Margin of safety for the human back: a probable consensus based on published studies

Despite numerous efforts to control occurrences of work-related low back pain, it continues to be a significant problem. Since the causation of low back pain is under multifactorial control, it is suggested that the factor most vulnerable at any given time will determine the safety. Epidemiological, biomechanical, physiological, and psychophysical information presented in published literature has been analysed. The data available are related to injuries and the projected margin of safety. This paper therefore, is an integrative, inferential synthesis of the published work to discern the margin of safety. An attempt has been made to conclude, on the basis of objective evidence, an all encompassing criterion to ensure the safety of the back. The psychophysical approach appears to integrate biomechanical and physiological variables on a short term basis in the studies surveyed. However, it remains to be proven that the sensory conditioning due to prolonged and repetitive occupational tasks will remain responsive to cumulative load and fatigue failures.     

Automobile-Speed Estimation Using Movie-film Simulation

A silent movie film made by shooting through the windscreen of a car driven at different constant speeds was shown in an auditorium, and subjects asked to estimate the speed of the car. Of the 70 subjects who participated, 35 sat at the front and the remainder at the back.

The speed estimates of those seated at the back were, on average, some 11 per cent higher than those at the front. An explanation for this effect is given. It is shown that those at the correct perspective distance from the screen ( in the present case, those at the front) will receive an impression of speed which most closely resembles the actual speed of the car.

The speed estimates from the front of the auditorium most closely resembled those observed in an earlier field experiment when the subjects' hearing was diminished. It is concluded that the movie technique provides a good simulation of the task in the field experiment if the following two qualifications are made. First, the movie must be viewed from close to the correct perspective distance. Second, a silent movie corresponds to the real situation in which the observer is prevented from hearing.     

Optimal Duration of Endurance Performance on the Cycle Ergometer in Relation to Maximal Oxygen Intake

The problem was to determine the optimal duration of endurance performance on the bicycle ergometer using max [Vdot]o₂ as the criterion of validity. Max [Vdot]o₂ was measured in 50 male college students using the, step-increment method (the initial resistance was 2·5 at 60 rpm on a bicycle ergometer, and was increased by 0·5 kg each two minutes until the subject would no longer turn.the ergometer, or when the rate fell to 40 to 50 rev/min).,In contrast, the endurance performance test was of the ‘ steady- pace ’ type in which all of the subjects began pedalling at the same initial rate of 69. pedal rpm at a work rate of 1656 kgm/min for 12 minutes. Although the rate of pedalling (and thus the Work rate) declined as fatigue developed, the friction load remained constant at124 kg throughout the test. There were 12 endurance scores for each individual, endurance being measured as the cumulated work done up to a particular minute. The 12 scores ranged from no decrement in the case of a few subjects with complete endurance to 24 percent in the subjeots with least endurance.

The validity correlations (i.e., the min-by-min correlations between, max [Vdot]o₂and the 12 endurance scores), progressively increased to Y = 0·78 at minute 12. An empirical equation of the form, Y =C ? at, was used to fit. a smooth curve to the trend of the correlations so its' changing rate of curvature could be determined quantitatively. The rate of change was found to slow down considerably in the; later stages of performance, especially after minutes 7 or 8, where the change, was less than 0·04 correlation units.

It was concluded that max [Vdot]o₂ does hot predict endurance performance effectively unless the performance is continued for a least 8 minutes under the conditions of the present experiment. With a,12 minute test, the validity is 96 percent of the asymptotic value, suggesting little further gains can be expected beyond 12 minutes.     

Dynamic leg volume changes when sitting in a locked and free floating tilt oé ce chair

