This paper supports the information found in the first part of this two-part article. The Occupational Injury And Illness surveillance data contained herein were extracted from an integrated loss control reporting system. This paper describes the incidents reported over a 10-yr period at a mid-sized industrial organization in terms of the occupational injury or illness (incident character, body part injured, nature of injury) and the cause of the incident (basic cause, substandard actions and conditions, contributing factors and remedial work to control efforts). These data are presented for the express purpose of justifying the usefulness of loss management data for the targeting and evaluation of ergonomic programs and initiatives. The 10-yr data capture revealed that during this time frame over 14,000 incidents were recorded. The most common types of incidents involved being struck by objects and overexertions while the most commonly injured body parts were the fingers, back, head and eyes. The most common nature of injury were sprains, bruises and cuts. Low work standards and inadequate job/task/tool design were frequently noted as the basic cause while the most common substandard actions contributing to the incident were workers being inattentive to ambient job hazards and utilizing unsafe work positions. Trying to avoid extra effort was consistently cited as a major contributing factor. Design improvements were cited as remedial action in up to 13% of incidents.Relevance to industryIn order to be of utility to an organization, ergonomic programs and initiatives must have a sound method of targeting the most appropriate area for intervention as well as an accurate and timely method of evaluation. The loss control reporting system employed by advocates loss management is just such a tool. The elements of the loss control reporting system pertinent to ergonomic programs as well as examples of the data they provide are presented in the second part of this two-part article.(C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of varying the measurement axis of the subject relative to an isokinetic dynamometer on the peak flexion and extension moment of the trunk. The effect of testing position (sitting or standing) on peak moment was also investigated. Methods: Thirty healthy young subjects [8 male, 22 female] were selected at random from a pool of 90 volunteers and asked to perform concentric sagittal flexion-extension cycles at velocities of 60 deg/s, 120 deg/s and 180 deg/s in both the seated and standing position with respect to 5 measurement axes. The subjects were initially aligned with the highest point on the iliac crest (reference axis) and then aligned with 4 measurement axes displaced from the reference axis (25 mm anterior/posterior and 50mm superior/inferior). Results: Two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences (alpha < 0.05) between peak moments recorded between axes and velocity for flexion and extension, however no difference with respect to testing position, i.e., sitting versus standing. Post hoc multiple comparison tests by the Scheff f method revealed that all measurement axes tested were statistically different [P < 0.001] from the reference axis, however there were no differences between the two inferior axes [P = 0.999] and the two superior axes [P = 0.982]. The inferior measurement axes consistently produced greater peak moments than the reference axis while the superior axes consistently produced lower peak moments than the reference axis. Males produced significantly greater peak moments than did females [P = 0.000]. Conclusions: Measurement axis alignment significantly effects the peak moment recorded. Furthermore, these results reinforce the need For accurate and consistent alignment between the subject and the dynamometer. The position of the subject [seated/standing] did not significantly affect the measured peak moment when using the Lido Active Back System in this study.

The aim of the experiment was to determine the impact of axial trunk rotation and arm position on upper extremity adduction force and muscle activity. Ten healthy male subjects performed graded maximum voluntary contractions under isometric conditions in seven upper extremity positions and three trunk postures (neutral and 90 degrees left/right rotated) in a simulated manual materials handling task. A custom built lightweight force-measuring device was held between the palmar surfaces of the hands and subjects compressed the lateral surfaces of the device. Muscle activity was recorded bilaterally over the muscle bellies of the anterior deltoid, the long head of the biceps brachii and over the flexor carpi radialis. The activity of the right pectoralis major was also recorded unilaterally. Descriptive, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and post-hoc Scheffé comparisons were performed on the mean and peak force as well as the EMG [electromyographic] data. Further analysis was performed on the force-EMG relationship at 20% intervals of maximum voluntary contraction (force). Both upper extremity adduction force and EMG were significantly affected by position (p<0.01) but not by trunk rotation. The muscle activity increased and force decreased with flexion of the upper extremity. Pearson correlation coefficients between force and EMG were low. The biceps and flexors were the most active muscles depending upon upper extremity position, and the right pectoralis major muscle activity expressed the highest correlation with force. The present findings confirm earlier hypotheses that upper extremity adduction strength is not significantly affected by trunk rotation.

This paper reviews the current state of the relationship between computer keyboard use and the development of cumulative trauma disorders [CTDs] as found in the literature. Alternative keyboard designs using biomechanical evaluation methods as justification for their use are also reviewed. Critical factors such as the repetitiveness of the keyboarding task, the tendency of users to type with excessive force and forcing users to maintain prolonged awkward and static postures are discussed in relation to CTD development. Suggestions for future research into this area and possible keyboard substitutes are also reviewed.

A pilot study was conducted to determine the effect of measurement axis alignment on strength values recorded about the trunk. The measurement axis of rotation of the trunk was displaced from the recommended measurement axis [iliac crest] of the Lido Active Back Isokinetic Dynamometer. There was no difference found between peak moment values obtained during sitting and standing, however there was a difference between velocities as well as between flexion and extension patterns. Displacing the axis of rotation anteriorly or posteriorly did not effect the peak moment value, however displacing the axis superiorly or inferiorly did.

The purpose of this discussion is to review the methods utilized to calculate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as well as indications on the interpretation and application of the statistic in the assessment of reliability. The index result of the ICC and several examples of clinical and research applications of the ICC are given with respect to the reliability of isokinetic testing.