Journal of Occupational
Health and Epidemiology
Rafsanjan university Of medical sciences
Volume 7, Issue 4 (Autumn 2018)
J Occup Health Epidemiol 2018, 7(4): 222-226 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Abedi M, Ghanbary A, Habibi E, Palyzban F, Ghasemi H, Hasani2 A A. Back Compressive Force (BCF) assessment using UTAH method in manual handling tasks among workers of a chemical manufacturing company. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2018; 7 (4) :222-226
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-320-en.html
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-320-en.html
Related article in
Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Similar articles
Mahbobbeh Abedi1 
, Aioob Ghanbary * 2, Ehsanollah Habibi3 , Feizollah Palyzban4 , Hamed Ghasemi5 , Ali Abbas Hasani26
, Aioob Ghanbary * 2, Ehsanollah Habibi3 , Feizollah Palyzban4 , Hamed Ghasemi5 , Ali Abbas Hasani26
1- Islamic Azad University Tehran Medical Unit, Tehran, Iran.
2- School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. ,aioobghanbary@ymail.com
3- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
4- Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
5- Omidiyeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Omidiyeh, Iran
6- MSc Environmental Engineering, Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran
2- School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. ,
3- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
4- Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
5- Omidiyeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Omidiyeh, Iran
6- MSc Environmental Engineering, Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran
Article history
Received: 2018/09/4
Accepted: 2018/12/10
ePublished: 2019/02/13
Accepted: 2018/12/10
ePublished: 2019/02/13
Subject:
Occupational Health
Abstract: (6401 Views)
Background: Job back pain is of the most common occupational injuries in the world that affects people's physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to assess back compressive force (BCF) in manual handling tasks among workers of a chemical manufacturing company using the UTAH method.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on a group of 35 workers doing manual handling tasks in a chemical factory that were selected through simple random sampling in April and May 2018. The data collected by UTAH method and Cornell questionnaire, were analyzed in SPSS 19. Descriptive and inferential statistics methods including analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied.
Results: The average BCF value calculated using the UTAH method showed that the load pressure on back for the jobs of repair unit (400 kg), discharge and loading unit (460 kg), and warehouse unit (370 kg) exceeded the standard limits. Moreover, the results of the Cornell questionnaire indicated that 68 percent (N = 24) of the workers in the mentioned occupations were suffering from lower back pain.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the UTAH method is useful for estimating the BCF in manual handling tasks. Interventions should be conducted and measures should be taken to reduce these disorders.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on a group of 35 workers doing manual handling tasks in a chemical factory that were selected through simple random sampling in April and May 2018. The data collected by UTAH method and Cornell questionnaire, were analyzed in SPSS 19. Descriptive and inferential statistics methods including analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied.
Results: The average BCF value calculated using the UTAH method showed that the load pressure on back for the jobs of repair unit (400 kg), discharge and loading unit (460 kg), and warehouse unit (370 kg) exceeded the standard limits. Moreover, the results of the Cornell questionnaire indicated that 68 percent (N = 24) of the workers in the mentioned occupations were suffering from lower back pain.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the UTAH method is useful for estimating the BCF in manual handling tasks. Interventions should be conducted and measures should be taken to reduce these disorders.
