Ergonomic Risk Research Articles

A Product Evaluation of Augmented Reality Equipment Coupled to Diagnostic Medical Sonography: A Potential Equipment and Ergonomic Innovation

Objective: The aim of this product evaluation was to investigate the workflow and occupational health benefits of implementing augmented reality (AR) technology (MediView XR Inc, Cleveland, OH) paired with a portable ultrasound equipment system. Materials and Method: A diverse sample of sonography users was consented and ranged in experience levels. They were asked to complete a video training session, a hands-on demonstration, and remote instruction while using the augmented reality ultrasound (AR US) system. The duration of participants’ tasks was assessed during the use of both AR US and the 2-dimensional ultrasound (2D US) system. Participants’ postures and positions were evaluated using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), which assessed ergonomic risk factors, linked to body position and muscle usage. Participants also completed the System Usability Scale (SUS). Finally, participants were invited to complete a qualitative interview session, regarding the use of the AR US system. Results: A total of 20 participants provided data after using both the AR US and 2D US systems. The assessment data revealed positive SUS scores, which reflected favorably on both the product, education, and the training provided. The time spent on simulated work (20 minutes), with both imaging systems, remained consistent. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool (RULA) scores for the cohort indicated a lower (better) median upper body score when using the AR US system. The cohort also had a statistically significant lower median subscore for the neck, trunk, and legs, compared with 2D US ( p < 0.00). Conclusion: Although larger studies are necessary to validate these findings, this cohort identified several opportunities for integrating the AR US system. Preliminary evidence suggests that an AR US system may offer occupational health benefits, as part of the imaging workflow.

Investigating basics and principles of ergonomics in the sheet

The development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders depends on the pattern of work and does not belong to a particular industry or occupation. One way to assess the amount of stress and tension on the body is to evaluate posture. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in cellulose industry workers. Study, 22 stations were examined using RULA method, of which 7 stations were at level 2, 14 stations were at level 3 and one station was at level 4. 14 stations were surveyed using REBA method, among which, 2 stations were at level 1 and 12 stations were at level 2. Also, 38 stations were surveyed using the KIM-LHC method, of which 26 stations were at level 2 and 12 stations were at level 3. Statistical studies showed that there was a significant relationship between low back pain and work experience at the level of 0.01. The prevalence of shoulder, arm, back and leg pain was significantly different between men and women at the level of 0.01. There was also a significant relationship between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the lumbar and shoulder area over a period of time and the level of risk of work postures. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and risk levels calculated by RULA and KIM methods were high in the subjects, but the risk level calculated by REBA method was low and moderate. Therefore, any program to prevent the occurrence of these disorders in the workplace and control the relevant ergonomic risk factors and take corrective measures to improve working conditions at all stages of production, is necessary.

Risk Assessment of Rubber Tapping A Case Study: Pa Phayom District, Phatthalung Province, Thailand

This cross-sectional study investigated the risks of rubber tapping among rubber farmers in Pa Phayom District, Phatthalung Province, Thailand, utilizing the EART (Ergonomic Risk Assessment Tool for Rubber Tappers) and RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) approaches. Purposive sampling was utilized to randomly choose 154 rubber farmers, aged 20 to 60 to serve as the sample group. They met the inclusion requirements of being in excellent health, being able to read and write Thai fluently, not having a history of back discomfort or injuries, and having at least a year of experience tapping rubber. The results showed that the mean RTL value was 415, SD = 182, while the mean RTI value was 1.77, SD = 1.35, with Min = 0.31 and Max = 8.64. The RULA analysis gave scores ranging from 2 to 7 as acceptable risk to high risk, suggesting that rubber farmers should improve their working posture or reduce factors that affect risk to ensure better health outcomes. It was discovered that the EART and RULA can be used as an assessment method to identify ergonomic risk problems in rubber tapping operation. It was suggested that the rubber tapping operation needs to be improved, re-evaluated, and implemented immediately.

