Line Of Work Research Articles

Enhancing Equity on Crisis Lines: Understanding the Background, Practices and Learning Needs of Responders in Canada.

Understanding the current state of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within the crisis line sector is essential to enhancing accessibility and acceptability of crisis line services for all. Through an intersectional lens, we examined 9-8-8 crisis line workers' personal and work demographics, training, resources, perceived competencies in supporting diverse populations.We conducted an electronic survey of crisis line responders and leadership in Canada. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's test, and Mann-Whitney U/Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Open ended responses were analyzed using content analysis.323 surveys were completed. Analysis revealed statistically significant associations between respondent demographics, training satisfaction, access to resources, and perceived competency in supporting diverse communities. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for new approaches to recruitment and training in the crisis line sector to enhance the inclusivity of crisis services for all individuals seeking mental health support.

Considering the imperfect cooperation among workers in the two-sided partial disassembly line balancing problem and the corresponding multi-modal multi-objective solution algorithm

Considering the imperfect cooperation among workers in the two-sided partial disassembly line balancing problem and the corresponding multi-modal multi-objective solution algorithm

Relationship between mental fatigue and cognitive functions in energized line workers of electric sector companies in Aragua State-Venezuela, 2024

Introduction: Understanding the physical and mental state of operational personnel in the electrical sector was essential to ensure health and prevent workplace accidents. This research analyzed the relationship between mental fatigue and cognitive functions in energized line workers of electric companies in Aragua state, Venezuela. Methods: The study was developed under the positivist paradigm with a quantitative approach, non-experimental, descriptive, field-based, and cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of twelve workers assigned to energized line departments. Data collection was conducted through observation, photographic records, sociodemographic survey, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test version 8.1 (MoCA), and Subjective Fatigue Patterns Test (PSF). Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between variables. Results: The results showed a low inverse correlation, suggesting that increased fatigue levels could be associated with a decrease in cognitive function values. Conclusions: A moderately low and non-significant statistical correlation was concluded, suggesting the need for future research with larger sample sizes and validation of other variables such as age, educational level, experience, as well as specific analysis of the Montreal Cognitive Test variables.

Intelligent system for assembly-line worker’s fatigue recognition and facilitation

The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0 paradigm, gives scope to resolve the challenges of 21st-century manufacturing. Physical stress or worker’s work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) remain a challenge to the manual assembly line production system. This research provides a new intelligent framework to recognize and facilitate an assembly line fatigue worker. The intelligent framework provides a real-time fatigue status of each assembly worker on the manager’s work screen. Furthermore, the intelligent system provides a suitable solution to facilitate the fatigue worker, without disturbing the line balance. A novel approach is given to recognize the assembly line workers’ physical stress or work fatigue using the Knowledge-based Intelligent System (KBIS) methodology. Similarly, intelligent work rotation algorithms are proposed to find the solutions to facilitate the fatigue worker. Details of intelligent fatigue recognition, making of a learning-based fatigue recognition model, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) setup for worker’s real-time status monitoring, and Pseudocodes of intelligent work rotation algorithms are discussed in detail. Furthermore, an illustrative example is given to demonstrate the scope of the proposed framework for a manual assembly line system. Four worker assembly line is considered during the illustration. Details of intelligent fatigue worker recognition with their current-status is explained. The intelligent algorithm has recognised that the worker 4 is under fatigue condition. Furthermore, the intelligent facilitation algorithm found the worker 6 as alternative worker to facilitate the fatigue worker. Learning-based classification models are used to make fatigue recognition model. However, Random Forest model has shown better performance in terms of prediction accuracy while recognising the worker’s fatigue status. Similarly, worker’s work capability models are used to find a suitable alternative worker to facilitate the fatigue worker.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical office assistants (MOAs) Working in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study.

