A Study of the Usability of Ergonomic Camera Vest Based on Spirometry Parameters

Background: Being a cameraman is one of those occupations that expose people to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Therefore, control measures should be taken to protect cameramen’s health. To solve the given problem, a vest was designed for cameramen to prevent MSDs by reducing the pressure and contact stress while carrying the camera on their shoulder. However, the usability of vest had to be considered. The aim of this study was to determine the usability of the proposed vest using the spirometry parameters indicator. Methods: In this experimental study, 120 spirometry experiments were conducted with 40 male volunteer subjects with and without designed vest. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 with dependent t-test, at 0.05 significance level. Results: Based on the spirometry results, there is a significant difference between Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1) and heart rate in activity with and without vest (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that the promising impact of this invention on the health of cameramen makes this domestically designed camera vest a good option for mass production.