Ergonomic Action Research Articles

Ergonomics in the Polish Business Environment

Theoretical background: Economic processes, the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving technology and aspects of demographic change including, above all, an “ageing population” remaining on the labor market have brought about dynamic changes in many canons, beliefs and areas of activity for businesses and economic organizations. In line with the idea of humanocentrism and nurturing human capital (its knowledge and experience), companies are looking for new organizational and technological solutions, whose main objective is to ensure safety and quality of work. One of the techniques/sciences that integrate the achievements of many sciences humanizing the working and living environment so that it is friendly to the psychophysical and social needs of the user is ergonomics. Ergonomics is the science that deals with the adaptation of technology (machines and tools) and working conditions to the specific needs of the user, and through its multidisciplinary and multifaceted nature has many meanings, roles and characteristics. Purpose of the article: The aim of this article is to answer questions related to the ergonomic activities of Polish enterprises and its application in practice. What does ergonomics give them? What is the source of inspiration in carrying out ergonomic activities? What is the purpose of conducting ergonomic activities? What is the essence and role of ergonomics in their business operations? Research methods: In this article, based on literature research conducted by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat), Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) and Statistics Poland (GUS), two authoritative questionnaires were created (under expert supervision) to investigate ergonomic activity in the Polish business arena. The first questionnaire was sent to 15,000 enterprises and searched for ergonomic activity in the business arena. The second questionnaire was sent to a narrower group of ergonomically active enterprises, which provided answers to 100 open and closed questions. The survey was conducted between 2020 and 2022. Main findings: All three research assumptions were successfully achieved. Businesses were found, investigated and conclusions reached. Selected results from the questionnaire survey are presented in tabular form. The surveyed respondents, representatives of various business sectors of micro, small, medium and large enterprises, unequivocally stated that, in their opinion, ergonomics helps to modernise machinery and technology. In addition, ergonomic activity brings them closer to complying with current standards and legislation, thus, having a positive impact on quality, health and safety aspects. Ergonomic activity also gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to increase productivity, efficiency and work performance. Seeking ergonomic inspiration also contributes to increasing the potential of the knowledge economy.

Practical Aspects of the Organization of Ergonomics Committees in the Context of the Quality of Ergonomic Activities Undertaken in Manufacturing Enterprises

Theoretical background: In order to systematize ergonomic activities in the enterprise, some of them decide to establish ergonomics committees whose task is to solve problems in this area and also to propose new, often innovative solutions for implementation. The structures of these units often include employees from different departments who have a different view of ergonomics depending on the position they hold. However, the organization of ergonomics committees can cause many problems due to the lack of top-down guidelines for their activities (each company must establish its own rules). In scientific research on the ergonomic aspects of projects, there is a tendency to look for factors that favor the diffusion of ergonomic issues in their implementation. One such factor may be the creation of an ergonomics committee to pursue ergonomic goals. Their activities are not described in detail in the literature (there are no practical guidelines for their functioning), which is why the topic is discussed in this article. Purpose of the article: The main goal of this article is to present propositions for actions that can be taken to systematize the functioning of the ergonomics committees and to link this task with the quality of ergonomics management in manufacturing enterprises. The aim of the article is also to describe, using a practical examples, various aspects of the operation of ergonomics committees and to indicate guidelines for their establishment and activities. Thus, the article aims to fill the research gap in the field of creating ergonomics committees. Research methods: The research used the interview method with participants of ergonomics committees from companies from various industries. The questions were asked in the following groups: organization and functioning of the ergonomics unit in the enterprise and assessment of the effects of the ergonomics team’s activities. The respondents were participants of the ergonomics committees, which was appointed at least 2 years earlier, the industries represented by the respondents are: automotive (2 companies) and furniture production. Data obtained in three selected enterprises (through informal interviews) where such committees operate, as well as a literature review in this area, were used to formulate these suggestions. The results of the undertaken research allowed for the identification of practical aspects of the functioning and organization of the ergonomics committees. This is an innovative area of research due to the fact that few scientific studies describe such units and guidelines for their practical implementation. Main findings: The main result of the undertaken research was to indicate the categories in which the activities of ergonomics committees should be considered and to provide practical guidelines for their activity. These guidelines are presented as structured areas for consideration when establishing an ergonomics committee: (1) establishing the principles of operation and reporting; (2) determining the composition of the committee; (3) determining the scope of activity of the committee; (4) providing appropriate training for committee’s representatives; (5) support for the committee’s activities. The most important conclusion from the undertaken research is the indication that each enterprise must plan the operation of the committee taking into account its internal conditions. The conclusions from the conducted research were supplemented with indications of directions for further research into the conditions for the functioning of ergonomics committees in manufacturing companies.

