Field Of Ergonomics Research Articles

Ergonomics & Human factors: fade of a discipline

In this commentary, we argue that the field of Ergonomics and Human Factors (EHF) has the tendency to present itself as a thriving and impactful science, while in reality, it is losing credibility. We assert that EHF science (1) has introduced terminology that is internally inconsistent and hardly predictive-valid, (2) has virtually no impact on industrial practice, which operates within frameworks of regulatory compliance and profit generation, (3) repeatedly employs the same approach of conducting lab experiments within unrealistic paradigms in order to complete deliverables, (4) suggests it is a cumulative science, but is neither a leader nor even an adopter of open-science initiatives that are characteristic of scientific progress and (5) is being assimilated by other disciplines as well as Big Tech. Recommendations are provided to reverse this trend, although we also express a certain resignation as our scientific discipline loses significance. Practitioner Summary: This paper offers criticism of the field of Ergonomics. There are issues such as unclear terminology, unrealistic experiments, insufficient impact and lack of open data. We provide recommendations to reverse the trend. This article concerns a critique of EHF as a science, and is not a critique of EHF practitioners.

An integrated prototyping tool to enhance interdisciplinary communication in smart product design

The increasing integration of smart products into society is noteworthy in the field of Prospective Ergonomics (PE), as they herald the emergence of novel products featuring yet-to-be-discovered interaction modalities. Literature highlights a lack of front-end prototyping approaches that transcend disciplinary skills and aid communication across diverse design fields, highly relevant in early-stage smart product development. This paper introduces an integrated, low-fidelity prototyping tool to enhance interdisciplinary communication and understanding of future products’ interactive and environmental qualities. A survey provides preliminary validation of the integrated tool’s format and content. Findings endorse the tool’s structure and flexibility in supporting understanding and communication of interactive and environmental qualities of smart product concepts across a range of design disciplines. As such we advance the discourse on PE by envisioning a low-fidelity prototyping tool to create intermediary objects supporting design efforts towards future products and their new and emerging interaction modalities.

Different forms of fablab organization and their impact on collaboration and innovation

The aim of this paper is to identify some of the characteristics of innovation and collective work in different fablab organizations. We first define fablabs through a review of literature, situating related questions in the field of ergonomics and focusing our point of view on individual and collective activity. Secondly, we show how the results of our qualitative analyses (performed on data from interviews and observations of fablab managers, users, and projects from 13 fablabs) reveal 3 main types of fablab organization: community-oriented fablabs, academic fablabs and industrial fablabs, in which different activities are carried out. Fablab activity depends on lab users and the type of design projects carried out. The discussion will focus on the fablab organization findings, including the links between design/innovation project work, collective work and evolving rules, and how all of these aspects might direct activity-centered ergonomics research and actions in the future.

Ergonomics in bronchoscopy.

This study examines ergonomic considerations in bronchoscopic procedures, surveying existing research, injury rates, contributing factors, and practical ergonomic controls. The field of ergonomics examines the relationship between workers and their workplace to enhance productivity and minimize injuries. Bronchoscopists may face ergonomic hazards due to extended periods of maintaining fixed positions, repetitive actions, and the design of both tools and procedure spaces. Studies on the ergonomics of bronchoscopy have revealed a wide range of musculoskeletal issues among practitioners. Those new to the field, including trainees and early-career professionals, may be particularly vulnerable to injuries compared to their more experienced counterparts. Implementing a systematic approach, such as that proposed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, could help reduce physical stress, discomfort, and the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders for bronchoscopists. Bronchoscopists increasingly face ergonomic issues in their practice. Despite available measures to address these problems, the field lacks uniform ergonomic guidelines for bronchoscopy. To safeguard bronchoscopists' health and safety from the outset of their careers, more studies and training focused on ergonomics in bronchoscopy are needed.

