Ergonomic Risk Research Articles

Importance of ergonomics applied to dentistry in clinical students of the dental career of the University of Chimborazo

Introduction: the implementation of ergonomic principles in the field of dentistry is beneficial for the personnel, assistants and patients, since it helps to facilitate an efficient and well-coordinated way of working, with costs that are adjusted to the objectives and needs of each of the parties involved. Objective: to identify the main ergonomic risk factors of the students of the Dental Care Unit of the UNACH.Method: this is a cross-sectional study, with a descriptive type of research, with a quantitative-qualitative approach and observational modality on the part of the researcher. The population is 120 students of the dental care unit of clinics I and IV of the National University of Chimborazo in the period October - March 2019 to 2020. We proceeded with the application of a survey using as an instrument a questionnaire of questions, this questionnaire was designed with the specific focus of inquiring about the knowledge about ergonomic risks.Results: showed that, in spite of an acceptable knowledge, the working postures registered are mostly incorrect, which is reflected in the reported discomfort, mainly at the back level. As a contribution to the analysis, the ergonomic risk prevention protocol developed as a result of the study focused on body positions, work tools and personal protective equipment. Its implementation is aimed at improving work comfort, reducing stress and reducing injuries derived from incorrect postures during clinical interventions

Automation of Operations in Assembly of Battery Modules in Electric Vehicles

The assembly of battery modules in a battery electric vehicle (BEV) plant involves several critical operations, including tightening screws to make connections between various components inside the battery pack. This operation is generally performed manually using powered tools, but this approach poses several challenges, including electricity hazards, bottlenecks, and ergonomic risks. The manual tightening process in the battery module assembly could lead to inefficiencies and safety concerns. Additionally, manual tightening may not always achieve the desired level of precision, potentially affecting quality and reliability of the battery modules. Automation of tightening operations has the potential to address these challenges and improve the overall efficiency, safety, and quality of battery module assembly. By employing robots and other automation technologies, the assembly process can be streamlined, reducing bottlenecks, and minimizing the risk of error and electrocution. This paper provides proposals for potential applications where deployment of robotic automation in the battery module assembly context can be explored. The paper investigates key factors including equipment selection, and proposes conceptual scenarios based on these factors. The results provide a thorough understanding of battery module assembly challenges and suggest solutions to resolve the most pressing issues.

Analysis of occupational risks in dental technicians

Introduction: Dental technicians are exposed to various occupational risks that can seriously affect their health. These risks include ergonomic, physical, chemical and biological factors, which can cause significant health problems and affect the quality of work life. Therefore, this study seeks to evaluate the risks to which dental technicians are exposed in their work environment and propose preventive and control measures to mitigate the negative effects on their health.Method: A systematic review of the available literature on occupational risks in dental technicians was carried out. Additionally, Saaty's AHP method was applied to determine the relative prevalence of risks and their impact on occupational health.Results: The review revealed that dental technicians face significant exposure to ergonomic (musculoskeletal pain), physical (noise, vibrations, thermal radiation), chemical (exposure to toxic substances) and biological (infections from poorly disinfected prostheses) risks. While analysis using Saaty's AHP method has identified that musculoskeletal disorders, particularly neck, shoulder and back pain, have a higher prevalence compared to other risks.Conclusions: It is essential to adopt a comprehensive approach to occupational risk management in the dental field. It has been recommended to improve ergonomic practices, increase training in occupational safety and strengthen prevention and control policies. Additionally, continued research should be encouraged to adapt and improve preventive strategies based on emerging data, with particular attention to musculoskeletal disorders

Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Needs of Commercial Motorcyclists in, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

In Kenya, the commercial motorcycle (boda boda) industry is one of the largest informal sector employing over 2 million riders and is a source of livelihood to 5 million Kenyans. Unprecedented levels of youth unemployment in Uasin Gishu County have driven novice riders to venture into the boda boda business with minimal recourse of the occupational hazards and risks they will be exposed to. The objective of the study was to generate data on predominant occupational health hazards among commercial motorcyclists in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional research design. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select study participants to the desired sample size of 368. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and the Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control measures (HIRAC), tool. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. From the findings, psychosocial, physical and ergonomic hazards featured as the predominant occupational hazards among commercial riders in Uasin Gishu County. The results revealed that stress is a significant psychosocial health hazard affecting the wellbeing and safety of boda boda riders in the County. Additionally, the study established that the prolonged static sitting posture adopted by riders is a key ergonomic risk factor thus predisposes riders to the risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This study recommends for interventions aimed at enhancing capacity and behavior change in the boda boda sector through refinement of the training curriculum, concerted sensitization on statutory requirements and strict enforcement of safety laws to enhance occupational safety in the boda boda industry during the 2nd UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

