Zerin Nazia, Breloff Scott P, Dai Fei, Carey Robert E, Warren Christopher M, Moore Kevin D, Hawke Ashley L, Sinsel Erik W, Wu John Z
Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2025 Mar;68 Suppl 1:S131-S143. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23701. Epub 2025 Jan 9.
This study aimed to assess how knee savers (KSs) and knee pads (KPs) alleviate risks of knee musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among roofers during various phases of shingle installation. These phases encompass (1) reaching for shingles, (2) placing shingles, (3) grabbing a nail gun, (4) moving to the first nailing position, (5) nailing shingles, (6) replacing the nail gun, and (7) returning to an upright position.
In a laboratory setting, nine male participants simulated the shingle installation task on a slope-adjustable roof platform (0°, 15°, and 30° slopes) under four intervention conditions: no intervention (NO); with KPs only (KP); with KSs only (KS); and with both KPs and KSs (BO). Knee flexion, abduction, adduction, and internal/external rotations were measured to assess intervention impact through statistical analysis.
Phase 5 (nailing shingles), one of the riskiest phases, saw reduced knee rotations, with BO and KP interventions being the most effective. Phase 6 (replacing the nail gun) exhibited notable reductions in all knee rotations, primarily due to BO intervention. Significant improvements in certain knee angles for other phases were noted, particularly with BO intervention.
BO and KP can lower knee strain by minimizing extreme knee postures and thereby reducing the risk of MSDs during the installation of shingles, especially at critical periods and on steeper slopes. This study highlights the importance of applying focused ergonomic techniques in the roofing sector to improve workers' musculoskeletal health.
本研究旨在评估护膝器（KSs）和护膝垫（KPs）如何在屋顶工安装屋瓦的各个阶段减轻膝关节肌肉骨骼疾病（MSDs）的风险。这些阶段包括：（1）伸手拿取屋瓦；（2）放置屋瓦；（3）拿起钉枪；（4）移动到第一个钉钉子的位置；（5）钉屋瓦；（6）更换钉枪；（7）恢复直立姿势。
在实验室环境中，九名男性参与者在四个干预条件下，在一个坡度可调节的屋顶平台（0°、15°和30°坡度）上模拟屋瓦安装任务：无干预（NO）；仅使用护膝垫（KP）；仅使用护膝器（KS）；同时使用护膝垫和护膝器（BO）。测量膝关节的屈曲、外展、内收以及内/外旋转，通过统计分析评估干预效果。
第5阶段（钉屋瓦）是风险最高的阶段之一，膝关节旋转减少，BO和KP干预最为有效。第6阶段（更换钉枪）所有膝关节旋转均显著减少，主要归因于BO干预。其他阶段某些膝关节角度有显著改善，特别是BO干预。
BO和KP可通过最小化极端膝关节姿势来降低膝关节应变，从而在安装屋瓦期间降低MSDs风险，尤其是在关键时期和较陡坡度时。本研究强调了在屋顶行业应用针对性人体工程学技术以改善工人肌肉骨骼健康的重要性。
