Working Postures and Movements : Tools for Evaluation and Engineering

Musculoskeletal injuries are the most prevalent work related reason for workers being absent from work in most industries.

These injuries are often caused by static postures, sometimes with forceful exertions, or repetitive movements that have to be maintained for many hours a day - such as when intensively using data entry devices, or performing deskwork, assembly work, parts inspection, equipment maintenance, manual materials handling, machinery operations, and driving vehicles, among other activities.

In order to prevent such injuries, occupational health professionals, ergonomists, production engineers and product designers have to know how to evaluate postures and movements, and understand how these are determined by the work environment, as well as what design tools are available to achieve less stressful working conditions.

This book starts off with a description of easy-to-use and internationally accepted evaluation tools applicable to postures and movements in the work environment.Renowned authors from around the world have put together the latest scientific knowledge describing the anthropometry, biomechanics, physiology, psychophysics, and human perceptual-motor control basis for posture and movement assessment related to all the major body segments.

The book addresses seating concepts, hand tool and pedal designs, digital human models for computer-aided design and engineering, and work organisation (task duration, breaks, handling frequency) as they affect human performance and musculoskeletal injury reduction.

It is aimed at all practicing professionals and students that are familiar with the basic concepts of ergonomics in general, and for those in particular who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how to improve working postures and movements.

Nico J. Delleman is leading the Workplace Ergonomics Group at TNO Human Factors in Soesterberg, The Netherlands.

Christine M. Haslegrave is a Senior Lecturer specialising in Occupational Ergon