Choobineh Alireza, Hosseini Mostafa, Lahmi Mohammadali, Khani Jazani Reza, Shahnavaz Houshang
Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 71645-111, Shiraz, I.R. Iran.
Appl Ergon. 2007 Sep;38(5):617-24. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2006.06.005. Epub 2006 Sep 26.
Long hours of static work with awkward posture at traditionally designed looms can cause high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among carpet weavers. A comprehensive study was conducted in this industry with the objectives of determination of MSDs symptoms prevalence; identification of major factors associated with MSDs symptoms in carpet weaving occupation; and development of guidelines for weaving workstation design. In the present paper, this ergonomics study is presented. The study consisted of two phases. In the first phase, MSDs symptoms in nine Iranian provinces were surveyed by questionnaire among 1439 randomly selected weavers. Working posture and weaving workstations were ergonomically assessed as well. The results of this phase revealed that symptoms from the musculoskeletal system occurred in high rate among weavers with the prevalence significantly higher than that of the general Iranian population (P<0.001). It was found that the majority of ergonomics shortcomings originated from ill-designed weaving workstation. Based on the findings, some general guidelines for workstation design were presented. In the second phase, considering the general guidelines, an adjustable workstation was designed and constructed. To develop quantitative guidelines for optimizing workstation set-up, in the laboratory, nine sets of experimental conditions were tested, and working posture and weavers' perceptions were measured. The results of this lab work showed that working posture was acceptable for both the researchers and the weavers when the weaving height was adjusted 20 cm above the elbow height and a high seat with forward slope was used. By combining the results of the two phases, guidelines for weaving workstation design were presented. In this ergonomics-oriented workstation, loom is vertical. Seat, loom and weaving heights are adjustable. There is enough leg room under the loom. The seat with 10 degrees forward slope is adjusted 15 cm above the popliteal height of the weaver. Weaving height is set at 20 cm above the elbow height. It is believed that the recommended workstation improves working posture and results in reduced postural stress on weavers' bodies and, consequently, reduced prevalence of MSDs symptoms.
在传统设计的织机上长时间保持静态工作且姿势别扭，会导致地毯编织工人中肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）的高发率。该行业开展了一项全面研究，目标是确定MSD症状的患病率；识别地毯编织职业中与MSD症状相关的主要因素；以及制定编织工作站设计指南。本文介绍了这项人体工程学研究。该研究包括两个阶段。在第一阶段，通过问卷调查对伊朗九个省份的1439名随机挑选的编织工人进行了MSD症状调查。还对工作姿势和编织工作站进行了人体工程学评估。这一阶段的结果显示，编织工人中肌肉骨骼系统症状的发生率很高，患病率显著高于伊朗普通人群（P<0.001）。研究发现，大多数人体工程学缺陷源于设计不佳的编织工作站。基于这些发现，提出了一些工作站设计的通用指南。在第二阶段，根据通用指南，设计并建造了一个可调节的工作站。为了制定优化工作站设置的定量指南，在实验室测试了九组实验条件，并测量了工作姿势和编织工人的感受。该实验室工作的结果表明，当编织高度调整到肘部高度以上20厘米并使用带有前斜坡的高座椅时，研究人员和编织工人的工作姿势都是可以接受的。通过结合两个阶段的结果，提出了编织工作站设计指南。在这个以人体工程学为导向的工作站中，织机是垂直的。座椅、织机和编织高度均可调节。织机下方有足够的腿部空间。带有10度前斜坡的座椅调整到比编织工人腘窝高度高15厘米处。编织高度设置在肘部高度以上20厘米处。人们认为，推荐的工作站改善了工作姿势，减轻了编织工人身体上的姿势压力，从而降低了MSD症状的患病率。
