Strength limitations to proper child safety seat installation: Implications for child safety

A majority of child safety restraints are misused in some manner, often leading to an increased risk of serious injury or death. It is possible that at least some instances of misuse are the result of biomechanical limitations during the installation process. Twenty-seven adult participants were tra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied ergonomics 2009-07, Vol.40 (4), p.617-621
Main Authors: Brown, Stephen H.M., Grondin, Diane E., Potvin, Jim R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Applied physiology
Automobile safety
Biological and medical sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
Biomechanics
Child restraints
Child safety
Electromyography
Ergonomics
Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology
Female
Forearm - physiology
Hand - physiology
Human mechanics
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Infant Equipment
Joints - physiology
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Motor vehicle accident
Muscle Strength
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Restraint systems
Rotation
Safety
Task Performance and Analysis
Young Adult
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Summary:A majority of child safety restraints are misused in some manner, often leading to an increased risk of serious injury or death. It is possible that at least some instances of misuse are the result of biomechanical limitations during the installation process. Twenty-seven adult participants were trained and then monitored in three stages of child safety seat installation. All installations were done with an identical restraint system in the rear bench seat of a mocked-up minivan. EMG of 10 muscles, as well as trunk, shoulder, and wrist postures were analyzed. Peak maximum efforts were often required of the trunk extensor, forearm, and anterior shoulder muscles during the installation process. Routing and tightening of the seatbelt, as well as placing and securing the child into the seat were observed to be particularly difficult tasks. Many portions of the child safety seat installation process were found to be very physically demanding; some individuals may not be capable of performing these tasks correctly, thereby putting the child at greater risk in the motor vehicle.
ISSN:0003-6870
1872-9126
DOI:10.1016/j.apergo.2008.04.019