Abstract

The mechanical exposure factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are not well known, and the methods (interviews, questionnaires, observation, etc.) for evaluating the constraints that lead to these disorders have disadvantages: high cost, low validity or imprecise estimations. One solution involves measuring postures and movements on human subjects. With inertial sensors, the researchers created a hybrid measuring system for field use, the posture dosimeter, capable of describing the absolute and relative orientation of the trunk in relation to the pelvis, but it is too sensitive to the disturbances of the earth magnetic field by ferromagnetic objects. The researchers now want to improve the quality of the collected data by improving a mechanism that compensates for this limitation by means of a potentiometer to make it fully usable in the workplace. This instrument’s description has already been the subject of an international scientific publication.