摘要
Work-related falls in the construction industry due to working at unsafe high elevations or unguarded openings without using appropriate protection, continue to be one of the leading causes of fatal occupational accidents. Erecting appropriate fall arrest eguipmend (safety nets, safety lines and harnesses) and to clarify the physiological response of harness suspension are highly important themes of fall accident prevention plans in the construction industry. This study into physiological responses was divided into two stages. The first was to measure changes in ECG during the course of harness suspension, and the second was to evaluate the sites of pain after harness suspension and the comfort index by questionaire. Sixty workers were recruited and divided into three equal groups in this study. Five types of harness were used: the economic wholebody harness (A-type), the half-body harness (B-type), the leg-belt whole-body harness (C-type), the waist-belt harness (D-type), and the abdomen whole-body harness (E-type). The harnesses were fitted to the individual and the ECGS were monitored by multi-channel electrocardiograph before and after hanging as well as at the time periods of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s during suspension. The comfort index and the sites of pain after harness suspension were also obtained by questionaire. The heart rates all accelerated significantly during hanging at the time period of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s, and recovered quickly after suspension, in the C-type harness, however, than with the other types it took 60s to 120s longer for the heart rate to increase significantly. Also, the heartbeat elevated more in the B-type harness than in the other types at the time period of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s during suspension. The systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were also elevated during suspension at the time period of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s. These responses were very similar to the heart rateresponse. The comfort indexes of the harnesses were in this order: C type ＞E type ＞A type ＞B type ＞D type. All of the workers tested claimed discomfort with the B and D type. The most uncomfortable pain site was located at the abdomen. Eight workers felt uncomfortable or dizzy, or vomited, during the test; therefore, the B and D type should be used with great care. Though the full-body type harness can disperse the falling force to prevent the death of the user, but if the impact force is very strong, it will cause huge psychological and physiological trauma to the user. In addition, five volunteers were tested with suspensions of 90 minutes using the C-type harness. The results revealed that though the whole-body type harness could prevent the loss of life from falling, it could also lead to severe conditions after hanging longer than 90 minutes if there was no suitable auxiliary process to rescue the user as soon as possible.
並列摘要
Work-related falls in the construction industry due to working at unsafe high elevations or unguarded openings without using appropriate protection, continue to be one of the leading causes of fatal occupational accidents. Erecting appropriate fall arrest eguipmend (safety nets, safety lines and harnesses) and to clarify the physiological response of harness suspension are highly important themes of fall accident prevention plans in the construction industry. This study into physiological responses was divided into two stages. The first was to measure changes in ECG during the course of harness suspension, and the second was to evaluate the sites of pain after harness suspension and the comfort index by questionaire. Sixty workers were recruited and divided into three equal groups in this study. Five types of harness were used: the economic wholebody harness (A-type), the half-body harness (B-type), the leg-belt whole-body harness (C-type), the waist-belt harness (D-type), and the abdomen whole-body harness (E-type). The harnesses were fitted to the individual and the ECGS were monitored by multi-channel electrocardiograph before and after hanging as well as at the time periods of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s during suspension. The comfort index and the sites of pain after harness suspension were also obtained by questionaire. The heart rates all accelerated significantly during hanging at the time period of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s, and recovered quickly after suspension, in the C-type harness, however, than with the other types it took 60s to 120s longer for the heart rate to increase significantly. Also, the heartbeat elevated more in the B-type harness than in the other types at the time period of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s during suspension. The systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were also elevated during suspension at the time period of 60s, 120s, 180s, and 480s. These responses were very similar to the heart rateresponse. The comfort indexes of the harnesses were in this order: C type ＞E type ＞A type ＞B type ＞D type. All of the workers tested claimed discomfort with the B and D type. The most uncomfortable pain site was located at the abdomen. Eight workers felt uncomfortable or dizzy, or vomited, during the test; therefore, the B and D type should be used with great care. Though the full-body type harness can disperse the falling force to prevent the death of the user, but if the impact force is very strong, it will cause huge psychological and physiological trauma to the user. In addition, five volunteers were tested with suspensions of 90 minutes using the C-type harness. The results revealed that though the whole-body type harness could prevent the loss of life from falling, it could also lead to severe conditions after hanging longer than 90 minutes if there was no suitable auxiliary process to rescue the user as soon as possible.