Predicting the Risk of Low Back Disorders due to Manual Handling Tasks

Abstract

Work related low back disorders (LBDs) due to manual material handling (MMH) tasks have long been recognized as one of the main occupational disabling injury that affects the quality of life of the industrial working population in the U.S. One of the efforts to comprehend the nature and phenomenon of LBDs due to MMH tasks was undertaken by Marras [18]. Based on multiple experiments they created a seminal data set and used it to build logistic regression models to identify significant variables and classify manual lifting tasks into high risk and low risk with respect to LBDs. Since then a number of studies have used the same data set to build and test various classification models. This paper analyzes the previous studies and employs the same data set to build and test seven classification methods. Though the performances of our best models are better than those reported in National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOHS) Guides and two of our previous studies, they are generally less optimistic than those reported in several other studies; this paper proposes a more systematic and reliable approach to creating and validating classifiers to distinguish between low and high risk manual lifting jobs that contribute to LBDs.

Risk Assessment in Manual Material Handling of an Edible Oil Company

“…In view of numerous analyses they made an original informational collection and utilized it to assemble strategic relapse models to distinguish critical factors and characterize manual lifting errands into high hazard and generally safe regarding LBDs. In spite of the fact that the exhibitions of our best models are superior to those detailed in National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOHS) Guides and two of our past examinations, they are commonly less hopeful than those announced in a few different investigations; this paper proposes a progressively orderly and dependable way to deal with making and approving classifiers to recognize low and high hazard manual lifting employments that add to LBDs [10].…”

Analysis of Ergonomics Risk Factors and Manual Material Handling Assessing Alternative Using Cost Benefit Methods

“…MMH activity in fact contain a high risk as a result of work overload is removed (over-exertion) as well as the methods used do not work properly. Research concentrated on building classification models that could effectively distinguish between high risk and low risk MMH tasks that contribute to LBDs (Zurada, 2012;Zurada, Karwowski, & Marras, 2004).…”