Musculoskeletal disorder risk during automotive assembly: current vs. seated.
Musculoskeletal disorder risk was assessed during automotive assembly processes. The risk associated with current assembly processes was compared to using a cantilever chair intervention. Spine loads and normalized shoulder muscle activity were evaluated during assembly in eight regions of the vehicle. Eight interior cabin regions of the vehicle were classified by reach distance, height from vehicle floor and front to back. The cantilever chair intervention tool was most effective in the far reach regions regardless of the height. In the front far reach regions both spine loads and normalized shoulder muscle activity levels were reduced. In the middle and close reach regions spine loads were reduced, however, shoulder muscle activity was not, thus an additional intervention would be necessary to reduce shoulder risk. In the back far reach region, spine loads were not significantly different between the current and cantilever chair conditions. Thus, the effectiveness of the cantilever chair was dependent on the region of the vehicle.
The Ohio State University, Integrated Systems Engineering, Biodynamics Laboratory, Center for Occupational Health in Automotive Manufacturing, 210 Baker Systems, 1971 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. ferguson.4@osu.edu
Sue A
SA
Ferguson
William S
WS
Marras
W Gary
WG
Allread
Gregory G
GG
Knapik
Riley E
RE
Splittstoesser
D000328:Adult; D001336:Automobiles; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult