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The workplace environment has become a consequential reason for hazards to employees’ physical and behavioural well-being. This paper presents the analysis of physical ergonomics using RULA, and REBA methods and behaviour analysis using the ethnographic method. The data were collected from Professors, Heads of the Department of education institute. The results obtained from RULA analysis-the risk of MSDs is high for 40% of Participants, and from REBA analysis, 66.66% of Participants are at increased risk of MSDs. Finally, the study concludes that any person suffering from a physical work-related injury will also affect their behaviour, so physical and behavioural factors of any workplace have positive relations with Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) value of 0.5497. Practical Implications: This study describes the analysis of Physical ergonomics and human behavior in the workplace. It gives concrete direction to interpret employees’ problems related to physical posture and behavior at the workplace and eventually help to identify practical solutions. &nbsp

Evaluate the influence of alternating the position of the upper limbs, between fully supported and unsupported forearms, in the Upper Trapezius (UT) activity during a typing task on a straight-edged desk. Ergonomic barriers, such as reduced desk area, is one of the reasons that force computer users to work without supporting their forearms. Unsupported forearms may lead to increased UT muscle fatigue, increasing the potential for lesions, with Trapezius Myalgia (TM) being a possible outcome. 15 healthy volunteers were assessed (6 females, average age of 3,7 ± 9,5 years old). The protocol included an alternated position of forearms every 5 min between fully supported and unsupported forearms, with a 20-min total duration of a typing task. Surface electromyography readings were collected from both UTs. Significant differences were found in the variation of the EMG signal between the two positions for the non-dominant arm after 10 min (p < .05) of typing. The non-dominant UT registered higher levels of activity than the dominant UT. Supported forearms reduced the electrical activity in both UTs, with a greater difference in the non-dominant. This study consolidates the current knowledge that unsupported upper limb during typing tasks significantly increases UT’s electrical activity. By fully supporting the forearm, that activity is reduced. Females and the non-dominant UT showed higher electrical activity, potentially increasing the risk of developing TM. Healthcare providers, safety and health professionals, and ergonomists should be mindful of the forearm position when advising computer users to prevent TM.

In manufacturing, ergonomic and productivity benefits may result from combining the sensing and dexterity of the human workers with the strength of collaborative robots (cobots). Anyway, manual tasks requiring repetitive motion or working with robots can cause musculoskeletal disorders especially of the hands. In such a context, this paper proposes a novel solution that includes both a full body inertial system and a dedicated solution for hand tracking. This allows implementing the standard methods for assessing ergonomic indexes and to introduce new advanced task analyses based on gesture evaluation. The benefits reached by the integrated system for body and hand tracking can be exploited in the virtual prototyping of collaborative workstation in the manufacturing domain. Different software packages have been considered to model and simulate the collaboration between the operator and the cobot. In particular, Unity and ROS are used to develop the virtual scene and control the cobot behavior and the HTC Vive Head Mounted Display (HMD) to interact with the virtual environment. Physical ergonomics is evaluated by using both a full body suit (XSENS) and sensorized gloves (MANUS). The solution has been applied to the simulation of a virtual production line where the operator collaborates with a six-axis cobot (NIRYO ONE). Test tasks require the operator to move and manage different objects and tools by simulating different types of grasping. Real-time feedback about ergonomics, in terms of posture evaluation and alerts in case of critical condition, is shown to the operator as well as the automatic generation of reports for the post-process evaluation of the entire process. The results show how the use of these tools can be effective in the ergonomic evaluation of a collaborative robotic workstation which requires manual tasks.

This paper presents a structural equation model to determine the job satisfaction and occupational health impacts concerning organizational and physical ergonomics, using (as a study) objective unionized workers from the University of Sonora, South Campus, as an educational enterprise, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The above is a key element of an organizational sustainability framework. In fact, there exists a knowledge gap about the relationship between diverse ergonomic factors, job satisfaction, and occupational health, in the educational institution’s context. The method used was a stratified sample of workers to which a job satisfaction–occupational health questionnaire was applied, consisting of 31 items with three-dimensional variables. As a result, the overall Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was determined, 0.9028, which is considered adequate to guarantee reliability (i.e., very high magnitude). Therefore, after the structural equation model, only 12 items presented a strong correlation, with a good model fit of 0.036 based on the root mean square error of approximation, 1.09 degrees of freedom for the chi-square, 0.9 for the goodness of fit index, and a confidence level of 95%. Organizational and physical factors have positive impacts on job satisfaction with factor loads of 0.37 and 0.53, respectively, and p-values of 0.016 and 0.000, respectively. The constructs related to occupational health that are considered less important by the workers were also determined, which would imply a mitigation strategy. The results contribute to the body of knowledge concerning the ergonomic dimensions mentioned and support organizational sustainability improvements in educational institutions and other sectors.

Workplace environment can have a considerable impact on the physical, psychological and maternal health of pregnant healthcare workers. This article aimed to summarise the impact of work-related ergonomic stressors on pregnancy outcomes for healthcare workers, along with potential interventions to resolve these stressors. A narrative review analysis using the Pearl Growing Strategy was conducted between February 2019 and June 2020 to identify English-language articles published between 2000 and 2020. A total of 89 studies were identified from the SCOPUS (Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands), MEDLINE® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) databases and Google Scholar (Google LLC, Menlo Park, California, USA). The results indicated that poor work-related ergonomics had detrimental effects on pregnancy outcomes, resulting in spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, low birth weight babies and infertility. Policymakers and employers should conduct ergonomic assessments and implement appropriate practices to ensure the safety of pregnant healthcare workers.

Smart workwear systems with embedded inertial measurement unit sensors are developed for convenient ergonomic risk assessment of occupational activities. However, its measurement accuracy can be affected by potential cloth artifacts, which have not been previously assessed. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the accuracy of sensors placed in the workwear systems for research and practice purposes. This study aimed to compare in-cloth and on-skin sensors for assessing upper arms and trunk postures and movements, with the on-skin sensors as the reference. Five simulated work tasks were performed by twelve subjects (seven women and five men). Results showed that the mean (±SD) absolute cloth–skin sensor differences of the median dominant arm elevation angle ranged between 1.2° (±1.4) and 4.1° (±3.5). For the median trunk flexion angle, the mean absolute cloth–skin sensor differences ranged between 2.7° (±1.7) and 3.7° (±3.9). Larger errors were observed for the 90th and 95th percentiles of inclination angles and inclination velocities. The performance depended on the tasks and was affected by individual factors, such as the fit of the clothes. Potential error compensation algorithms need to be investigated in future work. In conclusion, in-cloth sensors showed acceptable accuracy for measuring upper arm and trunk postures and movements on a group level. Considering the balance of accuracy, comfort, and usability, such a system can potentially be a practical tool for ergonomic assessment for researchers and practitioners.

The objective of this research was to design and examine a new tool for the removal of chamber lids (manhole covers) called the chamber lid removal tool (CLRT). The CLRT was compared to a pickaxe and J-hook for removing two types of lids using a handheld force meter and an inertial motion capture system. Wearable motion capture was used for monitoring motions in the field. At L4/L5, resultant moment was significantly lower when removing the lids with the CLRT. Significant ( p < .05) decreases in resultant moment were observed for the left and right shoulder when using the CLRT.