Medical Office Assistants (MOAs), also known as receptionists and clerks, are front line workers and the most accessible member of the primary care team. Historically, their contributions to primary care have been unrecognised and undervalued. The COVID-19 pandemic put pressure on existing roles and systems in primary care: how MOAs adapted is unknown. To explore the experiences of MOAs working in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of MOAs and family physicians (FPs) who worked with MOAs during this period. A qualitative study using Constructivist Grounded Theory, conducted in Ontario, Canada METHOD: Seventeen participants were recruited through professional contacts of the research team. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with MOAs and FPs across the province. MOAs' many responsibilities in primary care intensified during the pandemic. MOAs leveraged their healthcare system knowledge and therapeutic relationships with patients to reduce patient distress. Unfortunately, MOAs experienced more frustration, and in some cases, abuse from patients. MOAs' ability to adapt to new systems and respond to high patient needs seemed to be positively influenced by their relationships with patients and FPs. FPs expressed concern for MOA welfare and recognised their critical role on primary care teams. MOAs made significant contributions to primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests MOAs have greater capacity than previously recognised which has important implications for planning in an era of under-resourced healthcare.

Balancing heterogeneous assembly line with multi-skilled human-robot collaboration via Adaptive cooperative co-evolutionary algorithm

In human-centred manufacturing, deploying collaborative robots (cobots) is recognized as a promising strategy to enhance the inclusiveness and resilience of production systems. Despite notable progress, current production scheduling methods for human-robot collaboration (HRC) still fail to adequately accommodate workforce heterogeneity, significantly reducing their adoption and implementation. To address this gap, we introduce a novel model for the Assembly Line Worker Integration and Balancing Problem considering Multi-skilled Human-Robot Collaboration (ALWIBP-mHRC). This model aims to optimize task scheduling between semi-skilled workers and cobots, aiming to maximize productivity and minimize costs. It features a multi-skilled human-robot collaboration (mHRC) task assignment scheme that selects the optimal assembly/collaboration mode from seven scenarios, based on specific task requirements and resource-skill availability, thus maximizing resource-skill complementarity. To tackle the complexities of this problem, we propose an adaptive multi-objective cooperative co-evolutionary algorithm (a-MOCC) that incorporates a sub-problem decomposition and decoding framework tailored for ALWIBP-mHRC, enhanced by an adaptive evolutionary strategy based on Q-learning (Q-Coevolution). Experimental tests demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method compared to other established metaheuristic algorithms across various instance sizes, underscoring its effectiveness in enhancing the productivity of production systems for semi-skilled workers. The findings are significant for investment decision-making and resource planning, as they highlight the strategic value of integrating cobots in large-scale heterogeneous workforce production. This work underscores the potential of cobots to mitigate skill gaps in assembly systems, laying the groundwork for future research and industrial strategies focused on enhancing productivity, inclusivity, and adaptability in a dynamically changing labour market.

Investigating the relationship between body structure status, work activity type, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among detergent industry workers.

The physical condition of workers' body structure and assigned duties, can contribute to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body structure status, type of work activity, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the detergent industry. This cross-sectional study involved 148 industrial workers selected based on inclusion criteria and their medical checkup records. Data collection for the study included a demographic information questionnaire, a body map questionnaire, and an assessment of the workers' musculoskeletal system conducted by three physiotherapists simultaneously. 54.1% of the participants had a total body structure score classified as poor or fair. The neck region showed the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (51.4%), followed by the lower back region (35.1%). Significant associations were found between abnormalities in the upper and middle limbs of the body and the prevalence of pain in the right shoulder region (Fisher/F = 9.29, P≤0.05) as well as the intermediate back region (F = 10.28, P≤0.01). Office workers experienced a higher prevalence of neck pain than workers in the product line and technical roles, with a statistically significant Odds Ratio (OR) ranging between 2.7 and 6.6 times. Conversely, industrial workers who operate powered machinery showed a higher prevalence of pain in the left shoulder (OR = 3.93) and left foot (OR = 4.07). Meanwhile, workers involved in loading and unloading tasks had a higher prevalence of pain in the middle back (OR = 3.61) and right foot (OR = 4.5) compared to office workers. The prevalence of pain in the right shoulder and middle back may be due to abnormalities in the upper and intermediate body structure. Production line workers reported a higher prevalence of pain in the left shoulder, middle back, and foot compared to office workers.

