Muscular, cardiorespiratory and thermal strain of mast and pole workers.

This field study evaluated the level of muscular, cardiorespiratory and thermal strain of mast and pole workers. We measured the muscular strain using electromyography (EMG), expressed as a percentage in relation to maximal EMG activity (%MEMG). Oxygen consumption (VO2) was indirectly estimated from HR measured during work and expressed as a percentage of maximum VO2 (%VO2max). Skin and deep body temperatures were measured to quantify thermal strain. The highest average muscular strain was found in the wrist flexor (24 ± 1.5%MEMG) and extensor (21 ± 1.0%MEMG) muscles, exceeding the recommendation of 14%MEMG. Average cardiorespiratory strain was 48 ± 3%VO2max. Nearly half (40%) of the participants exceeded the recommended 50%VO2max level. The core body temperature varied between 36.8°C and 37.6°C and mean skin temperature between 28.6°C and 33.4°C indicating possible occasional superficial cooling. Both muscular and cardiorespiratory strain may pose a risk of local and systemic overloading and thus reduced work efficiency. Thermal strain remained at a tolerable level.

Musculoskeletal disorders and incongruous postures in workers on ropes: A pilot study.

Background: Occupational hazards believed to cause musculoskeletal disorders in rope workers are traditionally associated with maintaining incongruous postures for prolonged periods of time. Design and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 132 technical operators in the wind energy and acrobatic construction sectors, who work on ropes, analysing the ergonomic characteristics of the environments, the way in which tasks are carried out, the strain perceived by individual workers, and assessing the presence of any musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by means of an objective examination focused on the anatomical districts that were the object of our study. Results: Analysis of the data obtained showed that there were differences in the perception of the level of physical intensity and perceived exertion between the groups of workers. Statistical analysis also revealed a significant association between the frequency of MSDs analysed and perceived exertion. Discussion: The most significant finding to emerge from this study is the high prevalence of MSDs of the cervical spine (52.94%), the upper limbs (29.41%), and the dorso-lumbar spine (17.65%). These values differ from those classically found in those exposed to the risk of conventional manual handling of loads. Conclusions: The high prevalence of disorders of the cervical spine, the scapulo-humeral girdle and the upper limbs, indicates the need to consider the forced position to be assumed for a large part of the work activity, staticity, and the inability to move the lower limbs for long periods as the predominant risk in rope work.

Experimental validation of an energy balance approach for design of horizontal lifeline systems.

The energy balance approach is one of the design approaches approved in fall protection standards Z359.6, Z259.16 and SS 607 to ensure that horizontal lifeline systems (HLLSs) are adequately designed. However, this study found that theoretical calculations predicting the total fall distance (hTFD) and maximum arrest load (MAL) using an energy balance approach need to be corrected before they can be used safely. Based on the data from 48 drop tests, the authors determined that energy balance calculations differ significantly from the empirical hTFD and MAL values of HLLSs. As a result, further correction factors are introduced into the theoretical calculations to estimate hTFD and MAL conservatively. These correction factors are estimated from a regression equation derived based on experimental results and theoretical calculations.

Validation of the energy balance approach for design of vertical lifeline systems.

To ensure that vertical lifeline systems (VLLSs) are well designed, calculation methods are required to estimate the extension of a personal energy absorber (PEA) (xPEA) and the total fall distance (hTFD). Thus, the authors conducted 28 tests to validate the accuracy of the energy balance approach for estimating xPEA and hTFD of VLLSs and propose suitable correction factors to improve the accuracy and safety of the estimated xPEA and hTFD. For 9 out of 19 tests with a PEA, the difference between the theorical xPEA and empirical xPEA was 25% or higher, indicating that the energy balance approach is not accurate for estimation of xPEA. In contrast, theoretical values of hTFD are more accurate. Linear regression equations for estimating xPEA (R2 = 0.81) and hTFD (R2 = 0.99) were developed. The regression equations can be used to improve the accuracy and conservativeness of estimations of xPEA and hTFD during the design of VLLSs.

