Abstract

VELANDIA BACCA, Édgar Humberto  and  MUNOZ ROBAYO, Juan José. Risk factors for physical effort and musculoskeletal alteration diagnosis of work in coal mines in the Ubaté Valley. Rev. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2004, vol.2, n.1, pp.24-32. ISSN 1692-7273.

This study was done in Valle the Ubate miner area and its main objective was to determine the physical load and forced posture risk factors related with muscle skeletal alterations in miners. Methodology: Cross sectional study. 49 miners were evaluated according to the coal mine tunnel and the work place. For the evaluation of the health conditions of the workers, two instruments were design: one for the labor and clinic history and the other one to register the muscle skeletal conditions. These instruments were applied by a physiatrist. To evaluate the physical load and the posture OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysis System) method was used. Results: Postural alterations related with the vertebral axis and the shoulder were found, specially in those workers of mines with horizontal tunnels. Knee laxity ligament was found specially in those workers of mines with non horizontal tunnels. Conclusion: The muscle skeletal disorders found in the spine and shoulder seem to be due to the permanent posture in flexion of the cervical and lumbar spine, that can be add to the forced movements in rotation and the manipulation of heavy loads between 10 and 20 Kg. It is necessary to continue studying, from the epidemiological and clinical point of view, The alterations that miners presents on their needs, because these alterations have been report in others studies too.

Keywords : Posture; occupational; load; ergonomics; mines; muscle skeletal alterations.

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