Objective The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a novel supported dynamic lumbar extension with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) technique on stature change, deep abdominal muscle activity, trunk muscle fatigue, and pain intensity during prolonged sitting in chronic low back pain (CLBP) participants. Background Prolonged sitting can cause trunk muscle fatigue from continuous contraction of deep trunk muscles in seated postures. Deficiency of activity of deep muscles can reduce muscular support of the spine, causing stress on spinal structures, which could result in pain. Method Thirty participants with CLBP were randomly allocated: (a) control—sitting without exercise, and (b) intervention—supported dynamic lumbar extension with the ADIM technique. Results Compared to the intervention condition, the control condition demonstrated significantly greater deterioration in stature change, increased levels of deep trunk muscle fatigue, and an increase in pain during prolonged sitting. Conclusion The supported dynamic lumbar extension with the ADIM technique appears to provide a protective effect on detrimental stature change and deep trunk muscle fatigue. In addition, it prevented an increase in pain intensity during prolonged sitting in people with CLBP. Application Sedentary behavior harms health, particularly affecting the lower back. Clinicians can use the intervention to induce dynamic lumbar movement, and this exercise can maintain deep trunk muscle activity during prolonged sitting, thereby helping to prevent low back pain (LBP) problems.

The present study aims to address the lack of nation-wide exploration of ergonomics of translation in Turkey and to build psychosocial and physical ergonomics awareness among translation students. ...

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the inter- and intrarater agreement of estimated wrist angles using video and to compare wrist angles from video analysis to electrogoniometers. Background Video analysis is used frequently in ergonomic assessments, but factors including parallax and complex angles may influence wrist angle estimates. Electrogoniometers are an alternative to video, but may not be reliable in complex postures. Given the limitations of each method, there is a need to determine the suitability of the measurement methods for field use. Method Ten participants performed frame-by-frame wrist (flexion–extension, radioulnar deviation) and forearm (pronation–supination) posture estimation for worker tasks from three camera views (top, side, and oblique). Workers were equipped with electrogoniometers to record wrist posture during the tasks. The video estimate data was compared between 2 days and to sensor data. Results Percent agreement between participants ranged from 53% to 81% across all ratings. Agreement was highest from the side view (66%, κ = 0.56) for flexion–extension and top view for radioulnar deviation (77%, κ = 0.52) and pronation–supination (69%, κ = 0.58). Video–electrogoniometer agreement was lower, with peak agreement from the top view for flexion–extension (57%, κ = 0.49) and radioulnar deviation (68%, κ = 0.30) and the oblique view for pronation–supination (53%, κ = –0.1). Conclusion Participant estimate agreement was moderate-substantial overall and aligns with previous reports. Disagreement between video and electrogoniometers may be attributed to camera angle and parallax effects and the small magnitude of wrist motions compared to other joints.

Understanding a well-functioning work environment during project processes is complex and continuous due to the dynamic risk management and physical er-gonomics. This thesis presents a study on (re)construction projects within a Swedish context from a project managers perspective in projects. The aim was to illuminate factors in a project planning and design process for prevention of physical ergonomic risks. The aim encompassed the research questions ‘What is the current process for setting criteria and requirement specifications for physi-cal ergonomic risks during the (re)construction phases?’ ‘How can the project planning process for (re)construction be improved?’ In this project inspired by a case study methodology with a qualitative approach, interviews and a work-shop were conducted among project managers of both genders and varied expe-riences. Using qualitative content analysis, an interview theme of ‘providing safe and healthy workplaces in project management with decent conditions’ was identified that interconnects through seven categories: ‘ Integrate diverse inter-ests and the project team’, ‘Steps in the life cycle of the project’, ‘An ongoing work environment management’, ‘Responsibilities in the project’, ‘Making de-cisions in the process’, ‘To design conditions in the project directive’ and ‘Fac-tors to consider’. The subsequent workshop resulted in an action plan containing areas in collaboration within the organization, competence and development within the processes and procurements. The findings revealed the ways in which physical ergonomics was an integrated factor in the project planning and design process of a project. The project processes in (re)construction consists of actors and processes where conditions and resources change which affect the overall work environment. Concludingly, the project managers’ reasoning mirror the various and complex factors in project process to improve physical ergonomic risks. This reflects the need of development, importance of setting requirements and defining work environment risks e.g. physical ergonomics, but also the meaningful co-creation and regular follow-ups. Further research are recom-mended on proactive approach of physical ergonomics with good examples and manageble methods among (re)construction projects.

This thesis study focuses on comprehensive research with the objective to develop a workstation chair for a sustainable life system by using the principles of physical ergonomics in design process to innovate a workstation chair to fit various people regardless their shape, height, and weight. And identifying injuries users might face while they use these chairs thus long-time usage and how to avoid these injuries after we used quality function deployment to see where should we focus on the most and enhance whether from the component change nor shape or weigh. Therefore, all these principles are going to be detailed in this research in separated chapters to meet at the end in the final design decision.

There is a worldwide interest in implementing collaborative robots (Cobots) to reduce work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) risk. While prior work in this field has recognized the importance of considering Ergonomics & Human Factors (E&HF) in the design phase, most works tend to highlight workstations’ improvements due to Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC). Based on a literature review, the current study summarises studies where E&HF was considered a requirement rather than an output. In this article, the authors are interested in understanding the existing studies focused on Cobots’ implementation with ergonomic requirements, and the methods applied to design safer collaborative workstations. This review was performed in four prominent publications databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar, searching for the keywords ‘Collaborative robots’ or ‘Cobots’ or ‘HRC’ and ‘Ergonomics’ or ‘Human factors’. Based on the inclusion criterion, 20 articles were reviewed, and the main conclusions of each are provided. Additionally, the focus was given to the segmentation between studies considering E&HF during the design phase of HRC systems and studies applying E&HF in real-time on HRC systems. The results demonstrate the novelty of this topic, especially of the real-time applications of ergonomics as a requirement. Globally, the results of the reviewed studies showed the potential of E&HF requirements integrated into HRC systems as a relevant input for reducing WMSD risk., This work has been supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and MIT Portugal Program under the doctoral Grant SFRH/BD/151365/2021. This work has been also supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European Social Fund. Additionally, has been also supported by FCT within the Project “I-CATER–Intelligent robotic Coworker Assistant for industrial Tasks with an Ergonomics Rationale”, Ref. PTDC/EEIROB/3488/2021, and within R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020.

