We’ve all felt fatigue at one time or another — perhaps as the result of strenuous activity or immense concentration, or as a symptom of illness or simply from staying up too late. And yet, if you ask a group of people what they mean by fatigue, you’ll likely get a wide range of answers. Fatigue is complex, and perhaps as a result of this complexity, surprisingly little is known about muscle fatigue in modern production processes. This is despite the numerous laboratory studies on the detrimental effects of muscle fatigue and anecdotal evidence from many workplaces.
A group of researchers from the Centre for Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) has partnered with AUTO21, a member of the Canadian Networks of Centres of Excellence, to measure and reduce one type of workplace fatigue: muscular fatigue. The project is led by Dr. Richard Wells (University of Waterloo), and the research team includes Dr. Jack Callaghan (University of Waterloo), Dr. Patrick Neumann (Ryerson University), Dr. Jim Potvin (McMaster University), Dr. Julie Côté (University of Montréal) and multiple workplace stakeholders. The research coordinator is Marcus Yung, a PhD student in the Department of Kinesiology and the University of Waterloo’s Work and Health program.
Neuro-muscular fatigue (known as muscle fatigue) involves the muscles and the central nervous system. Muscle fatigue in the trunk, shoulders and hand/arms can have multiple negative effects on a person, including reduced work capacity, increased discomfort, poorer motor control (with negative effects on product quality) and risk of acute injury. For these reasons alone, muscle fatigue should be minimized by the application of ergonomics. Additionally, if the fatigue is constant and of long duration, it is believed to be a precursor to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, such as shoulder injury or low-back pain. Existing research has already confirmed that musculoskeletal disorders and their personal, firm and societal costs are a substantial problem in the automotive sector.
Study aims to minimize fatigue and maximize product quality
The goal of this project is to address fatigue in the automotive sector. To achieve this goal, researchers will consider how to design work that minimizes fatigue and long-term health effects, and maximizes product quality. Over the next two years, researchers will document how fatigue develops over time and the effects of fatigue on health and production outcomes, and assess the usefulness of fatigue measurement as a method of work assessment.
The two-year project, which started in April 2012, will point the way to the best ergonomic measures that will, in the end, improve both the health and performance of workers in the automotive sector.
For more information on the project, see Local Fatigue in the Workplace. For more details on AUTO21, see AUTO21 website.