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de Alwis, P. & Garme, K. (2023). Feasibility of Using Kidney-Belt-Mounted Accelerometers for Measuring Shock and Vibration Exerted on the Lumbar Spine Region of High-Speed Marine Craft Occupants. In: Progress in Marine Science and Technology: . Paper presented at 13th Symposium on High Speed Marine Vehicles, HSMV 2023. Naples, Italy. 23 October 2023 through 25 October 2023 (pp. 233-240). IOS Press BV, 7
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Feasibility of Using Kidney-Belt-Mounted Accelerometers for Measuring Shock and Vibration Exerted on the Lumbar Spine Region of High-Speed Marine Craft Occupants
2023 (English)In: Progress in Marine Science and Technology, IOS Press BV , 2023, Vol. 7, p. 233-240Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The feasibility of using kidney-belt-mounted accelerometers for measuring the shock and vibration exposure in the lumbar spine region of high-speed marine craft occupants and evaluating them on a par with the current standards remain largely unexplored in scientific literature. To address this gap a series of laboratory and field experiments were conducted. In the laboratory experiments, two test subjects performed predefined body movements while accelerations were measured using body-mounted and kidney-belt-mounted accelerometers. Field experiments involved recording acceleration exposures of two test subjects using the kidney belt arrangement and seat-mounted accelerometers during a high-speed marine craft exercise. Results suggest that kidney-belt-mounted accelerometers effectively measure lumbar spine accelerations during basic body movements with an upright torso. However, evaluating vibration exposures measured with the kidney belt arrangement using existing international standards proved challenging in the field experiment. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IOS Press BV, 2023
National Category
Vehicle Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-69253 (URN)10.3233/PMST230030 (DOI)2-s2.0-85177689889 (Scopus ID)
Conference
13th Symposium on High Speed Marine Vehicles, HSMV 2023. Naples, Italy. 23 October 2023 through 25 October 2023
Available from: 2024-01-15 Created: 2024-01-15 Last updated: 2024-02-13Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. (2023). Riding the waves: Kidney belt-mounted accelerometers to measure lumbar spine vibrations in high-speed craft occupants.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Riding the waves: Kidney belt-mounted accelerometers to measure lumbar spine vibrations in high-speed craft occupants
2023 (English)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The scientific investigation into the viability of employing kidney-belt-mounted accelerometers to quantify shock and vibration exposure in the lumbar spine region of occupants in high-speed marine craft, and their concordance with prevailing standards, has been heretofore unexplored. Addressing this research gap, a series of meticulously designed laboratory and field experiments were undertaken. In the laboratory setting, two test subjects were engaged in predefined body movements, with accelerations recorded using both body-mounted and kidney-beltmounted accelerometers. This controlled environment allowed for a comparative analysis of the efficacy of the two accelerometer configurations in capturing lumbar spine accelerations. Field experiments expanded upon these findings, involving the recording of acceleration exposures during a high-speed marine craft exercise. The kidney-beltmounted accelerometers were utilized alongside seat-mounted accelerometers to assess their applicability in real-world dynamic conditions. The results revealed that kidney-belt-mounted accelerometers effectively captured lumbar spine accelerations during basic body movements, particularly when the torso was maintained in an upright position. However, the translation of these measurements into a framework aligned with existing international standards encountered substantial challenges during the field experiment. This study underscores the potential utility of kidney-belt-mounted accelerometers for lumbar spine acceleration measurement in controlled environments. Nevertheless, the complexities associated with aligning these measurements with established international standards were evident, highlighting the need for further consideration and refinement. The implications of this research extend to the recognition that current standards may not fully address the intricacies of shock and vibration exposure in the lumbar spine region within the dynamic context of high-speed marine craft environments. Consequently, there is a clear call for the development of standards specifically tailored to these operational conditions to ensure a comprehensive and accurate assessment of lumbar spine health in marine craft occupants.

Publisher
p. 22
Series
RISE Rapport ; 2023:136
Keywords
High-speed craft, whole-body vibration, musculoskeletal pain
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-70101 (URN)978-91-89896-23-9 (ISBN)
Note

Sincere gratitude is extended to the participants of the study, the Swedish Coast Guardfor their collaboration, and the KTH BioMEx Center and Hugo Hammars fond försjöfartsteknisk forskning for funding this research project.

