Assessment of work-related hand and elbow workloads using measurement-based TLV for HAL

David H Seidel; Kai Heinrich; Ingo Hermanns-Truxius; Rolf P Ellegast; Lope H Barrero; Monika A Rieger; Benjamin Steinhilber; Britta Weber

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103310

Assessment of work-related hand and elbow workloads using measurement-based TLV for HAL

Appl Ergon. 2021 Apr:92:103310. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103310. Epub 2020 Dec 21.

Authors

David H Seidel¹, Kai Heinrich², Ingo Hermanns-Truxius², Rolf P Ellegast², Lope H Barrero³, Monika A Rieger⁴, Benjamin Steinhilber⁴, Britta Weber²

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse 111, Sankt Augustin, 53757, DE, Germany; University Hospital Tuebingen, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research (IASV), Wilhelmstrasse 27, Tuebingen, 72074, DE, Germany. Electronic address: david.seidel@dguv.de.
² Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse 111, Sankt Augustin, 53757, DE, Germany.
³ Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse 111, Sankt Augustin, 53757, DE, Germany; School of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62, Bogotá DC, 110231, CO, Colombia.
⁴ University Hospital Tuebingen, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research (IASV), Wilhelmstrasse 27, Tuebingen, 72074, DE, Germany.

PMID: 33352500
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103310

Abstract

Direct-measurement-based methods for assessing workloads of the hand or elbow in the field are rare. Aim of the study was to develop such a method based on the Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity Level (TLV for HAL). Hence, HAL was quantified using kinematic data (mean power frequencies, angular velocities and micro-pauses) and combined with electromyographic data (root-mean-square values) in order to generate a measurement-based TLV for HAL (mTLV for HAL). The multi-sensor system CUELA including inertial sensors, potentiometers and a 4-channel surface electromyography module was used. For wrist and elbow regions, associations between mTLV for HAL and disorders/complaints (quantified by odds ratios (OR [95%-confidence interval])) were tested exploratively within a cross-sectional field study with 500 participants. Higher workloads were frequently significantly associated with arthrosis of distal joints (9.23 [3.29-25.87]), wrist complaints (2.89 [1.63-5.11]) or elbow complaints (1.99 [1.08-3.67]). The new method could extend previous application possibilities.

Keywords: Exposure assessment; Measurement-based TLV for HAL; Work-related upper extremity disorder.

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Cross-Sectional Studies
Elbow*
Hand
Humans
Workload*