Publication statistics
Pub. period:1987-2012
Pub. count:17
Number of co-authors:35
Co-authors
Number of publications with 3 favourite co-authors:
William S. Marras:5Monica R. Johnson:3Sue A. Ferguson:3 Productive colleagues
Steven A. Lavender's 3 most productive colleagues in number of publications:
William S. Marras:34Sanghyun Park:9Carolyn M. Sommeri..:9
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Steven A. Lavender
Publications by Steven A. Lavender (bibliography)
Lavender, Steven A., Mehta, Jay P., Hedman, Glenn E., Park, Sanghyun, Reichelt, Paul A. and Conrad, Karen M. (2012): Ergonomic Evaluation of Track-Type Stair Descent Devices Used for the Evacuation of High Rise Buildings. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2012 Annual Meeting 2012. pp. 1211-1212.
“Fire service personnel are often the first people called upon when evacuating large multi-story buildings during emergency and non-emergency conditions. During such evacuations, firefighters may need to transport building occupants with physical disabilities down several flights of stairs. While several stair descent devices or "evacuation chairs" are currently on the market for emergency evacuation of individuals with motor disabilities from high rise buildings, there is little empirical data indicating their impact on the physical demands placed on the firefighter. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate five existing evacuation chairs with track systems, each representing a different design approach, that have been developed to transport individuals who are ill or who have ambulatory disabilities down multiple flights of stairs.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Lavender, Steven A., Ko, Pei-Ling and Sommerich, Carolyn (2011): Biomechanical Evaluation of the Eco Pick Lift Assist: Could this device potentially prevent back and shoulder injuries in people doing pick-to-pallet jobs in distribution centers?. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting 2011. pp. 971-974.
“The objective of this work was to biomechanically evaluate a new type of lift-assist that could potentially be used by people as they move through distribution centers. Eleven participants moved 16.4 kg boxes from one pallet to another manually and using the Eco-Pick lift assist. Electromyographic (EMG) activities were measured bilaterally in the Bicep, Deltoid, Latissimus Dorsi, and Erector Spinae muscles. The analysis showed that the 90th percentile and the 50th percentile normalized EMG values obtained from the Bicep, Latissimus Dorsi, and Erector Spinae muscles were reduced using the Eco-Pick assist. The Eco-Pick was advantageous to the deltoid muscles with the higher placement locations.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or HFES
Mehta, Jay, Kim, Tae Hoon and Lavender, Steven A. (2011): Can Twisting and Lateral Bending Motions be Controlled through Adjustments to Transfer Distance When Boxes are Lifted from Varying Heights?. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting 2011. pp. 1022-1024.
“Work-related injury to the low back due to twisting and lateral bending motions has been well-documented for manual material handling tasks. Laboratory studies in the past have shown reduction in these motions of the spine by changing the workplace layout. This study investigated differences in spine motions as a function of transfer distance and origin lifting heights. Sixteen subjects were asked to move three boxes from different lift origin heights to a fixed destination for six transfer distances. The results showed that twisting motions decreases with transfer distance and initial lifting height. At lower lifting heights, lateral bending motions were significantly higher.”
© All rights reserved Mehta et al. and/or HFES
Johnson, Monica R., Lavender, Steven A., Crawford, J. Mac, Reichelt, Paul A., Conrad, Karen M. and Fernandez, Antonio R. (2011): Identification of Factors that Affect the Adoption of Ergonomic Interventions Among EMS Workers. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting 2011. pp. 1057-1061.
“The primary goal of this study was to understand the adoption of specific voluntarily used ergonomic intervention aimed at preventing musculoskeletal injuries in EMS workers. According to previous research in the areas of information technology, acceptance and diffusion of innovation, worker's perceptions and attitudes impact the adoption of interventions. This research evaluated the adoption of an intervention that was designed to assist with the lateral transfer of patients as this has previously been reported as a frequent and strenuous task performed by EMS workers. The objective of the current study was to use structural equation modeling to determine which factors most closely affect its adoption. The model suggest that the perception that the intervention is relatively advantageous and easy to use, that the intervention is compatible with the task, having previous experience with similar tools and whether it was endorsed by champions who actively promote the use of the intervention are all factors contributing to the adoption of this ergonomic intervention.”
