Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
권호 표지

Ergonomic evaluation and improving measures of tasksperformed in a general hospital

종합 병원 종사자 업무의 인간공학적 평가 및 개선 방안

  • Kee, Dohyung (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Keimyung University) ;
  • Song, Young Woong (Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Taegu)
  • 기도형 (계명대학교 산업시스템공학과) ;
  • 송영웅 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과)
  • Received : 2006.01.03
  • Accepted : 2006.05.23
  • Published : 2006.06.30
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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to ergonomically evaluate varying tasks performed in a general hospital and to propose their improving measures based on the evaluation results. The tasks found in the hospital were largely classified into two groups of manual materials handling and awkward posture related tasks. Ergonomic tools of NLE, 3-D SSPP and RULA were used for evaluating workload of the tasks. The major findings are: 1) L5/S1 compressive force of patient transferring by one person exceeded the maximum permissible limit(6,400N) by NIOSH. The L5/S1 compressive forces for most of the patient transferring tasks by 2-4 persons were larger than the action limit (3,400N), and the tasks by five persons were analyzed to be safe in the view of L5/S1 compressive force; 2) patient repositioning tasks by 2-3 persons were hazardous on the basis of L5/S1 compressive force, while most of the tasks by 4-5 persons were safe; 3) many tasks performed in wards were found to be stressful, most of which resulted from improper heights of their working tables or working points. Of varying tasks in general hospitals, patient transferring was the most stressful. Based on the results of this study and high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders from other studies, it is recommended that the ergonomics program be introduced and enforced for doing improving activities systematically

Keywords

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