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Shoulder Muscle Activities in Backpack Vacuuming Tasks
DescriptionJanitorial cleaning plays an important role in maintaining occupants’ satisfaction, health, and safety. Vacuuming is considered one common cleaning tasks (Bell, 2008; Lynch, 2011). Through an observational ergonomics assessment (Weigall et al., 2005), vacuuming task was identified as the highest risky task for causing upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Janitors frequently use vacuums for floor-vacuuming tasks. Vacuuming floors using a backpack machine is a task that custodians reported as causing the most discomfort in a participatory ergonomics study (Milek, 2017).

Backpack vacuum manufacturers provide guidelines (Walker, 2013) for proper positioning the machines and recommend wand stroke technique to reduce any risks associated with janitors’ bodily discomfort. No research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of the backpack machine carrying positioning and side-to-side stroke technique on bodily discomfort and the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The present experiment studied the backpack vacuum positioning and stroke techniques on shoulder muscle loading.
Event Type
Lecture
TimeThursday, September 12th4:15pm - 4:35pm MST
LocationFLW Salon H
Tracks
Occupational Ergonomics