Review
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Alexander Lunin, Christoph H. Glock
Summary: This paper discusses the increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) faced by older workers in production and logistics environments, and how improvements in working conditions and the use of markerless motion capturing technology can help lower MSD risks. Researchers and practitioners can benefit from the review in developing and evaluating Kinect-based systems for ergonomic evaluation of workplaces and improvement of working conditions.
COMPUTERS & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Riccardo Bezzini, Luca Crosato, Massimo Teppati Lose, Carlo Alberto Avizzano, Massimo Bergamasco, Alessandro Filippeschi
Summary: Despite automation in many industrial and logistics processes, manual handling of loads by human workers still contributes to work-related disorders. Biomechanical analysis of these activities is essential for estimating the biomechanical overload and implementing prevention measures. This study proposes a fully wearable sensor system, aided by deep learning, for real-time evaluation of the biomechanical effort exerted during manual material handling. The system utilizes an algorithm implemented in ROS for analyzing human musculoskeletal biomechanics and a method for estimating load distribution using an egocentric camera and deep learning-based object recognition. The results demonstrate the system's accuracy and robustness in object detection and grasp recognition, making it suitable for logistics applications.
Review
Engineering, Industrial
Christoph H. Glock, Eric H. Grosse, W. Patrick Neumann, Andrew Feldman
Summary: This paper evaluates how technical assistive devices for manual materials handling were analysed in the literature in a warehousing context, identifying works that discuss the economic and/or human factors impact of such devices. The evaluation shows which types of assistive devices were analyzed in the past and from which perspectives they were examined. Some works focused on operator well-being or efficiency, while others analyzed the devices' performance in terms of both dimensions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Srimantha E. Mudiyanselage, Phuong Hoang Dat Nguyen, Mohammad Sadra Rajabi, Reza Akhavian
Summary: This study evaluates the ability to automatically detect body movements that may harm muscles during material handling using surface electromyogram (EMG)-based systems and machine learning algorithms. Results indicate that Decision Tree models have the potential to predict the risk level with close to 99.35% accuracy.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Giulia Bassani, Alessandro Filippeschi, Carlo Alberto Avizzano
Summary: Manual material handling activities are a significant part of tasks in the tertiary sector, and monitoring, modeling, and predicting human behaviors are essential for creating efficient human-robot collaboration and physical exposure assessment systems. The combined use of wearable sensors and machine learning techniques, such as IMUs and sEMG, can provide data for biomechanical analyses and ergonomic risk assessments.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jasmine K. Proud, Daniel T. H. Lai, Kurt L. Mudie, Greg L. Carstairs, Daniel C. Billing, Alessandro Garofolini, Rezaul K. Begg
Summary: This review aims to determine how exoskeletons can assist Australian Defence Force personnel with manual handling tasks. The findings suggest that exoskeletons mainly support squat/deadlift tasks through lower limb systems, with load carrying as the primary use case. Human-exoskeleton analysis is the most prevalent form of evaluation, with reported reductions in back muscle activation ranging from 15% to 54%. However, there are variations in exoskeleton evaluation procedures across studies, making comparisons difficult.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Qi Zhang, Qiurong Xie, Hong Liu, Bo Sheng, Shuping Xiong, Yanxin Zhang
Summary: The objective of this pilot study was to identify risk factors in physical therapy by quantitatively analyzing ergonomic postures and biomechanical movements. The study found that the low back compression forces of different patient handling tasks exceeded the safety threshold, indicating high risk.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Giorgia Chini, Lorenzo Fiori, Antonella Tatarelli, Tiwana Varrecchia, Francesco Draicchio, Alberto Ranavolo
Summary: Individuals with neuromuscular disorders often face difficulties in employment, work-related challenges, and early work interruption. However, targeted rehabilitation, ergonomic interventions, and training can enable individuals with disabilities to return to work. Biomechanical and physiological indexes play a crucial role in assessing motor and muscle performance and determining the effectiveness of job integration programs.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Emily S. Matijevich, Peter Volgyesi, Karl E. Zelik
Summary: The study identified trunk IMU and pressure insoles as key sensors for accurately monitoring low back loading, with the potential to provide a practical, accurate, and automated way to monitor lumbar moments. Thigh or pelvis IMUs could be used as substitutes for the trunk IMU, but there was no practical substitute for the pressure insoles in achieving accurate lumbar load estimates in the real world.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Colleen Brents, Molly Hischke, Raoul Reiser, John Rosecrance
Summary: Craft brewing is a fast-growing industry in the U.S., but workers often exhibit awkward trunk postures while handling kegs, potentially leading to back pain and injury. Design recommendations were identified from the study results to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among craft brewery workers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Peter McCormack, Gemma J. M. Read, Natassia Goode, Paul M. Salmon
Summary: The study evaluated the alignment between existing observation-based hazardous manual handling (HMH) risk assessment methods and systems thinking. The results showed that current HMH risk assessment methods are not aligned with systems thinking, with risk controls mainly focused on the task, worker, and management.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yong Sze Zhao, Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar, Ahmad Sufril Azlan Mohamed, Nur Zaidi Azraai, Norhaniza Amil
Summary: Warehouse workers performing binning processes face a high risk of lower back pain and ergonomic issues. The high shelf binning process involves multiple phases of motion, while the low shelf binning process mainly involves crouching and rising.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sam McDevitt, Haley Hernandez, Jamison Hicks, Russell Lowell, Hamza Bentahaikt, Reuben Burch, John Ball, Harish Chander, Charles Freeman, Courtney Taylor, Brock Anderson
Summary: Wearable technologies are increasingly being utilized for performance enhancement and risk assessment in industrial and sports-related biomechanical applications. IMU-based solutions are the most commonly used wearable types. The industrial sector focuses on holistic task and risk assessment, while the sports sector focuses on individual movement and performance.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Antoine Muller, Hakim Mecheri, Philippe Corbeil, Andre Plamondon, Xavier Robert-Lachaine
Summary: Inertial motion capture (IMC) has gained popularity in ergonomic studies in the workplace. This study aims to develop and evaluate an IMC-based approach to estimate back loading during manual material handling tasks. The results show that this approach can accurately estimate flexion and asymmetric moments, providing a new method for ergonomic evaluation in the workplace.
Article
Agronomy
Margherita Micheletti Cremasco, Lucia Vigoroso, Federica Caffaro, Giuseppe Paletto, Eugenio Cavallo
Summary: The study redesigned the rear-mounted FROPS to fit different human anthropometric percentiles for better use. By proposing a rod as a design solution, the roll-bar reachability was increased, especially benefiting shorter users.
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Enrique Alvarez-Casado, Bing Zhang, Sonia Tello Sandoval, Mondelo Pedro
HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES
(2016)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
H. Achleitner, E. Alvarez-Casado, B. Zhang
WORK-A JOURNAL OF PREVENTION ASSESSMENT & REHABILITATION
(2012)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Enrique Alvarez-Casado, Aquiles Hernandez-Soto, Sandoval Tello, Rosa Gual
WORK-A JOURNAL OF PREVENTION ASSESSMENT & REHABILITATION
(2012)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
N. Battevi, Olga Menoni, E. Alvarez-Casado
MEDICINA DEL LAVORO
(2012)