Abstract

PELAEZ, Sebastián A. et al. A comparative muscular assessment of the exoskeleton in a scaffold building operation, case study. Ing. compet. [online]. 2022, vol.24, n.2, e21311393.  Epub May 26, 2022. ISSN 0123-3033.  https://doi.org/10.25100/iyc.v24i2.11393.

The job in medium and high voltages lines for the Enel-Codensa Organization has generated discomfort reports in parts of the body, such as the shoulder and back also has been develop increase in absenteeism due to the development of occupational diseases such as lumbago and illnesses in the shoulder. The muscle evaluation of this case study was applied to a group of workers from the Colombian company, Enel-Codensa, which has an interest in improving the working conditions of its workers including exoskeletons in the development of its work. To achieve this, eight muscles were evaluated in which electromyography (EMG) was used in 20 volunteer participants, consisting of 12 electrical technicians and eight volunteers. The aim of the study was to determine whether a decrease in muscular effort occurred when the workers used the exoskeleton, to compare experienced and inexperienced subjects, and ultimately to analyze whether muscular activity varied with the use of an exoskeleton. As a result, muscular effort was lower in all the muscles when using the exoskeleton. However, the activity remained above 10% of muscular effort on average, which can generate muscular fatigue if such activity is maintained during an 8-hour day. The analysis showed that there is no difference when performing the activity with or without an exoskeleton except for the flexor carpi radialis muscle. Alternatively, when comparing the two groups, experts, and novices, it was found that the muscular activity of the experts was greater by 1%. As the study was performed, it was found that among this group, there was not an equality of measurements in six of the eight muscles. In conclusion, the scaffold erection test demonstrated muscular effort in the forearm and arm for both samples. To reduce this muscular effort, it is recommended to provide tools or redesign the task.

Keywords : Ergonomics; Electromyography; Working Conditions; Exoskeleton.

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