Exploring the influence of music on cognitive performance in female assembly line workers at a medical device manufacturing unit.

The significance of enhancing working conditions for the physical health and performance of workers, particularly female workers, underscores the need for research in this domain and the examination of interventions such as music. Previous studies have yielded diverse outcomes regarding the influence of music on individuals' performance; hence, further research in this area appears imperative. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of music on the cognitive and task performance of female assembly operation operators. This study is an interventional (quasi-experimental) study that involved 81 participants from the female workforce of the medical equipment assembly unit in Isfahan, Iran. The evaluation encompassed task performance, working memory using N-Back test, sustained attention using continues performance test (CPT), degree of sleepiness, and mental fatigue using Flicker Fusion test, along with physiological parameters such as heart rate and blood oxygen level. Participants underwent testing both in the presence of classical music and in a condition without music playback. The provision of background music enhanced the workers' sustained attention and working memory. It led to improved task performance and a reduction in drowsiness. Concerning physiological parameters, it resulted in a slight decrease in heart rate at the end of the work shift and a marginal increase in participants' blood oxygen levels. Background music enhanced working memory (p-value = 0.001), sustained attention (p-value = 0.001), and improved the task performance of workers(p-value = 0.005). Additionally, likely due to increased relaxation, it led to a decrease in heart rate (p-value = 0.001) and an increase in blood oxygen levels (p-value = 0.016). Music also played a role in reducing participants' sleepiness (p-value = 0.001).

Use of AI in assembly line design and worker and equipment management: review and future directions

Use of AI in assembly line design and worker and equipment management: review and future directions

Experiences of living within PFAS-polluted environs: a systematic review

This article examines victimization caused by corporate environmental crime related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution. The system-atic qualitative literature review and thematic synthesis of 27 studies from the USA, Australia, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom aimed to identify critical areas of concern by analyzing the experiences of fence line commu-nities and workers exposed to PFAS. The analysis revealed five stages of the PFAS adaptation process: pre-discovery, discovery, lifestyle change, change in social networks, and restitution. In each of these five phases, unique lived experiences faced by those exposed to corporate environmental harm are highlighted, and physical, psychological, emotional, and socio-economic consequences are discussed. Based on the findings, a conceptual framework of corporate harm adaptation consisting of the five phases was developed to enhance understanding of the complexities and broader impacts of PFAS pollution on those exposed to it. This review highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the multifaceted harms of PFAS pollution and emphasizes the need to expand the knowledge base on corporate crime through an improved understanding of the victim experiences and conse-quences of PFAS pollution. This study serves as a reminder of the need to consider the multifaceted experiences of affected fence line communities and workers in addressing corporate environmental crimes.

A Framework of Employee Sustainability in the Current Business Environment

[1] The current business environment is getting more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambigious. Due to this, it has become difficult for organisations to retain their employees. However, there are some organisations that are able to sustain their employees despite all those challenges. Achieving employee sustainability indicates sustainability in the business operations. The key to creating a vibrant and sustainable organisation is to find ways to get all the employees—from the top executives to the assembly line workers—personally engaged in day-to-day corporate sustainability efforts. Employees sustainability could be influenced by their motivation to remain despite the harsh business environment. The business environment is not only harsh but its unpredictable, which affects the stability of the organization as a whole. Their level of motivation could be linked to the theory of needs which covers physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem and self-actualization. The purpose of this study is to examine the variables that frameworks employee sustainability.

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.

Comparison of wrist range of motion and muscle strength in assembly workers with and without lateral epicondylitis.