Çalışmanın amacı: Ofis mobilyalarının çalışanların antropometrisine dayalı olarak tasarlanması, konforlarını, performanslarını ve ciddi durumlarda sağlıklarını etkilediği için çok önemlidir. Ayarlanabilen sandalyeler, tipik olarak kullanıcı popülasyonunun belirli bir yüzdesi için tasarlanır. Ancak bu tasarım yaklaşımı, bir sandalyenin birden fazla tasarım boyutuna sahip olması nedeniyle amaçlandığı gibi bir uygunluk seviyesi sağlamayabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yüzdelik-temelli tasarım yaklaşımı ile kişi-temelli tasarım yaklaşımını uygunluk seviyelerine göre karşılaştırmaktır.Materyal ve yöntem: 2012 ANSUR II veri tabanından 4.082 erkekten oluşan bir örneklem, iki tasarım yaklaşımını uygunluk seviyesine göre karşılaştırmak için kullanılmıştır. Nihai uygunluk seviyesinin istenen uygunluk seviyesinden farklı olup olmadığını araştırmak için ayarlanabilir bir ofis koltuğu tasarlanmıştır. Dört antropometrik ölçü kullanılarak, dört sandalye boyutu için alt ve üst sınırlar, kullanıcıların %95'ini kapsayacak şekilde hesaplanmıştır.Temel sonuçlar: Toplam 728 deneğin antropometrik ölçüleri (%17.83), en az bir sandalye boyutu için eşleşmemiştir ve ayarlanabilir sandalyenin, amaçlandığı gibi %95 yerine kullanıcıların %82.17'sine uygun olduğu tespit edilmiştir. İki ilave sandalye boyutu (sırtlık yüksekliği ve genişliği) ise uygunluk seviyesini %77.36'ya düşürmüştür.Araştırma vurguları: Tipik bir sandalye tasarımında on bir farklı sandalye boyutunun dikkate alındığı düşünüldüğünde, uygunluk seviyesinin daha da düşük olacağını varsaymak gerekir., Aim of study: It is very important to design office furniture based on the anthropometry of employees because it affects their comfort, performance, and in serious cases, their health. Adjustable chairs are typically designed for a certain percentile of the user population. However, this design approach may not provide an accommodation level as intended because a chair has more than one design dimension. The objective of this study is to compare the percentile-based design approach and subject-based design approach by accommodation level. Material and methods: A sample of 4.082 males from the 2012 ANSUR II database was used to compare two design approaches by accommodation level. An adjustable office chair was designed to investigate whether or not the final accommodation level differed from the desired accommodation level. Using four anthropometric measurements, the lower and upper limits for four chair dimensions are calculated to cover 95% of users. Main results: The anthropometric measurements of a total of 728 subjects (17.83%) did not match for at least one chair dimension, resulting in the adjustable chair accommodating 82.17% of users, rather than 95% as intended. Two additional chair dimensions (backrest height and width) reduced the accommodation level to 77.36%. Highlights: Considering that eleven different chair dimensions are considered in a typical chair design, it is reasonable to assume that the accommodation level will be even lower.

The understanding of ergonomics is a vital competency for all peripheral nerve block operators. The essence of physical ergonomics for peripheral nerve block procedures can be summarised into three significant components: brain, musculoskeletal and needling. The first component includes strategies to optimise visuospatial neuroprocessing using equipment configuration. The second component reflects the careful planning of posture and position to improve procedural technique and reduce physical fatigue. The final component focuses on strategies to achieve needle beam alignment for optimal needle visualisation.

New types of cylindrical handles such as pushrims with force signal sensors under four fingers (excluding the thumb) enable real-time gripping-status assessment. The mirrored change phenomenon of the index and ring fingers observed in linear grip tasks offers a new perspective on finger grouping. To evaluate the force contribution of index-ring finger pair in multi-finger force, 10 right-handed male participants with similar hand sizes were recruited to participate in sinusoidal function force-following tasks involving a cylindrical handle. The real-time signal of the grip force and individual finger force were recorded to analyze real-time changes in the finger force contribution (FC). Subsequently, the time-FC curves of individual and paired fingers were analyzed. Results show are as follows: (1) When the FC of the index-ring finger pair exceeded that of the middle-little finger pair, the gripping load was relatively low, and a smaller difference between the FCs of the index-ring finger pair and the middle-little finger pair indicated a smaller following error. (2) The FC of index-ring finger pair is a better (higher-linearity) parameter to assess gripping status. These findings show that the paired-finger FC is an adequate parameter for the gripping-status assessment.

Objective: To quantify differences in physical workload afforded by turn-assist surfaces relative to manual patient turns, and between nursing caregivers (turn-away vs. turn-toward) while performing partnered patient turning. Background: Nurse caregivers experience an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries at the back or shoulders when performing patient-handling activities. Use of turn-assist surfaces can reduce the physical burden and risk on caregivers. Method: Whole-body motion capture and hand force measures were collected from 25 caregivers (17 female) while performing partnered manual and technology-facilitated turns. Shoulder and low back angles and L4/L5 joint contact forces were calculated at the instant of peak hand force application for both caregivers. Results: Hand force requirements for the turn-away caregiver were 93% of the estimated maximum acceptable force when performing a manual turn. Use of a turn-assist surface eliminated hand forces required to initiate the patient turn for the turn-away caregiver, where their role was reduced to inserting appropriate wedging behind the patient once the facilitated turn was complete. This reduced shoulder moments by 21.3 Nm for the turn-away caregiver, a reduction in exposure from 70% of maximum shoulder strength capacity to 15%. Spine compression exposures were reduced by 302.1 N for the turn-toward caregiver when using a turn-assist surface. Conclusion: Use of a turn-assist surface reduced peak hand force and shoulder-related exposures for turning away and reduced spine-related exposures for turning toward. Application: Turn-assist devices should be recommended to decrease the risk of musculoskeletal disorder hazards for both caregivers when performing a partnered patient turn.

International audience; Introduction Laparoscopic surgery (LS) may lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and an increase in physical and mental workloads to the surgeon. Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) should improve the ergonomy of the surgeon. This study assesses the experience influence in surgical ergonomics between LS and RAS. Methods LS and RAS lasting more than 60 min of effective operative time were compared. During the surgical procedure, the physical discomfort was evaluated using the Borg scale. At the end, the mental workload was evaluated using the NASA-TLX index. After global analysis, the experienced and young surgeons were assessed. Results 88 RAS and 82 LS were evaluated. During LS, the physical discomfort was significantly higher in all segments, and the pain increased significantly during the procedure in all segments compared to that evaluated in the RAS (p < 0.05). Forearms and the back were the most painful. The young surgeons did not display any improvement in the physical ergonomics of the RAS compared to the LS. Concerning the mental ergonomics, the overall workload and performance were significantly greater during the LS compared to the RAS (p < 0.05). For the young surgeons, the overall workload, the effort, the mental and the physical demands were greater during LS (p < 0.05). For the experienced surgeons, the physical demand was lower during the RAS compared to the LS (p < 0.05). However, the experienced surgeons expressed a feeling of greater performance after the LS (p < 0.01). RAS significantly reduces the onset of MSDs compared to LS, especially for the experienced surgeons. Conclusion RAS significantly reduces the onset of MSDs compared to LS, especially for the experienced surgeons.

Repetitive tasks performed in a commercial laboratory potentially expose lab technicians to repetitive-motion stresses and strains. Our goal was to reduce or eliminate the risk of injuries through design strategies, such as automation, changes in work flow, system design improvements, or ergonomic assist tools. This article describes six undergraduate biomedical engineering student design innovations conceived for solving challenging ergonomics problems at Covance Laboratories in Madison, Wisconsin. Their designs tackled laboratory procedures for administering substances, sampling blood, removing container lids, vortex mixing, cage opening, and automated bioanalytical test tube uncapping. The successful designs were built, tested, and put into practice.

