Safe work-impulse chart for roadside auto-mechanics

Abstract

The work evaluates the response of the heart rate of non-mechanics handling some specific loads in the common postures employed during road-side repair of automobile and later, the result was validated with the auto-mechanics during repair activities. The purpose is to specify the safe work-impulse of auto-mechanics in the common postures, such as, bending, stooping and supine posture, used during roadside repair. The safe work-impulse was determined for preselected healthy non-mechanics of the classified age groups who gave informed consent. Increase in heart rates at exhaustion of non-mechanics in each age group, in lifting predetermined loads were measured using digital premium pressure monitor with a comfit cuff. Consequently, the work-impulse charts for the load classifications and different age-groups were developed for the different postures. The heart rates of the auto-mechanics performing specific tasks during engine repairs were then measured to determine the equivalent work-impulse, using the developed charts. The result revealed that, auto-mechanics handling the same mass of load under the same conditions have lower safe work-impulse. In conclusion, the study reveals that roadside auto-mechanics have the capacity to sustain higher safe work-impulse in bending and supine postures than in stooping posture.