Evaluation of Ergonomic Risk Factors in Plastic Manufacturing: Case Study

Evaluation of Ergonomic Risk Factors in Plastic Manufacturing: Case Study

Postural Ergonomic Risk Assesment of Augmented Reality User Interface on Smarthpones in Cosmetic Industry Advertising

Augmented reality (AR) technology is widely used in marketing activities and promotional strategies so that many users or customers use it, including beauty products, which already offer many applications that are used as promotional tools. Augmented reality technology is accompanied by technological developments and the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among female customers in various groups, including teenage girls who use many cosmetic products daily. The use of this technology requires an evaluation regarding its use, where in this evaluation, an evaluation can be used in terms of ergonomics for the user using the ergonomics concept PERA (Postural Ergonomic Risk Assessment). This research aims to evaluate the postural risk regarding the level of use of augmented reality technology for beauty product applications used by female students when using AR applications on smartphones when accessing cosmetics industry advertising. This research was conducted on female teenage respondents among vocational school students who focused on skill competencies, namely the Skin and Hair Beauty Department at one of the private vocational schools in the Cilamaya-Karawang area. The sample for data collection in this study was by taking 30 respondents using a saturated sample. The results of this research indicate that there must be an evaluation regarding the level of ergonomics with the PERA measurement results ranging between 7.4 - 11.8, indicating that the AR user interface in the cosmetic industry advertising is in the high-risk category so that further improvements are needed in the future so as not to pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders in teenagers. Thus, AR developers in the advertising industry must pay attention to the comfort of the user’s posture in terms of duration, smartphone weight, and grip strength when using AR applications.

Addressing Work Posture and Ergonomic Risk Factors in Traditional Batik-Making: A Case Study of MSME Batik Bakaran Juwana Workers

This research was conducted on batik-making workers. Based on observations, the batik process making is done manually using inappropriate work postures and repetitive movements that can trigger complaints musculoskeletal. This research aims to analyze work posture and ergonomic risk factors in the process of making batik. The research method used is WERA and NERPA. The research was conducted at 8 stations with 10 activities carried out by 43 workers. The results of the WERA method show that there are 2 activities at the low-risk level and 8 activities at a medium-risk level, so the activities require further research and need changes. While the NERPA method showed that there were three activities with a score of 3 namely, two activities with a score of 4, two activities with a score of 6, and three activities with a score of 7. Activities with scores of 6 and 7 not only require further investigation but also require changes. These activities are cloth dyeing, cloth dyeing in dyeing tubs, cloth dyeing in boiling furnaces, cloth washing and cloth drying. Proposed improvements include using a table, raising the water tank, raising the stove, providing a water tank, and lowering the height of the drying area.

The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ergonomic Risk Factor Profile in Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers (ojol) in Jakarta

Introduction: The increasing need for online motorcycle taxi driver (ojol) transportation continues to increase in Jakarta. This increases the activity of motorcycle taxi drivers, which can cause Carpal tunnel syndrome risks due to the awkward posture of the wrist while riding the motorcycle (the wrist posture is too long on the motorcycle handlebars with repetitive motion), which will affect the nerves and blood supply to the wrist and hand. This study aims to determine the risk of the motorcycle taxi driver’s upper limb using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Carpal tunnel syndrome risk factor using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BTCSQ). Method: This research used a cross-sectional study approach with 97 respondents online motorcycle taxi drivers. The respondents were collected based on the activity of online motorcycle taxi drivers who were in or passing through the data collection location and willing to take part in the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BTCSQ). The RULA assessment and analysis were performed and supported by video (recording from a cycle of the activity while the respondents were riding the motorcycles). The respondents’ criteria were an online motorcycle taxi driver with a minimum of 1 year of working experience, at least 3 hours working duration per day, and not clinically suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and wrist problems. This study has been approved by Universitas Kristen Krida Wacana ethical committee. Result: The results of BCTSQ and RULA in online motorcycle taxi drivers have found that there’s mild–moderate risk respectively in Jakarta. In RULA, it was found that there were 87.6% of respondents were reported at moderate risk which had an impact on musculoskeletal problems, especially the upper limb. In the BCTSQ, the result showed that there were mild complaints in 38.1% of respondents regarding the wrist which was at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Discussion: With RULA results, in the form of moderate risk, Further ergonomics investigation and assessment are needed to find out further risk factors, mitigation plans, and best improvements to reduce the risks. The occurrence of mild complaints in the wrist based on BCTSQ requires further clinical examination of carpal tunnel syndrome to reduce the incidence of CTS cases in online motorcycle taxi drivers. Conclusion: This research’s result has found mild-moderate risk factors from the activity and working posture among online motorcycle taxi drivers in Jakarta. Further investigation and research ergonomically are needed.