A novel human-centered methodology for assessing manual-to-collaborative safe conversion of workstations

The Industry 5.0 paradigm places workers’ well-being and safety at the core of the production processes. Despite its objectives, the current industry still faces several challenges. Examples of these challenges include global market pressures for customized products, along with the significant occurrence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and the ageing workforce. These challenges underscore the persistent need for human-centered solutions, allowing adaptations that align with humans’ physical and cognitive constraints. Collaborative robots offer a promising solution, with the potential to enhance workers’ well-being, while maintaining safety, productivity, and production process flexibility. This study introduces a novel methodology designed to assess the feasibility of converting manual tasks into collaborative ones. During the development of the methodology, a focus group approach was used, comprising 6 experts in the field of Ergonomics & Human Factors and Robotics. The proposed methodology is suitable for the identification of tasks appropriate for joint execution by humans and robots, thereby augmenting the effectiveness of the robotic solution. This methodology incorporates a set of indicators (physical and cognitive ergonomics, health and safety, and operational efficiency) and technical requirements. The results of the focus group allowed the improvement of the suggested methodology. For its testing, we applied across 13 manual workstations in 5 companies from different manufacturing sectors (civil construction, cutlery, furniture, and automotive fabric manufacturing). Results show that it is possible to comprehensively identify manual workstations/tasks with good and high potential to convert into collaborative systems. This methodology seems to constitute a relevant approach to support the conceptualization of collaborative workstations.

Think Human: exploring the exhibition of ergonomics to enhance education and engagement: establishing the CIEHF 75th anniversary exhibition

The field of ergonomics and human factors (E/HF) has an urgent need for increased uptake of specialists to meet the growing demands of the sector and related industries employing ergonomists. In the absence of E/HF being part of the school curriculum, one way of achieving this is through public engagement activities. Specialists in E/HF are motivated by understanding people and interactions, inherent qualities in outreach and engagement, so we are well placed to practice what we preach by understanding our own users, the consumers of our science. In this paper, we present a curriculum map and museum exhibition model as part of ongoing work to develop a public exhibition, called ‘Think Human’, hosted at the Museum of Making in Derby, England, from September 2024, as part of ongoing work in timely celebration of the 75th anniversary of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF).

Моделирование структуры лаборатории эргодизайнерских систем искусственного интеллекта на основе анализа отечественных и зарубежных исследований

The article analyzes the theoretical aspects of the importance of creating and developing ergonomic scientific laboratories based on domestic universities and research institutes. The paper considers modern technologies for modelling scientific structures in the organizations (institutions) subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and describes the main models of initiating and operating scientific laboratories created at Russian universities and research organizations. To demonstrate the relevance of building a laboratory in the field of ergonomics, the authors conduct an analysis of the availability of laboratories in this profile at the world’s leading universities.

Using a digital data analytic tool to capture dynamic change in coordination patterns: An exploratory study of the Apollo 13 mission

The operational environment of complex sociotechnical systems is inherently uncertain, demanding constant coordination restructuring to adapt to dynamic situational demands. However, coordination changes in the Human Factors and Ergonomics Field have primarily been studied using static methods, overlooking moment-by-moment adjustments. In the current study, we address coordination restructuring by using THEME, a digital analytical tool capable of visualising and exploring coordination restructuring from a multi-layered perspective. We examine restructuring in coordination patterns during NASA's Apollo 13 Mission, revealing significant shifts from stable, long-duration ‘coordination hubs' in routine operations to shorter-duration patterns during a crisis situation. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of flexible switching between reciprocal and one-directed coordination, along with enhanced role distribution. This study underscores how exploring temporality-sensitive phenomena like coordination through digital technologies such as THEME, advances our understanding of incident analysis and resilient performance within complex systems.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Warehouse Workers in the Courier Service Industry: A Case Study from Kuantan, Malaysia

