Anthropometry Anthropometry is the science that defines physical measures of a persons size, form, and functional capacities.

As applied to occupational injury prevention, anthropometric measurements are used to evaluate the interaction of workers with tasks, tools, machines, vehicles, and personal protective equipment, especially in regard to determining degree of protection afforded against hazardous exposures, whether chronic or acute. Importance of Anthropometry Designs that are incompatible with normal anthropometric measurements of a workforce could result in undesired incidents. The misfit of a heavy equipment cabin to a worker could produce operator blind spots that expose workers on foot to struck by injuries. Inadequate length or configuration of seatbelts could lead to non use of seatbelts, which will affect post-crash survivability. Inadequate fit of personal protective equipment cannot provide workers with sufficient protection from health and injury exposures (Hsiao and Halperin, 1998). Existing data on the size and shape of industrial workers is sparse, at best. Because of the lack of anthropometric data for the general worker population, safety researchers have generally had to rely on data drawn from studies of military personnel, most of which was collected during the 1950s through the 1970s. However, substantial anthropometric variability exists among the various U.S. workforce populations, and they are quite different from the average military population. Industrial workers, such as the agriculture, truck driver, and firefighter workforces, are even anthropometrically very different from the average civilian population (Hsiao et al, 2002).

Diverse workforces in many occupations, as well as new roles for women in the workforce, require body size data for designing adequate workplaces, systems, and personal protective equipment. In the past, variance in body dimensions was typically reported as means and standard deviations for various body segments (Roebuck et al., 1975). This approach was successful in generating general, broad parameters for personal protective equipment (PPE) sizing but was deficient in generating the detailed fit information needed for workplace, PPE, and other equipment design. Technological development in recent years has advanced the basic science of human size and shape studies in 3-dimensional forms (3D), and computer-generated human models are now available for anthropometric analysis. These advances in anthropometric science and computer-based human-form modeling have opened various research avenues for improving workplace and protective equipment design as well as anthropometric fit within complex systems. Household Chores A household chore is a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee, related to or used in the running of a household. Household chores can be divided into two categories, indoor and outdoor. The indoor chores have long had a negative connotation, "I have to go do my chores" being a common unhappy statement, while the outdoor chores are sometimes seen as more pleasant. The indoor chores include cooking, setting the table and washing dishes; cleaning, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting and mopping ; picking up clothes to the washer and laundry; ironing; lift and carry things, putting things away; child and elder care; paying bills. The

outdoor chores include decorative and vegetable garden care, lawn and grounds maintenance, animal care, snow removal, driveway maintenance, outbuilding maintenance. In Neo-classical economic analysis, such household chores performed by members of the household are not included in economic output. However, Feminist Economists have argued that housework and household chores are a vital part of the economy and society. Chores are commonly assigned by parents worldwide as tasks for children to complete around the house. The parents give their child or children chores as a way of learning disciplinary skills. Many parents create chore charts that are used to track the completion of these tasks. Common chores assigned to children include: cleaning room, making bed, emptying trash, feeding pets, washing car, laundry and yard work. Some parents have used chores as a way for children to earn allowance in order to create a connection between hard work and reward, while other parents believe that chores should be done as a family contribution and not compensated for with rewards. Musculoskeletal Disorder Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions that affect the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting structures, such as the discs in your back. They result from one or more of these tissues having to work harder than they're designed to. Self-reported musculoskeletal disorders by industry estimate statistically significantly higher rates in construction, other community, social and personal service activities, and health and social work. The lowest rates of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders by industry include hotels and restaurants, and education.

Signs and symptoms: Back pain NHS Direct explains that The symptom of low back pain is a pain or ache anywhere on the back, in between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the legs. The majority of cases of back pain usually clear up quite quickly. However, if you are worried or concerned about back pain, seek medical advice. Find out more at NHS Direct. Symptoms of upper limb disorders Pain is the most common symptom. Sometimes the sufferer also has joint stiffness, muscle tightness, redness and swelling of the affected area. Some people experience pins and needles, numbness, skin colour changes, and decreased sweating of the hands. Early stage Aching and tiredness of the affected limb occur during the work shift but disappear at night and during days off work. No reduction of work performance. Intermediate stage Aching and tiredness occur early in the work shift and persist at night. May also have reduced capacity for repetitive work. Late stage Aching, fatigue and weakness persist at rest. Inability to sleep and to perform light duties. Not everyone goes through these stages in the same way. In fact, it may be difficult to say exactly when one stage ends and the next begins. The first pain is a

signal that the muscles and tendons should rest and recover. As soon as people recognise that they have a symptom, they should immediately do something about it.

Risk factors Various risk factors are thought to be associated with MSDs, including: repetitive and/or heavy lifting bending and twisting repeating an action too frequently uncomfortable working position exerting too much force working too long without break adverse working environment (eg hot or cold) psychosocial factors (eg high job demands, time pressures and lack of control) not receiving and acting on reports of symptoms quickly enough

Literature Cited HSIAO, H., HALPERIN, W. E. 1998. Occupational Safety and Human Factors. In William N. Rom (Ed.), Environmental and Occupational Medicine. Philadelphia: Raven Publishers. HSIAO, H., LONG, D., SNYDER, K. 2002. Anthropometric differences among occupational groups. Ergonomics. Roebuck, J. A. 1975. Engineering Anthropometry Methods (Wiley Series in Human Factors). John Wiley & Sons Inc. 2013. Musculoskeletal Disorder. http://www.iosh.co.uk/books_and_resources/our_oh_toolkit/musculoskeletal_disord ers.aspx