Adoption of human–robot collaboration is hindered by barriers in collaborative task design. A new approach for solving these problems is to empower operators in the design of their tasks. However, how this approach may affect user welfare or performance in industrial scenarios has not yet been studied. Therefore, in this research, the results of an experiment designed to identify the influences of the operator’s self-designed task on physical ergonomics and task performance are presented. At first, a collaborative framework able to accept operator task definition via parts’ locations and monitor the operator’s posture is presented. Second, the framework is used to tailor a collaborative experience favoring decision autonomy using the SHOP4CF architecture. Finally, the framework is used to investigate how this personalization influences collaboration through a user study with untrained personnel on physical ergonomics. The results from this study are twofold. On one hand, a high degree of decision autonomy was felt by the operators when they were allowed to allocate the parts. On the other hand, high decision autonomy was not found to vary task efficiency nor the MSD risk level. Therefore, this study emphasizes that allowing operators to choose the position of the parts may help task acceptance and does not vary operators’ physical ergonomics or task efficiency. Unfortunately, the test was limited to 16 participants and the measured risk level was medium. Therefore, this study also stresses that operators should be allowed to choose their own work parameters, but some guidelines should be followed to further reduce MSD risk levels.

O objetivo do estudo é identificar e analisar pesquisas que abordam sobre o teletrabalho na modalidade home office e as principais implicações na experiência durante o uso destes espaços por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática. Foram selecionados um conjunto de artigos - publicados anteriormente e posteriormente a pandemia do novo coronavírus (Sars-CoV-2) - e analisados quais aspectos da experiência foram considerados e quais os principais problemas encontrados. Foi possível observar, durante a revisão, que grande parte das pesquisas encontradas, usualmente, o fazem referente a atividade e não à estação de trabalho. Além disso, os principais aspectos avaliados são relacionados à satisfação e bem-estar, de um modo geral, e referentes a problemas psicossociais, estresse e exaustão emocional (Síndrome de Burnout). Os resultados apontam que há a escassez de pesquisas referentes à ergonomia do ambiente físico e problemas osteomusculares. Isto enfatiza a importância de se analisar todos os aspectos que envolvem a experiência do home office, de modo a adaptar o ambiente de trabalho às características do teletrabalhor, além do cumprimento das normas existentes, treinamento em ergonomia e aplicação de sistemas de avaliação de desempenho.

Objective The aim of this study was to model the effect of body armor coverage on body core temperature elevation and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) offset. Background Heat stress is a critical factor influencing the health and safety of military populations. Work duration limits can be imposed to mitigate the risk of exertional heat illness and are derived based on the environmental conditions (WBGT). Traditionally a 3°C offset to WBGT is recommended when wearing body armor; however, modern body armor systems provide a range of coverage options, which may influence thermal strain imposed on the wearer. Method The biophysical properties of four military clothing ensembles of increasing ballistic protection coverage were measured on a heated sweating manikin in accordance with standard international criteria. Body core temperature elevation during light, moderate, and heavy work was modeled in environmental conditions from 16°C to 34°C WBGT using the heat strain decision aid. Results Increasing ballistic protection resulted in shorter work durations to reach a critical core temperature limit of 38.5°C. Environmental conditions, armor coverage, and work intensity had a significant influence on WBGT offset. Conclusion Contrary to the traditional recommendation, the required WBGT offset was >3°C in temperate conditions (Application Correct WBGT offsets are important for enabling adequate risk management strategies for mitigating risks of exertional heat illness.

Living in the “new-normal” world, the non-contact infrared temperature checks is expected to remain until such time that the treatment and vaccine against COVID-19 becomes available worldwide. Changing the mindset of the people is also a huge factor to consider in order to feel comfortable again without wearing a mask or conducting such pre-cautions. This paper aims to identify the relationship of the health and environmental factors to the discomfort that the person conducting the checks experience. The case study was done using the data gathered in the interviews, surveys, Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ), conducted Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) analysis. Minitab 18 was used to derived the correlation between the age, height, shifts, number of guests checked, RULA and REBA score to the discomfort experienced by the participants, using statistical analysis. This study will provide simple ideas that should help improve the staff welfare while performing the monotonous task. One of its objectives is to provide information on how to reduce the discomfort. It is also hoped that this study can serve as a reference in resolving similar tasks that promotes Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). It aims to open up ideas on reducing the risks related to other new activities that are being performed in relation to this pandemic.

Ergonomics is considered one of the main strategies in the prevention of some occupational diseases, and it is used with the objective of identifying unfavorable situations when carrying out activities in the work environment, in order to reduce risks without prejudice to professional performance. In this context, the Mobile Emergency Care Service constantly exposes its nursing workers to these circumstances, due to the specificities of direct patient care services outside the hospital environment, aiming at maintaining life in an urgent and emergency situation before arrival to a specialized service institution. The aim of this study was to evaluate scientific articles in the health field that address working conditions at SAMU and reflect on improvements in the nursing professional's work at SAMU. This is a bibliographic review carried out in the scientific databases Medline, Lilacs, Scielo and VHL. The following descriptors were used to select the articles: Physical ergonomics, Nursing, SAMU and Pre-hospital care. The results showed that nursing workers are exposed to numerous occupational risks caused by chemical, physical, mechanical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial factors, it is important that they are informed and trained to avoid health problems, and control methods must be instituted to prevent accidents. In view of this, it is concluded that this study is relevant to the literature with regard to encouraging theoretical and practical knowledge about ergonomics in the hospital environment. La ergonomía se considera una de las principales estrategias en la prevención de algunas enfermedades profesionales, y se utiliza con el objetivo de identificar situaciones desfavorables a la hora de realizar actividades en el entorno laboral, con el fin de reducir los riesgos sin perjuicio del desempeño profesional. En este contexto, el Servicio Móvil de Emergencias expone constantemente a sus trabajadores de enfermería a estas circunstancias, debido a las especificidades de los servicios de atención directa al paciente fuera del ámbito hospitalario, con el objetivo de mantener la vida en una situación de urgencia y emergencia antes de la llegada a una institución de servicios especializada. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar artículos científicos en el campo de la salud que abordan las condiciones laborales en SAMU y reflexionan sobre las mejoras en el trabajo del profesional de enfermería en SAMU. Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica realizada en las bases de datos científicas Medline, Lilacs, Scielo y VHL. Para la selección de los artículos se utilizaron los siguientes descriptores: ergonomía física, enfermería, SAMU y atención prehospitalaria. Los resultados mostraron que los trabajadores de enfermería están expuestos a numerosos riesgos laborales ocasionados por factores químicos, físicos, mecánicos, biológicos, ergonómicos y psicosociales, es importante que estén informados y capacitados para evitar problemas de salud, y se deben implementar métodos de control. instituido para prevenir accidentes. Ante esto, se concluye que este estudio es relevante para la literatura en lo que se refiere a fomentar el conocimiento teórico y práctico sobre ergonomía en el ámbito hospitalario. A ergonomia é considerada uma das principais estratégias na prevenção de algumas doenças laborais, e é utilizada com o objetivo de identificar situações desfavoráveis durante a realização de atividades nos ambientes de trabalho, a fim de reduzir os riscos sem prejuízo do desempenho profissional. Nesse contexto, o Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência constantemente expõe os seus trabalhadores de enfermagem a essas circunstâncias, devido às especificidades dos serviços de assistência direta ao paciente fora do ambiente hospitalar, visando à manutenção da vida em situação de urgência e emergência antes da chegada a uma instituição de atendimento especializado. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar artigos científicos da área de saúde que abordam as condições de trabalho no SAMU e refletir acerca das melhorias no posto de trabalho do profissional de enfermagem no SAMU. Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica realizada nas bases de dados científicos Medline, Lilacs, Scielo e BVS. Para seleção dos artigos foram utilizados, os descritores: Ergonomia física, Enfermagem, SAMU e Atendimento Pré-hospitalar. Os resultados demonstraram que os trabalhadores de enfermagem estão expostos a inúmeros riscos ocupacionais causados por fatores químicos, físicos, mecânicos, biológicos, ergonômicos e psicossociais, é importante que os mesmos sejam informados e treinados para evitar problemas de saúde, e métodos de controle devem ser instituídos para prevenir acidentes. Em vista disso, conclui-se que este estudo é relevante para a literatura no tocante ao incentivo do conhecimento teórico-prático acerca da ergonomia no ambiente hospitalar.