Available from: 2024-01-18 Created: 2024-01-18 Last updated: 2025-02-07Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. & Garme, K. (2021). Effect of occupational exposure to shock and vibration on health in high-performance marine craft occupants. Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M), 235(2), 394-409
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effect of occupational exposure to shock and vibration on health in high-performance marine craft occupants
2021 (English)In: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M), ISSN 1475-0902, E-ISSN 2041-3084, Vol. 235, no 2, p. 394-409Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Working conditions of High-performance Marine Craft (HPMC) occupants are inherent with shock and vibration. Therefore, HPMC occupants are usually investigated believing that their psychophysical health and performance are negatively affected by exposure to these conditions. However, the association between the regular occupational vibration exposures of HPMC occupants and the deterioration of their health and performance is disputable. Therefore, a sample of HPMC occupants are investigated in a prospective cohort study by measuring perceived work exposure, health and performance via validated web-based questionnaires and physical work exposure as vibration using measurement systems installed onboard their craft. Incidence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) during four operational seasons is determined and presented as incidence proportion (IP). Association between accumulated vibration exposure aboard HPMC and incidence of MSP is systematically assessed using multiple logistic regression models and expressed as odds ratio (OR). Moreover, the correlation between objectively and subjectively measured vibration exposures is determined using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs). Incidence proportion of neck pain was 63.4% and that of lower back pain ranged from 12.5% to 87.5% over the four seasons. The accumulated vibration exposure was strongly associated with the incidence of MSP primarily with lower back pain. However, the association was not statistically significant. The objective and subjective vibration exposures of the craft drivers showed a statistically significant positive monotonic correlation. The study suggests that occupational exposure to shock and vibration aboard HPMC is a factor increasing the incidence of MSP. The HPMC occupants regularly experience attrition in their performance. The perceived vibration exposure of the drivers can be used to rank the exposure severity aboard HPMC in the absence of objective measurements. The current vibration exposure assessment methods are also recommended to be revised accounting for shock and vibration inherent in HPMC exposures.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
SAGE Publications Ltd, 2021
Keywords
Deterioration; Logistic regression; Surveys, High performance marine craft; Multiple logistic regression; Musculoskeletal pains; Objective measurement; Occupational exposure; Rank correlation coefficient; Shock and vibration; Web-based questionnaires, Health
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71733 (URN)10.1177/1475090220981187 (DOI)2-s2.0-85097999026 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-20Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P., LoMartire, R., Äng, B. & Garme, K. (2021). Exposure aboard high-performance marine craft increases musculoskeletal pain and lowers contemporary work capacity of the occupants. Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M), 235(3), 750-762
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exposure aboard high-performance marine craft increases musculoskeletal pain and lowers contemporary work capacity of the occupants
2021 (English)In: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M), ISSN 1475-0902, E-ISSN 2041-3084, Vol. 235, no 3, p. 750-762Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

High-Performance Marine Craft (HPMC) occupants are currently being investigated for various psychophysical impairments degrading work performance postulating that these deteriorations are related to their occupational exposures. However, scientific evidence for this is lacking and the association of exposure conditions aboard HPMC with adverse health and performance effects is unknown. Therefore, the study estimates the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among HPMC occupants and the association of their work exposure with MSP and performance degradation. It also presents a criterion for evaluating the self-reported exposure severity aboard three different types of mono-hull HPMC; displacement, semi-displacement and planing, on a par with the available standard criteria for objectively measurable exposures. Furthermore, another criterion is proposed to assess the performance-degradation of HPMC occupants based on self-reported fatigue symptoms and MSP. Swedish Coast Guard HPMC occupants were surveyed for MSP, fatigue symptoms as well as for work-related and individual risk indicators using a validated web-based questionnaire. Prevalence of MSP and performance-degradation during the past 12 months were assessed and presented as a percentage of the sample. Associations of exposure conditions aboard HPMC with MSP and performance-capacity were systematically evaluated using multiple logistic regression models and expressed as odds ratio (OR). Prevalence of MSP was 72% among which lower back pain was the most prevalent (46%) followed by neck pain (29%) and shoulder pain (23%) while 29% with degraded performance. Exposure to severe conditions aboard semi-displacement craft was associated with lower back (OR = 2.3) and shoulder (OR = 2.6) pain while severe conditions aboard planing craft with neck pain (OR = 2.3) and performance-degradation (OR = 2.6). MSP is common among Swedish coast guards. Severe exposure conditions aboard HPMC are significantly associated with both MSP and performance-degradation. The spine and shoulders are the most susceptible to work-related MSP among HPMC occupants which should be targeted in work-related preventive and corrective measures.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
SAGE Publications Ltd, 2021
Keywords
Logistic regression; Musculoskeletal system; Surveys, Degraded performance; Exposure conditions; High performance marine craft; Multiple logistic regression; Musculoskeletal pains; Occupational exposure; Performance degradation; Web-based questionnaires, Health
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71732 (URN)10.1177/1475090220981466 (DOI)2-s2.0-85097986641 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-20Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. & Garme, K. (2019). Monitoring and characterization of vibration and shock conditions aboard high-performance marine craft. Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M), 233(4), 1068-1081
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Monitoring and characterization of vibration and shock conditions aboard high-performance marine craft
2019 (English)In: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (Part M), ISSN 1475-0902, E-ISSN 2041-3084, Vol. 233, no 4, p. 1068-1081Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The stochastic environmental conditions together with craft design and operational characteristics make it difficult to predict the vibration environments aboard high-performance marine craft, particularly the risk of impact acceleration events and the shock component of the exposure often being associated with structural failure and human injuries. The different timescales and the magnitudes involved complicate the real-time analysis of vibration and shock conditions aboard these craft. The article introduces a new measure, severity index, indicating the risk of severe impact acceleration, and proposes a method for real-time feedback on the severity of impact exposure together with accumulated vibration exposure. The method analyzes the immediate 60 s of vibration exposure history and computes the severity of impact exposure as for the present state based on severity index. The severity index probes the characteristic of the present acceleration stochastic process, that is, the risk of an upcoming heavy impact, and serves as an alert to the crew. The accumulated vibration exposure, important for mapping and logging the crew exposure, is determined by the ISO 2631:1997 vibration dose value. The severity due to the impact and accumulated vibration exposure is communicated to the crew every second as a color-coded indicator: green, yellow and red, representing low, medium and high, based on defined impact and dose limits. The severity index and feedback method are developed and validated by a data set of 27 three-hour simulations of a planning craft in irregular waves and verified for its feasibility in real-world applications by full-scale acceleration data recorded aboard high-speed planing craft in operation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
SAGE Publications Ltd, 2019
Keywords
Epidemiology; Failure (mechanical); Fracture mechanics; Random processes; Risk assessment; Stochastic systems, Extreme value; High speed crafts; impact; repeated shock; Whole body vibration, Vibration analysis
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71734 (URN)10.1177/1475090218810245 (DOI)2-s2.0-85059610722 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-13Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. (2018). On Evaluation of Working Conditions aboard High-Performance Marine Craft. (Licentiate dissertation).
Open this publication in new window or tab >>On Evaluation of Working Conditions aboard High-Performance Marine Craft
2018 (English)Licentiate thesis, monograph (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