Ergonomic assessment of mid-air interaction and device-assisted interactions under vibration environments based on task performance, muscle activity and user perceptions

Mid-air interaction has been increasingly introduced for human-computer interaction (HCI) tasks in vibration environments, but it has seldom been assessed from ergonomic aspects, especially in comparison with device-assisted interactions. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive ergonomic assessment of mid-air interaction and device-assisted interactions under vibration environments based on task performance, muscle activity in the upper limb and shoulder, and user perceptions. A within-subjects design was implemented in this study, where participants were required to perform basic pointing and dragging tasks with four interaction modes (i.e., one mid-air interaction and three device-assisted interactions) under static, low and high vibration environments, respectively. Both small and large target sizes were examined. Muscle activity was recorded with surface electromyography for five muscles from participants’ dominant arm. Results showed that mid-air interaction yielded longer task completion time, more errors, higher perceived workload, lower usability ratings, and larger muscle activities in the forearm, upper arm and shoulder compared with device-assisted interactions. There were significant interaction effects between vibration and interaction mode. Specifically, compared with device-assisted interactions, mid-air interaction was associated with greater susceptibility to the detrimental effects of vibration (poorer task performance and larger muscle activities). Target size significantly affected task performance, but the effects varied by tasks. Overall, our results suggest that mid-air interaction presents a higher ergonomic risk compared with device-assisted interactions, especially in vibration environments. These findings provide implications for better use, configuration and ergonomic assessment of interaction tools in vibration environments, and are useful in developing evidence-based interventions to control ergonomic risk in HCI tasks in vibration environments.

The relationship between core endurance, physical activity level and balance in office workers

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between core endurance tests and physical activity level, balance, ergonomics and pain in office workers. Methods. The study included 57 office workers who had been employed for at least 1 year. Core endurance was assessed using McGill core endurance tests. Physical activity, balance, pain and ergonomic risks were evaluated with the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), timed up and go (TUG), visual analog scale (VAS) and rapid office strain assessment (ROSA), respectively. Results. A significant correlation was found between balance and static core endurance tests. However, no significant correlation was found between ergonomics and physical activity level and core endurance tests except for trunk extension and prone bridge tests. In addition, there was a significant difference in core endurance tests for patients with and without regular exercise habits. Waist circumference and hip circumference measurements were found to be significantly negatively associated with static core tests. Conclusion. Core endurance was found to be associated with exercise habits, balance, hip and waist circumference and ergonomics in office workers. Improving core endurance may be beneficial for preventing musculoskeletal risks in office workers.

Fuzzy expert system for ergonomic assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem under uncertainty

ABSTRACT In the era of Industry 5.0, there is a significant gap in addressing ergonomic risks and imprecise task times in manufacturing systems. This study aims to fill this gap by extending the ergonomic assembly line balancing problem with worker assignment. It employs a novel two-phase framework combining a constructive heuristic for feasibility with a unique ergonomic assessment method developed through a fuzzy expert system. Validated using 96 synthesized numerical instances, the proposed method addresses the scarcity of fuzzy and ergonomic-oriented data in benchmarks. Then, computational results are thoroughly analyzed to evaluate the method’s performance and identify potential areas for further research. The proposed optimization method provided high-quality solutions with a majority demonstrating low ergonomic risk and high worker safety, contributing to an overall improvement in ergonomic conditions. The integration of fuzzy expert system and advanced optimization techniques yields a robust framework for achieving a safer and more efficient manufacturing environment.

Assessment of work safety analysis performance among rural hospitals of Chirumanzu district of midlands province, Zimbabwe

