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3B Project
The PALM System: Pressure Area Loading Measurement
Last updated: February 5, 2007 @ 1:26am
The lifting limits have been developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are in the form of a maximum peak load. Even with these restrictions in place, over 19,000 people in Ontario injure their back at work each year [1]. This is because cumulative loading exposure gradually reduces fail threshold [2] and thus causes injuries. There are currently no standards in place for cumulative lifting exposure limits because there is insufficient data to accurately predict the cumulative lower back loads during a particular job task [3].
Current methods for gathering lower back loading data include manually recording loads, such as the weight of a box being lifted, and either photographic or video analysis to calculate how these forces act on the back. The photographs are analyzed using a static approach or the video is digitized for dynamic analysis. The static approach is most often used in industry because it causes less interference with the subject.
An existing method of directly measuring applied forces on the hands of a person consists of electroresistive devices such as strain gages. This device has been used in a laboratory setting but tends to be too awkward and delicate to use in industry [4].
The proposed device shall acquire data of applied forces on the hands of a person with respect to time. This device shall be one component of the entire system which ideally measures body position and calculates the forces on the back based on the forces applied to the hands. Data acquired by the system may then lead to the creation of cumulative lifting exposure limits and therefore reduce workplace injury.
Supervisor
Professor: Jack P. Callaghan | info
Prof. Callaghan is a Canadian Research Chair in Spine Biomechanics and Injury Prevention, and an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo.
Project Files
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Our requirements specification report at the beginning of the project.
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Our final report for the project.
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Our powerpoint presentation for the design symposium.
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