Assessment of ergonomic risks in car radio manufacturing using the Suzanne Rodgers and NIOSH criteria: a practical application

Companies from Industrial Pole of Manaus look for automation to reduce ergonomic risks, even if the degree of autonomy will depend on organizational technical projects, that is, we visualize two different strands to develop ergonomic actions with the objective of improving working conditions related to health and productivity. Many interests about ergonomics are due to legislation, to adapt the work conditions, it is necessary to measure the ergonomic risks through established criteria. The present study aims to verify the contribution of ergonomic risk assessment instruments in practice, even though the process is quite robust, using the NIOSH and Suzanne Rodgers Criteria we visualize several potential to mitigate the risks inside this manufacturing process. The research was conducted through a literature review, and case study, raising the operative mode of all the workstations, mainly considering the comments of the employees involved, since all the methods present had potential for application, but a standardization of the evaluation for data collection become the main factors in determining the risk factors related to musculoskeletal disorders. According to the knowledge acquired and accumulated during the data collection, observed the ergonomic thermometer of the manufacture, where the moderate risk was evident, even if it is a process with automation, but this study will guide to a more effective work in search of the reduction of the ergonomic risk within the organization by the multifunctional team, in the search for the ergonomically correct process.

Ergonomics management model based on good practices of large industrial companies: Structured elements through the fuzzy set theory.

Most organizations perceive the concept of ergonomics actions as a local tool used to improve workplace issues. Ergonomics however is not included in global management systems. The paradigm of ergonomics action in large organizations proposed by this study is that of management systems whose primary objective is the pressing need for continuous performance improvement, acquisition of excellence, and integration into all aspects of the business. The general objective of this work is to draw a frame presenting a model of ergonomics management based on good practices in managing this discipline in large industrial companies. In this study, we describe a strategy based on the fuzzy set theory to aggregate a group of good practices expressed by experienced ergonomists attached to large industrial companies for handling the lack of ergonomics in an organization. A set of good practices was compiled as a basis for application in ergonomics in large companies. This study shows that ergonomics should not be considered an isolated phenomenon but in a strategic, proactive, integrated, and perennial way as one of the management subjects.

Design of Ergonomic Adjustable Welding Work Facilities Using the DFMA Method

In this modern and sophisticated era, the manufacturing industry is developing both service industries and those that produce products with a variety of shapes and models to attract customers. For example, adjustable welding tables, motorbikes, cars, and others. Companies compete with each other in terms of price, product excellence, product innovation, and product convenience in order to find the right consumer market. DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) is a method of making products that aims to facilitate the manufacturing and assembly process where existing designs can be simplified and adapted to the capabilities of the manufacturing facility by considering technical aspects. The scope of design and ergonomics activities includes problems related to human needs, including interior design, furniture design, environmental equipment design, transportation equipment design, textile design, graphic design, etc. (Setiawan, M. S. 2022). At this stage, data collection is carried out, and the author needs to design an adjustable welding table. However, first recompose the table components and determine which are assembly parts and subassembly parts. Then identify each component. Product size and components, labor time, manufacturing data, and others to support research. 1. Analysis of Design Needs 2. Preliminary Design Sketching 3. Design Evaluation 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement. 1) In the previous product development, design 3 was completed with a design that is certainly more ergonomic than design 1, because design 3 has been adjusted to body size using ergonomic standards. 2) Based on the results of the development of this adjustable welding table product, option 3 is the one with the lowest cost because it has a smaller number of components and total assembly steps compared to options 1 and 2. The cost of option 1 is around Rp. 1,780,000; option 2 is around Rp. 1,515,000; and option 3 is around Rp. 870,000. The total assembly steps for option 1 are 40; option 2 is 34; and option 3 is 25. The number of components in options 1 and 2 is 10, while option 3 is only 9.

