TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of methods to assess push/pull forces in a construction task
AU - Hoozemans, Marco J.M.
AU - Van Der Beek, Allard J.
AU - Frings-Dresen, Monique H.W.
AU - Van Der Molen, Henk F.
N1 - Funding Information:
The present study was supported by a grant from the Arbouw Foundation. The authors thank Nathalie Donders, Tineke Piersma and Nienke van der Meulen for their valuable help in data acquisition and processing. Erik Lute, Erik Zandbergen and the firms Winder Limmen and Commandeur are greatly acknowledged for making the experiments possible.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The objective of the present study was to determine the validity of methods to assess push/pull forces exerted in a construction task. Forces assessed using a hand-held digital force gauge were compared to those obtained using a highly accurate measuring frame. No significant differences were found between the methods, except for peak push forces, for which the forces assessed with the force gauge were significantly lower than those assessed with the measuring frame. When the construction task was reproduced close to the actual workplace by simulation against a fixed object using the force gauge, all exerted forces on the force gauge were significantly lower than those on the measuring frame, except for mean pull forces. When self-reports were compared to the exerted forces on the measuring frame, the construction workers overestimated the exerted push/pull forces by 50%. In conclusion, when applied for direct measurements, the force gauge can be used to validly assess push/pull forces at the workplace.
AB - The objective of the present study was to determine the validity of methods to assess push/pull forces exerted in a construction task. Forces assessed using a hand-held digital force gauge were compared to those obtained using a highly accurate measuring frame. No significant differences were found between the methods, except for peak push forces, for which the forces assessed with the force gauge were significantly lower than those assessed with the measuring frame. When the construction task was reproduced close to the actual workplace by simulation against a fixed object using the force gauge, all exerted forces on the force gauge were significantly lower than those on the measuring frame, except for mean pull forces. When self-reports were compared to the exerted forces on the measuring frame, the construction workers overestimated the exerted push/pull forces by 50%. In conclusion, when applied for direct measurements, the force gauge can be used to validly assess push/pull forces at the workplace.
KW - Building and construction
KW - Exposure assessment
KW - Pushing and pulling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034896778&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0003-6870(01)00021-7
DO - 10.1016/S0003-6870(01)00021-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 11534796
AN - SCOPUS:0034896778
SN - 0003-6870
VL - 32
SP - 509
EP - 516
JO - Applied Ergonomics
JF - Applied Ergonomics
IS - 5
ER -