Process Optimization in Process Planning using a Multidimensional Approach in the Automotive Assembly

The potential for process planning and optimization is significantly increasing by the growing amount of data that is available in manufacturing systems. These potentials often remain unused as a result of a lack of data analytics methodology and low data quality. Therefore, in this paper, a methodology for identifying potentials for process optimization in the early phase of process planning in automotive assembly is presented. We use historical data in a multidimensional approach including ergonomic risk, rework and operation time relevant data in order to identify best- and worst-case scenarios. The approach is applied exemplarily for one vehicle component.

Innovations in Ergonomic Risk Assessment and Intervention in Material Handling

This review paper delves into the complex facets of ergonomic risk evaluation and reduction across various industrial sectors. The focus is on identifying the hazards linked to manual labor, especially those contributing to physical risks and musculoskeletal disorders among workers, and proposing inventive solutions to mitigate these threats. The review brings together insights from different studies, emphasizing the application of automation, virtual modeling, Kinect-based evaluations, and other innovative tools in repetitive tasks and material handling operations. It also explores the usage of back-support exoskeletons, observational checklists, and workspace redesigns to decrease risks in construction, manufacturing, vegetable transportation, clothing accessories, and other sectors. The development of risk assessment frameworks for specific roles such as container terminal operators and the examination of musculoskeletal disorders in diverse worker demographics, including older female farmers and factory workers, are also featured. The comprehensive approach of the journal sets the stage for future research, aiming to further reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders through continued innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Industrial Insights and Ergonomic Interventions

In response to the rising incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) across diverse work environments, extensive research has been undertaken. Within the apparel sector, initiatives have included workstation redesigns to alleviate worker strain. Emphasis has also been placed on formulating explicit ergonomic risk assessment standards, particularly for roles associated with heavy machinery, exemplified by container terminal operators. The agricultural domain, particularly manual farming activities in Haryana, India, has been studied to comprehend the distinct challenges encountered. The ergonomic implications for fish processing laborers, subjected to cold, damp conditions and repetitive tasks, have also been examined. Notably, the integration of biomechanics instrumentation in occupational health offers insights into refining human work-related movements for improved health. Scrutiny has been extended to varied workplaces, like flour production units and oil and gas enterprises, to discern MSD origins and propose corrective measures. With technological advancements, ergonomics now employs sophisticated tools such as computerized dynamometers for precise risk evaluations. Detailed biomechanics assessments further elucidate the physical demands on workers. Other industries, including textiles, have seen ergonomic appraisals aiming to diminish manual task strains, while the labor-intensive dairy farming sector has also been evaluated. Cumulatively, these comprehensive research endeavors pave the way for a more informed approach, suggesting preventive and mitigative strategies against MSDs across sectors.

Work-Related Ergonomıc Rısks and Musculoskeletal Problems in Operating Room Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate on the work-related ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal problems operating room nurses. 
 Methods: This study was a descriptive study.The study was conducted on operating room nurses from 3 state, 1 pivate and 1 university hospital in Turkey (N= 92). Data were collected to Descriptive form , The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Neck Disability Indeks (NDI) and Rapid Entire Body Assesment (REBA). The study conducted from March to October 2019.
 Results: The mean age of nurses was 34.99±8.31 years and it was found that nurses had lumbar (76.1%), back (64.1%) and neck (59.8%) pain. It was determined that 75.2% of the nurses have a very high risk in terms of ergonomics. It was found that there is a statistically significant negative relationship between age and work posture of nurses. It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between disability caused by low back and neck pain and exercise statu. There was a statistically significant difference between weekly and daily standing hours and disability due to neck pain . A strong positive correlation was found between the mean ODI scores and NDI scores. A weak negative correlation was found between the mean NDI scores and REBA scores.
 Conclusion: It was determined that the majority of operating room nurses experience musculoskeletal disorders. It was found that the work-related ergonomic risks of the operating room nurses and the issue requires urgent measures.