© All rights reserved Johnson et al. and/or HFES
Lavender, Steven A., Sommerich, Carolyn M., Johnson, Monica R. and Radin, Zaid (2010): Developing Ergonomic Interventions to Reduce Musculoskeletal Disorders in Grocery Distribution Centers. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 54th Annual Meeting 2010. pp. 1229-1233.
“The purpose of this work was to explore intervention concepts aimed at addressing the workers' needs in grocery distribution centers. Worker interviews indicated that many of the items that they handle are heavy, including cases of meat (up to 80 lbs), juice, water, and detergent. Management and safety personnel who participated in a brainstorming focus group session indicated key ergonomic issues include the weight of the meat cases, extended reaching, and even more specifically, overhead reaching. Intervention ideas discussed during the brainstorming indicated a need for mechanisms that reduce reach distances by keeping product close to the order picking aisle and mechanisms that relieve the physical burden of handling heavy product from their storage slots onto the order-picker's pallet jack.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or HFES
Johnson, Monica R., Lavender, Steven A., Crawford, J. Mac, Reichelt, Paul A. and Fernandez, Antonio R. (2010): UNDERSTANDING FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE ADOPTION OF ERGONOMIC INTERVENTIONS AMONG EMS WORKERS. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 54th Annual Meeting 2010. pp. 1234-1238.
“The primary goal of this study was to understand the adoption of specific voluntarily used ergonomic interventions aimed at the musculoskeletal needs of EMS workers. According to previous research in the areas of information technology, acceptance and diffusion of innovation, worker's perceptions and attitudes impact the adoption of an intervention. Prior research identified the lateral transfer of patients as a frequently performed strenuous task performed by EMS workers. The intervention introduced is a transfer-board, designed and biomechanically validated to assist with these lateral transfers. In the current study EMS workers were surveyed to determine which factors most closely correlated with their intention to use the transfer-board. The data suggest that the perception that it is easy to use, the patient is safer while using the transfer-board, the transfer-board is compatible with other pieces of equipment and the smoothness of the patient transfer when using the transfer-board are all factors that may predict adoption.”
© All rights reserved Johnson et al. and/or HFES
Marras, William S., Lavender, Steven A., Ferguson, Sue A., Splittstoesser, Riley E. and Yang, Gang (2009): Dynamic Load Moment Exposure and Spine Function Impairment. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting 2009. pp. 879-881.
“A prospective study was performed in distribution center environments in order to determine which physical exposure measures related to a reduction in low back function. Workers in 50 distribution jobs employed in 21 distribution centers were monitored over at least a 6 month period for changes in spine function. Job exposures were monitored with a sonic-based exposure tracking system (laboratory in a backpack) that captured 197 physical exposure metrics per lift. Based upon the database containing over 60,000 lifts, a multivariate model was developed capable of predicting jobs characteristics associated with a decrement in spine function over time. The sensitivity and specificity of the”
© All rights reserved Marras et al. and/or their publisher
Lavender, Steven A. and Johnson, Monica (2009): Is there a lateral transfer distance that minimizes twisting and lateral bending motions of the spine?. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting 2009. p. 882.
“Studies have shown that twisting and lateral bending postures and motions increase the risk of low back disorders in manual handling tasks (Marras et al., 1993; Punnet et al., 1991). These motions are often associated with asymmetric lifting. Thus, it has been hypothesized that one means for controlling these motions is through carefully designing the layout of the workplace. We hypothesized that spatially separating a lift's origin and destination to encourage stepping/turning of the body during a manual transfer task would reduce these motions. At the same time, however, the added distance may increase the tendency to reach, therein increasing the amount of forward bending, increases handling time, and may increase the physiologic cost. Thus, the objective of the current study was to determine if there is a separation distance between a lift's origin and destination during the lateral transfer of boxes that minimizes the lateral bending and twisting motions on the spine while not increasing the amount of forward bending due to reaching. The study was performed by having 29 male volunteers transfer boxes between two conveyors spaced .50, .75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.50, and 1.75 meters apart. Transfers were performed using loads of 9.5 and 16.5 kg. Spine kinematic data were collected with a magnetic motion capture system. The data from the box pick up and the box placement were analyzed separately. The twisting motions associated with the box placement were significantly affected by the transport distance (p=.007). However, the twisting motion when pick up the box, while showing a trend toward less motion with a 1 meter transport distance was not significantly different across the transport distances (p=.15). The lateral bending motions, both during the box pick up and the box placement were significantly affected by the transfer distance (p<.05). Overall our findings suggest twisting and lateral motions would both be minimized when the transfer distances were between 1 and 1.25 meters.”
