Affiliations: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Donald S. Bloswick, Ph.D.,
University of Utah, 50 S. Central Campus Dr., Rm 2110, Salt Lake City, UT
84112, USA. Tel.: +1 801 581 4163; Fax: +1 801 585 5261; E-mail:
Bloswick@eng.utah.edu
Abstract: Occupational back pain and injury are common and costly issues.
Biomechanical models are often used to quantify job risk by estimating back
muscle forces. In general, the most accurate models are also the most complex,
creating demand for models that are both straightforward and accurate. An
existing, basic hand-calculation back compressive force estimation model (HCBCF
v1.0) was revised in two iterations to reduce the error induced by original
simplifying assumptions. Lifting tasks (n=6000) from
observational data were used to compare the HCBCF models with the University of
Michigan 3D Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP™) The greatest r^{2} (0.97) between the HCBCF
v1.2 and the 3DSSPP™ was achieved with
gender-specific equations designed to account for differences between males and
females and a more detailed estimation of torso flexion angle and upper body
mass center location. This gender-specific back compression and risk
estimation model is a relatively simple alternative to computer-based back
compressive force models. In addition the hand-calculation can be used as a
general survey tool to determine which jobs should be analyzed with more
sophisticated computer-based models.
Keywords: Back compressive forces, job risk assessment, ergonomics, biomechanics