Ensuring workplace safety for healthcare workers is vital considering the important role they play in various societies which is to save life. Healthcare workers face different risks when performing tasks in various departments within hospitals, hence there is a need to assess work safety analysis procedures among healthcare workers. As a result, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of work safety analysis procedures among healthcare workers at Muvonde and Driefontein Sanatorium rural hospitals in Chirumanzu district. The research applied the descriptive cross-sectional design, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A questionnaire with both closed and open ended questionnaire was used for data collection among 109 healthcare workers at Muvonde hospital and 68 healthcare workers at Driefontein Sanatorium hospital. Secondary data sources, observations and interviews were also included as data collection methods. Quantitative data collected during the study was analysed using SPSS version 25. Braun and Clarke (2006)’s six phase framework was applied for qualitative data analysis. Ethical approval form was obtained from the District Medical Officer and Midlands State University. Findings of the study indicated that risks identified at Muvonde and Driefontein Sanatorium rural hospitals are classified as ergonomic, physical, chemical, psychosocial and biological risks. Respondents specified that these risks occur as a result of inadequate equipment, poor training, negative safety behaviour, poor management and pressure due to high workload. Safety inspection, safety workshops and monitoring of worker’s safety behaviour were mentioned as measures to manage risks. However, the strengths and weaknesses of the current safety procedures need to be assessed to highlight areas for improvement to reduce occurrence of risks within the hospitals.

APPLICATION OF THE QEC (QUICK EXPOSURE CHECK) ON THE ERGONOMIC RISKS ASSESSMENT IN THE INDUSTRIAL FIELD

One of ergonomic problems that often occur in the work place, relating to human strength and endurance while doing the job (biomechanics), is musculoskeletal or muscular strain. For the present study 5 respondents who were factory workers were selected and QEC scale was used for the assessment of the ergonomic risk factors of the respondents. These problems were often occurred by workers who did repetitive movements continuously. The observation of the activities performed by a worker, in order to identify the ergonomic risk factors, lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, this also depending on the complexity of the activity, the anthropometric data of the workers and their experience in performing these activities correctly. Therefore, the application of QEC methodology is not complicated at all, but it requires increased attention, good organization and a good understanding of ergonomic risk factors.

Evaluation of a Passive Upper Extremity Exoskeleton on Reducing Discomfort and Workload in Cardiac Sonographers

Cardiac sonographers are frequently exposed to ergonomic risks such as postural stress and high levels of physical exertion while performing scanning tasks, contributing to work-related pain, and discomfort among cardiac sonographers. Passive exoskeletons are a potential ergonomic intervention with the potential to mitigate some of the risks associated with scanning. This study examined the effectiveness of a passive upper body exoskeleton in reducing the levels of work-related pain, discomfort, and workload in cardiac sonographers while performing transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE). Twelve cardiac sonographers were asked to use the HAPO FRONT exoskeleton while performing TTEs during a full workday. Participants were asked to rate their body part discomfort and workload throughout the day, both with and without the exoskeleton. The exoskeleton did not significantly decrease discomfort or workload associated with performing TTEs, except for a slight reduction in the discomfort at the left hand/wrist. This result indicates that the HAPO FRONT was not effective or appropriate for use by cardiac sonographers. Future development and study of purpose-designed exoskeletons for healthcare applications may provide greater benefits to cardiac sonographers.

Monitoring model for enhancing adaptability in human–robot collaborative mold assembly

ABSTRACT Molds are assembled manually due to their inherent characteristics of low-volume and high-variety production. Given the ergonomic risks caused by heavy-handling and repetitive tasks and diverse requirements in mold assembly, collaborative robots offer adaptability and ease of reconfiguration, making them potential solutions to these challenges. This study introduces a monitoring model for human–robot collaborative mold assembly using two cobots. This model encompasses manual progress monitoring for cobot execution and position-sharing modules. Manual task actions are detected using the You-Only-Look-Once-v8 Nano model. Detected actions are subsequently classified into different states. These identified states are relayed to the cobots, enabling early execution and controlling the cobots’ entry into the assembly area. This study proposes a position-sharing approach to prevent collisions by receiving coordinates via Modbus between the two cobots. Most existing research has developed separate models for action and part recognition, excluding the utilization of recognition results to enable early execution. This study contributes to a novel model for monitoring manual progress to enable early execution of subsequent tasks and facilitate communication through position sharing during human–robot collaborative mold assembly tasks. The results show that assembly time and the risk of collisions between cobots can be reduced in human–robot collaborative mold assembly tasks.

