An Ergonomics Evaluation on the Shovels of Korean Standard

삽에 대한 인간공학적 평가

We Propose an improved shovel design to minimize physical discomfort and the risk of cumulative trauma disorder at shoveling tasks. The specifications of shovels in Korean standard data were scrutinized to check if they met the anthropometric specification of Korean population in 1997. We also applied "Body Map" pictograph and self-conscious checklist to field survey to analyze the discomfort of shoveling task. Thirty male subjects whose age were ranging from 18 to 65 voluntarily participated in the experiment. The measurement results show that shoveling workers were exposed to hazards of CTD's. Especially, when workers were involved in ditch digging and construction their trunk vend more than 120 degree. In order to compare the new designed shovel and the traditional K.S shovel, an analysis of variance was performed and we obtained very strong evidence that the new designed shovel was better in reducing physical discomfort. According to the results from electromyograrn experiment the new shovel contributed to improving subjective comfort level and reducing low back muscle fatigue. For futher study, the research may be extended to determine the relationship among shovel sharpness, type, digging motion and digging force.ing force.