Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Presented by:
P
t d b
Dr. Magdy Akladios
Education
yB.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering
Continue Education
y M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
1
Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Continue Education
y M.S. degree in Industrial Hygiene
Continue Education
yM.B.A
Continue Education
yPh.D.
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
2
Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Certifications
yP.E.
Certifications . . . Cont.
yC.S.P.
Certifications . . . Cont.
yC.P.E.
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Certifications . . . Cont.
yC.S.H.M.
Previous Research Activities
y PI: OSHA Guidelines for the Nursing Homes. OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant, 2003‐2005. ~$100,000.
y Researcher: BackPocket, 2001‐2005, $ amount unknown. Development of an audit tool to be used on Construction sites.
y Co‐PI: Development of an Expert System to Assist Designers in Equipment Development, 1998‐2002, y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
NEETC/DOE/DOD, $1.5million
Researcher: Organizational Intervention for Fall Prevention, 1994‐2005, NIOSH/CPWR, $1.6million
Researcher: Small Business Safety Outreach, 1997‐2002, WV Division of Workers’ Compensation, $1.2million
PI: Development of two Questionnaires for Construction, 2000‐2001, NIOSH, $10,000
Researcher: Factors Determining Success and Failure of Labor Management Safety Committees Research, 1997‐2000, WV Division of Workers’ Comp., $214,991
Researcher: Small Construction Safety Leadership Program, 1997‐1999, OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant, $175,000
Co‐PI: Development of a Web Based Artificial Intelligence System for Safety and Health Issues in Equipment Design, 1998‐2004, DOD, $750,000.
Researcher: International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), 1997, Construction Safety Hazard Curriculum development (10 hr.): $45,000
Researcher: Highway Work Zone Safety Manual, 1997, Laborers’ Safety & Health Training Fund/USDOT, $33,000
Researcher: Perceived Ergonomic Discomforts among Drywall Carpenters and Finishers, 1998, NIOSH, $15,000
Researcher: Task‐Based Exposure Model for Const., 1993‐1995, NIOSH/CPWR, $124,000
Research Activities at UHCL
y PI: Collection and Correlation of software ergonomics to muscle activity, 2008. Sponsor: UHCL. $6,000.
y Co‐PI: Correlating Hand Ergonomic Stress to Software Shortcuts. Sponsor: Schlumberger & ExxonMobil. $66,700.
y PI: Assessment of Worker Safety in City of Houston Governmental Departments for 2006‐2007. Sponsor: City of Houston, Houston, Tx, 2006. $22,000
y PI: Collection and Correlation of Task/Posture Analysis to CTD Injuries at Nursing Homes Facilities in the Houston, Tx Area, 2005‐2006. Sponsor: UHCL. $2,700.
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
4
Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
A Sample of Recent Research
y Topic: Assessment of Perceived Traumatic Injury Hazards During Drywall Taping/Sanding.
y Sponsor: NIOSH
Objectives
y To identify the drywall tasks which are directly p
perceived as stressful by y
workers
y To better understand drywall work which can lead to the development of effective injury prevention strategies
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Installation
y Lifting the sheets into the structure
y Placing and holding the sheets on the studs
y Using drywall screws, install the sheets on the studs
Finishing
y Fill joints between panels with a joint compound
y Using a trowel to spread joint compound onto and along each side of the joint with brushlike
strokes
y The trowel is then used to press a paper tape into the wet compound and smooth away excess material
y Finishers apply second and third coats
y Sand the treated areas after each coat to make them as smooth as possible
Ergonomic Risk Factors
1. Awkward postures
2. Static postures
3. Forceful muscle exertions
4. Contact stresses
C
5. Repetition
6. Vibration
7. Temperature
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Methodology
y A questionnaire survey was used for the study
y The questionnaire contained two sections
Questionnaire . . . Section 1
y Six sanding/taping tasks were included:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Applying tape to joints and corners without stilts; Applying tape to joints and corners with stilts; Applying skim coats of joint compound without stilts; Applying skim coats of joint compound with stilts; Sanding skimmed drywall without pole sanders; and Sanding skimmed drywall with pole sanders. Questionnaire . . . Section 2
y In the second section, workers were asked to rate:
y The elevated equipment
y Perceived physical stress
y Fall potential
y Risk of being struck by/against objects
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Statistical Methodology
y An ANOVA analysis with pair‐wise contrast was performed to determine the effect of the task
y Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore possible associations among the study variables (i.e., age, experience, ratings of physical stress, fall potential, and struck by/against) in each of the six tasks. Results
y 30 painters participated in this study
y Mean age = 40.5±8.6 years SD
y Mean drywall taping/sanding experience = 17±7.8 y
p g/
g p
7 7
years SD
y Mean body weight = 85.8 kg ± 13.4 SD
y Mean body height = 178 cm ± 7.9 SD
y Mean working hours/week = 35.7 hours ± 12 SD
y > 1/3 had suffered injuries associated with drywall taping/sanding
Results . . . Cont.