Clinical applications of handheld robotic devices in general surgery: A mini-review

Laparoscopy has evolved the surgical field around the world. Although this has defined minimally invasive surgery, there are limitations. Lack of articulating instrument tips restricts their use in difficult cases. Ergonomic challenges risk occupational injury. Although there is now an increasing use of robotics, these platforms have significant costs. Articulating laparoscopic instruments, termed handheld robotic devices, pose a potential solution to this problem. We aimed to perform a mini-review the clinical applications of handheld robotic devices in general surgery. A limited literature search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were performed to identify handheld robotic devices with clinical trial data. Primary outcomes were operative time, complication rate, and conversion to laparoscopy or open surgery. Three devices were identified. Noninferiority was demonstrated with respect to laparoscopic instruments in terms of operative time and postoperative complications. This is despite the devices being in their relative infancy with learning curves. Subgroup analysis in a comparative trial with robotics for inguinal hernia repair revealed no significant difference in operative duration during unilateral flap closure. There were no cases requiring conversion. The need for cost-effective robotic devices is clear. Handheld robotic devices have been engineered to provide articulating instrument tips while using existing laparoscopic equipment. They have been demonstrated to be safe and effective. The amalgamation of precision-enhancing robotic instruments with the fiscal advantages of laparoscopic tools has the potential to fundamentally alter the field of minimally invasive surgery.

Determining the effect of environmental factors, work postures and mental workload on musculoskeletal disorders in rescue workers and accidents of one of the water and sewage companies in Iran.

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most important problems faced by ergonomists today. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of weather conditions, working conditions and mental workload on musculoskeletal disorders of rescuers and water and sewage company accidents in hot and cold seasons. The present study was a longitudinal study that was performed on all employees of rescue and disaster teams of Shiraz Water and Sewerage Company in Iran (184 people) by census. Demographic and Nordic questionnaires, NASA Load Index (NASA-TLX), work environment assessment with temperature screening checklist and workplace ergonomic risk factor (WERA) assessment method were performed by the researcher. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 software and parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. The results showed that the highest and lowest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders related to knee and back in winter and thigh in summer with prevalence of 57.1, 55.4 and 6%. The comparison of exposure to heat stress factors in summer and winter seasons showed that the temperature factors and work clothes of the workers in both seasons are in worse conditions than other factors (P < 0968). The results of the mental workload of people in two seasons showed that the highest and lowest mental workload is related to physical changes in the winter season and frustration in the summer season, and this relationship was significant (P < 0.001). Using multiple logistic regression model, the potential risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries including age, height, BMI, level of education and work experience in both hot and cold seasons were compared. The results showed that in summer, work experience (OR = 1.16 (1.06-1.28.)) and height (OR = 1.03(0.98-1.08) had a direct effect on the prevalence of pain and discomfort arranged in the back areas. One year of increase in work experience significantly increases the chance of a disorder in the back by 16% and a one centimeter increase in height increases the chance of a disorder in the lumbar region by 3%, although this relationship is significant. It is recommended that suitable solutions such as using appropriate and up-to-date mechanical tools, reducing activity time, increasing rest time, increasing the number of personnel in order to reduce mental workload, using work clothes suitable for the season and type of work, and ergonomics training for workers are on the agenda of company officials. Water and sewage should be placed.

Relationship between Improper Working Posture among Maintenance Workers using Different Assessment Methods

The purpose of ergonomics is to take advantage of human ability limits in order to implement an efficient and comfortable interface to use. When the worker is performing an improper posture, it may cause the worker to feel discomfort when doing the work and may lead to getting musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to past research, there is a relationship between improper working posture and MSDs. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between improper working posture at maintenance workers using different assessment methods. CMDQ, RULA, REBA and ENBORA were conducted among 34 maintenance workers around Parit Raja, Johor. The selected maintenance workers were interviewed via CMDQ and RULA, REBA and ENBORA were conducted based on their working posture at the time of the interview. The data were analysed and compared based on similar observed body parts. Among the respondents, lower back discomfort was most prevalent (70.59%), followed by right and left shoulders (58.82% and 55.88%, respectively) as well as right wrist (29.47%) and left wrist (55.88%). The mean RULA Score for the respondents was 4.76 (SD=1.37), which indicates a medium risk level. The mean REBA Score for the respondents was 7.41 (SD=2.26), which indicates the average REBA risk level was high. The mean value for the ENBORA Final Score was 33.56 (SD=11.98), indicating that the respondents overall have a negligible risk of getting MSD based on their working posture. The body parts compared in CMDQ, RULA, REBA and ENBORA were neck, upper arm, lower arm, wrist and trunk. Based on findings, ENBORA has the highest Pearson Correlation to CMDQ followed by RULA and REBA. In conclusion, the maintenance workers were found to be exposed to ergonomic risk factors (ERFs) and ergonomics improvement were needed in future.