Physical ergonomics evaluation of civil aircraft cockpit control devices has become increasingly important for aircraft engineers when designing pilot-centered cockpit. This paper puts forward the principles for physical ergonomics design of control devices, as well as a physical ergonomics evaluation method for cockpit control devices based on flight scenarios in virtual environment to demonstrate how digital human modeling software can be used effectively for such evaluation. Three digital pilot models are generated from anthropometric database, representative of the shortest, average and tallest Chinese pilot population, and interfaced with digital prototype of cockpit control devices in RAMSIS software for physical ergonomics design analysis of the control devices. The analysis mainly includes the control device’s appearance, range of movement, operating force, and the analysis results can be used to achieve design iteration of cockpit control devices.

Understanding individuals’ capability of one-handed pull strength is crucial in manual handling task design as one-handed pulling is frequently conducted in daily life. The present study was designed to develop prediction models of one-handed pull strength from anthropometrics and body-joint angles. One hundred Chinese adults were recruited and instructed to provide their maximum one-handed pull strength in the sagittal plane. Sagittal-plane photographs were taken for measuring three joint angles (i.e., trunk angle, knee angle, and ankle angle). T-tests, ANOVAs, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were conducted for data analysis. Five prediction models were developed with the adjusted R2 values ranging from 0.621 to 0.818 (all ps < 0.001). Significant predictors were reported and discussed. The findings contribute to physical ergonomics and human factors by providing prediction models for reference values of one-handed pull strength of a population, further facilitating safety designs of tasks involved one-handed pulling (144 words).

Hand grip strength, or widely also known as Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC), is an important part in physical ergonomics. The purpose of the study was to establish Filipino teenagers’ hand grip strength data. In addition, another objective of the study was to investigate the causal relationships of gender, hand anthropometric, hand dominance, and high school grade on hand grip strength in Filipino teenagers by utilizing the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. A total of 100 male and 100 female students were voluntary recruited from Mapua Senior High School students to perform MVC. SEM indicated that gender was found to have the most significant effect on the hand grip strength, followed by hand anthropometric, and hand dominance. Interestingly, hand dominance was found to be significant on hand grip strength. This study is the first study that establish the hand grip strength among Filipino teenagers and it would be very beneficial for human factor engineers, hand therapists, and even medical doctors. Finally, the proposed SEM approach could be applied and extended in analyzing the hand grip strength in other countries.

Currently, there is no guidance on the training programme approach that should be provided to new sit-stand workstation users to optimally integrate workstation usage patterns into their working day. The objective of this research study was to determine if a training programme could influence long-term usage of sit-stand workstations. Thirty-five employees from the University of Waterloo volunteered to participate in this longitudinal study. Two different types of training programmes were delivered: (1) an example from industry and (2) based on current literature. There was an influence of training programme on the frequency of sit to stand transitions made each day. Those who received the additional training programme also reported sitting less, standing more and used their sit-stand workstations more consistently day-to-day than those who did not. Practitioner Summary: A longitudinal study was conducted to assess the impact of training programmes on sit-stand workstation usage. A training programme based on current literature resulted in more consistent sit-stand usage than an industry example.

This introductory article will illustrate how ergonomics has come to occupy a prominent place in translation and interpreting studies. It will review the studies that have been carried out in recent years to measure physical, cognitive and organisational conditions within the language industry. It will be argued that, despite the growing awareness of the need to develop and teach sustainable practices within the classroom (see EMT Expert Group 2017), only scant attention has been paid to ergonomics in translator and interpreter training. This article seeks to map out the (largely unchartered) territory of ergonomics in translator and interpreter training and provide an overview of the contributions to this Special Issue of ITT.

Physical ergonomics of distance running footwear is a hotly debated topic of discussion. This chapter focuses on recreational distance running and the role of footwear on performance and, especially, protection against injury. Running economy is the surrogate measure of choice to evaluate distance running performance. Shoes with a mass lower than 220g induce the lowest oxygen cost per kilometre and may thus optimise performance. The role of shoe technology on injury prevention is scientifically controversial, in contrast to popular belief. Recommendations based on solid evidence are sparse and include avoiding radical changes in footwear type used and having some degree of motion control in cushioned shoes (as with most “standard” models). Shoes with low heel-to-toe drop are safe for occasional runners, while the role of cushioning is still unclear. Athlete education for optimal self-management is key for performance and injury prevention.

Objectives - This study aimed to compare the knowledge attained by third‐year dental students in physical ergonomics altering live lectures and videos in teaching. The second aim was to investigate implementation of the theoretical knowledge on ergonomics into practice. Material and methods - Forty‐five students divided into two groups attended a live lecture (45 min) or viewed videos (45 min). After the first teaching session, the groups changed parts. All students answered a questionnaire with 13 true or false‐questions on ergonomics at baseline and immediately after both teaching sessions. Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compare questionnaire scores of the student groups. Additionally, we photographed 17 randomly selected students 3 months after baseline during a simulation workshop on endodontics. We analyzed the photographs for ergonomic postures using a specific 12‐point checklist. Results - At baseline, no difference in the knowledge between the two groups was discovered, when both scored 72%. After the first teaching session, significant improvement in both groups (p Conclusions - Both live lectures and videos showed similar outcomes in teaching ergonomics. Implementation of the knowledge on ergonomics is insufficient. Videos provide an easy‐to‐organize alternative to live lectures in teaching dental ergonomics. New means are needed to have dental students implement their knowledge on ergonomics into practice.

Industrial collaborative robotics is one of the main enabling technologies of Industry 4.0. Collaborative robots are innovative cyber-physical systems, which allow safe and efficient physical interactions with operators by combining typical machine strengths with inimitable human skills. One of the main uses of collaborative robots will be the support of humans in the most physically stressful activities through a reduction of work-related biomechanical overload, especially in manual assembly activities. The improvement of operators&rsquo, occupational work conditions and the development of human-centered and ergonomic production systems is one of the key points of the ongoing fourth industrial revolution. The factory of the future should focus on the implementation of adaptable, reconfigurable, and sustainable production systems, which consider the human as their core and valuable part. Strengthening actual assembly workstations by integrating smart automation solutions for the enhancement of operators&rsquo, occupational health and safety will be one of the main goals of the near future. In this paper, the transformation of a manual workstation for wire harness assembly into a collaborative and human-centered one is presented. The purpose of the work is to present a case study research for the design of a collaborative workstation to improve the operators&rsquo, physical ergonomics while keeping or increasing the level of productivity. Results demonstrate that the achieved solution provides valuable benefits for the operators&rsquo, working conditions as well as for the production performance of the companies. In particular, the biomechanical overload of the worker has been reduced by 12.0% for the right part and by 28% for the left part in terms of manual handling, and by 50% for the left part and by 57% for the right part in terms of working postures. In addition, a reduction of the cycle time of 12.3% has been achieved.

