANJAYA, SOOMIN LEE, ANDAR BAGUS SRIWARNO, YOSHIHITO SHIMOM ...2014 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 9-28
Published: 2014
Released on J-STAGE: June 03, 2016
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSIn order to reconcile contradictory results from previous studies on manual pushing, a study was conducted to examine the effect of trunk inclination on muscular activities, centre of pressure (COP) and force exertion during static pushing. Ten subjects pushed at 0o, 15°, 30°, and 45° body inclinations in parallel and staggered feet stances. Wall and ground force plates measured pushing force, wall COP, vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and ground COP. Electromyogram data were recorded at 10 trunk muscle sites. Pushing force was found to increase with body inclination. GRF peaked at 15° and reached its lowest level at the 45° inclination. The lowest wall force plate standard deviation of COP displacement was found at the 30° inclination. The lowest low back muscular activity was found at the 15° and 30° inclinations. Based on force exertion, muscular load, and stability, the 30° body inclination was found to be the best posture for static pushing. This study also showed asymmetry in muscular activity and force exertion which has been received less attention in manual pushing studies. These findings will require further study.View full abstractDownload PDF (920K) -
PRABIR MUKHOPADHYAY, VIPUL VINZUDA, SUHAS NAIK, VIGNESH KARTHIKEYAN, P ...2014 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 29-39
Published: 2014
Released on J-STAGE: June 03, 2016
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSHorse-drawn carriages popularly known as Tanga in India provide a popular joy ride. Such vehicles were selected from two cites in Central India and the other from a city in Western India, based on complaints from the users that these vehicles were not comfortable to ride. Twelve male and twelve female participants were selected for the user study. Two of the members of the research team travelled on the vehicle on twelve trips over a 7 kilometer stretch (considered to be the maximum stretch for a Tanga ride). The study comprised three phases; direct observation and activity analysis, a questionnaire study and another questionnaire study of body part discomfort, with the aim to get an insight into the ergonomic design issues of the vehicle. There were gross mismatches in the design and human anthropometric dimensions together with other issues like safety and reliability involved. Based on the initial observations, four concept prototypes were developed which were later handed to the respective authorities for further implementation.View full abstractDownload PDF (3772K) -
TERUO UETAKE, MASAHIRO SHIMODA2014 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 41-49
Published: 2014
Released on J-STAGE: June 03, 2016
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThis study analyzed the perceived attention represented by “gazing” points of cyclists to expose a latent accidental factor hidden in cyclist behaviour. Eleven elderly people and 23 young people equipped with an eye camera participated in the study. From the camera images, the objects viewed by the cyclists were analyzed. A main road and a community road were used in the experiment. The objects viewed by the cyclists were categorized into nine items that would be indirectly related to the cause of bicycle traffic accidents: gates and porches, parking lots, signals, alleys, other bicycles on the road, pedestrians, signs and painted symbols on the road, schoolyards and houses, and other items. The results of the study indicated that many elderly cyclists always confirmed their safety at alley intersections along both main and community roads, whereas many young people were not so dutiful. The results for unsafe gazing behavior such as looking at a schoolyard or house while cycling were the same for the two groups in that most individuals did not look away from the road while cycling along the main and community roads. Dissimilar results, especially those for alley intersections, resulted from young people not paying due attention to objects, suggesting that such gazing behaviour could be strongly related to traffic accidents involving a bicycle.View full abstractDownload PDF (225K)
Communications
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SUEBSAK NANTHAVANIJ, DOOJCHADANG BOON-ANAKE, KWANCHANOK HONGSIRI, ORAW ...2014 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 51-62
Published: 2014
Released on J-STAGE: June 03, 2016
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSChildren are likely to assume very awkward seated postures when using a desktop computer at workstations with limited adjustability. This also includes the workstations that are not built for them such as adult visual display terminal (VDT) workstations. This paper proposes simple step-by-step procedures for estimating necessary adjustments so that children can sit and maintain an appropriate seated posture at VDT workstations with limited adjustability (i.e., fixed keyboard and monitor heights). From the anthropometric and VDT workstation data, the procedures compute the recommended VDT workstation settings for a concerned child, compare them with the actual workstation adjustment ranges, determine the appropriate settings, and suggest necessary accessories. The posture adjustment procedures are tested on four Thai children seated at two different types of adult VDT workstation. A rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) technique is used to evaluate the children’s seated postures both before and after the posture adjustment. Applying the procedures, children need their own VDT workstation that should be fully adjustable. In using an adult workstation, adjustment accessories and the correct settings are required.View full abstractDownload PDF (244K)
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