본 연구에서는 소방대원이 수행하는 업무 중 중량물을 다루어야 하는 작업에 대한 분류 및 정량적 분석(NLE, 3DSSPP)을 수행하여 향후 소방대원의 중량물 관련 작업에 대한 위험도를 예측하고, 관련 위험도를 감소시키기 위한 기초 자료를 도출하고자 하였다. 도출된 위험도 등급은 위험도 점수가 3점부터 9점까지 총 7단계로 구성되었다. 가장 위험도가 높은 1등급은 나타나지 않았으며 인명구조 작업이 두 번째로 높은 2등급에 속하는 것으로 나타났다. 3등급은 파괴기구 활용, 환자 들어올리기작업 등으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과들은 소방대원의 허리 부상을 포함하는 근골격계 질환 예방을 위한 작업방법 및 장비의 개선, 교육 프로그램의 개발에 기본 토대가 될 수 있다고 판단되며, 소방대원들의 근골격계 질환에 대한 지속적인 예방을 위해서는 본 연구의 골격을 토대로 한 추후 심층적인 조사와 연구가 시급하다고 사료된다.
Modern fire fighting jobs have been expanded to include areas of rescue, emergency medical service as well as conventional fire suppression, so that load for fire fighting jobs has been increased. Specifically, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as low back injury have been considered as one of major industrial hazards in heavy manual material handling during fire fighting jobs. This study tried to evaluate risk levels and to prepare background for reducing risk levels associated with heavy manual material handling during fire fighting jobs. This study applied two major tools in evaluating heavy manual material handling jobs which were NLE (NIOSH Lifting Equation) and 3DSSPP (3D Static Strength Prediction Program). A risk index in terms of heavy manual material handling during fire fighting jobs was identified. This index consisted of seven risk levels ranged from nine points (the first level) to three points (the seventh level). There was no job associated with the first level (the highest risk level) of index. There was only one job (life saving job) belonging to the second level (the second highest risk level) of index. The third level had jobs such as usage of destruction equipment and lifting patient. A total of basic eighteen jobs was categorized into six different levels (2nd-7th levels) of index. The outcome of the study could provide a good basis for conducting job intervention, preparing good equipment and developing good education program in order to prevent and reduce MSDs including low back injury of fire fighting jobs.