The global surge in demand for courier services has introduced both benefits and challenges. Courier workers face immense pressure to handle large volumes of orders, leading to increasing cases of health and occupational injuries. The lack of ergonomic interventions in their work highlights the urgent need for ergonomic assessments in the courier industry. In Malaysia, current ergonomic risk assessments for warehouse courier workers are insufficient, making it essential to identify prevalent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and determine the associated risk factors and levels posed by their daily tasks. This study aimed to address this gap by conducting ergonomic risk assessments among 35 warehouse workers using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), the Initial Ergonomic Risk Assessment (ERA) Checklist, and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Three different work tasks were observed: scanning and sorting, tiered storage and stacking, and load unloading. The findings revealed that lower back pain was the most common ailment (14.5%), followed by hip pain (8.39%) and neck pain (7.89%). The tiered stacking storage activity posed the highest ergonomic risk, with identified risk factors including awkward postures, static and sustained activity, and repetitive tasks. The REBA analysis indicated a very high-level risk for tiered stacking storage, necessitating immediate ergonomic interventions. These findings contribute to the field of ergonomics and provide valuable insights for safety practitioners, ergonomists, researchers, and academicians in occupational safety and health and the courier service industries.

Faces of Oppression: Future directions for Ergonomics and Human Factors

The growing interest in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) centred work in the field of Ergonomics and Human Factors (EHF) can greatly benefit from Iris Young’s Five Faces of Oppression theory, which details how well-intentioned systems can perpetuate harm in a number of ways. We call for a greater focus on systems of oppression in EHF research and practice along with increased collaboration with social sciences to tackle important societal issues. This article reviews the current state of research in the child welfare domain and provides examples for how cognitive engineering approaches can take inspiration from the social sciences to help create a more equitable future. These examples outline the potential mutualism between social sciences and EHF and the way this collaboration might dismantle various oppressive systems.

Air and Land Transportation Development: A Mini Systematic Review of Ergonomics Contributions

Indonesia's transportation sector has experienced rapid growth. Research conducted in the field of ergonomics has resulted in a transportation mode development, that provides a comfortable and safe experience for passengers according to their basic needs. The research covers interior design, work environment, and workload in the transportation sector. However, there has yet to be a systematic review of the role and contribution of ergonomics in seeking ergonomic and human-centered transportation, as per the author's research. Therefore, this study examines ergonomics research (cognitive, physical, organizational) applied to Indonesia's innovation in air and land transportation over the past decade (2013-2022). A total of 23 articles were reviewed (6, 6, and 10 for air transportation, land and rail sectors, the land transportation sector other than trains, respectively). The results show that ergonomics impacts the development of ergonomic transportation in Indonesia. The potential for various studies is available in physical, cognitive, and organizational ergonomics.

Convolutional neural networks to classify human stress that occurs during in‐field sugarcane harvesting: A case study

AbstractAssessing human stress in agriculture proves to be a complex and time‐intensive endeavor within the field of ergonomics, particularly for the development of agricultural systems. This methodology involves the utilization of instrumentation and the establishment of a dedicated laboratory setup. The complexity arises from the need to capture and analyze various physiological and psychological indicators, such as heart rate (HR), muscle activity, and subjective feedback to comprehensively assess the impact of farm operations on subjects. The instrumentation typically includes wearable devices, sensors, and monitoring equipment to gather real‐time data of subject during the performance of farm operations. Deep learning (DL) models currently achieve human performance levels on real‐world face recognition tasks. In this study, we went beyond face recognition and experimented with the recognition of human stress based on facial features during the drudgery‐prone agricultural operation of sugarcane harvesting. This is the first research study for deploying artificial intelligence‐driven DL techniques to identify human stress in agriculture instead of monitoring several ergonomic characteristics. A total of 20 (10 each for male and female) subjects comprising 4300 augmented RGB images (215 per subject) were acquired during sugarcane harvesting seasons and then these images were deployed for training (80%) and validation (20%). Human stress and nonstress states were determined based on four ergonomic physiological parameters: heart rate (ΔHR), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), energy expenditure rate (EER), and acceptable workload (AWL). Stress was defined when ΔHR, OCR, EER, and AWL reached or exceeded certain standard threshold values. Four convolutional neural network‐based DL models (1) DarkNet53, (2) InceptionV3, (3) MobileNetV2 and (4) ResNet50 were selected due to their remarkable feature extraction abilities, simple and effective implementation to edge computation devices. In all four DL models, training performance results delivered training accuracy ranging from 73.8% to 99.1% at combinations of two mini‐batch sizes and four levels of epochs. The maximum training accuracies were 99.1%, 99.0%, 97.7%, and 95.4% at the combination of mini‐batch size 16 and 25 epochs for DarkNet53, InceptionV3, ResNet50, and MobileNetV2, respectively. Due to the best performance, DarkNet53 was tested further on an independent data set of 100 images and found 89.8%–93.3% confident to classify stressed images for female subjects while 92.2%–94.5% for male subjects, though it was trained on the integrated data set. The comparative classification of the developed model and ergonomic measurements for stress classification was carried out with a net accuracy of 88% where there were few instances of wrong classifications.