The physical ergonomics of the anesthesiologist’s environment requires accommodation to the surgical field, which can cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Tubes, wires, and cables can lead to injuries due to falls. Operating room (OR) design could benefit from the influence of human factors engineering principles to improve the space for anesthesiologists with a focus on how their workspace interacts with others in the operating room. Communication when coordinating medical care, especially during emergent situations, can be hindered by the noise in an operating room, including alarms which average 1.2 alarms per minute. The anesthesiologist’s handoff requires delivering critical and timely information as quickly as possible without decreasing the level of care. Handoffs may lack pertinent information or increase the risk of controlled drug discrepancies, which highlights the need to reduce the amount of transfers of care during anesthesia and the need for standardized handoff protocols. The design of the operating room should aim to place anesthesiologists as the focal point within their workspace.

International Transaction Journal of Engineering, Management, & Applied Sciences & Technologies, 11, 6, 11A06T: 1-10

Servicing and maintaining wind turbines may expose wind turbine technicians (wind techs) to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards. We aimed to characterise MSD hazard exposures and identify work elements that should be prioritised for MSD prevention efforts. A cross-sectional online survey methodology gathered data from 144 wind techs based on a convenience, non-probability sampling approach. The survey was developed using resources from the Ontario MSD Prevention Guideline, where cognitive interviewing yielded wind tech specific modifications. Climbing was the most physically demanding task, followed by torqueing/tensioning and manual materials handling (MMH). However, working in awkward and constrained postures emerged as the task most likely to cause or aggravate discomfort. Injecting ergonomic and human factors principles into wind turbine design should be a high priority. Re-engineering tools like torque tensioning devices may reduce MSD hazard exposures associated with tasks including torqueing/tensioning and MMH. We know little about musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards associated with green jobs. By surveying wind turbine technicians, we learned that MSD hazards exists, and can be addressed by better considering human factors/ergonomics principles in the design of wind turbines and the tools required for service and maintenance operations. Abbreviations: MSD: musculoskeletal disorder; MMH: manual materials handling; Wind techs: wind turbine technicians; CRE-MSD: centre of research expertise for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders; CanWEA: Canadiarn wind energy association; HFE: human factors/ergonomics; ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers; CSA: Canadian Standards Association

Introduction. The reliability of offshore oil and gas (OG effects of physical ergonomics implementation in design; criticality of physical ergonomics issues. Results. The results showed a good level of physical ergonomics awareness among respondents without them being influenced by dissimilar experiences (engineering design and operation/maintenance) and the range of experience in an offshore workplace. Conclusion. This study provides an overview of Malaysian O&G workers' outlook toward the physical ergonomics issues in an offshore workplace. These data could be further analyzed in future as relevant aspects of designing an offshore facility.

The design of a high-speed train controller affects the driver's health, operating performance and even safety. Understanding the effects of the design factors on the physical ergonomics of a high-speed train driver controller is essential for optimizing performance and safety. This study experimentally investigated the role of the operation type and handle shape on the physical ergonomics of a driver controller for a high speed train. Two controllers and six handles with pyriform shape, T-shape, sphere shape, cylinder shape and conical frustum shape were used in the experiment. The results indicated that a controller of the sagittal rotation operation type could significantly reduce the workload of the upper limbs compared to a horizontal rotation operation type controller. The handle shape had significant effect on the wrist angles, hand pressures and subjective assessment scores of upper limb fatigue, wrist discomfort and palm discomfort. The handle shape influenced the wrist angles and hand pressures depending on how the participants held the handle. The results demonstrated that the preferred operation type was rotation in the parasagittal plane and that the handle shape should be convenient for operating with a downward-facing palm posture. Among the tested shapes, the pyriform shape and T-shape were considered to be preferable.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze finger strength and effects of muscle fatigue on the ability to shoot. Background: The finger and hand muscles of soldiers are subject to high loads. For example, the trigger pull of military pistols can amount up to 58 N (≈6 kg) and could cause muscle fatigue in the trigger finger. For soldiers, however, maintaining the ability to shoot is essential for self-defense and survival. Method: The marksmanship training of 30 German soldiers (15 female) ages 18 to 40 years was evaluated. Three consecutive exercises with a total of 60 rounds were fired from target ranges of 5 and 10 m, equally using a single-action and double-action trigger mode. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the index finger (MVCIF) was measured before and after each of the three firing exercises. Results: Shooting reduced MVCIF in female (88.2 ± 15.8 N to 67.3 ± 17.7 N, p < .001) and male soldiers (145.8 ± 21.7 N to 112.7 ± 26.6 N, p < .001). Of the 30 subjects, 23 were unable to shoot due to fatigue, including 15 of 15 female soldiers. The higher MVCIF was at rest, the less commonly (r = .73, p < .001) and the later (r = 0.82, p < .001) task failure occurred. Two intermissions of approximately 6 min did not suffice for a significant recovery. Conclusion: Excessive trigger pull weight causes muscle fatigue of the index finger and can ultimately lead to task failure during pistol marksmanship training. Short breaks are insufficient for the recovery of finger muscles. Application: This study presents a new perspective on ideal trigger pull weight, which should be carefully considered by manufacturers to allow repetitive firing and simultaneously ensure safe handling., publishedVersion

Ear anthropometry is important in physical ergonomics for ear-related products. With various anthropometric methods, comparisons between different measuring techniques have not been sufficiently studied especially for ear dimensions. This study aimed at comparing traditional measurement and 3D scanning method for ear anthropometry, with addressing their usages in practice. For thirty participants, ear length and ear width were measured by the same investigator with two measuring methods. Traditional measurement was directly conducted with a caliper, whereas dimensions using 3D scanning technique were extracted from the point cloud acquired from a structured light scanner. Statistical results showed the differences between traditional and 3D scanning measurement, which can provide empirical evidences of differences between different measuring techniques for ear anthropometry. Additionally, the usages of different methods were discussed so that the proper method can be selected to match specific goals for future research.

Neonatal resuscitation demands that healthcare professionals perform cognitive and technical tasks while working under time pressure as a team in order to provide efficient and effective care. Neonatal resuscitation teams simultaneously process and act upon multiple data streams, perform ergonomically challenging technical procedures, and coordinate their actions within a small physical space. An understanding and application of human factors and ergonomics science broadens the areas of need in resuscitation research, and will lead to enhanced technologies, systems, and work environments that support human limitations and maximize human performance during neonatal resuscitation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ergonomic benefits of an angle grinder with a rotatable main handle in a cutting task. Background: Angle grinder manufacturers rarely address ergonomic features in their advertisements, and if they do, the benefits are expressed in a qualitative manner. Meanwhile, quantitative information about the effects of the device on the worker is required to make informed decisions during tool selection and cumulative trauma prevention. Method: Eleven maintenance workers and metalworkers used an angle grinder to cut a horizontal steel rod using three wrist postures. Only one of the postures was exclusively available in the case of a rotatable main handle. The postural effect was evaluated objectively with electromyography and a force-sensing-resistor-based force glove. Subjective ratings about discomfort and control were obtained with a visual analog scale. Results: The subjective ratings favor the near-neutral wrist posture. The forearm muscles’ electromyographic activities were similar across the postures. Forces on the hand–handle interface were concentrated on the intermediate phalanges. If the device is operated without gloves, the forces on the intermediate phalanges may exceed the discomfort pressure threshold regardless of wrist posture. Conclusion: In the cutting task, the subjective measures favor the posture with a near-neutral wrist, which is a feature of the rotatable main handle. The objective measures did not allow one to prefer one posture to another. Application: The findings give insight into the impact of wrist posture on muscle activity, forces on the hand–handle interface, and discomfort. This is useful information for the person responsible for tool selection.

