Title: An ergonomic study on posture-related discomfort in backhoe-loader drivers

Authors: Mohan Jagannath; Kanagasabai Adalarasu; V. Muthu Vignesh; Theertha Sudheer

Addresses: Department of Biomedical Engineering, SMK Fomra Institute of Technology, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, PSNA College of Engineering & Technology, Dindigul 624622, Tamil Nadu, India ' Biomedical Engineering Division, PSNA College of Engineering & Technology, Dindigul 624622, Tamil Nadu, India ' Biomedical Engineering Division, PSNA College of Engineering & Technology, Dindigul 624622, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Backhoe-loaders are very useful and common in urban engineering projects. Unfortunately, the repetitive action required to operate a Backhoe-loader produces a number of important issues of health and safety of these drivers. Forty Backhoe-loader drivers participated in this study. Musculoskeletal disorder among the Backhoe-loaders was analysed based on the self-administered questionnaire using RBGPS. Results showed that the pain level perceived by the Backhoe-loader drivers with more than three years experience decreases only in upper back region and remains the same as Backhoe-loader drivers with less than three years of experience for the elbow, shoulder and low back regions. Neck pain among drivers is found to drastically increase with increase in years of experience. Findings indicated that the uniformity in comfort level can be achieved by designing the major components like the cab, the seats and the control elements with utmost care so that this can fulfil the operator's expectations.

Keywords: backhoe loaders; musculoskeletal disorders; pain; occupational safety; ergonomics; posture-related discomfort; backhoe loader drivers; ergonomic design; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2013.055035

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2013 Vol.11 No.2, pp.155 - 168

Received: 06 Nov 2012
Accepted: 25 Jan 2013
Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article