Lateral epicondylitis (LE), also called tennis elbow, is a common musculoskeletal disorder that causes pain in the elbow area and is highly prevalent in assembly workers who repeatedly move their wrists. The purpose of this study was to compare the wrist ROM and muscle strength of assembly workers with and without LE. Forty-five male assembly line workers (23 with LE) participated in the study. Participants had their wrist range of motion (flexion, extension, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation) and strength (wrist flexors, extensors, and hand grip) measured using Smart KEMA sensors. Workers with LE showed significantly reduced wrist extension and radial deviation ROM compared to workers without LE, with no significant differences in wrist flexion and ulnar deviation ROM between groups. Workers with LE had significantly lower wrist extensor strength compared to workers without LE, and there was no significant difference in wrist flexor and grip strength between the two groups. For workers with LE, the difference in wrist ROM and muscle strength will be useful for planning intervention and evaluating treatment outcomes for assembly workers with LE.

Social Sustainability in Practice: Bridging the Gap from Declarations to Real-World Scenarios on Sustainability Driven by Ergonomics

In the paper, the role of ergonomics in promoting social sustainability within the workplace has been investigated and supported by evidence from the literature. Empirical research was conducted among 147 assembly line workers to gain insights into work-related discomfort and fatigue. This study used an ergonomic risk assessment (ERA) method to evaluate the ergonomic quality of workstations and correlated these findings with employees’ subjective experiences. The results showed a relationship between objective ergonomic assessments and subjective perceptions of work itself and company organizational factors, which were orally stated to the assessors, emphasizing the critical role of ergonomics in advancing social sustainability goals. The proposed DMAIC model was implemented to integrate ergonomic innovations into business processes to achieve social sustainability goals. Further research is needed to operationalize ergonomics in sustainability efforts.

A Descriptive Study of Pulmonary Function Comparison Between Spot Welding and Assembly Line Workers in a Large Automotive Factory in Iran.

This study seeks to define the pulmonary function of a considerably large group in one of the largest automotive companies in Iran. The aim of this study was to compare the two groups of spot-welding (exposed) and assembly line (unexposed) workers in terms of pulmonary function and conclude the probable impacts of metal fumes on pulmonary function in the two groups. A total of 1,798 spot-welding personnel and 2,160 assembly line personnel were compared in terms of pulmonary function. Moreover, 120 breathing zone samples were collected from the welders' metal fumes and were analyzed. The parameters of age, anthropometric indices, smoking, and pulmonary symptoms were also compared with across the two groups. Results revealed the FEV1 mean of the total population to be 3.9 ± 0.5 liters and FVC to have been 4.9 ± 0.7 liters. Besides, predicted FEV1 and FVC percentages across the whole population were close to 100%, suggesting the better condition of the studied population compared with normal individuals in the society. All the parameters of age, weight, height, and smoking status were similar in the two groups, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of pulmonary functions. Implementation of professional health and health improvement programs, running screening programs, and hiring personnel with no history of mild pulmonary disorders, and healthy workers effect at the recruitment stage could be the reasons behind the lack of significant difference between the two exposed and unexposed groups to metal fumes in the automotive industry in terms of pulmonary function.

Impact Assessment of Covid19 pandemic on operational aspect of national tuberculosis elimination program in Bhavnagar district

PurposeIndia account more than one forth tuberculosis cases. Covid 19 affect health condition like tuberculosis. We aim to assess impact of covid 19 on National Tuberculosis Elimination Program. MethodIn depth interviews of district tuberculosis officer, private practitioner and tuberculosis patients (who registered in District Tuberculosis Centre during April 2020–September2020) were conducted in Bhavnagar district. Notification rate during covid 19 was obtained from District Tuberculosis Centre of Bhavnagar district. All interviews were audio-recorded after obtaining written informed consent, transcribed in English, and analyzed in the form of codes and categories. ResultHealth care providers perceived covid 19 lockdowns, fear among patients, difficult transportation, diversion of resources and reduced concerns towards tuberculosis were the reason for low notification during the COVID-19 pandemic. ConclusionCOVID-19 lockdown had detrimental effects on notification rate. During such testing time patients felt proper supervision by front line worker, no issued in direct benefit transfer for nutrition support and adequate supply of medicine. Telemedicine, awareness through social media, collaboration with other agencies, bidirectional screening implementation, coping of covid 19 fear among patients, separate tuberculosis facility were the expectation from higher authority if next wave of covid 19 will come. Future studies can evaluate the feasibility, impact, and cost-effectiveness of such interventions.

