Frings-Dresen, M.H.W.

Kuijer, P.

van der Beek, A.J.

van Dieen, J.H.

Visser, B.

English

VU Research Portal

VU Research PortalEffect of the number of two wheeled containers at a gathering on energetic workloadand work efficiecyKuijer, P.; Frings-Dresen, M.H.W.; van der Beek, A.J.; van Dieen, J.H.; Visser, B.published inErgonomics for the new millenium (CD rom)2000Link to publication in VU Research Portalcitation for published version (APA)Kuijer, P., Frings-Dresen, M. H. W., van der Beek, A. J., van Dieen, J. H., & Visser, B. (2000). Effect of thenumber of two wheeled containers at a gathering on energetic workload and work efficiecy. In Ergonomics forthe new millenium (CD rom) (pp. 4-823)General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright ownersand it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.            • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.            • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain            • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ?Take down policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediatelyand investigate your claim.E-mail address:vuresearchportal.ub@vu.nlDownload date: 23. May. 20214-283 EFFECT OF THE NUMBER CfF TWO-WHEELED CONTAINERS AT A GATHERING POINT ON ENERGETIC WORKLOAD AND WORK EFFICIENCY P. Paul F.M. Kuijer’,‘, Monique H.W. Frings-Dresen’, Allard J. van der Beek3, Jaap H. van Die&n’, Bat Visser’ ’ Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Academic Medical Center I University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ‘Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ‘Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands The cffcct of the number of two-wheeled containers at a gathering point on the energetic workload and the work efficiency in refuse collecting was studied. The results showed that the size of the gathering point had no effect on the energetic workload. However, the size of the gathering point had an effect on the work efficiency. This study shows that an increase in work efficiency does not directly imply an in- crease in workload. INTRODUCTION Refuse collecting is a physically demanding job and associated with a high prevalence rate <of musculoskeletal disorders and a high sickness rate (Fangs-Dresen et al. 199%). At present, in the Netherlands most refuse is col- lected by means of two-wheeled containers. The number of containers at a gathering point, i.e. the place on the street where citizens place their two-wheeled container, ranges from 1 to more than 30 two-wheeled containers. In the urban areas the distance between small gathering points of up to three to four two-wheeled containers is normally covered by walking, while the distance between large gathering points of more than six two-wheeled containers is normally covered while standing on the foot-board on the back of the refuse truck. One of the possible work improvements to reduce the physical workload is to change the number of two-wheeled containers at a gathering point. Therefore, a study was per- formed to establish the effect of the number of two-wheeled containers at a gathering point on the enwgetic workload and the work efficiency. METHODS Eighleen males voluntarily participated. The participants were no professional refuse collectors. Three sizes of gath- wing points were investigated, i.e. 2, 16 and 32 two-wheeled containers per gathering point. In every condition, a total of 96 two-wheeled containers were collected. The task collecting of two-wheeled containers was simu- l&cd on a test circuit. The working technique, the work tempo and the weight of the container were based on a field study (Frings-Dresen er al., 1995) and controlled by a test experimenter. The energetic workload WBE quantified by the parameters oxygen uptake, heart rate and perceived exertion. The work efficiency was quantified as the time it took to collect 32 two-wheeled containers per time period. The ac- ceptable amount of two-wheeled containers collected during an g-hour working day was based on the energetic criterion of a maximum oxygen uptake of 30% VOz,, (Frings-Dresen ef al. 1995b). RESULTS The size of the gathering point had no effect on the mean oxygen uptake (I.36 l.miri’), heart rate (104 beatsmin.‘), or perceived exertion (‘somewhat to rather effortfull’). How- ever, the work efficiency was higher in the conditions with 16 and 32 two-wheeled containers at a gathering point com- pared to the condition with the 2 two-wheeled containers. DISCUSSION What are the limitations of this study as to daily practisc? First, the two-wheeled containers in this study were easy to get. In daily practise the refuse collector often has to move more than one two-wheeled container before getting B new one. This means that two-wheeled containers have to be placed in two straight lines behind each other with their han- dles placed to the street. Second, no kerbs and other obsta- cles had to be overcome in this study. Third, the pushing and pulling distance did not vary between the two-wheeled con- tainers. This means that the distance between the two- wheeled container and the (driving) refuse truck has to be of a constant length. Fourth, the introduction of a gathering point takes a lot of (parking) space in the streets. Because there were no significant differences between the conditions with 16 and 32 two-wheeled containers, a gathering point of 16 two-wheeled containers seems most preferable on basis of this study. REFERENCES  at Vrije Universiteit 34820 on May 17, 2015pro.sagepub.comDownloaded from 

Effect of the number of two wheeled containers at a gathering on energetic workload and work efficiecy

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Effect of the number of two wheeled containers at a gathering on energetic workload and work efficiecy

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