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Efficient one-day sampling of mechanical job exposure data - A study based on upper trapezius activity in cleaners and office workers

Mathiassen, Svend Erik LU ; Burdorf, A ; van der Beek, AJ and Hansson, Gert-Åke LU (2003) In American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 64(2). p.196-211
Abstract
This ergonomics exposure assessment study compared the efficiency of eight 1-day-only strategies, that is, the relationship between the number of data collected per subject and the precision of the resulting mean exposure estimate. Whole-day electromyographic recordings from the right upper trapezius muscle in 24 cleaners and 23 office workers were processed to give minute-by-minute values of gap time and jerk time-parameters representing the level and frequency dimensions of muscle activation, respectively On-site observations provided data on time spent in each of eight exhaustive task categories in the job, seven of which were associated with activities during work, and the last comprising breaks. On average, sampling at fixed intervals... (More)
This ergonomics exposure assessment study compared the efficiency of eight 1-day-only strategies, that is, the relationship between the number of data collected per subject and the precision of the resulting mean exposure estimate. Whole-day electromyographic recordings from the right upper trapezius muscle in 24 cleaners and 23 office workers were processed to give minute-by-minute values of gap time and jerk time-parameters representing the level and frequency dimensions of muscle activation, respectively On-site observations provided data on time spent in each of eight exhaustive task categories in the job, seven of which were associated with activities during work, and the last comprising breaks. On average, sampling at fixed intervals without regard to tasks doubled efficiency as compared with random sampling, which in turn was several times as efficient as consecutive sampling. Stratified sampling according to the two broad categories, work and breaks, increased efficiency for random and fixed-interval sampling, but the gain was distinct only among cleaners (about 20%). The commonly used strategy in ergonomic studies of sampling consecutively for short periods within tasks was highly inefficient. Further classification of work into the seven subcategories resulted in marginal additional increases in efficiency; on average less than 2%. A decision algorithm is given for determining appropriate sampling strategies in different types of jobs. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
precision, mechanical exposure, ergonomics, efficiency, data collection, task analysis
in
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
volume
64
issue
2
pages
196 - 211
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000182172200010
  • scopus:0038082355
ISSN
1542-8117
DOI
10.1080/713609002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7e62937e-054a-4526-81fa-01705f0e0f9f (old id 313851)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:00:28
date last changed
2022-04-23 02:04:54
@article{7e62937e-054a-4526-81fa-01705f0e0f9f,
  abstract     = {{This ergonomics exposure assessment study compared the efficiency of eight 1-day-only strategies, that is, the relationship between the number of data collected per subject and the precision of the resulting mean exposure estimate. Whole-day electromyographic recordings from the right upper trapezius muscle in 24 cleaners and 23 office workers were processed to give minute-by-minute values of gap time and jerk time-parameters representing the level and frequency dimensions of muscle activation, respectively On-site observations provided data on time spent in each of eight exhaustive task categories in the job, seven of which were associated with activities during work, and the last comprising breaks. On average, sampling at fixed intervals without regard to tasks doubled efficiency as compared with random sampling, which in turn was several times as efficient as consecutive sampling. Stratified sampling according to the two broad categories, work and breaks, increased efficiency for random and fixed-interval sampling, but the gain was distinct only among cleaners (about 20%). The commonly used strategy in ergonomic studies of sampling consecutively for short periods within tasks was highly inefficient. Further classification of work into the seven subcategories resulted in marginal additional increases in efficiency; on average less than 2%. A decision algorithm is given for determining appropriate sampling strategies in different types of jobs.}},
  author       = {{Mathiassen, Svend Erik and Burdorf, A and van der Beek, AJ and Hansson, Gert-Åke}},
  issn         = {{1542-8117}},
  keywords     = {{precision; mechanical exposure; ergonomics; efficiency; data collection; task analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{196--211}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal}},
  title        = {{Efficient one-day sampling of mechanical job exposure data - A study based on upper trapezius activity in cleaners and office workers}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713609002}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/713609002}},
  volume       = {{64}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}