Postural Assessment of Indian Excavation Workers and Prototype Design of Virtual Iron-Pan

The study was conducted among excavation labourers of the construction sites for five different tasks. Five postures were selected from the video recorded at the time of data collection. Analysis of static/dynamic working postures and loads on the various body parts are being done using computer software's which is not possible manually nowadays. In this study, the postures of excavation labourers were assessed using CATIA software during five various excavation operations. Digital Human Analysis (DHM) was developed in the CATIA software for study. RULA, REBA, biomechanical and lifting analysis were performed to detect body risk and loads on the L4/L5 segment of the vertebral column. CATIA software reveals that the excavation labourers are working at high risk. The result evaluated by RULA and REBA for all five working postures indicates that all postures require investigation and need immediate change. The result shows that biomechanical loads at the L4/L5 segments are higher than the NIOSH recommended limit for the task of throwing soil and receiving the pan by some outside labourers. Almost the same effect was observed when lifting of iron-pan where the labourers work in the flexion position. New prototype iron-pan was developed and re-analysis to compare the results with new working techniques in CATIA. This showed that the prototype iron-pan proposed helps to reduce the ergonomic risk during excavation and related work. The CATIA software also provides better results by better evaluation of working postures of labourers at excavation sites.

The Musculoskeletal Complaints Based on Work Position inWoven Bamboo Craftsmen

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders in Indonesia require attention due to their high prevalence. Woven bamboo craft production involves unnatural body postures at every stage, leading to potential injuries. Assessing musculoskeletal complaints can provide valuable data for ergonomic risk assessment. This study aims to analyze such complaints based on the working positions of bamboo weavers. Methods: This research is descriptive. The population in this study was all woven bamboo craftsmen with a total of 430 people. The total sample was 86 craftsmen from 20% of the population for descriptive research. The variables studied included work position and musculoskeletal complaints. Data collection was done by observation and survey. Data were analyzed descriptively by displaying the calculation results of the risk level of work positions and the risk level of musculoskeletal complaints. Results: Most of the work positions of craftsmen are in the medium-risk category (54.7%). The working position of the craftsmen who have very high-risk category is at the stage of making woven bamboo and finishing. The highest level of discharge risk is in the low complaint category (60.5%), and the high category of musculoskeletal complaints is at the stage of making the woven. Conclusion: The working position of the woven bamboo craftsmen is directly proportional to the complaints they feel. Intervention is needed to reduce the risk of injury and reduce musculoskeletal complaints felt by workers, especially in workers with very high-risk working positions.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Apple Farmers in Türkiye: Prevalence and Risk Factors’

Objective: The strenuous nature of apple growing can be the cause of a number of physical problems. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence of Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and ergonomic risks among apple farmers in Turkey.
 Material-Method: Data on WRMSDs were obtained from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire Extended Version (NMQ-E), while risk factors were collected using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Prevalences were established by frequency analysis.The relationships between WRMSD of 9 body regions and age, weight, working hours (per day/per week), working experience and RULA score were analysed.
 Results: A total of 51 volunteers participated in the study including 42 males and 9 females. The kness (53.8%) were most commonly reported WRMSDs, followed by the neck (46.2%), lower back (44.2%), and shoulders (38.5%) over a lifetime. The participants were working in a medium (40.4%) and high (42.3%) risk posture according to the RULA assessment. Age, weight, working hours (per day/per week), working experience and RULA were associated with WRMSDs in one or more body regions (p

RHYTHMS: Real-time Data-driven Human-machine Synchronization for Proactive Ergonomic Risk Mitigation in the Context of Industry 4.0 and Beyond

Human-machine work system (HMWS) represents a composite system that integrates machine precision and strength with human cognitive abilities, flexibility, and adaptability, aiming to achieve enhanced performance in various tasks aligned with a common goal, which is getting smarter in the era of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and has received extensive attention from academia and industry. However, the lack of real-time information sharing during HMWS implementation and operation, coupled with uncertainties stemming from human instability and the complexities introduced by smart networking environments in the context of I4.0, poses challenges to the synchronous coordination of this distributed human-centric manufacturing system. Failure in synchronization not only compromises overall system integrity, leading to unrealistic decision-making and potential harm to human health but also goes against the principles of Industry 5.0 (I5.0), which proposes placing human well-being at the center of the production process for human-centric smart manufacturing in the future. In this context, this research presents real-time data-driven hyper objects orchestrating for the human-machine synchronization (RHYTHMS) based on a service-oriented human-to-machine architecture (SOH2M) and a model reference adaptive fuzzy control for real-time information sharing and synchronous coordination of the smart HMWS. Based on these, a real-life assembly case is carried out by a full-scale HMWS prototype to quantitatively analyze the benefits of the proposed approach in proactive ergonomic risk mitigation (PERM), contributing to the human-centric value-oriented I5.0 era.