The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of to what extent lean manufacturing transforms industrial work, including psychosocial and physical working conditions, and, to understand how socially sustainable working conditions can be supported in a lean organization. Four studies with different methodological approaches are included. The first study is a literature overview of the associations between lean and risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. The second study documented physical workload and pain among operators, through direct measurements and painratings, in a process industry with extensive usage of lean practices. In addition, two 3-year case studies were carried out in a medium-sized, Swedish manufacturing family company. The studies focused on the influence of lean on work characteristics, psychosocial working conditions, and what leadership practices contributed to supporting the socially sustainable working conditions respectively. The literature overview on lean and physical workload showed that the literature in the area was limited, of varying quality, and that none of the included studies had directly measured the physical workload. Further, it suggested that lean tended to have better outcomes for employees in the Nordic countries and in those cases where the lean initiative was combined with an ergonomic or work environment intervention. The measurements of physical workload in the process industry showed that the exposures were low across the study period. Ratings of neck and upper extremity pain were relatively high across the years, but did not increase significantly. The results from the manufacturing company showed that employees could sustain important work resources including favorable psychosocial working conditions: Good social support, low stress levels, and a good self-rated health were sustained while role conflicts decreased, and justice and respect increased significantly. There was a trend toward gradually increased work content through job enlargment with increased elements of more qualified tasks, and more employees were cross-trained. The work standardization, however, meant that some work processes were simplified and that employees’ influence over the daily work seemed to have decreased, while there were still opportunities for them to influence what would be included in the work assignment, and employee influence through improvement practices increased. Both case studies indicated that the participatory leadership approach in combination with a value-creating leadership that focus on health and employee development, contributed to making the lean initiative socially sustainable. In conclusion, lean can affect work characteristics and employees’ working conditions in different ways depending on how, and in what type of work, it is implemented. Previous studies on lean in industry have mostly shown that lean tends to increase workload and reduce control over daily work. This thesis, however, provides examples showing that it is possible to have low levels of physical exposures in a lean process industry and that it is possible to sustain important psychosocial work resources. The work practices seemed to be shaped in an interplay between organizational context, type of job, managerial practices, lean practices employed, and employees’ involvement. Knowledge abouthow work is shaped is important for those who want to proactively contribute to a work design that supports the development of resourceful jobs. Findings in this thesis point to the need to actively monitor and care how lean affects working conditions in order to support resourceful jobs. This thesis shows that it is possible to make lean initiatives in manufacturing companies more socially sustainable. Overall, findings from this thesis indicate that important and interdependent components that can contribute to socially sustainable lean initiatives involve having a conscious focus on work environment management and health, in combination with a value-creating leadership that actively support important work resources and involves employees in a conscious manner. Arbetssystem med krav höga krav på effektivitet är vanliga i dagens arbetsliv. I Sverige är konceptet lean produktion (lean) ett vanligt sätt att organisera produktionen för ökad effektivitet. Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling är att bidra till kunskapen om hur lean kan påverka arbetsinnehåll, fysiska och psykosociala arbetsförhållanden vid industriarbete, samt att bidra till förståelsen för hur socialt hållbara arbetsförhållanden kan stödjas i en lean organisation. Fyra studier med olika metodologiska ansatser är inkluderade. Den första är en litteraturstudie kring sambanden mellan lean och risker för belastningsrelaterade besvär. I den andra studien genomfördes med två års mellanrum ergonomiska mätningar av den fysiska arbetsbelastningen och skattningar av smärta i en processindustri, som vid baslinjemätningarna arbetat tio år enligt lean-principer. Därtill ingår två 3-åriga fallstudier som genomfördes i ett svenskt, medelstort familjeföretag inom verkstadsindustrin som framgångsrikt arbetat med lean. Studierna fokuseradepå lean-konceptets påverkan på arbetsinnehåll och psykosociala arbetsförhållanden respektive vilka ledarskaps-praktiker som bidrog till att skapa de socialt hållbara arbetsförhållandena. Litteraturöversikten om belastningsergonomi och lean visade att litteraturen på området var begränsad, av varierande kvalitet samt att ingen av de ingående studierna mätt fysisk belastning vid leanifierat arbete. Dock pekade flera av studierna på att lean tenderar att öka den upplevda arbetsbelastningen och att upplevd kontroll över det dagliga arbetet minskar. Vidare noterades att lean hade en tendens att ha bättre utfall för medarbetare i de nordiska länderna och i de fall lean-satsningen kombinerats med någon form av ergonomi- eller arbetsmiljöinsats. De ergonomiska mätningarna av fysisk belastning i en processindustri visade att belastningarna för övre extremiteterna kunde hållas på låga nivåer trots en hög grad av lean. Dock var skattningar av smärta i nacke och övre extremitet relativt höga, men ökade inte signifikant under perioden. Resultaten från lean-arbetet på verkstadsindustrin visade att medarbetarna kunde behålla viktiga arbetsresurser inklusive en god psykosocial arbetsmiljö: Ett gott socialt stöd, låg stressnivå och en god självskattad hälsa, samtidigt som rollkonflikter minskade och rättvisa och respekt ökade signifikant. Vidare innebar lean för medarbetarna en trend mot ett gradvis utökat arbetsinnehåll. Detta genom arbetsutvidgning, ökade inslag av mer kvalificerade uppgifter och att fler medarbetarekunde rotera mellan olika arbetsuppgifter. Dock innebar standardisering av arbetet att några arbetsprocesser förenklats och att inflytandet över det dagliga arbetet verkade ha minskat, samtidigt som det fortsatt fanns möjligheter att påverka vad som skulle ingå i arbetsåtagandet i stort och möjligheter till utökat inflytande via ständigt förbättringsarbete. Påverkan på arbetets innehåll verkade formas i ett interaktivt samspel mellan ledare, medarbetarnas involvering, miljön och lean. De fyra praktiker som stödde den socialt hållbara lean-satsningen bedömdes vara: (1) En sammanhängande satsning med en tydlig riktning, (2) Ett värdeskapande ledarskap innefattande främjande av delaktighet och ett omtänksamt ledarskap med samtidigt fokus på hälsa och produktion, (3) En medveten, stegvis involvering av medarbetarna och strategier för att koordinera initiativ från medarbetare och ledning samt (4) Fokus på att främja meningsfulla jobboch hälsa med stöd i ett aktivt arbetsmiljöarbete. Slutsatserna från denna avhandling är att lean kan påverka arbetsinnehåll och medarbetarnas arbetsförhållanden på olika sätt beroende på företagets förutsättningar, typen av arbete och hur lean implementeras. Denna avhandling visar att det går att göra lean-satsningar inom industrin mer socialt hållbara. Viktiga komponenter som kan bidra till en socialt hållbar lean-satsning är ett medvetet fokus på arbetsmiljö och hälsa i kombination med ett värdeskapande ledarskap som aktivt stödjer viktiga arbetsresurser och involverar medarbetare på ett medvetet sätt. QC 2019-05-08

