DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE FIRE HOSE ROLLING DEVICE TO REDUCE ERGONOMIC RISK: A CASE STUDY OF FIREFIGHTERS IN BANGKOK

Abstract

          This research aimed to design and develop a fire hose rolling device to reduce labor requirements, ergonomic risks during operation and task completion time. The study involved analyzing working postures and assessing ergonomic risks using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. A comparison was conducted between manual hose rolling and the use of the developed rolling device. The results from a sample group of 18 participants indicated that the fire hose winding device reduced the number of operators from two to one person, representing a 50% reduction in manpower. The average operation time decreased from 1.50 minutes to 1.38 minutes per hose, equivalent to an 8% reduction compared with manual hose rolling. Ergonomic risk assessment using REBA revealed that the traditional manual method had an average score of 9.5 ± 1.3, indicating a high-risk level. In contrast, the use of the developed device resulted in an average score of 4.8 ± 1.0, indicating a medium-risk level. This corresponds to an approximate 50.2% reduction in ergonomic risk. Observations and user feedback demonstrated that the developed prototype helped reduce lifting force and bending posture, while promoting proper ergonomic working positions. These improvements are likely to reduce muscle fatigue and discomfort, and may also decrease the risk of work-related injuries. Furthermore, the device contributes to improved occupational safety and enhances user comfort during operation.