© All rights reserved Lavender and Johnson and/or their publisher
Lavender, Steven A., Marras, William S., Ferguson, Sue A., Splittstoesser, Riley E., Yang, Gang and Schabo, Pete (2009): Identifying Safe Load Moment Exposures for the Back. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting 2009. p. 883.
“Low back disorders continue to be the most common and significant work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the US. Identifying what constitutes a "safe" physical workload has been the biggest challenge facing injury prevention efforts. Prior low back injury risk models have focused on manufacturing activities where there is limited variability in the parameters used to describe the exposures to low back disorder risk factors. Lifting tasks in distribution centers can have considerably more variability in load and physical layout. The goal of this project was to identify and quantify measures that characterize the biomechanical risk factors, including measures of the load moment exposure, and measures that characterize the duty cycle that are predictive of low back disorders in distribution centers. Thus, our hypothesis was that we could define a relationship between moment exposure parameters and the low back disorder incidence rates. A cross-sectional study was designed to examine the mechanical risk factors responsible for reported low back injury in distributions centers. The physical exposure was measured on 195 workers on 50 jobs in 21 distribution centers using a sonic-based Moment Exposure Tracking System (METS). The METS measures load, force, load moment, torso kinematics, and temporal parameters of the job simultaneously. For each job, low back injury rates were collected retrospectively from the company's records over the prior 3-year period. The data were used to develop a risk model designed to predict back injury risk based upon direct measures of load and load moment exposure. The model incorporates biomechanical variables which include the load moment and horizontal sliding forces, as well as a temporal variable indicating the opportunity for micro-breaks during the work process. Overall, the”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or their publisher
Liu, Di, Sommerich, Carolyn M., Sanders, Elizabeth B-N. and Lavender, Steven A. (2009): Application of a Participatory Methodology for Investigating Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Usage in the Construction Industry. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting 2009. pp. 925-929.
“The participatory workshop is a new concept of design in which developers, end users, and researchers work together to design a product or service. This approach is still in its experimental stage as applied to studying jobs in the construction industry. In the current study, a participatory workshop was conducted to generate ideas for an improved Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) design and another workshop was held to generate ideas on fall protection training. In addition to generating ideas about PFAS design and fall protection training, the data collected through the workshop process was used to create three personas that served, at the end of the project, as vehicles for summarizing the research results. The workshop method is more commonly used by designers, but can provide useful information that can complement data from surveys or laboratory investigations conducted by human factors professionals and others interested in user-centered design.”
© All rights reserved Liu et al. and/or their publisher
Lavender, Steven A. and Miller, Joe (1995): The Effects of Cardboard Slipsheets between Layers of Beverage Products on Side-Load Delivery Trucks: A Trunk Motion Study. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th Annual Meeting 1995. p. 954.
“A previous ergonomic evaluation of route drivers in the beverage industry indicated that one of the factors associated with increased risk of low back injury was the high frictional force encountered when dragging selected products during the off-loading process. Of particular concern were the rigid plastic trays used to package and ship the 2-liter bottles and the open-topped cardboard cases used for the 592 ml containers. The present study tested the effects of using cardboard slipsheets placed between layers of palletized products on-board delivery trucks on the forces required and the trunk motions exhibited during the unloading process. Seven employees participated in the trunk motion study by wearing the Lumbar Motion Monitor while unloading both types of products from a side-load truck. The cardboard slipsheets reduced the required pull force by 35 percent for the 592 ml containers and by 58 percent for the 2-liter bottles. The use of cardboard had a small, but adverse, effect on the trunk motions. When the slipsheets were used twisting motions were increased during the handling of the 2-liter bottles and the lateral bending was increased during the handling of the cases containing 592 ml products. It is likely that the reduced sliding resistance translated to increased trunk motion. Evaluation of these results using the trunk motion model proposed by Marras et al. (1993) suggest that overall the use of cardboard slipsheets should be advocated.”
