Ergonomic Research Articles

Ergonomic Analysis for the Aging-Friendly Exercise Device Utilized on the Digital Load Control Technology

Ergonomic Analysis for the Aging-Friendly Exercise Device Utilized on the Digital Load Control Technology

Effects of Workplace Risk Assessment-based Ergonomic Intervention on Work-Related Muscular Skeletal Disorders: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Effects of Workplace Risk Assessment-based Ergonomic Intervention on Work-Related Muscular Skeletal Disorders: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Ergonomic Study of VDT Workstations for Wheelchair Users

ABSTRACT This study presents a three-dimensional computer-modelling system based on Transom JACK software, with 3D objects/equipment and human subjects with specific anthropometric measurements to visualize and evaluate human-machine interaction. A computer simulation method is then adopted to evaluate some VDT (Visual Display Terminal) workstations to determine whether they are appropriate for use by wheelchair users. The study indicates that currently available commercial computer desks present difficulties, in terms of both spatial design and reachability of peripheral devices, to wheelchair users. Some VDT tasks result in awkward body postures in virtual subjects. New VDT workstations are designed and recommended to solve the shortcomings found.

Assessing Less-Tangible Benefits of an Ergonomic Project

The purpose of this study was to assess the less-tangible benefits of an ergonomics project performed in a 300-mm wafer fabrication in Taiwan. The studied project was aimed at reducing the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) faced by the wafer-handling workers. Firstly, the MSDs checklist was used to identify risk factors for the workers. The ergonomic intervention was then conducted. Subsequently, the willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey of the contingent valuation method was performed to quantify less-tangible benefits. The responded WTP results were analyzed to estimate the return on investment of this project, which was 43.6% and large enough to conclude that this project was cost-effectiveness. The marked decreases in the risk-factor found rate and the self-reported MSD rate in the post-intervention period proved that the intervention was effective in reducing the MSD problems. This paper is shown to be a good example to justify the worth of an ergonomics project.

Quantitative design model of civil aircraft cabin layout for ergonomics

Quantitative design model of civil aircraft cabin layout for ergonomics

Analisis dan Evaluasi Pengaruh Temperatur, Pencahayaan dan Kebisingan terhadap Jumlah Produksi pada Fabrikasi Ekstrusi Alumunium dengan Menggunakan Metode Sugeno dalam Logika Fuzzy

The concept of ergonomics in the work environment is an important to be applied in an industry. The application of ergonomics is expected to create a safe, healthy and comfortable work environment so that work becomes more productive and efficient and there is a guarantee of work quality. Based on the problems that occur, a method is needed to overcome fluctuations in the amount of production, one of the ways is by using fuzzy logic. The conclusion of this paper is the analysis and processing of data carried out using the Sugeno method, both software and manual by entering the temperature input variable of 31o C, lighting of 500 lux and noise 85 db, the results obtained for the amount of production in the next period of 531 in the manual calculation , while the software count is 487. Based on these results the number of manual calculations and Matlab software with fuzzy logic using the Sugeno method has a difference that is not far from the data received by 281. This means that the percentage of matching fuzzy logic processing with received data is 97.76% .

Applying mathematical modeling to create job rotation for improve workforce performance in semi-automatic systems

In this research, we present a mathematical model for allocating people to different jobs and shifting employees between related jobs. This action will reduce the repetitive activities workload and ergonomic risks at the planned time horizon, and finally increases the organization's efficiency. In this proposed model, the devices are semi-automatic and it is possible to allocated more than one task to one person. Regarding the modeling and the case study of the constraints, it is shown that the complexity of this problem type is NP-Hard, and the result of accurate methods for solving the problem is not possible in a reasonable time. Due to this Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm is used to study the proposed model and comparison of the results of SA algorithm with the results of precise optimization methods shows the better performance of the Simulated Annealing algorithm in terms of the time and answer quality.