Task
Physical Stress
Fall Potential
Struck
by/against
1
3.02 ± 1.60
2.36 ± 1.60
1.86 ± 1.10
2
3.34 ± 1.46
3.87 ± 2.39
3.42 ± 2.70
3
3.37 ± 1.73
2.15 ± 1.54
1.94 ± 1.24
4
3.63 ± 1.89
3.85 ± 2.02
3.45 ± 2.00
5
4.08 ± 1.56
2.95 ± 1.41
3.12 ± 1.97
6
3.96 ± 1.80
3.31 ± 1.99
3.33 ± 2.11
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Results . . . Cont.
Physical Stress Fall Potential Struck
by/against
Stilts
4.48
4 48 ± 0.18
0 18*
5.01
5 01 ± 0.25
0 25
3.97
3 97 ± 0.20
0 20
Step
Ladders
4.56 ± 0.18
4.65 ± 0.18
3.55 ± 0.21
Scaffolds
4.43 ± 0.18
4.57 ± 0.19
3.48 ± 0.20
Results . . . Cont.
Task
Age
Experience
r
p value
r
p value
1
.62
.0003*
.50
.003*
2
.19
.26
.08
.36
3
.38
.06
.22
.13
4
-.20
.27
-.11
.32
5
.51
.02*
.61
.001*
6
.26
.17
.20
.17
Results . . . Cont.
Task
Age
Experience
r
p value
r
p value
1
.44
.045*
.37
.03*
2
-.13
.34
-.30
.10
3
-.06
.41
.02
.46
4
-.12
.36
-.13
.30
5
-.01
.45
.27
.12
6
-.14
.32
-.12
.28
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
9
Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Discussion
y The task of sanding skimmed drywall without using a pole sander was rated more stressful than tasks of applying tape to joints and corners (with or without stilts) and applying coats of joint compound without stilts.
y Hand‐sanding the drywall joints down to a smooth finish is a stressful process.
y Some workers preferred hand sanding to pole sanding because it allows better visual and manual control.
Discussion . . . Cont.
y Perceived fall potential for finishing tasks with the use of stilts was significantly greater g
yg
than for those without. y Finishing tasks are less physically demanding than installation tasks
Discussion . . . Cont.
y There is a significant positive correlation between age and physical stress for tasks 1 and 5 (but none in the other tasks)
y There is a significant positive correlation between experience and physical stress for tasks 1 and 5
y Older, more experienced subjects perceived greater physical stress while performing tasks 1 and 5
y While conducting finishing tasks without the use of stilts may reduce the fall potential, it may increase physical stress
y Sanding skimmed drywall without pole sanders is very repetitive and stressful for wrists, arms and back.
y Since muscle strength deteriorates after the age of late 20's and early 30's, older workers perceived greater stress
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
10
Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
Discussion . . . Cont.
y To apply tapes to joints and corners, workers have to extend their arms to reach the top the wall.
y These activities are stressful and likely to move the body’s center of mass away from the body.
y Deterioration of muscle strength, neurological systems, and vision in older workers may make it especially difficult for them to maintain balance while stretching their upper extremities or bending
In Conclusion
y Among six tasks, all the ratings of perceived physical stress, fall potential, and risk of being struck by or against objects varied significantly y For drywall sanding tasks (tasks 5 and 6), the ratings of perceived physical stress were greater than those of the four other taping tasks (tasks 1, 2, 3, and 4).
y While using assistive devices (i.e., stilts and pole sanders), the ratings of fall potential and risk of being struck by or against objects were greater than those without using devices
Future Studies
1. A survey of a larger sample size and geographical area should be considered
2. Future studies can be extended to examine the relationship between workers’ age and the perceived hazards
3. The findings from this study suggest the need to develop better work practices and assistive devices
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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Applied Safety & Ergonomics
4/30/2008
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
C. Pan, and Chiou, S. ‘Analysis of Biomechanical Stresses during Drywall Lifting’ International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Volume 23, pp. 505‐511, 1999.
NIOSH (June, 1995), ‘In depth Survey Report: A Laboratory Comparison of Conventional Drywall Sanding Techniques versus Commercially Available Controls at the Seattle‐area Apprenticeship C
i ll A il bl C t l t th S ttl
A
ti hi Training Facility,’ U.S. Department of Commerce, NTIS PB96191861.
S. Chiou, C. S. Pan, and D. E. Fosbroke, Identification of risk factors associated with traumatic injuries among drywall installers. In: B. Das and W. Karwoski (Eds.), Advances in Occupational Ergonomics and Safety, IOS Press, Amsterdam, 1997, pp. 377‐380.
S. Schneider and P. Susie, Ergonomics and Construction: A Review of Potential Hazards in New Building Construction, American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 55(7) (1994) 635‐649. D. Chaffin., and Andersson, G. B. J. (1991) Occupational Biomechanics, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Son, Inc. Canada, Chapter 4, pp 119.
Presented by: Dr. Magdy Akladios
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