High-Performance Marine Craft (HPMC) is a complex system confronted by the stochastic nature of the waves challenging the safety of life at sea. The personnel aboard these craft are vulnerable to detrimental conditions, in fact, limiting the system’s performance evoking the significance of the Human Factors Integration (HFI) in the design and operation of these craft. The risks related to the work environments at sea have inadequately been investigated. A consistently identified fact is that the exposure to work environments containing vibration and repeated shock elevates the risk of adverse effects on human health and performance. In the event that the exposure risk is known, the situation can be managed by the operators and the legislated health and safety demands can be achieved by the employer. Moreover, when quantification of the exposure-effect relationships is potential, human factors, in terms of health and performance, can be integrated into HPMC design and operation. However, the knowledge is limited about the adverse health and performance effects among the High-Performance Marine Craft Personnel (HPMCP), the factors causing theses effects and their relationships. The thesis presents a holistic approach for the integration of human factors, in terms of health and performance, into HPMC design and operation. A research program has been designed branching the design and operational requirements of HPMC concerning HFI. A method is introduced for a real-time crew feedback system, which monitors and characterizes vibration and shock conditions aboard HPMC, enabling determination of the risk of acute injuries due to the high-intensity instantaneous impact exposure and the acquired risk of adverse health and performance effects due to the accumulated vibration exposure. This brings forth the requirement of epidemiological studies in order to strengthen the exposure-effect relationships. Therefore, web-based questionnaire tools are developed, validated and pilot tested for cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation of health and performance in HPMCP. The work exposure is measured aboard HPMC in terms of vibration and investigated in relation to the adverse health and performance event onsets, and the ride perception of the personnel aboard. The introduced method for the real-time crew feedback is capable of informing the exposure risk in terms of human health and performance. The questionnaire tools are feasible for epidemiologically surveying HPMCP and similar populations providing data for investigating adverse health and performance effects, risk factors and their relationships. Promising trends are observed between the quantified work exposure and the health and performance onsets, and the human perception. The work will be continued to identify the exposure-effect relationships facilitating better use of the existing standards, supporting ongoing development of the existing standards and providing information to draw appropriate design and operational limits in rules and regulations.

