• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.481-489
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an ergonomic checklist (AULA: Agricultural Upper-Limb Assessment) which can assess the risks of the work-related upper limb disorders of farming tasks in Korea. Background: There are few assessment tools that reflect the current condition of agricultural works as of now. Method: AULA was developed as following three stages. First of all, a physiological experiment was conducted with selected 14 upper limb postures which are frequently occurred in farming tasks and then, an ergonomic checklist was developed with determining risk levels of each body posture based on the experimental findings. Lastly, the ergonomic checklist was validated by comparing with the existing assessment tools. Results: When comparing the AULA which was developed in this study with the existing assessment tools, it was found that the AULA may get over limits of the existing ones which are sensitive to particular postures, but aren't sensitive to the rest of them. Conclusion: It is predicted that the developed upper limb posture assessment tool which gets over the existing tools' limits and is proper for domestic farm work conditions, will help to reduce musculoskeletal disorders caused by farm works, by assessing farm works more easily and objectively. Application: By further developing the theoretical groundwork on the induction of muscular skeletal system symptoms relating to agricultural works, it is expected to improve the level of preventing and managing such muscular skeletal system symptoms in the field of agricultural and farming works, which is relatively less advanced in terms of labor difficulties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2008

This study was performed to compare the kinematics among three different safety shoes(type 1: ergonomically designed and high quality shoes, 2: curved and cushioned safety shoes, and 3: regular safety shoes) and to find the effect of insole during walking. Ten healthy subjects were recruited for this study. The range of motion of knee and ankle joint, angle of rear foot and angle of heel contact were measured using a three dimensional motion analysis system. In the second peak, the angle of heel contact showed statistically significant difference between safety shoes and insole, however, there was no statistical significance among three different safety shoes. The angle of ankle increased significantly at initial contact, first peak, the second peak and the toe off phase compared with type 1 and 2 safety shoes, and the angle of ankle showed statistically significant difference between with and without applying the insole. During the first peak, the second peak and the toe off phase, the angle of knee was statistical significance between safety shoes and insole. In heel contact, the angles of Achilles' tendon showed statistically significant difference between safety shoes and insole. The rear foot angles showed statistically significant difference between safety shoes and insole during heel contact and early heel contact. These results suggest that the type 1 safety shoes were superior to others in the statistics, and applying insole could be a possible method to prevent fatigue of lower extremity and musculoskeletal disorders. Further studies are needed to find the effect of ergonomically designed safety shoes and insole on practical value in prevention of musculoskeletal disorder, fatigue and satisfaction of workers.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) that occur in heavy industrial workers according to the occupational category, prevalence, environment, and number of physical therapy visits. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: For this study, data was collected of workers who were engaged in heavy industry in Korea and who visited the company physicians and received physical therapy in 2016. Data was collected from 855 subjects and was analyzed. With the data collected, analysis of the type and prevalence of MSDs and the number of physical therapy visits that have occurred according to the occupational category and environment was performed. Results: The most common MSDs were lumbar sprains and spasms (31.1%), and shoulder sprain and spasm (19.4%). In addition, the most common type of MSDs according to the occupational category and environment (occupational type) were lumbar sprain and spasms in 11 occupations, including white collar workers, and in milling, inspection, crane operation, and finishing jobs, shoulder muscle sprain and strain were the most common disorders. Also, the prevalence of MSDs according to occupational category and environment (occupational type) was the highest in workers involved with welding, which was 29.7%. Conclusions: Through this study, the type and prevalence of MSDs according to the occupational category and environment of heavy industrial workers have been confirmed. Further studies are necessary to study the future types of the work patterns of industrial workers and to develop a system for preventing and managing MSDs that may occur.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2020

Purposes: The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between the standing position of the subject and the normal standing position(NSP) and the straight standing position(SSP) and to investigate the possibility of different body shape test results depending on the status of the image inspection apparatus. Methods: The images of the NSP and SSP were compared with each other by body line BLS system. Results: At the time of examination, the position of the camera was captured at a position 2.3 m vertically from the posterior position 45 cm behind the subject. This is a privacy protection method for covering the breast of the subject. Results: The physiological characteristics of the anatomical position of the body align image test are the living body. NSP and SSP tests showed different shapes of the pelvis AS(antero-supero) and pelvis rotation in the transverse plane. Shoulder and arm displacement was observed in the trunk extension image capture. Conclusions: In the body alignment test, the pelvis position test images of NSP and SSP are evaluated differently for pelvis rotation, AS, and PS. At the extension position of the trunk, a test of the maximal extension range showed that the left and right shortening of the shoulder anterior muscles could be observed. Inducing and testing the trunk extension is also useful.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2021