Online Ergonomic Evaluation in Realistic Manual Material Handling Task: Proof of Concept.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are globally one of the leading causes of work-related injuries. They significantly impact worker health and business costs. Work task ergonomic risk indices have been developed that use observational assessments to identify potential injuries, and allow safety managers to promptly intervene to mitigate the risks. However, these assessments are very subjective and difficult to perform in real time. This work provides a technique that can digitalize this process by developing an online algorithm to calculate the NIOSH index and provide additional data for ergonomic risk assessment. The method is based on the use of inertial sensors, which are easily found commercially and can be integrated into the industrial environment without any other sensing technology. This preliminary study demonstrates the effectiveness of the first version of the Online Lifting Index (On-LI) algorithm on a common industrial logistic task. The effectiveness is compared to the standard ergonomic assessment method. The results report an average error of 3.6% compared to the NIOSH parameters used to calculate the ergonomic risk and a relative error of the Lifting Index of 2.8% when compared to observational methods.

Home health care nurse routing and scheduling problem considering ergonomic risk factors

Home health care routing and scheduling is a complex problem that requires many aspects to be considered simultaneously. One of the important aspects is ergonomics. Home health care nurses are at higher risk of work-related health problems such as musculoskeletal disorders and burnout since they are frequently exposed to physical, mental, and environmental ergonomic risks in their jobs. Therefore, it is essential to integrate ergonomic considerations into the construction of daily schedules for home health care nurses to mitigate these health risks. The purpose of this study is to present a mathematical model that incorporate ergonomic risks. We introduce a set of constraints into our model to prevent nurses from encountering excessive workloads. To assess the workload, we propose a subjective assessment method and employ a fuzzy inference system to calculate nurses' perceived workload levels. We applied our model to a several numerical examples to investigate the impact of workload on the nurse daily schedules. We observed that, at a specified workload level, there may be alternative solutions where the number of patients visited is the same. Therefore, we defined an objective function to maximize patient visits while minimizing nurses' workload levels as much as possible. As a result, our model generates solutions that effectively reduce nurse workloads, leading to more balanced schedules. Thus, our study offers a comprehensive approach to home health care scheduling by incorporating ergonomic considerations, ultimately enhancing both patient care and nurse well-being.

Real‐time ergonomic risk assessment in construction using a co‐learning‐powered 3D human pose estimation model

AbstractWork‐related musculoskeletal disorders pose significant health risks to construction workers, making it essential to monitor their postures and identify physical exposure to mitigate these risks. This study presents a novel framework for real‐time ergonomic risk assessment of workers in construction environments. Specifically, this study develops a lightweight human pose estimation (HPE) model with a residual log‐likelihood estimation head and adopts pose‐tracking technology to enable real‐time recognition of workers’ three‐dimensional (3D) postures. In particular, this study proposes a novel co‐learning method that enables the HPE model to learn two‐dimensional (2D) and 3D features from multi‐dimension datasets simultaneously, substantially enhancing the model's ability to capture 3D postures from 2D images. The proposed framework facilitates real‐time ergonomic risk assessment, reducing potential risks to construction workers and offering promising practical applications.

AN ANALYSIS OF ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WOOD BLOCK MAKING CRAFT OF PETHAPUR, GUJARAT, INDIA

The handicrafts sector in India provides employment to a vast number of people contributing to the country's economy; by the vary nature of woodblock making craft, the produce is made with hand- making it labour intensive; spending hours in the same place, health hazards associated occupation. Woodblock makers of Pethapur served as the focal point of the ergonomic study; to render the craft person to be more efficient and productive. The semi structured interview schedule was developed containing a detailed check list for analyzing occupational health hazards using musculoskeletal disorder scale and RULA scale.The results showed that the senior craftsmen experienced pain at various body parts such as joint pain, neck and shoulder pain. It was also discovered that working posture has relation to the body sections that are in pain. It was concluded that there is a need for implementing change in working pattern, workspace arrangement as well as creating awareness amongst the craftsmen about the ergonomic risk factors. The craftsmen need to undergo some physical exercises before performing work which would help in reducing pains.