P-626 Assessment of a New Lorry Design for the Kerbside Waste Collection

Introduction Paper aims to investigate the redesign of a lorry to reduce biomechanical load in kerbside waste collection workers. Two workers (one for gender) simulated unloading 10kg bins inside a lorry using five techniques at different heights (105, 135, 145, 185, 200cm) and horizontal distances (5, 35cm). Methods We used sEMG to calculate bilateral mean muscle activity as percentage of Maximum Voluntary Contraction (%MVC) from Anterior Deltoideus, Lateral Deltoideus, Upper Trapezius, and Erector Spinae. Results Workers refused to test 200cm for its height. Trunk muscles of both workers had highest %MVC at 145cm. For male, 105 and 135 showed the lowest %MVC values (16% ESdx, 23% ESsx). For woman, techniques less overloading were 105 and 185cm. Combined %MVC values were still high (65%). Both workers showed the lowest shoulders %MVC at 105cm. Man had the highest anterior deltoids %MVCs at 145cm; both trapezius showed the highest overall %MVC at 145 and 185cm. Woman had the highest shoulder %MVC on left side at 145cm; all TRdx values exceeded 40%. The most overloading height was 185cm. Conclusions Findings revealed negative and positive effects. Negative concern to pull a wire for opening the lorry’s backdoor at 145cm. The wire involves biomechanical load on shoulders. Handling at 145 also results in high %MVC dues to increased horizontal distance (35cm). Positive, concern lowering whole lorry to reduce lower limbs load in repeated hop on hop off task and a reduced handling height of container (135cm Vs. 105cm). Despite improvements biomechanical risk remains high. Acknowledgment Rubes Triva Foundation promoted this paper.