Musculoskeletal disorders affect workers' safety in most industries, and forest operations are classified as a musculoskeletal burden according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea. In particular, felling and delimbing operations are mainly conducted by manpower, and then, it is necessary to evaluate ergonomic risk assessment for safety of felling and delimbing workers. Three ergonomic risk assessment methods, such as Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), are available for assessing exposure to risk factors associated with timber harvesting operations. Here, three ergonomic risk assessment methods were applied to examine ergonomic risk assessments in chainsaw felling and delimbing operations. Additionally, exposure to risk factors in each method was analyzed to propose an optimal working posture in felling and delimbing operations. The risk levels of these operations were evaluated to be highest in the RULA method, followed by the OWAS and REBA methods, and most of the exposed working postures were examined with a low-risk level of two and three without requiring any immediate working posture changes. However, two significant working postures, including the bending posture of the waist and leg in felling operation and standing posture on the fallen trees in delimbing operation, were assessed as the high-risk level and needed immediate working posture changes. Low-risk work levels were examined in the squatting posture for felling operation and the straightened posture of the waist and leg for delimbing operation. Moreover, the slope in felling operation and the tree height in delimbing operation significantly affected risk level assessment of working posture. Therefore, our study supports that felling and delimbing workers must operate with low-risk working postures for safety.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study is to review the hazards of whole body vibration(WBV) and prevent human injuries due to WBV. Background: Vibrations that shake the whole body in vehicles and vessels is WBV. Vibration at a specific frequency, and intensity in the human body can act as a hazard. But, it has not yet done enough research about effects of WBV. Method: We analyzed and reviewed occupational or ergonomic papers published past 30 years. Results: Exposure to whole body vibration can cause permanent physical injury or damage of the nervous system. In addition, it may cause problem in the cardiovascular system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, reproductive system, and psychological system. The effect of vibration depends on its acceleration, duration, frequency, and direction. Conclusion: WBV-exposed human body experience a high risk of some illnesses such as lumbar spinal disorders. Some workers(bus drivers, truck drivers and heavy equipment operators) are the high risk population exposed to WBV. Application: The results of this study might help to judge and prevent occupational disease caused by WBV.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.589-599
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the upper-limb motions and postures of grapes-harvesting tasks using electrical goniometers and analyze the upper-limb motions in a kinematic way to assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Background: Grapes farmers are exposed to various risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as repetitive upper-limb motions, non-neutral postures, and manual handling of heavy items. The farmers have to use scissors repetitively while harvesting grapes with their being arms elevated over the shoulder height, which presumed to increase the physical workload. It has been reported that the grapes farmers feel the harvesting task as the one of the hardest work in cultivating grapes. We tried measure the wrist and elbow angles while the farmers were carrying out harvesting tasks to understand how much workload the work impose on the farmers, which can be helpful in making interventions of preventing musculosksletal disorders among grapes farmers. Method: We measured joint angles at the right wrist and elbow with a wireless measuring system with two electrical goniometers from five grape farmers. The grapes-harvesting task was classified into 6 different subtasks: 1) searching, 2) picking, 3) cleaning, 4) carrying, 6) storing, and 7) miscellaneous tasks. The subtasks were compared by mean angles, 10%, 50%, and 90% APDF values of wrist flexion/extension, ulnar/radial deviation, and elbow flexion. Results: The Kruskal-Wallis tests showed that the 10th percentiles of APDF of ulnar/radial deviation and flexion/extension of the wrist significantly differs among subtasks (p<0.05). It was found that the farmers assumed more deviated wrist postures in the ulnar direction when they picking and adjusting the grapes. The use of scissors seemed to force the farmers to severely bend their wrist in the directions of ulnar deviation and flexion. The grapes-harvesting task showed similar wrist postures and motion with poultry deboning and milking tasks. Conclusion: The grapes harvesting tasks make the farmers take ulnar deviated and extended postures in the wrist. The use of scissors makes them take more severely deviated postures in the wrist. Safety guidelines including use of ergonomic scissors can be provided to the farmers to improve their work conditions. Application: The results of this study can be used as a basic data for the development of safety guidelines for agricultural work.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2006

In assessing risks related to working posture, pictures of postures are taken from various directions, which can be a source of observation error. Joint postures of the neck, lower back, knee, shoulder, and elbow were taken from 7 different viewing angles and 19 observers estimated joint angles by observing the pictures in 2-dimensional display. The joint angles were also measured using an optoelectronic motion measurement system. The estimation error increased as the viewing angle varies from the right side of the human body, but the patterns differ according to which joint angles were being observed. Guidelines to increase the validity of observation of joint angles were presented based on the results. In general, it is recommended to maintain the viewing angle within 20 degrees from the right side of the human body, while different ranges of viewing angle are recommended for each joint angle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic adaptation of head and trunk to ascend stairs and a ramp. Subjects were healthy young adults. Three-dimensional kinematic patterns of head and trunk movements were examined during stair climbing and steeper ramp climbing. Methods: Fourteen young subjects with no history of chronic or acute musculoskeletal, cardiovascular or respiratory disorders took part in this experiment. Kinematic data were collected using a 6 camera Vicon system (Oxford Metrix, Oxford, England). Repeated measures ANOVA analyses were used to investigate the effect of gait mode on kinematics of the head and trunk. Results: The angle of the trunk while ascending stairs or a ramp was modified in three human planes (p<0.05). The angle of head and neck during the ascending of stairs or a ramp was not changed in the sagittal plane but was changed in the frontal and transverse planes (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study describes and discusses some basic kinematic mechanisms underlying the pattern of head and trunk changes during stair and ramp climbing and showed that postural adaptation of the head and trunk is necessary to maintain balance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2007

국내외의 근골격계질환에 대한 현황과 자료를 검토하였다. 국내의 자료는 지난 수년간 대학 연구소에서 수행한 유해요인조사 및 예방사업 과정에서 수집된 자료들이다. 제조업에서 서비스업에 이르는 다양한 업종의 현황을 비교하였다. 외국의 자료와 비교할 때 가장 큰 특징은 국내의 근골격계질환 자료는 발생건수에서도 실제 생산형장에서의 현황보다 축소되어져 있지만, 전체 산업재해나 직업병에서의 비율로 볼 때도 매년 그 발생 비율이 불안정하게 등락함으로서 아직도 국내의 근골격계질환의 발생비율은 여전히 정확한 현황 파악이 되지 못하고 있는 것으로 평가된다. 국내외 자료를 비교 분석한 결과 국내의 근골격계질환 현황은 외국의 평균치와 비교하여 10배 이상 저평가 되어 있는 것으로 분석된다. 또한 업종별로 평균 유병율은 적게는 5%에서 많게는 10% 이상에 이르는 것으로 추정되어진다.