References
1. Daenen L, Varkey E, Kellmann M, Nijs J. Exercise, not to exercise, or how to exercise in patients with chronic pain? Applying science to practice. Clin J Pain 2015; 31(2):108-14. [DOI] [PMID]
2. Verbeek J, Martimo KP, Karppinen J, Kuijer PP, Takala EP, Viikari-Juntura E. Manual material handling advice and assistive devices for preventing and treating back pain in workers: a cochrane systematic review. Occup Environ Med 2011; 69(1):79-80. [DOI] [PMID]
3. Faber GS, Kingma I, van Dieën JH. Effect of initial horizontal object position on peak L5/S1 moments in manual lifting is dependent on task type and familiarity with alternative lifting strategies. Ergonomics 2011; 54(1):72-81. [DOI] [PMID]
4. Karami Matin B, Mehrabi Matin A, Ziaei M, Nazari Z, Yarmohammadi H, Gharagozlou F. Risk assessment of cumulative trauma disorders in Quarry and Stone Industries workers Kermanshah in 2013. Journal of Ergonomics 2013; 1(2):28-35. [Article]
5. Afshari D, Motamedzadeh M, Soltanian AR. Estimation of cumulative compression load on the L4/L5 lumbar of carpet weavers through direct measurement of trunk posture and direct observation during a shift work. Iran Occupational Health Journal 2015; 12(2):62-9. [Article]
6. Piligian G, Herbert R, Hearns M, Dropkin J, Landsbergis P, Cherniack M. Evaluation and management of chronic work‐related musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity. Am J Ind Med 2000; 37(1):75-93. [PMID]
7. Ciriello VM, Dempsey PG, Maikala RV, O’Brien NV. Revisited: comparison of two techniques to establish maximum acceptable forces of dynamic pushing for male industrial workers. Int J Ind Ergon 2007; 37(11-12):877-82. [Article] [DOI]
8. Panjali Z, Mazloumi A, Ahsani H, Rezaee E. Evaluation of the risks for manual material handling in a metal casting industry in Iran. Iran Occupational Health Journal 2014; 11(1):13-22. [Article]
9. Sarayani MH, Rastegar I, Rostami M. Investigation the back pain and compression force on the back workers by UTAH method (Case Study: Sofal Sazan Morvarid Behshahr Company). Peper presented at: The2nd International Iranian Ergonomic Conference and 2nd Biennial Iranian Conference on Ergonomics; 2016 Oct 19-21; Shiraz, Iran.
10. Merryweather AS, Loertscher MC, Bloswick DS. A revised back compressive force estimation model for ergonomic evaluation of lifting tasks. Work 2009; 34(3):263-72. [DOI] [PMID]
11. The Eastman Kodak Company. Kodak's ergonomic design for people at work. 2nd ed. New York City, United States: John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2004. p.159-62.
12. Afifehzadeh-Kashani H, Choobineh A, Bakand SH, Gohari MR, Abbastabar H, Moshtaghi P. Validity and reliability of farsi version of Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ). Iran Occupational Health Journal 2011; 7(4):69-75. [Article]
13. Torkaman J, Motamedzade M, Attari SGh, Roshanaei Gh. Assessment of compressive force on back of hamadan building construction workers during manual load handling by utah method in 2015: a short report. Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences 2017; 16(8):797-804. [Article]
14. Morshedi R, Boazar M, Afshari D, Ahmadi Angali K, Malek Zadeh M. Biomechanical analysis of manual lifting of loads and ergonomics solutions for nursing assistants. Journal of Ergonomics 2015; 3(1):17-24. [Article]
15. Gomez-Bull K, Ibarra-Mejia G, Hernandez-Arellano JL. Biomechanical analysis of a manual materials handling task in a local manufacturing company. Peper presented at: The 1st Annual World Conference of the Society for Industrial and Systems Engineering; 2012 Sep 16-18; Washington, DC, USA. [Conference Paper]
16. Afshari D, Mohammadi A, Saki A, Movafaghpour M. Continuous monitoring of back postures using portable inclinometer among nursing assistants. Iran Occupational Health Journal 2014; 11(3):30-9. [Article]
17. Asadi N, Choobineh A, Keshavarzi S, Daneshmandi H. Estimation of forces exerted on the lower back in manual load lifting using 3DSSPP software. Journal of Ergonomics 2015; 2(4):25-31. [Article]
18. Falaki S, Akbari H, Derakhshan M, Hannani M, Motalebi Kashani M. Prevalence and postural risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory personnel in Kashan 2012. Iran Occupational Health Journal 2016; 12(6):58-68 [Article]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. |
