Ergonomics hazards analysis of linemen's power line fixing work in China.

This study used qualitative and quantitative methods, such as OWAS (Ovako working posture analysis system) and behavior observation, to analyze musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk factors of power line fixing work in China. Video-based sampling was used to record and analyze the frequency and posture of on-pole activities. Those key subtasks showed ergonomics characteristics of on-pole fixing tasks. Insulator-fixing was the longest subtask (33% of total working time). Bar-installing was the second longest (26% of total working time). It was evident that bar-installing and insulator-fixing were full of hazardous risks. The action categories of the 2 subtasks were higher than of the other ones. The 2 subtasks were also time-consuming, difficult and induced MSDs. Assistant linemen faced more hazardous factors than chief linemen.