Maintenance operations: workstation adjustment, working posture, and workers' perceptions

In the study maintenance workers were involved in pneumatic wrenching, oxy-gas cutting, and grinding at 5 different heights. Working posture and workers' perceptions were measured. Guidelines on working height were formulated in order to minimize the load on the musculoskeletal system. Data from the present experiment as well as from literature were studied in depth in order to disclose generic mechanisms behind the adoption of working postures during visual-manual operations in relation to workstation adjustment. It was found, for instance, that the working posture was constrained by a strictly followed relationship between gaze inclination and head inclination for-/backwards. Also, the study provided insight into the role of visual interference, viewing distance, manipulation distance, hand grip of the tool, and body support for stability. Concerning evaluation criteria for working postures, it was concluded that neck flexion/extension (i.e., head inclination for-/backwards versus trunk inclination for-/backwards) seems to be the dominant determinant of neck load, as compared to head inclination for-/backwards. Furthermore, the position of the upper arm with respect to the trunk, that is, shoulder flexion/retroflexion in particular, seemed to be a dominant determinant of shoulder and shoulder girdle load, as compared to upper arm elevation.