Education and Research Center (ERC) Free Webinars: Aspects of Backpack Vacuum Use: Evaluation of Carriage Location and Sweeping Technique

Informed by field observations as part of the Washington State Janitor Workload Study, this follow-up study aims to enhance our understanding of the backpack vacuum. This common tool among professional custodians and janitors can lead to bodily discomfort in the shoulders during use. Three factors were evaluated in this laboratory experiment: the location of the backpack vacuum on the back (L3, T12, and T7), sweeping technique (front-to-back and side-to-side), and a new vacuum head design. Professional and novice vacuum users were recruited to participate in the study. Heart rate, trunk posture, and shoulder muscle activity were recorded. Join Dr. Jia-Hua Lin to explore preliminary study results, and to learn how this data will be leveraged to develop guidelines for safe backpack vacuum use.

At the completion of this activity, the learner will be able to:

• Describe observations from site visits regarding current backpack vacuum use
• Discuss the development and design of the vacuum use study in a laboratory setting
• Review preliminary study findings and identify challenges to developing safe backpack vacuum use guidelines

To learn more about and register for this webinar, please visit the website of Berkeley Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.