Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
individual
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Noah Clark, Junior
Lead Presenter's Name
Noah Clark
Faculty Mentor Name
Elizabeth L. Blickensderfer
Abstract
This ergonomic case study examines the work-related musculoskeletal disorders of a 53-year-old telecommunications field manager who has a diverse occupational background. This study encompasses both sedentary and physically demanding positions, where the transition to blue-collar fieldwork following a brain injury at age 42 exacerbated persistent wrist challenges, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and subsequent surgery. This study utilizes extensive task analysis, body discomfort surveys, and two standardized ergonomic evaluation techniques: the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity. The RULA examination obtained a score of 6 and the TLV test got a ratio of 1.5, both indicating that ergonomic intervention should be sought immediately, as they surpass safe exposure levels. The main risk factors found involve grasping equipment repeatedly while reaching overhead, unnatural wrist positioning, and using a telescopic height stick for utility pole measurements for extended periods. The study suggests both technological and administrative solutions, including employing laser measuring instruments, voice-to-text systems for data entry, and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to assist with site surveys, distribution of tasks among the workforce, and structured break times to mitigate overload.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
When the Job Hurts: An Ergonomic Investigation of Telecommunications Fieldwork.
This ergonomic case study examines the work-related musculoskeletal disorders of a 53-year-old telecommunications field manager who has a diverse occupational background. This study encompasses both sedentary and physically demanding positions, where the transition to blue-collar fieldwork following a brain injury at age 42 exacerbated persistent wrist challenges, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and subsequent surgery. This study utilizes extensive task analysis, body discomfort surveys, and two standardized ergonomic evaluation techniques: the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity. The RULA examination obtained a score of 6 and the TLV test got a ratio of 1.5, both indicating that ergonomic intervention should be sought immediately, as they surpass safe exposure levels. The main risk factors found involve grasping equipment repeatedly while reaching overhead, unnatural wrist positioning, and using a telescopic height stick for utility pole measurements for extended periods. The study suggests both technological and administrative solutions, including employing laser measuring instruments, voice-to-text systems for data entry, and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to assist with site surveys, distribution of tasks among the workforce, and structured break times to mitigate overload.