CHARACTERIZING PHYSICAL STRAIN IN NON-ROUTINIZED CLINICAL WORK THROUGH OBSERVATION: AN EXAMPLE OF ORAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

The Revised Strain Index (RSI), despite its prevalence in ergonomics field practice, is designed to assess jobs with cyclic and predictable physical and behavioral patterns. The quantification of exertion force, posture, and work task duration is substantially more challenging for non-routinized work in clinical and hospital environments. Using dental hygiene work as an exemplar, we proposed a consolidated method to characterize physical exertion for non-routinized work. We conducted the RSI adaptation process in two phases. In phase one, we characterized exertion in non-routinized work and identified representative intensity and posture patterns. In phase two, we validated the consolidated method using a small subset of dental hygiene video recordings and compared the results to the conventional sampling method.

The Impact of the Use of VR on the Effectiveness of Training in the Field of Occupational Health and Safety and Ergonomics

Enterprises are increasingly using modern solutions to train employees in the field of occupational safety and ergonomics. This is intended to encourage active participation in such training and to shape employees' awareness of these topics. One of the solutions used may be VR technology, which allows the employees to learn about issues by presenting situations as close to real ones as possible. The aim of this article is to present conclusions from the use of VR in Polish enterprises. The advantages of this solution were analyzed according to the OHS specialists, and the difficulties with implementing it in training were also indicated.

Review and comparison of linear algorithms to quantify muscle fatigue based on sEMG signals

Surface electromyography techniques are widely used in field of motion analysis and ergonomics combining precise muscular activation assessment with low-invasiveness and wearability. The aim of this investigation is to identify the myoelectrical manifestations of fatigue and to compare the effectiveness of sEMG-based quantitative indices for fatigue assessment. The investigated indexes are the ARV and RMS signal amplitudes, the mean frequency, the median frequency, the Dimitrov index, the instantaneous mean frequency and Wavelet distribution-based WIRE51 index. Two different protocols were developed, and the activity of the lateral deltoid and middle trapezius muscles was recorded. The WIRE51 index is found to have the highest sensitivity in the detection of the difference between the repetitions of each exercise for both protocols. Due to the lack of a unified standard for the performance comparison of fatigue indices, a correlation analysis was carried out between the result provided by the indices and the subjective fatigue perception employing the RPE scale.

Ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, treatment and return to work: a conceptual framework for intervention programs.

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most recurrent diseases among manual workers worldwide. The objective of this study was to analyze primary results of a systematic review on ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, treatment, and return to work in blue-collar workers to form a new conceptual framework applicable to intervention programs in this area. This study was based on the available scientific evidence we identified. Descriptive data and their trending topics areas were used to form the conceptual framework. The trend shows that working conditions can be represented as a three-axis scheme with a multidimensional conceptual framework considering ergonomic risks, the treatment of affected workers and the determinants related to working conditions. These results may help future research in the field of ergonomics as well as emerging topics focused on intervention programs.

