Carrying out a field test with knee protectors for work performed in a kneeling position

Status:

completed 10/1996

Aims:

Risk of damage to knee-joints through work in a kneeling position (occupational illness No. 2105); development of a new knee-protector (prototype). Goal: testing the new development in practice.

Activities/Methods:

Field test; use of the knee-protectors by employees in 5 companies in each of the following occupations: plastering, floor-fitting, tiling, floor pavement fitting, working with asphalt, acid protection, installation work, other, over three months; investigation and evaluation of knowledge

Results:

Of the 150 assessment forms for subjective assessment by the test persons 104 could be evaluated. 40 % considered the new protector to be good, 39 % average, 21 % poor (mainly by asphalt workers due to the lack of heat resistance of the material). The assessment "good" came mainly from those employed in acid protection, floor paving, floor fitting and other. Overall the assessment in the practicability criterion was "average". The majority found comfort to be "good", tile fitters had problems here with sideways slipping. Suggestions for improvement emerged from the assessments.

Publications:

Die BG (1995) Nr. 6, S. 300-303

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