A biomechanical and ergonomic approach to the evaluation of the effects of materials handling in freely operating handlers Abstract This interdisciplinary study conducted at the Université de Montréal was aimed at creating an instrument for evaluating materials handling tasks. The two researchers focused especially on the following elements related to the risk of injury: asymmetry of efforts and posture, effort required, and balance. The subjects repeated a handling task with three different loads, and were allowed to adapt their way of working from one task to another. Three types of data were collected at the same time: biomechanical measures, observations made by outside observers using an analytical checklist, and handlers’ own perceptions. The authors discuss the pertinence of these three approaches and the correlations between them. This research focuses on the effects of the type of load and on work practices, whereas the next study will focus on workers’ assimilation of training. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Integration of biomechanical and ergonomic approaches for evaluating the effects of materials handling on freely operating handlers Research Report: R-293 Simplified Articles Trilogie de l'apprentissage de la manutentionDes leçons d'experts Volume 16, n0 1 Scientific Publications Perception : corrélations avec les données biomécaniques et entre les divers éléments de perception pour une tâche de manutentionIuliana Nastasia, Lortie M., Delisle A., Gagnon M. Source : in Les transformations du travail, enjeux pour l’ergonomie : Actes du congrès conjoint de l’Association canadienne d’ergonomie et de la Société d’ergonomie de langue française / ACE-SELF, (3-5 octobre, 2001 : Montréal, Canada), CD-ROM, vol. 5, 2001, p. 86-92Biomechanical differences between best and worst performances in repeated free asymmetrical liftsGagnon M., Delisle A., Desjardins P.Source : International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, vol. 29, no 2, 2002, p. 73-83Effect of container characteristics on the kinematics and kinetics of freestyle liftingDelisle A., Gagnon M., Desjardins P.Source : in Actes de conférence du XXVe Congrès de la Société de biomécanique conjoint avec le XIe Congrès de la Société canadienne de biomécanique, (23-26 août 2000, Montréal, Québec), Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, vol. 108 no 1-2, April 2000, p. 21Biomechanical differences between best and worst performances in repeated free asymmetrical liftsGagnon M., Delisle A., Desjardins P.Source : in Actes de conférence du XXVe Congrès de la Société de biomécanique conjoint avec le XIe Congrès de la Société canadienne de biomécanique, (23-26 août 2000, Montréal, Québec), Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, vol. 108 no 1-2, April 2000, p. 21Impact of observers' experience and training on reliability of observations for a manual handling taskDenis D., Lortie M., Bruxelles M.Source : Ergonomics, vol. 45, no 6, 2002, p.441-454Étude sur les modalités d’expression de la perception pour une tâche de manutentionIuliana Nastasia, Lortie M.Source : Travail et santé, vol. 17 no 3, 2001, p. 32-36Observation procedures characterizing occupational physical activities : critical reviewDenis D., Lortie M., Rossignol M.Source : International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, vol. 6, no 4, 2000, p. 463-491Box maneuvers as a strategy for safer manual handling: a synthesisGagnon M.Source : in The 5th Australasian Biomechanics Conference (ABC5), (5th : December 9-10, 2004 : Sydney, Australia), The University of New South Whales (ed.), 2004, p. 78-79Footwork as a strategy for reducing risk factors in manual materials handling: a summary of studiesGagnon M.Source : in Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Workrelated Musculoskeletal Disorders PREMUS, (5th : July 11-15, 2004 : Zurich, Switzerland) 2004, volume 2, p. 375-376L'observation des travailleurs : un élément essentiel à inclure dans les programmes de formation à la manutention sécuritaireGagnon M.Source : in Actes du colloque la santé et la sécurité du travail au Québec: une collaboration multidisciplinaire : Congrès de l'ACFAS (11-12 mai, 2004 : Montréal, Canada), Réseau de recherche en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec / RRSSTQ, 2004, Module A, (http://www.rrsstq.com/stock/fra/conferences0040.pdf)Perception and decision to change the way to handleIuliana Nastasia, Lortie M.Source : in Proceedings of PREMUS 2007 : Sixth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (6th : August 27-30, 2007 : Boston, U.S.A.), 2007 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0097-0480 Status: Completed Year of completion: 2001 Research Field: OSH and Sustainable Prevention Work Environment Team: Micheline Gagnon (Université de Montréal)Monique Lortie (Université du Québec à Montréal )