Investigation of occupational hazards present at manual operation of industrial sources of electromagnetic fields, taking into consideration modelling measures of internal exposure

Project manager: Patryk Zradziński Ph.D. (Eng.)

Project summary:

The task consisted in developing the principles of modelling exposure to electromagnetic fields using industrial sources of electromagnetic fields as an example. Realistic ergonomic models of the human body were used to study the impact of posture on the levels of internal measures of the effect of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Procedures were developed for assessing and minimizing occupational risk taking into consideration electromagnetic and biomechanic impact. Also developed were guidelines regarding the use of computer dosimetry in this respect.An analysis of the results was the basis for indicating "the worst" and "the best" postures with respect to minimizing exposure of simultaneous electromagnetic and biomechanic factors affecting the operator of a gun resistant welding device.The study showed that the best postures were those in which the worker's body was upright and the left upper limb was as low as possible. The worst postures are those where the worker's body was bent and the limbs were stretched upwards. Principles of optimizing the construction and procedures of operating gun resistant welding devices were developed on the basis of this analysis. Electromagnetic and biomechanic hazards were considered as were recommendations regarding the organization of a workstation.

Unit: Department of Bioelectromagmetism

Duration: 01.01.2008 – 30.12.2010