Design of a hydraulic trolley to reduce work risks in gram transfer activities at PT XYZ

Material Handling Equipment (MHE) is a tool used to facilitate worker activities when doing heavy work. Material Handling Equipment (MHE) is also very helpful for workers in reducing the workload caused by less ergonomic activities that can cause worker fatigue. At PT XYZ there is activity of transferring grams onto trucks with trolleys. In the activity of transferring gram ± 60 minutes for transferring gram onto the truck. The worker's posture when using the trolley has a REBA value of 12 which means Very High Risk. Therefore this study focuses on redesigning the trolley with consideration of REBA analysis using the Kansei Engineering approach. The results of the redesign get a REBA value of 3, it can be concluded that the proposed trolley is better than the existing trolley

Sustainable system of systems at work: unravelling (some of) the complexity of farmers’ transition to sustainability

To support sustainable development, several researchers in ergonomics propose a comprehensive approach to work situations or the systems in which they are embedded. This article empirically instantiates one of the proposed models – the Sustainable System of Systems (SSoS) model – in the case of the work of farmers engaged in agroecological transitions. It thus explores complexity regarding sustainability, and to highlight its contributions and limits. Based on a case study, our results illustrate how the macro, meso and micro levels of SSoS are finely articulated in workers’ concerns, decisions, and trajectories to sustainability. We enrich this approach with a diachronic method to support the actors involved in such transitions as they navigate the complexities of sustainable transition. Practitioner summary: The research proposes insights into how farmers manage their transition to more sustainable practices, by revealing the various systems influencing that transition. It highlights: (1) farmers’ development of a systemic and temporal approach to this transition, and the impacts that the different levels of the system have on one another; and (2) methodological issues related to the development of long-term ergonomic actions to support navigation and copying within the complexity of sustainable transition.

GAMBARAN UPAYA PENCEGAHAN LOW BACK PAIN PADA PERAWAT DI RSUD SELASIH PANGKALAN KERINCI

Low back pain is an uncomfortable condition on the lower back that comes with limitation of activity and pain when moving or mobilizing. One of the occupations with a high risk of suffering low back pain is nurse. This is related to ergonomic activities of nurse in hospitals. This study aims to describe the efforts of low back pain prevention in nurses. This study uses descriptive quantitative design and was conducted in Selasih Hospital, Pangkalan Kerinci. The sample of the study involves 53 respondents of nurses and uses stratified random sampling technique. Analysis in this study uses univariate analysis. The instrument in the study is a questionnaire based on back injury prevention by Kansas State University Research and Extension. The result shows that in the application of safe patient handling, assistive devices utilization, and stretching exercises, majority of the respondents often apply with percentages in consecutive are 58,5%, 67,9%, and 66,0%. The result also shows in the application of correct standing posture, correct sitting posture, and correct sleeping posture, majority of the respondents often apply with percentages in consecutive are 56,6%, 67,9%, and 54,7%. It could be concluded that efforts to prevent low back pain in nurses are often applied.

