Updated: 06/06/2002

IE/BIOE 2061: Ergonomics and Occupational Biomechanics (Spring, 2002)

Ergonomics is the study of people and their work environment. The focus of this class is the physical work place; specifically, the effect of workplace design on the musculo-skeletal system from an engineering perspective. Topics covered are anthropometry in design, low back biomechanics and lifting, cumulative trauma disorders in industrial applications, occupational falls, and office ergonomics.

Occupational biomechanical models are introduced and workplace analysis techniques described. This year there will be a little more time dedicated to detailed low-back biomechanical modeling. Dr. Lars Gilbertson will be presenting the development of low-back models for occupational biomechanics. However, other models of the hand and wrist, shoulder and neck will also be covered.

Instructor:

Mark S. Redfern, Ph.D.
Room 128, Eye & Ear Institute, 647-7923
Room 746, Benedum Hall
redfernms@msx.upmc.edu

Text:

Occupational Biomechanics 3rd Edition by Chaffin & Anderson, John Wiley & Sons. (noted as C&A in outline)

Requirements:

Graduate Standing or Undergraduate with permission of Instructor

Grading:

Exam I:                       15%
Exam II:                      20%
Final:                           30%
Assignments: (5x3%)   15%
Final Project:               20%

References:

C&A
CN
S&M
K
P-A
NIOSH
K&K

Chaffin and Anderson, Occupational Biomechanics
Class Notes
Sanders and McCormick, Human Factors in Engineering and Design
Konz
Putz-Anderson, Cumulative Trauma Disorders
NIOSH work practices guide
Kroemer and Kroemer Ergonomics: How to Design for Ease & Efficiency


BIOE/IE 2061 GENERAL STRUCTURE
JANUARY-APRIL 2002
(VERSION 3 WITH REFERENCES)

Week

Day

Module / Instructor / Topic

Reference

1

Jan 8

1 / MR / Introduction
(Definitions, Epidemiology, Injury Type Recognition)

C&A 1

Jan 10

1 / MR / Musculoskeletal Physiology I

C&A 2


2

Jan 15

1 / MR / Musculoskeletal Physiology II

C&A 2

Jan 17

1 / MR / Anthropometry

C&A 3; S&M 12; K 11; Ergoweb; S&M; K&K


3

Jan 22

1 / MR / Basic Biomechanics A1

C&A 6; CN

Jan 24

1 / MR / Occupational Biomechanics

C&A 4, 6; Ergoweb


4

Jan 29

1 / RC / Strength Analysis (including Snook Strength Analysis)

C&A 4, 6; Ergoweb

Jan 31

1 / MR & RC / Computerized Static Strength Modeling A2 (3dssp)

CN


5

Feb 5

2 / LG / Spine Anatomy/Physiology

CN

Feb 7

2 / LG / Cervical Anatomy/Physiology

CN


6

Feb 12

2 / MR / Low-Back Biomechanics I

C&A 6; CN

Feb 14

2 / MR / Low-Back Biomechanical II A4

C&A 6; CN


7

Feb 19

2 / MR / Computer Low-Back Analysis Methods A5 (3dssp)

CN

Feb 21

2 / MR / NIOSH

NIOSH; CN


8

Feb 26

2 / MR / NIOSH A6

C&A 8; CN

Feb 28

2 /        / Midterm (material: modules 1 and 2)


9

Mrch 5

SPRING RECESS - NO CLASS

Mrch 7

SPRING RECESS - NO CLASS


10

Mrch 12

2 / RC & MR / Lab 1

CN

Mrch 14

   / MR / Visiting Lecture


10

Mrch 12

3 / MR / Introduction to Module 3 (Type of Injuries and Risk Factors)

P-A I, II, III

Mrch 14

3 / MR / Upper Extremity Anatomy/Physiology

CN


11

Mrch 19

3 / MR / Upper Extremity Biomechanics I

C&A 6; CN

Mrch 21

3 / MR / Upper Extremity Biomechanics II (including hand/wrist modeling) A3

C&A 6; CN


12

Mrch 26

3 / MR / RULA

CN

Mrch 28

3 / MR / "Engineering Solutions"

CN


13

April 2

3 / MR / Hand tool Design

C&A 11; S&M 11; K 15; CN

April 4

3 / RC / Office Ergonomics Guidelines

C&A 9; CN


14

April 9

3 /       / Lab 2

April 11

3 /       / Ergonomics Program Development


15

April 16

   / MR / Project Presentation

April 18

   / MR / Review


16

April 23

Cumulative Final Exam

April 25


A = Assignment

Grading:

Midterm:

20%

Final:

30%

Assignments [5(out of 6)]:

10%

Lab (2 x 10%):

20%

Final Project:

20%

References abbreviations:

C&A (Textbook): Occupational Biomechanics, 3rd edition by Chaffin DB, Anderson GBJ and Martin, BJ.

CN: Class notes and other material handed out in class.

S&M: Human Factors in Engineering and Design by Sanders and McCormick.

K: Human Factors and Ergonomics by Konz.

P-A: Cumulative Trauma Disorders by Putz-Anderson.

NIOSH: NIOSH work practices (1981).

K&K: Ergonomics: How to design for Ease and Efficiency by Kroemer and Kroemer.