Ergonomic Risk Factor Priority Evaluation of Hand Fabric Painters based on Hybrid ISM– Spherical Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach

Ergonomic Risk Factor Priority Evaluation of Hand Fabric Painters based on Hybrid ISM– Spherical Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach

Modeling the Impact of Ergonomic Interventions and Occupational Factors on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Neck of Office Workers with Machine Learning Methods.

Modeling with methods based on machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence can help understand the complex relationships between ergonomic risk factors and employee health. The aim of this study was to use ML methods to estimate the effect of individual factors, ergonomic interventions, quality of work life (QWL), and productivity on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the neck area of office workers. Study Design: A quasi-randomized control trial. To measure the impact of interventions, modeling with the ML method was performed on the data of a quasi-randomized control trial. The data included the information of 311 office workers (aged 32.04±5.34). Method neighborhood component analysis (NCA) was used to measure the effect of factors affecting WMSDs, and then support vector machines (SVMs) and decision tree algorithms were utilized to classify the decrease or increase of disorders. Three classified models were designed according to the follow-up times of the field study, with accuracies of 86.5%, 80.3%, and 69%, respectively. These models could estimate most influencer factors with acceptable sensitivity. The main factors included age, body mass index, interventions, QWL, some subscales, and several psychological factors. Models predicted that relative absenteeism and presenteeism were not related to the outputs. In this study, the focus was on disorders in the neck, and the obtained models revealed that individual and management interventions can be the main factors in reducing WMSDs in the neck. Modeling with ML methods can create a new understanding of the relationships between variables affecting WMSDs.

SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW: LEAN ERGONOMICS ANALYSIS IN SMALL &amp; MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) MANUFACTURING SECTOR

Ergonomics has emerged as a significant workplace issue, negatively impacting finances due to worker absence and reduced productivity. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are particularly prone to occupational accidents, contributing to over 80% of such incidents. This review delves into the perspective of lean ergonomics within SMEs. The study followed a structured review protocol,formulating research questions and systematically searching the Scopus and WoS databases. The findings reveal several key points: (1) SMEs commonly implement ergonomics principles addressing awkward postures, repetitive movements, manual material handling, hand-wrist postures, excessive reach, grip strength, and prolonged standing; (2) Lean principles such as SMED, 5S, standardized work,TPM, VSM, and kanban positively impact ergonomics; (3) Various ergonomics assessment methods, including REBA, RULA, HFE, JSI, KIM, OCRA, and Shoaf’s model, are recommended for future research and practical application; (4) Ergonomics can underpin lean transformation efforts, with Lean Manufacturing (LM) contributing to reduced ergonomics risks. However, the review identified alimitation in the scope of databases used (WoS and Scopus), suggesting that expanding the range of databases and research keywords could improve future article searches. The study's primary focus serves as a reference point for future researchers and manufacturers interested in lean ergonomics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to enhance worker safety and productivity through ergonomic and lean practices.

