Physical workload and musculoskeletal symptoms in the human-horse work environment

Most work in horse stables is performed manually in much the same way as a century ago, with old-fashioned tools and equipment. It is one of the least mechanised sectors dealing with large animals, which often involves work in awkward postures and lifts of heavy loads. However, there is a lack of knowledge of the ergonomic risks in the human-horse work environment. This thesis seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the human-horse work environment, work tasks, workload and frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms and to identify potential risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal symptoms. Self-reporting methods (questionnaires, rating scales), observation methods (OWAS, REBA), descriptive task analysis (HTA, HA, GTS) and biomechanical analysis (JACK) were used to collect and analyse data. Riding instructors surveyed in the questionnaire study reported high levels of perceived musculoskeletal symptoms in at least one of nine anatomical areas during the past year and the past week. The most frequently reported problem areas were the shoulders, the lower back and the neck. Mucking out stables was considered to be the task involving the heaviest work. OWAS analysis showed that three work tasks contained a high proportion of unacceptably awkward work postures, namely mucking out, preparing bedding and sweeping. During mucking out and sweeping, the back was bent and twisted for most of the time. There were many high-risk operations involved in mucking out boxes and disposing of bedding material. Emptying a wheel barrow on the muck heap included high-risk operations with awkward postures such as twisted, bent back arms over shoulder level and handling high loads. The analytical methods used clearly revealed where in the work tasks the ergonomic problems occurred. In almost all operations with a high risk level, a shafted tool or wheelbarrow was used. Analysis of the shaft length of two hand-held tools used for mucking out (manure fork, shavings fork) showed that the manure fork should have a longer shaft to reduce loading on the back. The results for the shavings fork were inconclusive, but indicated the importance of changes in work technique. More in-depth knowledge of the musculoskeletal symptoms and work tasks performed in the human-horse work environment makes it easier to plan and implement measures to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in this particular group of workers

Patterns of variability in voice onset time: a developmental study of motor speech skills in humans

This study investigated the developmental patterns of variability in the speech parameter voice onset time (VOT) in forty six children. Five groups of children participated in the study as follows: i) Group 1 - aged 5 years 8 months (n=6); ii) Group 2 - 7 years 10 months (n=10); iii) Group 3 - 9 years 10 months (n=10); iv) Group 4 - 11 years 10 months (n=10), and v) Group 5 - 13 years 2 months (n=10). Coefficient of variation (COV) values were examined for the VOT values of both "voiceless" (/p t k/) and "voiced" (/b d g/) plosives to determine patterns of variability. Significant effects of age were revealed for both the voiceless and voiced plosives, and levels of variability leveled off for Group 4. The data suggest that although variability in VOT decreases with age, the presence of residual variability may be a prerequisite for the further refinement of motor speech skills

Ämnesnätverket i genusvetenskap för arbetet med den nya utbildnings- och examensstrukturen

The Centre for Gender Studies at Lund University has been given the responsibility of creating a network within Gender Studies in Sweden to facilitate the implementation of the Bologna Declaration of Higher Education. The Gender Studies network for the implementation of the new structure of education and degrees in Sweden has included all the departments/centres that offer courses on Bachelor s level and beyond. The network has had ten individual meetings and one large concluding meeting The network has consisted of ten participating departments from ten universities. The network has been focused its work upon learning outcomes, student mobility and inter-university co-operation We have outlined the changes carried out in relation to the new educational structure, the formulating of learning outcomes and the creation of the new advanced level of education, i.e. the masters level. The network has concluded that we differ in some ways as to how we state the expected learning outcomes, though the differences do not seem to pose an obstacle to student mobility. Four of the project participants offer education programmes at an advanced level and here we have noted a slight difference in the access requirements. We believe that the department/centres that have developed education at the advanced level can contribute to others, with advice and as models. The network has brought about discussions and an exchange of ideas and now as the network project has completed it work, by far the most obvious conclusion is that a dialogue within our field of education is continuously necessary. Nätverkets deltagare och projektets utfor