© All rights reserved Lavender and Miller and/or Human Factors Society
Lavender, Steven A., Li, Yichun, Natarajan, Raghu, Andersson, Gunnar B. J. and Nussbaum, Maury (1995): The Effects of Lifting Speed and Load Magnitude on the Torsional and Lateral Bending Moments during Twisting. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th Annual Meeting 1995. p. 954.
“Epidemiological studies have associated occupations that require twisting of the torso with increased low-back disorders. The objective of this study was to quantify the torsional and lateral bending moments acting on the spine in three lifting modes that varied in the amount of twisting required. Fifteen subjects lifted boxes, weighing 10 and 20 percent of their body weight, at two speeds. Kinetic and kinematic data were obtained with a two force-platform, four camera, opto-electronic motion detection system. These data were run through an inverse dynamic model to quantify the net torsional and lateral bending moments at L5/S1. Results indicated that the asymmetric lifting activities tested created significantly greater lateral bending and torsional moments on the spine than the sagittally symmetric task. The greatest lateral bending and torsional moments were observed as subjects lifted the 20 percent body weight load from a 90 degree asymmetric position positioned 88 cm from the floor. The faster lifting speed significantly reduced the torsional and lateral bending moments during particular phases of the lifts tested. This suggest that during rapid twisting motions the path taken by the box was doser to the body, thereby, minimizing the box's external moment.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or Human Factors Society
Lavender, Steven A., Chen, Ing-Ho, Trafimow, Jordan and Andersson, Gunnar B. J. (1993): Trunk Muscle Activations while Resisting Asymmetric Loads in a Laterally Bent Trunk Posture. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 37th Annual Meeting 1993. pp. 688-692.
“Asymmetric material handling frequently results in lateral bending of the torso. Each of these factors have been linked via epidemiological investigations to the incidence of low back disorders (LBD). Very little literature is available which describes the response of the trunk muscles in situations which would be analogous to handling materials while bent to the side. Such activities are observed frequently in industrial settings, especially during the initial and final portions of a lift. The objective of the current study was to describe the internal response of the trunk muscles as asymmetric loads were applied to the laterally bent torso. Specifically, this investigation quantified the electromyographic activities (EMG) of 8 trunk muscles under conditions where the trunk was isometrically loaded while the trunk was maintained in a 20 degree laterally bent posture. Moments with a magnitudes of 20 and 40 Nm were applied to fifteen subjects. The direction of the external moments was varied in 30 degree increments completely around the subjects. The EMG data indicates that the muscles showed the greatest activity when they were in opposition to the load's sagittal and frontal plane moment. The muscle showing the largest response was the External Oblique. Significant activity was also observed under conditions in which muscles were creating an antagonistic moment in either the sagittal plane, the frontal plane, or in both planes.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or Human Factors Society
Lavender, Steven A., Tsuang, Yang-Hwei and Andersson, Gunnar B. J. (1992): Trunk Muscle Activation while Resisting Asymmetrically Applied Loads in an Axially Rotated Posture. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 36th Annual Meeting 1992. pp. 752-756.
