Ergonomic Analysis of drilling hammers in granite mining

Abstract: The ergonomic risks of workers' activity, known as hammering, in the rock drill that uses pneumatic tools with drilling bits in granite mining, are a matter of concern. The hammers' activity demands excellent physical effort with transport and handling the heavy rigs with drilling bits varying from 0.40 m to 6.40 m long, weighing up to 24.250 kg. It intends to identify the main postures adopted by the hammers during their eight-hour daily shifts. Using WinOWAS, the severity of acquired posture is assessed in the execution of labor activity. Handling heavy tools, inappropriate postures, drilling activities, and cutting granite blocks while standing can develop musculoskeletal lesions in workers. Postural correction is necessary and indicates the urgency of new studies and technologies for pneumatic drilling rigs.

Keywords: Ergonomic analysis, Granite mining, Drilling hammers, WinOWAS*

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006463

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