It is well established that prolonged sitting may lead to swelling of the lower extremities. However, activation of the vein pump system by repeated walking breaks or dynamic tiltable foot-rests have been shown to reduce foot and leg oedema. Some oé ce chairs incorporate tilt mechanisms facilitating movements of the body from the feet up. The present study was undertaken to establish whether a beneficial effect on the transcapillary fluid balance of the legs by enabling such mechanisms could be documented. An oé ce chair where the tilt mechanism could be locked or open was used for the study. The seat position and seat activity level was recorded by a transducer system developed for the study. Calf volume and calf muscle pump activity was detected by mercury strain gauge plethysmography. In the locked position there was a steady increase in volume of mean=1.2% (range=0.8–1.8%) for all participants in the 30-min study period. On the other hand, for all participants there was a decrease in calf volume (mean=0.7%, range=0.1–1.2%, p=0.008) when the tilt mechanism was open (30-min period), irrespective of what study period came first. The study showed that upward seat deflection was not associated with concomitant venous obstruction, since such obstruction was detected in less than 2% of the time period with more than 50% of maximal upward deflection. A locked seat mechanism does not prevent activation of the vein pump mechanism, but the study indicates that oé ce chairs that permit variation in seat angle per se stimulate movements of the leg. This, in turn, activates vein pumps and counteracts local oedema formation in seated working postures.     

ERRORS IN THE PERCEPTION OP RAILWAY SIGNALS

This paper is based upon observations of train drivers at work, and defines certain kinds of errors which may be made by drivers in perceiving railway signals. It discusses hypotheses relating incidence of error to various factors. It is suggested that the investigation of hypotheses of this kind, derived from the observation of the normal performance of the operative, is a valid method of accident study.     

A comprehensive meta-analysis on evidence of Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease: Are individual components equal?

Many studies have reported that higher adherence to Mediterranean diet may decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the association in prospective studies and randomized control trials (RCTs) between Mediterranean diet adherence and CVD incidence and mortality. The PubMed database was searched up to June 2014. A total of 17 studies were extracted and 11 qualified for the quantitative analysis. Individuals in the highest quantile of adherence to the diet had lower incidence [relative risk (RR): 0.76, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.68, 0.83] and mortality (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83) from CVD compared to those least adherent. A significant reduction of risk was found also for coronary heart disease (CHD) (RR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.86), myocardial infarction (MI) (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.83), and stroke (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96) incidence. Pooled analyses of individual components of the diet revealed that the protective effects of the diet appear to be most attributable to olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. An average reduced risk of 40% for the aforementioned outcomes has been retrieved when pooling results of RCTs. A Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with lower risks of CVD incidence and mortality, including CHD and MI. The relative effects of specific food groups should be further investigated.     

A comparative study of trends of nitrate,chloride and phosphate concentration levels in selected urban rivers

Concerns for the river environment in Malaysia are highlighted. There had been occurrences of inadequate supply for water in big cities and unexpected floods over the last few years. This paper discussed and compared the results of efforts to clean-up Gombak River which passes through several industrial areas and the City of Kuala Lumpur and Penchala River which passes through the industrial areas and the neighboring City of Petaling Jaya. The trends in the levels of nitrates, chlorides and phosphates present in the rivers were analyzed. Over the period of thirteen years from 1997 to 2009, results of efforts which included public participation, engineering and river works and strict statutory regulations by government had shown success in improving the river water quality. Continued efforts from stakeholders must be harnessed to enhance the health of the Gombak River and the Penchala River.     

Optimization of Improvable Flows by combining BAT Analysis and process simulation

This paper proposes a methodology to improve the sustainability of industrial processes combining two tools: BAT Analysis and process simulation. Both tools are jointly applied to identify the IF of the analyzed process, so that the most appropriate candidate techniques from an inventory can be selected. The selected alternatives are tested in different scenarios that are evaluated using simulation, which would determine the configuration that best improves the sustainability of the process. The combination of both tools in an integrated methodology will help decision makers to select the most sustainable configuration for a given process. The methodology is validated in a case study: a hydrogen production plant. After analysing several scenarios where different candidate techniques are implemented, results show that the IF identified can be highly improved when the appropriate combination of BAT is applied.     

Participation in workplace design with reference to low back pain: a case for the improvement of the police patrol car

Thirty Canadian police officers, divided into six groups, participated in the redesign of the interior of the patrol car. Three of the groups consisted of individuals having a history of low back disease. The effect of participating in a design process on the characteristics of the final design and on the perception of the low back pain was studied in a semi-experimental setting. The participants developed a strong commitment to the participatory design process, which was reflected in their productions. The differences between participants with and without a history of a low back disease was not marked. The former tended to stress posture-related elements in their analysis and design.