Gender response and safe carrying load limit for sugar industry workers

Sharma, Rohit; Kamboj, Kushal; Bhardwaj, Jyoti

doi:10.1080/10803548.2018.1503401

Cited by 5 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Our comfort limit definition reflects the key information we desired to understand as device designers. There are a variety of alternative or complementary ways to assess comfort and limits of comfort (e.g., [12], [17], [18]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the comfort limits of forces applied to the shoulders, thigh and shank to inform exosuit design

et al. 2020

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Recent literature emphasizes the importance of comfort in the design of exosuits and other assistive devices that physically augment humans; however, there is little quantitative data to aid designers in determining what level of force makes users uncomfortable. To help close this knowledge gap, we characterized human comfort limits when applying forces to the shoulders, thigh and shank. Our objectives were: (i) characterize the comfort limits for multiple healthy participants, (ii) characterize comfort limits across days, and (iii) determine if comfort limits change when forces are applied at higher vs. lower rates. We performed an experiment (N = 10) to quantify maximum tolerable force pulling down on the shoulders, and axially along the thigh and shank; we termed this force the comfort limit. We applied a series of forces of increasing magnitude, using a robotic actuator, to soft sleeves around their thigh and shank, and to a harness on their shoulders. Participants were instructed to press an offswitch, immediately removing the force, when they felt uncomfortable such that they did not want to feel a higher level of force. On average, participants exhibited comfort limits of~0.9-1.3 times body weight on each segment: 621±245 N (shoulders), 867±296 N (thigh), 702 ±220 N (shank), which were above force levels applied by exosuits in prior literature. However, individual participant comfort limits varied greatly (~250-1200 N). Average comfort limits increased over multiple days (p<3e-5), as users habituated, from~550-700 N on the first day to~650-950 N on the fourth. Specifically, comfort limits increased 20%, 35% and 22% for the shoulders, thigh and shank, respectively. Finally, participants generally tolerated higher force when it was applied more rapidly. These results provide initial benchmarks for exosuit designers and end-users, and pave the way for exploring comfort limits over larger time scales, within larger samples and in different populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the comfort limits of forces applied to the shoulders, thigh and shank to inform exosuit design

et al. 2020

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“…In contrast, several studies have shown that carrying a load on the head causes the least deviation from normal gait as compared with carrying on the shoulder or hand [3]. Another study recommends a higher safe load carrying limit on the head than that permissible on the back [1]. A thorough understanding of the biomechan-ics of the cervical spine and the effect of head loading on these biomechanics and any attendant degenerative process would enable us to understand the true effects of repeated axial loading of the spine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…However, workers in the construction industry and agriculture, as well as railway porters, continue to carry loads on their heads as an integral part of their job. According to a survey in 2009-2010, there are around 465 million workers in India, with the majority (94%) being employed in the unorganized sector [1]. There seems to be some awareness among these workers about safety at the workplace; however, the importance of their health condition continues to be ignored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carrying loads on the head is a traditional practice in India by laborers in construction industry and agriculture. There is a paucity of literature on the effects of carrying weights on the head, and controversy exists regarding this being detrimental to the cervical spine [1]. This study aims to identify the effect of loads on the cervical spine when weights are carried on the head.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Head Loading on Cervical Spine in Manual Laborers

et al. 2021

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To determine the effect of axial loading on the cervical spine when weights are carried on the head. Overview of Literature: Traditionally, carrying weights on the head has been a common practice in developing countries. The laborers working in agriculture, construction, and other industries, as well as porters at railway platforms, are required to lift heavy weights. Since controversy exists regarding carrying weights on the head, we decided to evaluate its effect on the cervical spine. Methods: The study comprised 62 subjects. Of this number, 32 subjects (group A) were unskilled laborers from the construction industry; the other 30 subjects (group B) were in the control group and had never previously carried heavy weights on their heads. Cervical spine radiographs were taken for all the 62 subjects. Subjects in group A were asked to carry a load (approximately 35 kg) on their heads and walk for about 65 m, with their cervical spine radiographs taken afterward. Results: The mean ages of patients in groups A and B were 27.17 and 25.75 years, respectively. The mean cervical lordosis observed in group A (18.96°) was dramatically less compared with group B (25.40°), showing a further decrease in head loading (3.35°). Five subjects had a reversal of lordosis (−5.61°). A statistically significant reduction in disc height and listhesis was observed when the load was carried on the head with a further decrease after walking with the load. Accelerated degenerative changes, particularly affecting the upper cervical spine, were observed in head loaders. Conclusions: Carrying a load on the head leads to accelerated degenerative changes, which involve the upper cervical spine more than the lower cervical spine and predisposes it to injury at a lower threshold. Thus, alternative methods of carrying loads should be proposed.

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“…2) Validating the AWCRS detection of a proposed tool or intervention for industrial usage [43], [44], [45], [46]. 3) Exploring the effect of AWCRS to find an optimal work content level [47], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52], [53]. 2) Study Type: Two main study types were reported: 1) observational and 2) experimental.…”

Section: B Study Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heart Rate Variability Measurement to Assess Acute Work-Content-Related Stress of Workers in Industrial Manufacturing Environment—A Systematic Scoping Review

Tran

Péntek

Motahari-Nezhad

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern, Syst.

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Background: Human workers are indispensable in the human-cyber-physical system in the forthcoming Industry 5.0. As inappropriate work content induces stress and harmful effects on human performance, engineering applications search for a physiological indicator for monitoring the well-being state of workers during work; thus, the work content can be modified accordingly. The primary aim of this study is to assess whether heart rate variability (HRV) can be a valid and reliable indicator of acute work-content-related stress (AWCRS) in real time during industrial work. Second, we aim to provide a broader scope of HRV usage as a stress indicator in this context. Methods: A search was conducted in Scopus, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and Web of Science between 1 January 2000 and 1 June 2022. Eligible articles are analyzed regarding study design, population, assessment of AWCRS, and its association with HRV. Results: A total of 14 stud-

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Gender response and safe carrying load limit for sugar industry workers

Cited by 5 publications

References 15 publications

Characterizing the comfort limits of forces applied to the shoulders, thigh and shank to inform exosuit design

Characterizing the comfort limits of forces applied to the shoulders, thigh and shank to inform exosuit design

The Effect of Head Loading on Cervical Spine in Manual Laborers

Heart Rate Variability Measurement to Assess Acute Work-Content-Related Stress of Workers in Industrial Manufacturing Environment—A Systematic Scoping Review

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