Ergonomic assessment of a physical task using two different digital human modelling systems: a case study

The cost of occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) causes a significant burden on the health system, and lower back pain (LBP) is associated with a substantial portion of MSDs. Australia has a high prevalence of MSDs for healthcare workers, such as nurses. Two digital human models (DHMs) Siemens JACK and imk EMA were used to investigate if hospital bed pushing, a simple task and hazard that is commonly associated with LBP, can be validly simulated and ergonomically assessed in a virtual environment. While JACK and EMA have implemented a range of common physical work assessment methods, the simulation of a dynamic task such as bed pushing remains a challenge. This research highlights limitations in the DHMs studied, and the need for further research in this area. In particular, the implementation of legacy two dimensional, low resolution ergonomic methods in an analytic, high resolution three dimensional software system is critically reflected.