Multi-objective sustainable flexible job shop scheduling problem: Balancing economic, ecological, and social criteria

Industry 5.0 makes it imperative to reevaluate the manner of using resources in manufacturing systems to ensure sustainability. In this context, scheduling problems are encountering new environmental and human-related challenges, and the concept of sustainable scheduling has gained importance, aiming to balance economic, environmental, and human factors. In this paper, we propose two multi-objective mathematical models to simultaneously address these three factors as objective functions. In the first model, we consider the operator safety while using the Occupational Repetitive Action (OCRA) index to assess ergonomic risks related to task execution. The second model includes workers’ preferences in terms of machines, shifts and task variety. The objective is to improve the general well-being of workers by proposing a schedule that respects as much as possible their preferences. Both models integrate the travel time of workers and products between machines. To solve these NP-hard scheduling problems, we use the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms II and III (NSGA-II and NSGA-III), enhanced with a Q-learning strategy for parameter selection and a variable neighborhood search based on reinforcement learning. The obtained results provide a comprehensive analysis of the interactions between these criteria, demonstrating the capability of such approach to achieve a favorable balance between multiple objectives while addressing the new challenges of production scheduling in Industry 5.0 context.

Comparison of ten widely-use ergonomic risk assessment tools based on evaluations of various manual materials handling activities

Comparison of ten widely-use ergonomic risk assessment tools based on evaluations of various manual materials handling activities

Evaluation of Ergonomic Risks Factors in a Dental Center Located in the Historical Center of the City of Riobamba

The present investigation focuses on ergonomic study of different activities, belonging to the Mipymes group, carried out in a dental office in the city of Riobamba. Analysis carried out within the research project ”Strengthen the preventive management of occupational health and safety within the MSMEs of the Riobamba canton.” The tasks performed by dental professionals require static postures, high workloads, and ergonomics. Therefore, the physical and postural activities carried out by dentists in their different specialties are evaluated, which leads to an ergonomic study of the dental workplace, using the REBA methodology, which evaluates the worker’s posture, identifying incorrect body positions. The results obtained show, in effect, that the postures of those who work in the dental area are inadequate, causing short and long-term health conditions. Finally, a set of corrections and a preventive plan are proposed to reduce ergonomic risks. Keywords: safety, ergonomics, dentistry, REBA, MIPYMES. Resumen En la presente investigación se muestra un estudio ergonómico de las diferentes actividades que se realizan en un consultorio odontológico, perteneciente al grupo de las Mipymes de la ciudad de Riobamba. Análisis efectuado dentro del proyecto de investigación “Fortalecer la gestión preventiva de la seguridad y salud ocupacional dentro de las MIPYMES del cantón Riobamba”. Las tareas realizadas por los profesionales dentales requieren posturas estáticas, carga laboral y ergonómica alta. Por tanto, se evalúan las actividades físicas y posturales que realizan los odontólogos en sus diferentes especialidades, que conlleva a un estudio ergonómico del puesto de trabajo odontológico, utilizando la metodología REBA, misma que evalúa la postura del trabajador, identificando posiciones corporales incorrectas. Los resultados obtenidos muestran en efecto, que las posturas de quienes laboran en el área dental son inadecuadas provocando afecciones a corto y largo plazo de su salud, finalmente se propone un conjunto de correcciones y un plan preventivo para disminuir los riesgos ergonómicos. Palabras Clave: seguridad, ergonomía, odontología, REBA, MIPYMES.

Promoting safety of underground machinery operators through participatory ergonomics and fuzzy model analysis to foster sustainable mining practices

One of the most vital parameters to achieve sustainability in any field is encompassing the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of the workers. In mining industry where heavy earth moving machineries are largely employed, ergonomic hazards turn out to be significant OHS hazards causing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the operators. Nevertheless, the Indian mining industry lacks a comprehensive technique of OHS risk assessment, especially for ergonomic hazards that cause MSDs. This research appraises ergonomic hazards and develops Fuzzy Musculoskeletal-disorders Index (FMI) model to evaluate ergonomic-related MSDs. Work process and work tool ergonomic risk factors were identified through literature review and directives recommended by experts. Work posture was evaluated using RULA. The data-collecting approach was implemented using participatory ergonomic and design science principles. The FMI results show average MSDs score of 3.69, indicating high to extremely high risk. Surface plots show that combined work tool and work process was the most sensitive factors to MSDs risk compared to other two combinations. A two-sample t-test validated the FMI. The findings should help safety experts and managers develop effective OHS management plans and programmes for the sustainability of Indian mining industry.