An ergonomic assessment of the airline baggage handler

14which obesity, poor conditioning, and improper biomechamcs and lifting are the mostfrequent causes of lumbar injury. Although injury to the lower back cannot becompletely eliminated, it can be slowed by regular exercise, and proper liftingtechniques.Degenerative disk disease occurs when changes associated with breakdown occurin the disks. Between each vertebral body, vertebral disks are housed. These vertebraldiscs act as shock absorbers, cushioning the lumbar area from loads encountered throughactivity and daily work. The vertebral disk is made up of the nucleus pulposis, a softjelly-like center, and the fibrous annularis, a tough outer shell surrounding thenucleus. Through the normal process of aging, the nucleus begins to harden which thatweakens the disc potentially causing material from the disk to push out or rupture. Thebulging of disks is common and often times painless. However, the bulging of a disk,referred to as a herniated disk, becomes painful when excessive bulging or fragments ofthe disc protrude and place pressure on nearby nerves (Figure 2.3).2.3 The NeckNeck and shoulder injuries are common to material handlers. The neck muscles canbecome stiff and tight from repetitive motion and excessive use. As a result, pain candevelop causing the body to inhibit the flexibility of the neck area and surroundingmuscles. The side and back muscles of the neck are most susceptible to stiffening ifoverused during a particular task, and over long durations. Tasks most associated withthis problem are viewing a computer monitor leading to muscle fatigue due to staticcontraction of the neck muscles in the attempt to hold the head in place for long periodsof time, or from viewing products over a long period of time on an assembly or