Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to assess the biomechanical overload risk of some tasks that are typical of the printing industry, by means of surface electromyography and postural analysis software.
In the first task of manual loading, muscle activation percentage duration of the Bicepses and Tricepses were similar for similar duty cycles. The Erector Spinae muscles had higher %MVC sustained for a greater percentage of the duty cycle. In the second task of aeration and transfer, Bicepses were activated for most of the duty cycle with a low %MVC between 0 and 5%. Differently, Triceps and Erector Spinae muscles had muscle activations with higher %MVC and higher percentage duration. In the third task, the muscular activity achieved the highest values in the Bicepses, while the activity of the Erector Spinae and Triceps muscles was less significant. Finally, in the fourth task, the compressive force values at the L5/S1 level found by 3DSSPP software ranged from 1072 N to 1863 N. Still at the L5/S1 level, shear forces ranged from 263 N to 310 N.
In the observed conditions, the used methods found no significant biomechanical overload risk in the studied tasks. The %MVC values within the cycle were all below the threshold proposed by ACGIH. The force values at level L5/S1 estimated with 3DSSPP software were also less than the 3400 N threshold limit value proposed by NIOSH for compressive forces and less than the 700 N limit proposed for shear forces by Gallagher in his review.
One of the observed activities at a faster working pace could increase the biomechanical risk. This is the case of the manual loading of the offset printing machine. In fact, the sheet board with the sheets to be loaded was positioned frontally to the printing machine loading area, thus forcing the operator to a 180° rotation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
ISO/DIS 11228-1 Ergonomics—Manual handling—Part 1: Lifting, lowering and carrying
ISO 11228-3:2007 Ergonomics—Manual handling—Part 3: Handling of low loads at high frequency: lifting and carrying
Alberto, R., Draicchio, F., Varrecchia, T., Silvetti, A., Iavicoli, S.: Wearable monitoring devices for biomechanical risk assessment at work: current status and future challenges-a systematic review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Publ. Health 15(9), pii: E2001 (2018). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15092001
Ranavolo, A., et al.: Wearable monitoring devices for biomechanical risk assessment at work: current status and future challenges-a systematic review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Publ. Health 15(11) (2018)
Roquelaure, Y., et al.: Epidemiologic surveillance of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders in the working population. Arthritis Rheum. 55(5), 765–778 (2006)
Yu, W., et al.: Work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders among factory workers in a major city of China. Accid. Anal. Prev. 48, 457–463 (2012)
Burke, G.: Using ergonomics in the printing industry. AAOHN J. 56(1), 41–42 (2008)
Barbero, M., Merletti, R., Rainoldi, A.: Atlas of Muscle Innervation Zones: Understanding Surface Electromyography and Its Applications. Springer, Milano (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2463-2
Hermens, H.J., Freriks, B., Merletti, R., et al.: European recommendations for surface ElectroMyoGraphy (SENIAM). 2000b Ed CLUT
ACGIH: TLVs and BEIs, pp. 202–204 (2015). ISBN 978-1-607260-77-6
Potvin, J.: Predicting maximum acceptable efforts for repetitive tasks: an equation based on duty cycle. Hum. Fact. 54(2), 175–188 (2012)
Chaffin, D.B., Erig, M.: Three-dimensional biomechanical static strength prediction model sensitivity to postural and anthropometric inaccuracies. IIE Trans. 23(3), 215–227 (1991)
Chaffin, D.B.: Biomechanical modeling for simulation of 3D static human exertions. In: Computer Applications in Ergonomics, Occupational Safety and Health. Elsevier Publishers, B.V., Amsterdam (1992).
Chaffin, D.B., Andersson, G.B.J., Martin, B.J.: Chapter 6 of Occupational Biomechanics, 4th edn. Wiley, Hoboken (2006)
Waters, T., Putz-Anderson, V., Garg, A. (eds.): Applications Manual for the Revised Lifting Equation, (DHHS/NIOSH) Pub. No. 94-110. CDC, NIOSH, Cincinnati (1994)
Gallagher, S., Marras, W.S.: Tolerance of the lumbar spine to shear: a review and recommended exposure limits. Clin. Biomech. 27(10), 973–978 (2012)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Fiori, L., Silvetti, A., Tatarelli, A., Ranavolo, A., Draicchio, F. (2021). sEMG and Postural Analysis for Biomechanical Risk Assessment in a Banknotes Printing Process. In: Goonetilleke, R.S., Xiong, S., Kalkis, H., Roja, Z., Karwowski, W., Murata, A. (eds) Advances in Physical, Social & Occupational Ergonomics. AHFE 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 273. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80713-9_38
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80713-9_38
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-80712-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-80713-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)