“The present investigation describes the electromyographic (EMG) response of eight trunk muscles during the application of loads to the torso while subjects maintained a twisted posture. The external moments of 20 and 40 Nm were applied to a harness system as each of the 10 subjects twisted 25 degrees. The applied moment direction was varied in 30 degree increments completely around the subjects (0 to 330 degrees). Surface EMG was used to monitor the left and right Latissimus Dorsi, Erector Spinae, External Oblique, and Rectus Abdominus. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance (MANOVA and ANOVA) procedures showed significant main effects for all muscles and a significant moment magnitude by moment direction interaction effect in 6 of the 8 muscles. The greatest muscle activity was observed in the right Erector Spinae and the left External Oblique muscles. The results are also compared with an earlier study in which a similar loading paradigm was used as subject maintained a neutral upright posture.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or Human Factors Society
Marras, William S., Lavender, Steven A., Leurgans, Sue E., Rajulu, Sudhakar L., Allread, W. Gary, Fathallah, Fadi A. and Ferguson, Sue A. (1992): Industrial Quantification of Occupationally-Related Low Back Disorder Risk Factors. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 36th Annual Meeting 1992. pp. 757-760.
“Few assessment techniques have attempted to define the role of occupational trunk motion in the risk of occupationally-related low back disorder (LBD) even though laboratory studles have indicated that motion significantly increases spine loading. An in-vivo study was performed to assess the contribution of three-dimensional dynamic trunk motions to the risk of LBD during occupational lifting in industry. Over 400 industrial lifting jobs were studied in 48 industries. Specific manual materials handling jobs historically identify as either high risk or low risk for LBD were identified. A tri-axial electrogoniometer was worn by workers and documented the three-dimensional trunk motion characteristics associated with these high risk or low risk jobs. Workplace characteristics such as load moment arm, load weight, etc. were also documented for each of the repetitive lifting tasks. A multiple logistic regression model indicated that a combination of five trunk motion and workplace factors (lifting frequency, load moment, trunk lateral velocity, trunk twisting velocity, and trunk sagittal angle) predicted occupational-related LBD risk well. The analyses have enabled us to determine the LBD risk associated with combined changes in the magnitudes of the five factors. This model could be used as a quantitative, objective measure to redesign the workplace so that the risk of occupationally-related LBD is minimized.”
© All rights reserved Marras et al. and/or Human Factors Society
Lavender, Steven A., Sommerich, Carolyn M., Sudhakar, L. R. and Marras, William S. (1988): Trunk Muscle Loading in Non-Sagittally Symmetric Postures as a Result of Sudden Unexpected Loading Conditions. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 32nd Annual Meeting 1988. pp. 665-669.
“The present study investigated the effect of warning time and magnitude of an external loading on the trunk muscular response to sudden loading conditions while in a non-sagittally symmetric posture. Eleven subjects were asked to catch falling weights of three magnitudes (3, 6, and 9 kg) with four levels of warning time (0, 100, 200, and 400 ms) in an asymmetric posture. For each of the eight muscles sampled with surface electrodes the integrated electromyographic (EMG) signal was interpreted in terms of its peak value, mean value, onset rate, and lead/lag time with reference to the weight drop. Results show monotonic relations between muscle force and levels of warning time, and muscle force and levels of weight. In addition, muscular forces in the left posterior trunk musculature ranged between two and five times greater than the right posterior trunk musculature in response to sudden loading conditions. This experiment demonstrates how sudden asymmetric loading, and specifically sudden loading without adequate warning time may be involved in the development of low back pain.”
© All rights reserved Lavender et al. and/or Human Factors Society
Lavender, Steven A. and Marras, William S. (1987): The Effects of Seam Height, Scaling Method, and Bar Weight Distribution on Scaling Effectiveness and Electromyographic Activity. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 31st Annual Meeting 1987. pp. 471-475.
“Scaling bars are frequently used in underground mining for removing loose material from the roof and the walls. Previous research has demonstrated the scaling bar to be one of the hand tools more frequently involved in underground mining muscular-skeletal injuries. The present experiment investigated the role of seam height, scaling method and selected parameters of scaling bar design. Fourteen subjects worked in simulated mine environment and participated in all conditions of the experiment. Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected to study the relative involvement of six trunk muscles, and dynamometer output measured subjects' ability to use each bar and method effectively. Results suggest the parameters of weight and weight distribution to be important in scaling bar design. Also EMG data showed differences with tool parameters and the method used. Asymmetric loadings to the spine were found to be more extreme in the low roof conditions. These results suggest recommendations concerning tool design and proper training.”
© All rights reserved Lavender and Marras and/or Human Factors Society
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