Paint without strain
(2015) MMK920 20141Innovation
- Abstract
- Workers within the painting and decorating trade are exposed to stresses and strains to a considerable large extent. Statistics from 2012 indicate that one out of four Swedish male painters and decorators suffer from work-related disorders. The objective of this thesis was to thoroughly examine the stresses and strains that professional painters and decorators are exposed to throughout an average workday, and also to put this knowledge into the development of an ergonomic aid and suggestions for other future innovations with the purpose of alleviating these stresses and strains.
Initial work was devoted to gather information on the painting and decorating trade, related ergonomics and musculoskeletal work-related disorders. One of the... (More) - Workers within the painting and decorating trade are exposed to stresses and strains to a considerable large extent. Statistics from 2012 indicate that one out of four Swedish male painters and decorators suffer from work-related disorders. The objective of this thesis was to thoroughly examine the stresses and strains that professional painters and decorators are exposed to throughout an average workday, and also to put this knowledge into the development of an ergonomic aid and suggestions for other future innovations with the purpose of alleviating these stresses and strains.
Initial work was devoted to gather information on the painting and decorating trade, related ergonomics and musculoskeletal work-related disorders. One of the important findings was that by slightly improving a strenuous activity, the amount of stress and strain could lessen significantly.
User studies and further research through observations, interviews and a questionnaire study followed the initial background information. The observations and interviews revealed a profound difference of preferences in many matters; whether it concerned tools, working conditions or the use of aids but they agreed on nominating ceiling activities to be the most strenuous work activities.
The questionnaire study had a response rate at, at least 13.1 percent and consequently the result should be treated as an indication of the reality. The result of the questionnaire study displayed an unambiguous result; 78 % of 573 respondents marked that they are, or have been, experiencing work-related disorders. According to the questionnaire study the top-four strenuous work activities where all ceiling related and the top-four physical disorders appeared in the (1) neck, (2) shoulder, (3) wrist and (4) hands. There were also a correlation found between the number of years in the profession and occurrence of disorders.
The results of the previous research and studies were interpreted into a list of user needs for ergonomic interventions or innovation opportunities that aims at alleviating or lessen the strain that workers are put to. These opportunities include basic statements of improvement as well as specific proposals. Most opportunities demand additional research. From the list of opportunities, one particular was singled out for the subsequent concept development process: preventing tennis elbow.
The development process and research resulted in a product concept that would improve the local blood circulation and reduce the risk of muscle and tendon fatigue, which was identified as one of the causing factors of developing tennis elbow among painters and decorators. To improve the blood circulation around the elbow tissues, compression technique was determined to be the foundation for the concept development. The evolved concept is a compression sleeve that is comfortable to wear for a whole day since the compression is applied by using a zipper. The concept intends for the user to use the sleeve in compression mode, zipped, while performing demanding activities and to be unzipped for the rest of the time. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/5038658
- author
- Backman, Henrietta LU and Sahlin, Felicia
- supervisor
-
- Per Kristav LU
- organization
- alternative title
- Ergonomic innovations to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the painting and decorating trade
- course
- MMK920 20141
- year
- 2015
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Painters and decorators, Ergonomics, Product development, Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), Musculoskeletal disorders
- language
- English
- id
- 5038658
- date added to LUP
- 2015-02-03 14:51:30
- date last changed
- 2015-02-03 14:51:30
@misc{5038658,
abstract = {{Workers within the painting and decorating trade are exposed to stresses and strains to a considerable large extent. Statistics from 2012 indicate that one out of four Swedish male painters and decorators suffer from work-related disorders. The objective of this thesis was to thoroughly examine the stresses and strains that professional painters and decorators are exposed to throughout an average workday, and also to put this knowledge into the development of an ergonomic aid and suggestions for other future innovations with the purpose of alleviating these stresses and strains.
Initial work was devoted to gather information on the painting and decorating trade, related ergonomics and musculoskeletal work-related disorders. One of the important findings was that by slightly improving a strenuous activity, the amount of stress and strain could lessen significantly.
User studies and further research through observations, interviews and a questionnaire study followed the initial background information. The observations and interviews revealed a profound difference of preferences in many matters; whether it concerned tools, working conditions or the use of aids but they agreed on nominating ceiling activities to be the most strenuous work activities.
The questionnaire study had a response rate at, at least 13.1 percent and consequently the result should be treated as an indication of the reality. The result of the questionnaire study displayed an unambiguous result; 78 % of 573 respondents marked that they are, or have been, experiencing work-related disorders. According to the questionnaire study the top-four strenuous work activities where all ceiling related and the top-four physical disorders appeared in the (1) neck, (2) shoulder, (3) wrist and (4) hands. There were also a correlation found between the number of years in the profession and occurrence of disorders.
The results of the previous research and studies were interpreted into a list of user needs for ergonomic interventions or innovation opportunities that aims at alleviating or lessen the strain that workers are put to. These opportunities include basic statements of improvement as well as specific proposals. Most opportunities demand additional research. From the list of opportunities, one particular was singled out for the subsequent concept development process: preventing tennis elbow.
The development process and research resulted in a product concept that would improve the local blood circulation and reduce the risk of muscle and tendon fatigue, which was identified as one of the causing factors of developing tennis elbow among painters and decorators. To improve the blood circulation around the elbow tissues, compression technique was determined to be the foundation for the concept development. The evolved concept is a compression sleeve that is comfortable to wear for a whole day since the compression is applied by using a zipper. The concept intends for the user to use the sleeve in compression mode, zipped, while performing demanding activities and to be unzipped for the rest of the time.}},
author = {{Backman, Henrietta and Sahlin, Felicia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Paint without strain}},
year = {{2015}},
}