The Risk Assessment of Patient Handling in Hospitals of Northeast of Iran

The study aim was to determine the risk of Manual patient handling (MPH) in Shahroud public hospitals, Iran. A cross-sectional study was performed in Imam Hossein (IHospital) and Bahar (BHospital) with 21 wards. MPH risk assessment was performed using MAPO (Movement and Assistance of Hospital Patient) index. The ratio of operator to disabled patient (NC/Op and PC/Op), lifting, minor aid, wheelchair, environmental, and training factor are evaluated to calculate MAPO index. Among studied wards 57%, 33.3%, and 9.5%, respectively, were in the high, moderate, and low risk exposure level. The maximum MAPO score were 16.7 in CCU of IHospital. Emergency ward of BHospital had the highest score of 9.8 and PC/OP ratio 17.5. The most risk factors were minor aid (90.5%), lifting factor (71.4%), and PC/OP (66.7%). Immediate ergonomic action is recommended.

Perception of Computer Work Health Impact among Higher Education Students

Beyond professional and IT competencies, sufficient computer work requires adequate workplace design. Applying ergonomic aspects in design and utilization aims to establish and maintain the man-machine system while considering long term impacts. However, the human body is quite adaptive to health-disadvantaged work postures, and it may be adversely affected, which leads to a decrease in work performance as well. This study investigates the relationship between computer use habits, workplace design, work environment, and perceived health impacts among higher education students. The study aims to find the critical factors of computer work for establishing ergonomic development actions. The results are based on the responses of 711 business students from various higher education institutions in Hungary, using a voluntary online survey. Cross-tabulation, ANOVA, and correlation analyses could show that exposition to the risk by workload and wrong workplace selection go together with more health problems. The results show that portable computers are preferred, sitting posture is usually wrongly chosen, tiredness in the upper body is common, but students rated their workplace design rather good. The main experience of the study is that targeted actions are required for protecting the health and improve efficiency in performing computer activities.

TEMPLATE FORM FOR RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL AND ERGONOMIC REPORTS

Industrial progress and the consequent increase in job offers in various areas also provide risks related to the performance of functions and the consequent outcome in occupational accidents and illnesses. In most productive sectors, workers face ergonomic problems that generate high risks. To contain these damages, organizations invest in research that generates a report and planning of ergonomic actions. However, there is still no standard for ergonomic reports, which leaves doubts as to the reliability of these documents to current legislation. The objective of this work is the creation of a form, which allows to evaluate in the form of a checklist the quality of the content and the composition of the documents analysis to meet the Regulatory Standard 17 for practical application in companies. The checklist presented technical feasibility of application through the tests performed, the results showed that 38% compliance with NR 17 (Regulatory Norm) with an average of 15 assertiveness points for the requirements of the standard. The method applied showed that 100% of the sample of the documents elaborated present absence of parameters and legal technical criteria in its structure. The checklist allowed the importance of the contents of an ergonomic report to be checked quickly and effectively.

Non-vehicle commuting in Italy: need for ergonomic action for women's lower limbs?

IntroductionThe aim of this paper is to examine gender differences in the occurrence of accidents among workers while walking to or from their workplace (non-vehicle commuting accidents). We have previously found that the lower limb is more often injured at work among women, compared to men, so the paper concentrates on lower limb injuries. MethodsUsing the records of the National Institute for Insurance against Injuries at Work (INAIL), we focused on the non-vehicle commuting accidents of women and men recognized as work-related for the period 2013-2017. In particular, we examined the gender difference by work sector and type of trauma suffered with particular attention to lower limb injuries. ResultsThe rate of non-vehicle commuting accidents (n. 60,936) among women was significantly higher than for men (1.29‰ vs 0.40‰ men, p < 0.001) for the period studied. Lower limb injuries (50.5% for women and 43.7% for men, p < 0.001) constituted the large majority of these injuries. In particular, dislocation of the ankle (78% for women vs 65.5% for men, p < 0.001), bruise of the knee (71.2% for women vs 54.9% for men, p < 0.001) and fracture of the foot (41% for women vs 33.6% for men, p < 0.001) were all significantly higher among women. The work sectors with higher injury rates were: Transport and Warehouse, Public Administration, Health and care services and Wholesale and retail trade. This result may be due to wear and tear from conditions at work. The women injured were on the average, a decade older than men (50-59 vs 40-49 years old). ConclusionsNon-vehicle commuting represents an important, albeight neglected, preventable risk for women workers, causing lower limb trauma particularly at the ankle, the foot and the knee. These areas may be particularly injure-prone among women in specific sectors, due to the work environment. Effective prevention of these injuries requires gender-oriented ergonomic actions at work and in the commuting environment.