Estresse e danos à saúde do alpinista industrial no contexto de trabalho / Stress and damage to the health of industrial climbers in the work context

A pesquisa teve como objeto o estresse laboral e sua relação com os danos à saúde do trabalhador alpinista industrial. O estresse ocupacional é capaz de influenciar a saúde dos trabalhadores, produzindo efeitos negativos sobre as condições de saúde mental e física, tornando-se um grande problema nos âmbitos de Saúde Pública e Saúde do Trabalhador. O estudo teve como objetivos: mensurar o estresse do trabalhador alpinista industrial nas suas situações de trabalho; identificar danos físicos, psicológicos e sociais à saúde do trabalhador alpinista industrial e associar o estresse com os danos à saúde do trabalhador alpinista industrial. Estudo epidemiológico transversal com 144 trabalhadores alpinistas industriais, realizado em uma empresa prestadora de serviços localizada no Rio de Janeiro e uma empresa certificadora e prestadora de serviços localizada no Rio de Janeiro e em São Paulo. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre os meses de dezembro de 2018 e julho de 2019. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizados um questionário para caracterização do perfil sociodemográfico, laboral e de condições de saúde e hábitos de vida; a Escala de Estresse no Trabalho ­ EET e a Escala de Danos Físicos e Psicossociais no Trabalho ­ EDT. A consistência interna das escalas mostrou fidedignidade com valores entre 0,954 e 0,993. Os dados foram armazenados, processados e analisados em banco de dados do programa Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), versão 23.0. Foram feitas análises descritivas e bivariadas com Intervalo de Confiança de 95%. Na EET, os alpinistas industriais apresentaram média de nível de estresse percebido de 2,67, caracterizada como nível de estresse médio, e na EDT, apresentaram média de 2,96 para o fator Danos físicos, caracterizada como risco psicossocial médio. Houve associação significativa entre o estresse ocupacional e os danos físicos e psicossociais relacionados ao trabalho do alpinista industrial.

The research had as object the work stress and its relation with the damages to the health of the industrial climber worker. Occupational stress is capable of influencing the health of workers, producing negative effects on mental and physical health conditions, becoming a major problem in the areas of Public Health and Occupational Health. The study aimed to: measure the stress of the industrial climber worker in their work situations; identify physical, psychological and social damage to the health of the industrial climber worker and associate stress with damage to the health of the industrial climber worker. Cross-sectional epidemiological study with 144 industrial mountain climbers, carried out in a service provider company located in Rio de Janeiro and a certification and service provider company located in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Data collection took place between the months of December 2018 and July 2019. For data collection, a questionnaire was used to characterize the sociodemographic, work and health conditions and lifestyle habits; the Stress Scale at Work - SSW and the Physical and Psychosocial Damage Scale at Work - DWS. The internal consistency of the scales showed reliability with values between 0.954 and 0.993. The data were stored, processed and analyzed in a database of the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), version 23.0. Descriptive and bivariate analyzes were performed with a 95% confidence interval. For data analysis, Chi Square and Fisher's Exact tests were used. In the SSW, the industrial climbers had an average perceived stress level of 2.67, characterized as a medium stress level, and in the DWS, they presented an average of 2.96 for the Physical damage factor, characterized as an average psychosocial risk. There was a significant association between occupational stress and physical and psychosocial damage related to the work of the industrial climber.

La investigación tuvo como objeto el estrés laboral y su relación con los daños a la salud del escalador industrial. El estrés ocupacional es capaz de influir en la salud de los trabajadores, produciendo efectos negativos en las condiciones de salud mental y física, convirtiéndose en un problema importante en las áreas de salud pública y salud ocupacional. El estudio tuvo como objetivo: medir el estrés de los trabajadores escaladores industriales en sus situaciones laborales; Identificar el daño físico, psicológico y social a la salud del escalador industrial y asociar el estrés con el daño a la salud del escalador industrial. Estudio epidemiológico transversal con 144 alpinistas industriales, realizado en una empresa proveedora de servicios ubicada en Río de Janeiro y una empresa proveedora de servicios y certificación ubicada en Río de Janeiro y São Paulo. La recopilación de datos tuvo lugar entre los meses de diciembre de 2018 y julio de 2019. Para la recopilación de datos, se utilizó un cuestionario para caracterizar las condiciones sociodemográficas, laborales y de salud y los hábitos de estilo de vida; la Escala de Estrés en el Trabajo - EET y la Escala de Daño Físico y Psicosocial en el Trabajo - EDT. La consistencia interna de las escalas mostró confiabilidad con valores entre 0.954 y 0.993. Los datos se almacenaron, procesaron y analizaron en una base de datos del Paquete Estadístico para las Ciencias Sociales (SPSS), versión 23.0. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y bivariados con un intervalo de confianza del 95%. Para el análisis de datos, se utilizaron las pruebas Chi Square y Fisher's Exact. En el EET, los escaladores industriales tenían un promedio de nivel de estrés percibido de 2.67, caracterizado como un nivel de estrés medio, y en el EDT, presentaron un promedio de 2.96 para el factor de daño físico, caracterizado como un riesgo psicosocial promedio. Hubo una asociación significativa entre el estrés laboral y el daño físico y psicosocial relacionado con el trabajo del escalador industrial.