Prevalence and Determinants of Workplace Violence among Physicians and Nurses at Emergency Department in Ministry of Health Hospitals, Jeddah 2019

Background: Emergency healthcare workers (HCWs) have a high risk of exposure to violence with negative personal consequences. Violence is an occupational hazard in hospitals. Occupational researches have gradually shifted focus from traditional, visible environmental risk factors, such as physical, chemical, biological exposure or ergonomic problems, to the invisible, psychological harm that maybe present in the workplace. For example, violence in the workplace is a possible cause of stress, and can contribute to a greater morbidity of asthma. In addition, it can lead to a shortage of health care workers and undermine the quality of health services; study in Riyadh showed that the prevalence of violence among HCWs was 47.8%, which was considerably lower than 89.3% in nurses in the EDs in 3 public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Because of the increased risk factors associated with violence, the US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has made an effort to establish guidelines for the prevention of workplace violence. Aim of the study: To explore the prevalence of physical and verbal workplace violence among physicians and nurses in emergency department at Ministry of Health Hospitals, Jeddah 2019. Method: Cross-sectional analytical study has been conducted at emergency departments (EDs), Ministry of health hospitals in Jeddah city, during data collection period 2019, the total sample has been (175) physicians and nurses. Results: age the highest age was (42.0%) were (30-35) years and the data ranged from (23-50) by mean ±SD (32.55±5.331), (61.1%) were females (38.9%)while males. (63.4%) Saudi, the majority of participated nursing were(70.3%). Regarding age, marital status, place of work, Years of experience in ER department results show a significant relation between Physical or Verbal violence and age, marital status, place of work, Years of experience in ER department. Conclusion: Workplace violence was prevalent, and verbal abuse was the commonest type among HCWs in emergency departments of hospitals. Workplace violence, a possible cause of job stress, has recently become an important concern in occupational health. Almost half of the ED physicians and nurses experienced one or more WPV incident. Encouragement to report violent incidents and raising awareness among HCWs about violence reporting systems are important strategies to improve workplace safety.

Artan Mobil Teknoloji Kullanımının Yol Açtığı Ağrı Sendromu: “Text Neck”

Akıllı telefon ve tabletler iletişim, ulaşım, eğlence, eğitim ve güvenlik gibi pek çok amaçla kullanılan ve giderek yaygınlaşan mobil teknolojik cihazlardır. Toplumun her kesimi tarafından kullanılmakla birlikte özellikle çocuklar ve gençlerin akıllı telefon ve tabletler ile çok uzun süre geçirdikleri gösterilmiştir. Mobil teknoloji kullanımın artması ile birlikte kas iskelet sistemi ağrıları, uykusuzluk, konsantrasyon güçlüğü ve yorgunluk gibi çeşitli semptomlar ortaya çıkmaktadır. “Text neck” tanımı ilk kez Dr. Dean L. Fishman tarafından uzun süre akıllı telefon ve tablet kullananlarda boyun, baş ve omuz ağrısı ve üst ekstremitelerde uyuşma problemi olarak tanımlanmıştır. Mobil cihazları kullanırken uzun süre baş ve kolların önde olduğu kifotik bu postürün erken artrit başlangıcı ve disk dejenerasyonu için potansiyel risk oluşturduğu düşünülmektedir. “Text neck”in boyun ağrısı, sırt ağrısı, omuz ağrısı, baş ağrısı, uykusuzluk, ellerde karıncalanma ve uyuşma gibi çeşitli semptomları bulunmaktadır. “Text neck” için belli tanı kriterleri olmamakla birlikte bazı araştırmacılar baş ve boyun postürünün değerlendirilmesi için görsel yöntemler geliştirmişlerdir. “Text neck” için öncelikle koruyucu fizyoterapi yaklaşımları önerilebilir. Semptomların varlığı durumunda ise tedavi edici fizyoterapi teknikleri uygulanabilir. Koruyucu ve tedaviye yönelik fizyoterapi yaklaşımları konusunda çok az sayıda çalışma bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmalarda postür eğitimi, farkındalığın artırılması, ergonomik düzenlemeler ve egzersiz programları ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu derlemede “text neck” sendromuna neden olan faktörler, görülen semptomlar, değerlendirme yöntemleri ve tedavi yaklaşımları ele alınarak güncel literatür ile birlikte tartışılmıştır.

Desvelando o bom e o ruim de ser moto taxista e educando para a saúde

Objetivo: investigar aspectos positivos e negativos da profissão de moto taxista, na percepção de quem trabalha. Método: a pesquisa, transversal e descritiva, de abordagem quantitativa, foi desenvolvida junto a 45 moto taxistas de um município do interior do Rio Grande do Sul, em 2017. Utilizou-se como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário estruturado. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se a estatística descritiva e a distribuição da frequência. Resultados: dos participantes, 84% gostavam da profissão, visto que o horário é livre e podem conciliar outras atividades. Os principais danos à saúde física apontados por eles foram escoriações, fratura de membro superior, membro inferior e costela. E, os principais agentes de risco são os ergonômicos, pela posição corporal usada na motocicleta causando dores nas costas; biológicos pela exposição a mordidas de animais, físicos pela exposição à chuva, sol e frio e psicossociais pelo sentimento de desvalorização da sociedade frente a sua atividade. Utilizou-se uma página do facebook como um meio de educação em saúde a esse trabalhador. Conclusão: educação em saúde e campanhas de valorização social podem prevenir agravos nestes trabalhadores, promover sua saúde e auxiliar a população conhecer as vulnerabilidades, agregando valor à vida.

