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Biomedical subjects

S H Snook

Publications and source records attributed to S H Snook.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

The effects of task duration on psychophysically-determined maximum acceptable weights and forces.

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate maximum acceptable weights and forces when performing manual handling tasks continuously for four hours at frequencies of 4.3 min-1 or slower. Twelve female and ten male second shift industrial workers performed 18 varieties of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying. A psychophysical methodology was employed, whereby the subjects were asked to select a workload they could sustain for 8 h 'without straining themselves or without becoming unusually tired, weakened, overheated or out of breath'. Measurements of heart rate, oxygen consumption, dynamic and static strengths were also taken. The weights selected after 40 min were not significantly different from the weights selected after four hours. The average oxygen consumption for the fast tasks was 28% VO2 max, within physiological guidelines for eight hours. The results also revealed that the maximum acceptable weights for the combination task of lifting, carrying, and lowering were limited by the lifting and lowering components. It is concluded from the results of this study that the psychophysical methodology is appropriate for determining maximum acceptable weights for task frequencies of 4.3 min-1 or slower. It is also concluded that the maximum acceptable weight for a combination task is limited by the lowest acceptable weight of any of the components.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Perceived exertion and discomfort versus work height with a pistol-shaped screwdriver.

Seven vertical locations were rated after 36 subjects drove 25 No. 6 sheet metal screws into 18-gauge perforated sheet metal (hole size of 0.28 cm) with an air-powered pistol-shaped screwdriver at each location. The seven vertical heights ranged from 38 to 191 cm. Subjects rated each level using three psychophysical scales and were asked to imagine that they were assembly line workers required to drive screws at that work location using that particular tool for 8 hr. The three scales were the Borg 10-point ratio rating scale and two visual analogue scales. All subjects, regardless of anthropometry (5th percentile females to 95th percentile males), preferred driving screws between 114 and 139 cm. At the highest level of 191 cm, the shortest subjects disliked the level twice as much as the taller subjects. The three psychophysical scales were found to be comparable in sensitivity and use, although most subjects preferred the Borg rating scale. Future research and limitations of the current study are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The cost of compensable low back pain.

Cost data were retrieved from all claims of low back pain initiated during 1986 (N = 98,999) from computerized records of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. The mean cost per case was $6807; median cost, $391. Medical costs represented 31.5% of the total costs; indemnity costs, 67.2%. The total compensable cost for all low back pain in the United States was estimated to be $11.1 billion. Large variations were found to exist among different states in cost per case and percentage of costs for indemnity and medical payments.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1987

The cost of disability.

Approximately 16.5% of the adult population in the United States is disabled. About half of the disabled are severely limited and unable to work regularly. Musculoskeletal disorders are the most frequent type of disability. In the United States, there are three major types of disability insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance (a federal program), Workers' Compensation Insurance (usually a state-regulated program), and private health insurance. Recent years have seen a greater demand for private long-term disability insurance, as the trend increases toward less than total reliance on public programs to support disabled workers. The most recent statistics available indicate that Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are currently about $16.8 billion per year; workers' compensation benefits, $16.1 billion; and private disability income protection benefits, $5.2 billion. These figures add up to almost $40 billion in insurance costs. However, insurance costs are only part of the total cost because not everyone is covered by insurance, and insurance does not cover all disabilities. Disability can never be totally prevented or eliminated, but disability and its costs can be substantially reduced through more effective treatment and rehabilitation, including patient education and vocational rehabilitation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

A study of three preventive approaches to low back injury.

The prevention of low back injuries in industry has traditionally been attempted by (1) careful selection of workers, (2) good training in safe lifting, and (3) designing the job to fit the worker (ergonomics). One hundred ninety-one low back injuries were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of each preventive approach. The results indicate that the common selection techniques, as they are being used today, are not an effective control for low back injuries. Similarly, training on safe lifting procedures, as it is being administered today, is not an effective control for low back injuries. It was determined that a worker is three times more susceptible to low back injury if exposed to excessive manual handling tasks. The ergonomic redesign of these tasks to reduce the manual handling exposure represents a partial control for low back injuries.

Back Injuries↗
PubMed1977

The prediction of WBGT from the Botsball.

This study investigated the relationship between the Botsball (BB) and WBGT in varied environmental conditions. Two levels of radiant heat, two levels of air movement, three levels of relative humidity, and dry bulb temperatures ranging between 17.2 and 42.8 degrees C (63 and 109 degrees F) yielded 210 different environmental conditions. The results indicate that if good estimates of wind speed, humidity and radiant heat are available, BB can predict WBGT with +/-0.4 degrees C (90% confidence level). Only when there is limited knowledge of the type of environment does the predictability fall to +/-2.9 degrees C (90% confidence level).

Air Movements↗