A Howitzer and its ergonomic risk factors for the gun loader

A 155 mm howitzer is a cannon used on the battlefield to provide support fires to the people who need it. It is also used to create avalanches in the rocky mountains.

What is a 155mm Howitzer?

The specifics

Type towed howitzer

Place of origin United States

Service history

Used by

U.S. Army, USMC, Australian Army, Royal Thai Army, Lebanese Army

Unit cost US$527,337

Specifications

Weight 7,154 kg (15,772 lb)

Length11 m (36 ft 2 in) in firing position; 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in) in towing position

Width2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) in towing position

Height2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) in towing position

Crew 9 enlisted men

Caliber 155 mm

Rate of fire4 round/min maximum; 2 round/min sustained

Maximum range

22,400 m (14 miles) with conventional ammo; 30,000 m (18.6 miles) with rocket propelled

How not to use a Howitzer

Explosive Composition B material packed into a thick shell which causes a large blast and sends projectiles that have a range of 16 to 17 miles.

Step 1-retrieve the roundStep 2-move the round to the cannonStep 3- shove the round into the tubeStep 4 hook up and twist to fire

Job description

Howitzer Gun loaders are also known as “Gun Bunnies”

Their job is to load the round quickly and efficiently In a timely manner. So that they can support the request for fires down range.

Health and ergonomic risk factors Hearing Loss(Not covered by civilian insurance

anymore)500 m to the rear it can be as loud as 140dB

depending upon terrain.

Slip, trip, fall risk hazards

Awkward postures

Dropping heavy materials on body parts.

Unsafe Acts

•Causes Hearing loss

•Noise-induced hearing loss can be temporary or permanent.

•Noise-induced permanent threshold shift is not reversible.

Effects of Noise

Slip trip and fall hazards

Terrain isn't always the same and it can be rugged.Can easily trip and fall and injure one’s self. When the guns go off they kick up dust particulates and other material on the ground which make it hard to see as well as a hazard to vision.

Awkward posture

Is a deviation from the “neutral” body position.

A “neutral” body position is safest and most efficient position in which to work.

Awkward posture puts stress on muscles, tendons and joints.

Unsafe acts

Some unsafe acts are

Sitting on the cannon while firing.

Standing in the back blast area

Not digging the trench to hold the cannon in place.

Howitzer fire

Dropping machinery

Heavy machinery is involved and can injure oneself or others. Some types of items that can be dropped are the round itself 100 lbs, feed tray 5 lbs, loading rode 7 lbs,THE CANNON ITSELF!

Howitzers being used during wars

Recommendations

Take the human out of the loading process by using a self propelled system.

Make area as level as terrain permits.

Make sure hearing protection, eye protection, and body protection is on at all times before firing.

Have minimum safe distances to rest.

Have someone watching for extreme fatigue and replacements ready.

Obtained information from…..

http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/FA54-73/ch2.htm

http://www.dsta.gov.sg/index.php?option=com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howitzer

www.youtube.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M198_howitzer