Agentes comunitários de saúde: sua qualidade de vida e seus riscos ocupacionais.

Objetivo: Avaliar o risco ocupacional gerado pela atividade laboral dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS’s) do município de Olinda/PE. Metodologia: O estudo é do tipo descritivo, de corte transversal. Foi desenvolvido em duas Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Olinda, com os profissionais ACS’s totalizando em uma amostra de 29 indivíduos. Inicialmente os participantes assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre Esclarecido e em seguida aplicou-se uma ficha de dados sociodemográficos, censo de ergonomia, checklists de Couto e Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Resultados: A maior parte era do sexo feminino (82,7%), com média de idade de 49,1±8,4 anos e com média de tempo de trabalho de 16,2±5,9 anos. Com o censo de ergonomia identificou-se que 75,9% apresentam dor relacionada ao trabalho. Houve uma correlação negativa, entre o RULA e o checklist coluna, e entre o checklist coluna e o de posto de trabalho; e uma correlação positiva entre o RULA e posto de trabalho. Conclusão: Os ACS´s podem desenvolver no futuro distúrbios osteomusculares por conta das posturas prolongadas e das longas caminhadas que são realizadas com bolsas inadequadas. Além disto, o posto desses agentes não apresenta uma boa condição ergonômica fazendo-se necessário uma mudança imediata para que esses agravos sejam amenizados.

Avaliação do risco ergonômico de um operador agrícola em atividade de trituração de restos culturais

O objetivo do trabalho foi o de avaliar atividade de um operador, quanto a suas posições no posto de trabalho e a sua exposição a níveis de ruído em uma operação de trituração de restos culturais da cultura do milho. Além disso, sugerir possíveis alterações para a melhoria das condições de trabalho do operador. O estudo foi realizado no município de Santa Maria – RS, no qual foi avaliado o posto de trabalho de um operador de um trator agrícola durante a realização de uma atividade de trituração dos restos culturais de uma lavoura de milho, na qual foi utilizado um trator de 75cv e um triturador de restos culturais de 12 martelos. A operação foi registrada por fotos e vídeos, e estas foram avaliadas pelos métodos OWAS, REBA, RULA e QEC com o uso do software Ergolandia 7.0. Ademais, o nível de ruído foi medido com o uso de um decibelímetro. De acordo com os dados medidos foi possível verificar que o nível de ruído de 97,1dB sendo esse valor superior ao estabelecido pela NR 15 e com a análise dos métodos foi constatado a necessidade de realizar intervenções ergonômicas para que a atividade possa ser desempenhada de forma a não ocasionar riscos à saúde do operador.

Quantification of Lower Limb and Spine Muscle Activity in Manual Patient Handling - A Case Study.

Manual patient handling is one of the physiological risk factors in care. The scientific focus so far, has primarily been on the analysis of lumbar compression during manual caregiving in order to improve the transfer facilitation of caregivers through technical systems. Reference is made in this context to the supportive functional role of the muscles of the lower limb. To assess biomechanical data for the quantification of lower limb and spine muscle activity in manual patient handling, an experimental study was conducted. A quantitative basis for the analysis of caregiving processes and its risk factors is established by evaluating caregivers' posture, ground reaction force components, and muscle activities during ergonomic and non-ergonomic manual patient handling in a laboratory setting.

