ERGONOMIC WRENCH’S AFFECT ON MUSCULE ACITIVTY ASSOCIATED WITH SIMULATED GAS METER CHANGE OUT
Mentor 1
Naira H Campbell-Kyureghyan
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
24-4-2015 2:30 PM
End Date
24-4-2015 3:45 PM
Description
ERGONOMIC WRENCH’S AFFECT ON MUSCULE ACITIVTY ASSOCIATED WITH SIMULATED GAS METER CHANGE OUT / Quinn Porter1, Naira Campbell-Kyureghyan Ph.D.2 / Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, UWM, Milwaukee, WI / 1Undergraduate student, 2Faculty Mentor / / INTRODUCTION: Pipe wrenches are commonly used in field utilities such as gas meters. However pipe wrenches have many design flaws such as, limited torque generation, wrench-head slippage which can cause injuries, and require frequent head adjustments. An ergonomically designed wrench (EDW) was developed to address these problems. This study evaluates the difference in muscle activity between a standard pipe wrench and an EDW during wrenching tasks. / METHODS: 8 subjects (all right handed males) ages 18 to 26 were asked to loosen then re-torque pipe fittings on a simulated gas meter. The tasks were performed at a height of 35” using both wrench types once. A video record of each wrenching task was taken with the consent of each subject. Muscle activity was collected using five wireless electromyography sensors (Delsys Trigno) attached to lateral muscle bellies in the upper arm and chest. Wrenching task duration was recorded for each subject. / RESULTS: During loosening, the muscle activity in the bicep, tricep, and posterior deltoid were reduced 40%-45% while using the EDW. Muscle activity was reduced from 18% in the tricep up to 60% in the pectoralis during tightening. The EDW reduced muscle activity in the bicep for all 8 subjects regardless of task. Wrenching duration also decreased while using the EDW. / CONCLUSION: The EDW outperformed the standard pipe wrench. Muscle activity and duration of task were reduced using the new wrench. This may help to increase productivity and performance among workers. Future research into the ergonomically designed wrench’s affect on muscle recruitment in regard to task height should be performed. /
ERGONOMIC WRENCH’S AFFECT ON MUSCULE ACITIVTY ASSOCIATED WITH SIMULATED GAS METER CHANGE OUT
Union Wisconsin Room
ERGONOMIC WRENCH’S AFFECT ON MUSCULE ACITIVTY ASSOCIATED WITH SIMULATED GAS METER CHANGE OUT / Quinn Porter1, Naira Campbell-Kyureghyan Ph.D.2 / Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, UWM, Milwaukee, WI / 1Undergraduate student, 2Faculty Mentor / / INTRODUCTION: Pipe wrenches are commonly used in field utilities such as gas meters. However pipe wrenches have many design flaws such as, limited torque generation, wrench-head slippage which can cause injuries, and require frequent head adjustments. An ergonomically designed wrench (EDW) was developed to address these problems. This study evaluates the difference in muscle activity between a standard pipe wrench and an EDW during wrenching tasks. / METHODS: 8 subjects (all right handed males) ages 18 to 26 were asked to loosen then re-torque pipe fittings on a simulated gas meter. The tasks were performed at a height of 35” using both wrench types once. A video record of each wrenching task was taken with the consent of each subject. Muscle activity was collected using five wireless electromyography sensors (Delsys Trigno) attached to lateral muscle bellies in the upper arm and chest. Wrenching task duration was recorded for each subject. / RESULTS: During loosening, the muscle activity in the bicep, tricep, and posterior deltoid were reduced 40%-45% while using the EDW. Muscle activity was reduced from 18% in the tricep up to 60% in the pectoralis during tightening. The EDW reduced muscle activity in the bicep for all 8 subjects regardless of task. Wrenching duration also decreased while using the EDW. / CONCLUSION: The EDW outperformed the standard pipe wrench. Muscle activity and duration of task were reduced using the new wrench. This may help to increase productivity and performance among workers. Future research into the ergonomically designed wrench’s affect on muscle recruitment in regard to task height should be performed. /