Penerapan Metode Job Safety Analysis and Risk Score untuk Meningkatkan Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja pada Departemen Printing, Sewing dan Assembly PT. PAI, Bandung (Suatu Pendekatan Participatory Ergonomic)

The footwear industry problem lies in the working environment and facilities that do not meet the standards for the health and safety of workers, necessary improvements must be made. This research was used the questionnaire and observation to evaluate the activities of the work process. The EPPEQ questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of ergonomic participation in the activities examined. In addition the questionnaire, this research was also conducted observation in order to measure the risk level of the workplace and for improving the work system using PE (participatory ergonomics). The results showed that 3 workstations have high-risk levels, 4 stations have medium risk levels and 2 workstations have a low level of risk. The results of workers participation level using the EPPEQ ergonomics questionnaire showed that the level of ergonomic activity was fairly high, but based on the linear regression, the level of ergonomic activity does not differ in terms of the footwear workshop facilities, the work environment or the safety climate. Conclusion, there were 3 workstations with a high-risk score that should be immediately improved (the Glueing workstations, the Primering workstations, and the Leaching workstations). Specific improvements that need to be made are: First, for the Glueing workstation they include the use of APD and the addition of an air suction device, for the Primering workstation the use of APD and a Gleco Trap for liquid storage; Second, for the Laundering workstation the use of APD, and for the Emboss workstation the improvement consists of making additional buttons.

Improvement of the Ergonomic Quality of the Work Process

Abstract The improvement of production processes is currently one of the key elements of the company's competitiveness. In the pursuit of profit, the rationality of streamlined processes is not always taken into account, i.e. that both process needs and these of employees should be considered. Caring of the comfort of work, of adjusting the workplace to the employee is the main goal of ergonomic activity. On the level of implementation of ergonomic demands depends not only the quality and modernity of the products, but also the ergonomics of the workstation and the production process, forming the basis for better quality and more efficient work. The Improvement of the quality of the ergonomic workplace is possible on the basis of a properly conducted assessment, using a variety of tools. This article presents the evaluation and ergonomic analysis of the work process at four production workplaces, and then indicates the directions of changes. The analysis included elements of physical effort: energy expenditure, static load and traffic monotype. Traditional tools were used, such as OWAS, REBA, and also the use of quality assessment tools (Ishikawa diagram, Pareto-Lorenzo diagram) was proposed in order to suggest solutions to improve the ergonomic quality of the workstations under analysis.

Infrasound Generated by Ambulances- Sources, Levels, Consequences and Ergonomic Actions

Infrasound Generated by Ambulances- Sources, Levels, Consequences and Ergonomic Actions