Ergonomic and safety prospects of farm machinery-a review

Ergonomic and safety prospects of farm machinery-a review

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Biomechanical Constraints in a Tunisian Manufactory

Introduction: Assessment risks of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs (MSDs-UL) and their prevention requires a good identification of constraints to better loosen them and preserve the well-being of operators. Objectives: To quantify biomechanical risk factors of MSDs-UL among employees of an electronic industry in order to establish an appropriate preventive strategy. Materials and methods: This study is conducted in an assembly industry of electronic parts involving 85 women. This is a descriptive survey followed by an ergonomic intervention. Results: The middle age of the studied population was 35 years with an average of professional seniority of 14 years. In this company, 62% of workers are assigned at the assembly station, 26% at the control post and 12% at the welding position. The clinical examination concluded that 33% of workers had MSDs of the neck and upper extremity, of which 50% affected the wrist and the hand. MSDs mainly affect women over the age of 36 and having a professional seniority more than 11 years. The welding station was the most provider of MSDs. Repetitiveness and inadequate postures are the two commonly constraints reported by participants. However, the deployed force is described as weak. Observation analysis at the assembly station revealed a very high repetitiveness of postures in form of digital and lateral clamps. The weld station has been shown to have high repeatability with extreme wrist extension for 58% of the overall time and tightening during the entire work. At the checkpoint, the right wrist flexion for 43% of the time, the use of the hand as a hammer for 42% of the time and the shaping of grasp for 44% of the time are postural constraints performed with high repetition. Conclusion: The success of such prevention project must go beyond the medical framework to involve all partners in health and safety at work, especially the employer, operator and the ergonomist.

ERGONOMICS PRINCIPLES AS STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING STUDENTS’ ACQUISITION OF PSYCHO-PRODUCTIVE SKILLS IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADE IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of Ergonomic principles on students’ acquisition of psycho-productive skills in Building Construction Trade in Technical Colleges using non-equivalent control group quasi experimental research design. The sample for the study comprised of 80 (60 males and 20 females) randomly selected from the six technical colleges in Edo State, Nigeria. The instruments for data collection were Psycho-productive Skills Performance Test (PSPT) in Building Construction operations, Building Construction Interest Inventory (BCII) and lesson plans. Three experts validated the instrument. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Kuder Richardson 21 (KR-21) formulae and a reliability coefficient of .89 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Findings from the study revealed among others that Ergonomic principles were effective in enhancing technical college students’ acquisition of psycho-productive skills in Building Construction Trade. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that Ergonomics principles should be incorporated as an instructional technique into the technical college Building Construction Trade curriculum for effective instructional process. Article visualizations:

EVALUATION OF CHALLENGES IN SOFA MANUFACTURING BY THE BAUA METHOD

Bu çalışmanın amacı, ülkemizdeki mobilya imalatında çalışanların yatay ve dikey olarak parça taşımaları esnasında karşılaştıkları zorlanmaları araştırmak ve çalışanlar üzerindeki etkilerine dikkat çekmektir. Zorlanma sınır değerlerinin ölçümü için mevcut yöntemler araştırılmış, Federal Almanya İş Güvenliği ve İş Hekimliği Kurumu (BAUA)’nun geliştirmiş olduğu yöntem seçilmiş ve kas iskelet sistemindeki zorlanmalar için hesaplamalar yapılmıştır. Mobilya sektöründe üretim, makine parkı ve insan gücüne dayanmaktadır. Mobilya sektöründe insan gücü kullanımı parça taşımanın yanı sıra makineye parça verme, makineden parça alma, kaldırma ve indirme işlemlerini kapsamaktadır. Bu süreçteki taşıma ve kaldırma işlerinin ergonomik koşullara uygunsuzluğu iş kazalarına ve meslek hastalıklarına yol açmaktadır. Buna bağlı olarak işletmede iş gücü kaybı yaşanmakta, üretim aksamakta ve işletme açısından maliyetler artmaktadır. Araştırma sonuçları ile, mobilya üreten işletmelerde, iş kazalarının ve meslek hastalıklarının engellenebileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu şekilde mobilya üretim tesislerinin çalışma standardının yükselmesi ve verimliliğin artırılması sağlanabilir.

Effect of Ergonomics on Job Satisfaction of the Administrative Staffs Working on Projects in Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company

Effect of Ergonomics on Job Satisfaction of the Administrative Staffs Working on Projects in Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company

Ergonomics in dentistry: A comprehensive review

Nature of the dental profession and postures assumed by dental surgeons during their professional work has an enormous effect on their body. Dentists nowadays are becoming more prone to musculoskeletal disorders. A well-adapted design of the workplace is a basic requirement for maintaining musculoskeletal health that will in turn enhance work efficiency. The present article discusses the various methods to stabilize the dental operatory to allow the operator to work with comfort, efficiency, and ease.

Ergonomics in Endodontics

Ergonomics in Endodontics