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Use of the CABS methodology to assess biomechanical stress in commercial crab fishermen.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Mirka, GA; Shin, G; Kucera, K; Loomis, D
Published in: Appl Ergon
January 2005

Commercial fishing is a job characterized by long hours in an unpredictable, dynamic natural environment and variable demands placed on the musculoskeletal system, requiring strength, coordination, and endurance. The focus of this project was in the quantification of the biomechanical stresses placed on the lumbar spine during the work activities of commercial crab fishermen. The continuous assessment of back stress (CABS) methodology was used to develop distributions describing the amount of time that each of the crew members on a two- or three-man crabbing crew spend at various levels of low back stress. The results of this analysis, expressed in terms of time-weighted histograms, show significant inter and intra-crewmember variability in the stress measures during regular daily work activities. For the three man crew, the captain has relatively low stress levels throughout the work day, while the mate performs high force (up to 30 kg), dynamic exertions while pulling the crab pots from the water up into the boat and high loads (20-40 kg) during the loading and unloading of the boat in the morning and evening, respectively. The third man of the crew experiences static awkward postures (forward flexed postures held for up to 5 min at a time) as he sorts and packs the crabs. For the two-man crew, the results show a more even distribution of the high stress activities between the crewmembers. The application of the results of this analysis for prioritization of work tasks for ergonomic intervention is discussed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Appl Ergon

DOI

ISSN

0003-6870

Publication Date

January 2005

Volume

36

Issue

1

Start / End Page

61 / 70

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight-Bearing
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Ships
  • Posture
  • Occupational Diseases
  • Male
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Human Factors
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Mirka, G. A., Shin, G., Kucera, K., & Loomis, D. (2005). Use of the CABS methodology to assess biomechanical stress in commercial crab fishermen. Appl Ergon, 36(1), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2004.08.001
Mirka, Gary A., Gwanseob Shin, Kristen Kucera, and Dana Loomis. “Use of the CABS methodology to assess biomechanical stress in commercial crab fishermen.Appl Ergon 36, no. 1 (January 2005): 61–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2004.08.001.
Mirka GA, Shin G, Kucera K, Loomis D. Use of the CABS methodology to assess biomechanical stress in commercial crab fishermen. Appl Ergon. 2005 Jan;36(1):61–70.
Mirka, Gary A., et al. “Use of the CABS methodology to assess biomechanical stress in commercial crab fishermen.Appl Ergon, vol. 36, no. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 61–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2004.08.001.
Mirka GA, Shin G, Kucera K, Loomis D. Use of the CABS methodology to assess biomechanical stress in commercial crab fishermen. Appl Ergon. 2005 Jan;36(1):61–70.
Journal cover image

Published In

Appl Ergon

DOI

ISSN

0003-6870

Publication Date

January 2005

Volume

36

Issue

1

Start / End Page

61 / 70

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight-Bearing
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Ships
  • Posture
  • Occupational Diseases
  • Male
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Human Factors