A portable ergonomic observation method (PEO) for computerized on-line recording of postures and manual handling.

A new portable ergonomic observation method (PEO) is presented. It is applicable to most professions and work tasks and requires only moderate human resources for data collection and analysis. Observations are made in real time directly at the workplace using a portable personal or hand-held computer, and data are accessible for immediate analysis and presentation. Duration and number of events are calculated for postures at four body regions (arms, neck, trunk and knee) as well as for manual handling. An evaluation of the PEO method, assessing some important aspects of internal validity as well as intra- and inter-observer reliability, was carried out using video recordings. It showed acceptable validity for some types of physical exposure, and high intra- and inter-observer reliability. Practical experiences from using the PEO method in a field study and further improvements of the method are discussed.

[1]  M Hagberg,et al.  Occupational and individual factors in acute shoulder-neck disorders among industrial workers. , 1981, British journal of industrial medicine.

[2]  S Tola,et al.  Low-Back Pain and Occupation: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study of Men in Machine Operating, Dynamic Physical Work, and Sedentary Work , 1989, Spine.

[3]  G. Andersson.  Epidemiologic Aspects on Low-Back Pain in Industry , 1981, Spine.

[4]  T J Armstrong,et al.  Repetitive Trauma Disorders: Job Evaluation and Design , 1986, Human factors.

[5]  V Z Priel,et al.  A Numerical Definition of Posture , 1974, Human factors.

[6]  J.D.G. Troup,et al.  A posture and activity classification system using a micro-computer , 1988 .

[7]  MARGARETA NORDIN,et al.  Measurements of Trunk Movements During Work , 1984, Spine.

[8]  O Karhu,et al.  Correcting working postures in industry: A practical method for analysis. , 1977, Applied ergonomics.

[9]  J D Troup,et al.  Patient-Handling Skill, Back Injuries, and Back Pain: An Intervention Study in Nursing , 1989, Spine.

[10]  C. Wiktorin,et al.  Validity of self-reported exposures to work postures and manual materials handling. Stockholm MUSIC I Study Group. , 1993, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[11]  A J van der Beek,et al.  Working postures and activities of lorry drivers: a reliability study of on-site observation and recording on a pocket computer. , 1992, Applied ergonomics.

[12]  E Grandjean,et al.  Postural and visual loads at VDT workplaces. I. Constrained postures. , 1981, Ergonomics.

[13]  A Burdorf,et al.  Measurement of trunk bending during work by direct observation and continuous measurement. , 1992, Applied ergonomics.

[14]  H. Riihimäki,et al.  Knee disorders in carpet and floor layers and painters. , 1992, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[15]  A. Burdorf,et al.  Comparison of methods for the assessment of postural load on the back. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[16]  Frank Wilcoxon,et al.  Probability tables for individual comparisons by ranking methods. , 1947 .

[17]  D B Chaffin,et al.  A longitudinal study of low-back pain as associated with occupational weight lifting factors. , 1973, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[18]  Laura Punnett,et al.  Trunk posture and back pain: Identification and control of occupational risk factors , 1988 .

[19]  J. Winkel,et al.  Occupational and individual risk factors for shoulder-neck complaints: Part II — The scientific basis (literature review) for the guide , 1992 .

[20]  W M Keyserling.  Postural analysis of the trunk and shoulders in simulated real time. , 1986, Ergonomics.

[21]  J Winkel,et al.  Direct measurements and systematic observations of physical workload among medical secretaries, furniture removers and male and female reference populations. , 1994, Applied ergonomics.

[22]  T. Armstrong,et al.  Occupational factors and carpal tunnel syndrome. , 1987, American journal of industrial medicine.

[23]  M H Pope,et al.  Biomechanics of the lumbar spine. , 1989, Annals of medicine.

[24]  E Grandjean,et al.  Ergonomics of posture--review of various problems of standing and sitting posture. , 1977, Applied ergonomics.

[25]  P Holzmann.  ARBAN-A new method for analysis of ergonomic effort. , 1982, Applied ergonomics.

[26]  M. Thun,et al.  Morbidity from repetitive knee trauma in carpet and floor layers. , 1987, British journal of industrial medicine.

[27]  C Wiktorin,et al.  Reproducibility of a questionnaire for assessment of physical load during work and leisure time. Stockholm MUSIC I Study Group. MUSculoskeletal Intervention Center. , 1996, Journal of occupational and environmental medicine.

[28]  Stover H. Snook,et al.  The Ergonomics Society The Society's Lecture 1978. THE DESIGN OF MANUAL HANDLING TASKS , 1978 .

[29]  I Petersén,et al.  Shoulder pain in industry: an epidemiological study on welders. , 1981, Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica.

[30]  F. Wilcoxon.  Individual Comparisons by Ranking Methods , 1945 .

[31]  W. M. Keyserling,et al.  Back disorders and nonneutral trunk postures of automobile assembly workers. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[32]  Robert E. Schlegel,et al.  An observational technique for physical work stress analysis , 1989 .

[33]  S. Siegel,et al.  Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences , 2022, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Research Design.