Series
TRITA-SCI-FOU 2018:02 ISBN 978-91-7729-677-5
Keywords
high-speed marine craft, human factors integration, whole-body vibration, epidemiology, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, höghastighetsfartyg, human factors, HFI, helkroppsvibrationer, epidemiologi, muskuloskeletal smärta, utmattning
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71738 (URN)
Available from: 2024-02-14 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-14Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. & Garme, K. (2017). Adverse health effects and reduced work ability due to vertical accelerations in high-performance marine craft personnel. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Ship Stability Workshop: . Paper presented at 16th International Ship Stability Workshop.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Adverse health effects and reduced work ability due to vertical accelerations in high-performance marine craft personnel
2017 (English)In: Proceedings of the 16th International Ship Stability Workshop, 2017Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Human factors engineering is a key parameter in High-Performance Marine Craft (HPMC) design since the human tolerance to working conditions aboard, in fact, decides the operational limits. So far, the deficiency of the knowledge on how the crew is influenced by the working conditions in terms of health risk and work performance has lead the designing process to exit before incorporating the human element when determining these operational limits. Knowledge, on the relationship of the physical and perceived exposure conditions and on risk factors for health and work performance impairments, would open up possibilities for drawing the operational limits at the design stage and providing feedback to the crew during operations. This is investigated in a research program and the current study pilot test a set of High-Performance Marine Craft Personnel (HPMCP) in order to collect data on their work exposure, health and performance impairments. The study collects subjective and objective data and investigates their correlation and the potential risk factors. Although the amount of data collected is too limited to draw direct conclusions, the pilot test confirms the feasibility of the set-up and the method giving good inputs and experience to the research crew.

Keywords
Whole-body vibration, Epidemiology, High-Speed Craft, Human Factors
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71739 (URN)
Conference
16th International Ship Stability Workshop
Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-20Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. (2017). Crew acceleration exposure, health and performance in high speed operations at sea. In: Proceedings of the 11th Symposium on High Speed Marine Vehicles, (HSMV2017): . Paper presented at 11th Symposium on High Speed Marine Vehicles, (HSMV2017).
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Crew acceleration exposure, health and performance in high speed operations at sea
2017 (English)In: Proceedings of the 11th Symposium on High Speed Marine Vehicles, (HSMV2017), 2017Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71737 (URN)
Conference
11th Symposium on High Speed Marine Vehicles, (HSMV2017)
Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-20Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P., Lo Martire, R., Äng, B. & Garme, K. (2016). Development and validation of a web-based questionnaire for surveying the health and working conditions of high-performance marine craft populations. BMJ Open, 6(6)
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Development and validation of a web-based questionnaire for surveying the health and working conditions of high-performance marine craft populations
2016 (English)In: BMJ Open, E-ISSN 2044-6055, Vol. 6, no 6Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: High-performance marine craft crews are susceptible to various adverse health conditions caused by multiple interactive factors. However, there are limited epidemiological data available for assessment of working conditions at sea. Although questionnaire surveys are widely used for identifying exposures, outcomes and associated risks with high accuracy levels, until now, no validated epidemiological tool exists for surveying occupational health and performance in these populations. Aim: To develop and validate a web-based questionnaire for epidemiological assessment of occupational and individual risk exposure pertinent to the musculoskeletal health conditions and performance in high-performance marine craft populations. Method: A questionnaire for investigating the association between work-related exposure, performance and health was initially developed by a consensus panel under four subdomains, viz. demography, lifestyle, work exposure and health and systematically validated by expert raters for content relevance and simplicity in three consecutive stages, each iteratively followed by a consensus panel revision. The item content validity index (I-CVI) was determined as the proportion of experts giving a rating of 3 or 4. The scale content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) was computed by averaging the I-CVIs for the assessment of the questionnaire as a tool. Finally, the questionnaire was pilot tested. Results: The S-CVI/Ave increased from 0.89 to 0.96 for relevance and from 0.76 to 0.94 for simplicity, resulting in 36 items in the final questionnaire. The pilot test confirmed the feasibility of the questionnaire. Conclusions: The present study shows that the web-based questionnaire fulfils previously published validity acceptance criteria and is therefore considered valid and feasible for the empirical surveying of epidemiological aspects among high-performance marine craft crews and similar populations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMJ Publishing Group, 2016
Keywords
army; Article; consensus; demography; feasibility study; health; human; lifestyle; occupational hazard; pilot study; questionnaire; validation process; validation study; web based questionnaire; work environment; female; Internet; male; manpower; mental stress; musculoskeletal disease; occupation; occupational disease; procedures; psychometry; questionnaire; reproducibility; ship; standards; Sweden, Female; Humans; Internet; Male; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Occupational Diseases; Occupations; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Ships; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden
National Category
Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71736 (URN)10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011681 (DOI)2-s2.0-84976262997 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-13Bibliographically approved
de Alwis, P. & Garme, K.Occupational exposure to shock and vibration increases health risk in high-performance marine craft occupants.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Occupational exposure to shock and vibration increases health risk in high-performance marine craft occupants
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-71744 (URN)
Note

Ingår i avhandling1. Towards consonance in working conditions, health and performance aboard high-performance marine craft

Available from: 2024-02-13 Created: 2024-02-13 Last updated: 2024-02-20Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-8931-2566

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