Work exposure and complaints in a sample of French and Norwegian forest machine operators. A comparative field study within the ErgoWood programme.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate muscle activity pattern, psychosocial working conditions and self-reported complaints of fatigue and pain in the neck, shoulders and forearms in two samples of forest machine operators driving harvesters in France and Norway. The EMG readings from four muscle groups were analysed in predetermined periods of sustained low level muscle activity (SULMA), ranging from 1.2-5 seconds up to > 20 minutes. The main result was the similarity between operators of the two different countries. Tendencies were found for higher static muscle activity and less muscular relaxation in all evaluated muscles in the French operators, but significant only for the right trapezius muscle. However, the level of muscular complaints was significantly higher among the Norwegian operators. The amount of both short and long SULMA was not significantly higher in the Norwegian group for the right side. This indicates that the amount of low-level muscle activity could be of higher importance than the gaps, or that the gaps are too short to have effect in reducing risk for discomfort or pain. The results indicate that the introduction of the SULMA concept may be of importance as a method for MSD risk assessment. Future work should concentrate on exploring the best linkage between SULMA and muscular complaints.

Cuchet, Emmanuel (author)
Veiersted, Kaj Bo (author)
Vik, Tore (author)
Nilsen, Petter (author)
Lamiscarre, Joel (author)
Johansson Hanse, Jan,1954Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Psykologiska institutionen,Department of Psychology(Swepub:gu)xjohaj (author)
Carlzon, Caisa (author)
Winkel, Jörgen,1946Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för arbetsvetenskap,Department of Work Science(Swepub:gu)xwinjo (author)
Göteborgs universitetPsykologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Ostensvik, Tove; Cuchet, Emmanuel; Veiersted, Kaj B ...; Vik, Tore; Nilsen, Petter; Lamiscarre, Joel; show more...; Johansson Hanse, ...; Carlzon, Caisa; Winkel, Jörgen, ...; show less...

About the subject

SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOCIAL SCIENCES; and Other Social Sci ...; and Work Sciences

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: AGRICULTURAL SCI ...; and Agriculture Fore ...; and Forest Science

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Health Sciences; and Occupational Hea ...

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY: ENGINEERING AND ...; and Mechanical Engin ...; and Production Engin ...

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