TY - JOUR
T1 - The moderating role of end-tidal CO2 on upper trapezius muscle activity in response to sustained attention
AU - Wixted, Fiona
AU - O’ Sullivan, Leonard
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - With higher levels of automation in modern manufacturing, there is increased monitoring of the process by the human operator. Prolonged monitoring or sustained attention has been found to be stressful for human operators. Plant and process operators have also been found to have one of the highest level of work demands (work speed, pace) in a recent European survey (Eurofound, 2015). Along with this, the incidence of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) remains at a high level in the manufacturing sector. This research endeavoured to determine if end-tidal CO2 levels decreased and upper trapezius muscle activity increased concurrently with increased levels of attention. We then developed a model to investigate if end-tidal CO2 moderated the relationship between mental workload due to sustained attention and upper trapezius muscle activity. The resulting interactional model found that end-tidal CO2 moderated the relationship (p = 0.004) when end-tidal CO2 reached the hypocapnic range (>35 mm Hg). This model indicates the possibility that a high level of sustained attention is a risk factor in the development of WRMSDs and should therefore be included in workplace risk assessments.
AB - With higher levels of automation in modern manufacturing, there is increased monitoring of the process by the human operator. Prolonged monitoring or sustained attention has been found to be stressful for human operators. Plant and process operators have also been found to have one of the highest level of work demands (work speed, pace) in a recent European survey (Eurofound, 2015). Along with this, the incidence of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) remains at a high level in the manufacturing sector. This research endeavoured to determine if end-tidal CO2 levels decreased and upper trapezius muscle activity increased concurrently with increased levels of attention. We then developed a model to investigate if end-tidal CO2 moderated the relationship between mental workload due to sustained attention and upper trapezius muscle activity. The resulting interactional model found that end-tidal CO2 moderated the relationship (p = 0.004) when end-tidal CO2 reached the hypocapnic range (>35 mm Hg). This model indicates the possibility that a high level of sustained attention is a risk factor in the development of WRMSDs and should therefore be included in workplace risk assessments.
KW - Mental workload
KW - Muscle activity
KW - Sustained attention
KW - Work related musculoskeletal disorders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85017525430&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ergon.2017.04.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ergon.2017.04.003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85017525430
SN - 0169-8141
VL - 61
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
JF - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
ER -