The burden of conveyor belt work in the canteen kitchen: A question of working height?

TY - JOUR

T1 - The burden of conveyor belt work in the canteen kitchen: A question of working height?

AU - Ohlendorf, Daniela

AU - Schneidereit, Laura

AU - Hermanns, Ingo

AU - Holzgreve, Fabian

AU - Maltry, Laura

AU - Ellegast, Rolf

AU - Wanke, Eileen M

AU - Nienhaus, Albert

AU - Groneberg, David A

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - BACKGROUND: Working in forced postures and standing continuously can be classified as straining the musculoskeletal system.OBJECTIVE: Since such postures are frequently used in hospital canteen kitchens, we used kinematic analysis to determine the working postures of canteen kitchen staff.METHODS: In this study, the daily work routine of 18 (11 w/7 m) workers of a hospital canteen kitchen (Frankfurt/Main, Germany) aged 21-62 years (46±13 years) was examined by means of kinematic analysis (CULEA system; IFA; Sankt Augustin/Germany) and a detailed computerized analysis of the activities performed on- site. Angle values of the head and trunk were evaluated in accordance with ergonomic standards and presented using percentile values (P05-P95). The OWAS method was also employed to capture the proportions of standing, walking and sitting work.RESULTS: The kinematic posture analysis showed for all activities on the conveyor belt a tendency towards a dorsally inclined body position: trunk inclination (-7.5° to 0), thoracic spine inclination or a bending forward (-11.3° to 0°) and curvature of the back within the thoracic spine (-15.2° to 0°). In addition,>90% of the "activities on the belt" (46% of the daily working routine) were carried out standing.CONCLUSION: The activities on the conveyor belt were characterized by a tendency towards hyperextension of the trunk, possibly due to a too high working environment. Furthermore, an increased burden on body structures while standing can be concluded. From a primary prevention perspective, this increased standing load should be reduced by behavioral and relational prevention measures.

AB - BACKGROUND: Working in forced postures and standing continuously can be classified as straining the musculoskeletal system.OBJECTIVE: Since such postures are frequently used in hospital canteen kitchens, we used kinematic analysis to determine the working postures of canteen kitchen staff.METHODS: In this study, the daily work routine of 18 (11 w/7 m) workers of a hospital canteen kitchen (Frankfurt/Main, Germany) aged 21-62 years (46±13 years) was examined by means of kinematic analysis (CULEA system; IFA; Sankt Augustin/Germany) and a detailed computerized analysis of the activities performed on- site. Angle values of the head and trunk were evaluated in accordance with ergonomic standards and presented using percentile values (P05-P95). The OWAS method was also employed to capture the proportions of standing, walking and sitting work.RESULTS: The kinematic posture analysis showed for all activities on the conveyor belt a tendency towards a dorsally inclined body position: trunk inclination (-7.5° to 0), thoracic spine inclination or a bending forward (-11.3° to 0°) and curvature of the back within the thoracic spine (-15.2° to 0°). In addition,>90% of the "activities on the belt" (46% of the daily working routine) were carried out standing.CONCLUSION: The activities on the conveyor belt were characterized by a tendency towards hyperextension of the trunk, possibly due to a too high working environment. Furthermore, an increased burden on body structures while standing can be concluded. From a primary prevention perspective, this increased standing load should be reduced by behavioral and relational prevention measures.

U2 - 10.3233/WOR-205170

DO - 10.3233/WOR-205170

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 35988232

VL - 73

SP - 881

EP - 894

JO - WORK

JF - WORK

SN - 1051-9815

IS - 3

ER -