Forestry Ergonomics Publications in the Last Decade: A Review

Compiling the research on forestry ergonomics, which is still a marginal field in terms of the sheer volume of published forestry-related articles, gives a good foundation and guidance for future research and publishing. This review aims to compile, classify, and analyze forestry ergonomics publications in JIF (Journal Impact Factor) journals regarding their spatial and temporal distribution, observed operations, machines and tools, and risk factors. A reference period from 2014 to 2023 was observed in this study. The Web of Science Core Collection database was used to filter publications in the field of forestry and ergonomics. A total number of 102 articles were selected. After selection, data regarding publishing year, journal name, main field, country of origin, forest operation, machine/tool, and risk factor were noted. The number of articles is ever-increasing with the last four years having above average numbers of articles. Countries from Europe and South America (Brazil) have the most publications. Most of the journals are ranked in the top 50%. Harvesting, wood extraction, and pre-harvesting operations have the highest number of records. Chainsaw, skidder, and pre-harvesting tools are the most observed means of work. The risk factors with the highest percentage of records are workload (23%), noise (20%), vibration (20%), postural load (16%), and MSD (Musculoskeletal Disorder) occurrence (7%).

ერგონომიკის საფუძვლები და მენეჯმენტი

The scientific basis of the origin and development of ergonomics and the important role that workplace arrangement plays in the effective work of employees is discussed. The necessity and importance of using knowledge in the field of science and ergonomics for labor’s safety and health, as well as for achieving high productivity in enterprises is reviewed.

Anthropometric measurements of male and female workers in bipedestation in the Venezuelan industrial direct labor force

In the Venezuelan labor context, there is scarce information associated with anthropometric measurements, due to the existing gaps in the field of ergonomics in Latin America and the Caribbean, of which there are few professionals trained in ergonomics. In this sense, it has affected the proper achievement of anthropometric studies that allow an adequate follow-up in the population in general and more specifically in the labor world. General objective: to measure and determine the anthropometric variables in standing position of Venezuelan workers in order to obtain more results in the field of occupational health. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, epidemiological and field study was carried out in a Venezuelan population of industrial direct labor workers in standing. The sample consisted of 185 workers (M:131, W:54) in the main industrial areas of the state of Aragua-Venezuela. The measuring instruments used in the investigation were: anthropometric tables for standing measurements, flexible tape measure for perimeter measurements and a wall height meter with a scale for weight measurements. The minitab-17 statistical package was used for the analysis and statistical study. Results: The study group consisted of 185 workers with an age range between 20-59 years; 131 men (70.8%) and 54 women (29.2%). The people evaluated had an average age of 43 years, their height x: 170.08 m, they are workers with 10 to 15 years of work experience, with wear and tear and possible pre-existing diseases, likewise, the female workers have an age x: 40.33 years and their height x: 156.27 cm, as well as the male worker have an average work experience between 10 and 15 years and possible pre-existing diseases. Conclusion: The study provides an approximation of anthropometric measurements in standing position of Venezuelan industrial direct labor workers (MODIV), which will allow the adaptation of workstations

Capability of Machine Learning Algorithms to Classify Safe and Unsafe Postures during Weight Lifting Tasks Using Inertial Sensors.

Occupational ergonomics aims to optimize the work environment and to enhance both productivity and worker well-being. Work-related exposure assessment, such as lifting loads, is a crucial aspect of this discipline, as it involves the evaluation of physical stressors and their impact on workers' health and safety, in order to prevent the development of musculoskeletal pathologies. In this study, we explore the feasibility of machine learning (ML) algorithms, fed with time- and frequency-domain features extracted from inertial signals (linear acceleration and angular velocity), to automatically and accurately discriminate safe and unsafe postures during weight lifting tasks. The signals were acquired by means of one inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the sternums of 15 subjects, and subsequently segmented to extract several time- and frequency-domain features. A supervised dataset, including the extracted features, was used to feed several ML models and to assess their prediction power. Interesting results in terms of evaluation metrics for a binary safe/unsafe posture classification were obtained with the logistic regression algorithm, which outperformed the others, with accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of up to 96% and 99%, respectively. This result indicates the feasibility of the proposed methodology-based on a single inertial sensor and artificial intelligence-to discriminate safe/unsafe postures associated with load lifting activities. Future investigation in a wider study population and using additional lifting scenarios could confirm the potentiality of the proposed methodology, supporting its applicability in the occupational ergonomics field.