Citation

Okunribido OO, Shimbles SJ, Magnusson M, Pope M. Appl. Ergon. 2007; 38(1): 29-38.

Affiliation

Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Liberty Safework Research Centre, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZP, Scotland. epxoook@hotmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17225292

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate worker exposure to posture demands, manual materials handling (MMH) and whole body vibration as risks for low back pain (LBP). Using validated questionnaire, information about driving experience, driving (sitting) posture MMH, and health history was obtained from 80 city bus drivers. Twelve drivers were observed during their service route driving (at least one complete round trip) and vibration measurements were obtained at the seat and according to the recommendations of ISO 2631 (1997), for three models of bus (a mini-bus, a single-decker bus, a double-decker bus). The results showed that city bus drivers spend about 60% of the daily work time actually driving, often with the torso straight or unsupported, perform occasional and light MMH, and experience discomforting shock/jerking vibration events. Transient and mild LBP (not likely to interfere with work or customary levels of activity) was found to be prevalent among the drivers and a need for ergonomic evaluation of the drivers' seat was suggested.

Language: en