Several studies have shown that the work environment affects company performance. The managers are seldom aware to which extent work environment problems affect productivity, quality of delivery and sick-leave in their organisation. The present literature study showed that improvements regarding physical ergonomics generally are shown to be cost-effective. The most beneficial way of working is through proactive measures interactively with employees. An efficient, systematic way of performing risk assessments and interventions reduce the need for a calculation method. This study identified propositions for properties of calculation methods. These propositions were : “Simplicity, high usability”, “Right content for the target group”, “High ability to measure risk”, “Focus on staff”, “Correct standardised values”, “Right focus” and “Optimal design”. Scania CV, a producer of trucks and buses, has developed a calculation model for cost-effectiveness of ergonomic interventions. Evaluation of this model with semi-structured interviews showed agreement regarding the need of a simplified calculation method, based on systematic risk assessments. Ett flertal studier har visat att arbetsmiljön påverkar företags effektivitet. Företagsledningen är sällan medveten om till vilken grad arbetsmiljö-problem påverkar produktivitet, kvalitet och sjukfrånvaro. Litteraturstudien i detta projekt visade att förbättringar inom ergonomi generellt sett är kostnadseffektiva. Det är mest gynnsamt att arbeta proaktivt samt participativt, det vill säga i samarbete med medarbetarna på den lokala avdelningen. Ett effektivt, systematiskt arbete med riskbedömningar och interventioner minskar behovet av att göra en beräkning av lönsamheten. Propositioner för egenskaper hos kostnadseffektiva beräkningsmetoder togs fram i denna studie. Dessa propositioner var; ” Enkelhet och god användbarhet”, ”rätt innehåll för målgruppen”, ”hög förmåga att bedöma risk”, ”personalfokus”, ”korrekta standardiserade värden”, ”rätt fokus” och ”optimal design”. Scania CV, producent av lastbilar och bussar, har tagit fram en beräkningsmodell för kostnadseffektivitet hos ergonomiska interventioner. Utvärderingen av denna modell med semistrukturerade intervjuer visar god samstämmighet i att det behövs enkla kalkylmetoder som grundar sig på systematiska riskbedömningar.

One of the key interesting features of collaborative robotic applications is the potential to lighten the worker workload and potentiate better working conditions. Moreover, developing robotics applications that meets ergonomic criteria is not always a straightforward endeavor. We propose a framework to guide the safe design and conceptualization of ergonomic-driven collaborative robotics workstations. A multi-disciplinary approach involving robotics and ergonomics and human factors shaped this methodology that leads future engineers through the digital transformation of a manual assembly (with repetitive and hazardous operations) to a hybrid workstation, focusing on the physical ergonomic improvement. The framework follows four main steps, (i) the characterization of the initial condition, (ii) the risk assessment, (iii) the definition of requirements for a safe design, and (iv) the conceptualization of the hybrid workstation with all the normative implications it entails. We applied this methodology to a case study in an assembly workstation of a furniture manufacturing company. Results show that the methodology adopted sets an adequate foundation to accelerate the design and development of new human-centered collaborative robotic workstations., This work has been supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European Social Fund (ESF).

A ergonomia é considerada uma das principais estratégias na prevenção de algumas doenças laborais, e é utilizada com o objetivo de identificar situações desfavoráveis durante a realização de atividades nos ambientes de trabalho, a fim de reduzir os riscos sem prejuízo do desempenho profissional. Nesse contexto, o Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência constantemente expõe os seus trabalhadores de enfermagem a essas circunstâncias, devido às especificidades dos serviços de assistência direta ao paciente fora do ambiente hospitalar, visando à manutenção da vida em situação de urgência e emergência antes da chegada a uma instituição de atendimento especializado. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar artigos científicos da área de saúde que abordam as condições de trabalho no SAMU e refletir acerca das melhorias no posto de trabalho do profissional de enfermagem no SAMU. Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica realizada nas bases de dados científicos Medline, Lilacs, Scielo e BVS. Para seleção dos artigos foram utilizados, os descritores: Ergonomia física, Enfermagem, SAMU e Atendimento Pré-hospitalar. Os resultados demonstraram que os trabalhadores de enfermagem estão expostos a inúmeros riscos ocupacionais causados por fatores químicos, físicos, mecânicos, biológicos, ergonômicos e psicossociais, é importante que os mesmos sejam informados e treinados para evitar problemas de saúde, e métodos de controle devem ser instituídos para prevenir acidentes. Em vista disso, conclui-se que este estudo é relevante para a literatura no tocante ao incentivo do conhecimento teórico-prático acerca da ergonomia no ambiente hospitalar.

La literatura experta es prolífica en métodos de análisis de riesgos en higiene y seguridad industrial Incluso en ergonomía física, aunque para este caso, el análisis es sobre las actividades del puesto de trabajo. En contraparte, los procedimientos para el análisis de riesgos en toxicología industrial, son muy escasos. Por ello, la toxicología ocupacional suele considerarse como eminentemente teórica. Objetivo: Dar a conocer un multidisciplinario procedimiento de análisis de riesgos en toxicología industrial. Incluye aspectos metodológicos de la propia toxicología industrial, higiene ocupacional y medicina del trabajo. Evalúa peligrosidad de sustancias mediante investigación documental y de campo. Métodos: Se halla estructurado en seis fases: a) Más tóxica (toxicología industrial), b) más frecuente (higiene industrial), c) más contacto (higiene industrial), d) más intenso (higiene industrial), e) más efectos (medicina del trabajo) y f) sumario (peligrosidad comparada de las sustancias evaluadas). El método jerarquiza un listado de sustancias evaluadas, de mayor a menor peligrosidad, considerando las tres disciplinas utilizadas. Conclusiones: El procedimiento hace indispensable la investigación de campo y aunque no propone estrategias de intervención para evitar o mitigar los efectos de los agentes químicos evaluados, si establece una plataforma de datos básicos que permite planificar las medidas a emplear, para controlar los agentes más peligrosos a la salud del personal ocupacionalmente expuesto.

Inumeros estudos cientificos comprovam que profissionais da odontologia se expoem diariamente a varios riscos associados a diversos agentes presentes em seu ambiente de trabalho. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisao bibliografica referente a pesquisas concernentes a atividade do cirurgiao-dentista no Brasil sob a egide da ergonomia. Utilizando como parâmetros os principios da Analise Ergonomica de Trabalho (AET), este estudo teve como foco tracar um panorama dos principais enfoques ergonomicos abordados pelos pesquisadores dentro de uma variada gama de problemas existentes nessa atividade. O estudo utilizou como metodo a revisao bibliografica de 48 trabalhos cientificos selecionados no periodo de julho a novembro de 2014. Os resultados demonstram que estudos relacionados aos dominios da ergonomia fisica focada na atividade do cirurgiao-dentista demonstram-se amplamente abordados. Sendo assim, este trabalho sugere novas frentes de pesquisas de âmbito cognitivo e organizacional.