Proposta de ações ergonômicas para mitigar perdas com absenteísmo e presenteísmo

The present work had as objective to establish a method of ergonomic management of absenteeism / presenteism. Mapping of the pertinent scientific works published between the years 2000 and 2016, and the analysis of documents provided by the company studied, were carried out. The methodology chosen in this scientific research was the case study. This is an applied research, which takes the form of an exploratory, qualitative and non-experimental research. With regard to technical procedures, this is a bibliographical, documentary and participant research. After the analysis of the documents and the comparison of data, it was noticeable that there is no precision about the volume of absenteeism / presenteism, however, in the analysis, surprising data were verified. These data reveal that the repercussion of presenteeism may be more present than previously thought and may result in chronicity of the picture and the emergence of prolonged absenteeism. The relationship between absenteeism / presentism and management mode, problems in planning and production scheduling, and the strong influence of ergonomic risk agents were also demonstrated, leading to the majority of sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders. According to the information obtained in the bibliographic review, it was sought to align control measures compatible with the mentioned issues. For the analyzed company, which will serve as an alert and model for others, it will be of great importance to implement a program of management of absenteeism and presentism based on ergonomic methods and focused on deepening research on worker activity, its operative mode and The various factors that influence the quality of life at work. The approach should then be Macroergonomic and participatory, ie, involve all influential factors on the worker and their production capacity, and involves it directly in the process of control. Therefore the importance of the epidemiological foundation and the deepening of organizational issues based on the precise analysis of the activity. Ergonomic actions need to be inserted in the strategic scenario and integrated into a management practice of absenteeism and presenteism. It is believed that the study of the development of the ergonomics management model with actions to Mitigate Losses with Absenteeism and Presentism can be continued, addressing other aspects and going deeper into other variables.

Development of the Ergonomic Activity Sampling (EAS) Method to Analyse Video - Documented Work Processes with Activity Sampling

Development of the Ergonomic Activity Sampling (EAS) Method to Analyse Video - Documented Work Processes with Activity Sampling

Time control, job execution and information access: work/family strategies in the context of low-wage work and 24/7 schedules

ABSTRACTLow-wage work and rigid atypical schedules reduce workers’ leeway to manage their work/family interface, resulting in high levels of work/family conflict and in health issues. Faced with these inflexible conditions and a lack of formal work/family measures, workers rely primarily on informal practices where relational dynamics with coworkers and managers play an important role. However, low-wage workers with little schedule control are underrepresented in the work/family literature and little is known about how they deal with work/family issues in their workplaces. What role is played by workplace relationships in strategies used by workers to manage their work/family interface in the face of imposed, extended and variable schedules? Using an interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological framework combining communication and ergonomic work activity analysis, we analyzed data collected through direct and participant observations, semi-structured interviews, interaction diaries and administrative documents. This community-initiated ethnographic case study helped us identify three main types of work/family strategies related to (1) work time; (2) work execution and (3) access to relational resources. We also discuss how these strategies are embedded in the work activity and relational context, including gender dynamics, and are entangled with individual, team and organizational considerations. Some potential solutions are presented.

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of participatory ergonomic low back pain training on workplace improvement.

This study aimed to determine the effects of participatory workplace improvement (PWI) -based provision of ergonomic training and ergonomic action checklists (ACLs) to on-site managers on workplace improvement activities for low back pain (LBP). A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at a manufacturing company in Japan. Teams entered in the study were randomly assigned to a control and an intervention group. A total of three interventional training sessions on methods of ergonomics were provided to on-site managers in the intervention group, with 1-month intervals between sessions. Ergonomic ACLs were provided at the same time. After completion of the training sessions, each team then provided a report of improvements each month for the next 10 months. Two people in charge of safety and health chose two major objectives of the implemented activities from the five categories. The reported number of improvements was analyzed using a Poisson regression model. In the intervention group, although the incident rate ratio (IRR) of PWIs in countermeasures for the LBP category was significantly elevated after the training sessions, the IRR of improvements decreased over time during the 10-month follow-up period. No significant difference was observed in the IRR of total PWIs in either the control or intervention group. PWI-based provision of ergonomic training sessions and ergonomics ACLs to on-site managers was shown to be effective for workplace improvement activities targeted at LBP. However, because the effects decrease over time, efforts should be made to maintain the effects through regular interventions.

A8(S)-5 多業種の参加型改善における人間工学アクションチェックリストの活用

A8(S)-5 多業種の参加型改善における人間工学アクションチェックリストの活用