Title: Ergonomic risk assessment in DHM tools employing motion data - exposure calculation and comparison to epidemiological reference data

Authors: Ida-Märta Rhén; Mikael Forsman; Roland Örtengren; Dan Högberg; Ali Keyvani; Dan Lämkull; Lars Hanson

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden ' IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden ' School of Engineering Science, University of Skövde, Box 408, SE-541 28, Skövde, Sweden ' Robotics and Automation, Virtual Manufacturing AB, Fabriksgatan 21A, SE-412 50 Göteborg, Sweden ' Department 81411 Global Strategy and Process Development, Volvo Car Corporation, Manufacturing Engineering, PVH36, SE-405 31, Göteborg, Sweden ' Industrial Development, Scania, Scania CV, SE-151 87, Södertälje, Sweden; School of Engineering Science, University of Skövde, Box 408, SE-541 28, Skövde, Sweden; Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: Digital human modelling (DHM) allows ergonomic risk assessment to be performed at early stages of design and development. Such assessment is typically based on observational methods, which do not take advantage of the potential of DHM tools to provide precise posture and motion data. This paper describes and illustrates an alternative assessment approach employing DHM tools, inspired by risk assessment based on direct measurements. A literature survey established a reference database of epidemiological associations between exposure and wrist-related disorders. This approach is illustrated by a DHM simulation of a car assembly task. Wrist posture and motion were simulated and compared to the database, predicting the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders on the basis of direct measurements.

Keywords: biomechanical load; digital human modelling; wrist; repetitive strain injuries; direct measurements; exposure-response relationship; physical workload; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; risk assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2018.091356

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2018 Vol.6 No.1, pp.31 - 64

Accepted: 18 Oct 2017
Published online: 27 Apr 2018 *

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