Key issues in Japan's public health centers to prepare for future pandemics: a text mining study using a topic model.

In Japan, over 450 public health centers played a central role in the operation of the local public health system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify key issues for improving the system for public health centers for future pandemics. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire. The respondents were first line workers in public health centers or local governments during the pandemic. We solicited open-ended responses concerning improvements needed for future pandemics. Issues were identified from these descriptions using morphological analysis and a topic model with KHcoder3.0. The number of topics was estimated using Perplexity as a measure, and Latent Dirichlet Allocation for meaning identification. We received open-ended responses from 784 (48.6%) of the 1,612 survey respondents, which included 111 physicians, 330 nurses, and 172 administrative staff. Morphological analysis processed these descriptions into 36,632 words. The topic model summarized them into eight issues: 1) establishment of a crisis management system, 2) division of functions among public health centers, prefectures, and medical institutions, 3) clear role distribution in public health center staff, 4) training of specialists, 5) information sharing system (information about infectious diseases and government policies), 6) response to excessive workload (support from other local governments, cooperation within public health centers, and outsourcing), 7) streamlining operations, and 8) balance with regular duties. This study identified key issues that need to be addressed to prepare Japan's public health centers for future pandemics. These findings are vital for discussions aimed at strengthening the public health system based on experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Model and heuristics for the multi-manned assembly line worker integration and balancing problem

This paper examines the balancing of assembly lines with multi-manned stations and a heterogeneous workforce. Both topics received considerable attention in the literature, but not in an integrated fashion. Combining these two characteristics gives rise to a highly combinatorial Multi-manned Assembly Line Worker Integration and Balancing Problem. When considering multi-manned stations, the already coupled decisions on assigning tasks to heterogeneous workers and workers to stations must be further linked with task scheduling assessments. We propose a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming model and develop two heuristic solution procedures, which tackle the problem with a hierarchical decomposition approach. Computational tests on a large dataset indicate that the proposed method can obtain good primal bounds in short computational times. We demonstrate that these results can be applied to the monolithic model either as a warm start or in a proximity search procedure to obtain synergistic gains with statistically significant differences. From a managerial perspective, we show that multi-manned stations can reduce the assembly line's length even in the presence of a heterogeneous workforce, which is crucial for many industries manufacturing large-size products.

The Lesser of Two Evils? Explaining Chinese Rural Migrant Workers’ Preference for On-demand Food Delivery Work With Reference to the Legal Framework

Drawing on a series of interviews with on-demand food delivery riders, who are rural migrant workers, this paper seeks to explain the workers’ decision to give up stable jobs in factories in favour of largely unregulated and precarious on-demand work. Focusing on those aspects of the legal framework which shape workers’ decisions, it presents the explanation under the dual banners of ‘income’ and ‘freedom and flexibility’. In terms of income, Chinese law often enables low factory wages and a reliance on overtime; migrant workers view social insurance contributions as a loss; issues with payroll and wage arrears are significant. In terms of freedom and flexibility, insufficient rest rights lead to inadequate breaks for assembly line workers and, compounded by unspecified ‘special working time’ permit physically unbearable shifts without extra compensation. Age and gender discrimination are prevalent both in factories and various sectors. In contrast, on-demand delivery work has relatively low barriers to entry.

The Ergonomic Behaviors Evaluation Tool (EBET) based on social cognitive theory for the assembly line workers: development and psychometric assessment

BackgroundErgonomic behaviors play a crucial role in preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). To measure these behaviors, this research aimed to develop and evaluate an ergonomic behaviors tool (EBET) based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) among women workers on assembly lines (WwAL).MethodsThe study was conducted from December 2022 to January 2023 with a focus on the psychometric assessment of EBET. Initially, a literature review and interviews were carried out to identify crucial concepts and primary items. The questionnaire’s validity was evaluated using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and the Content Validity Index (CVI). To determine the domains of the tool, construct validity was examined by administering the items to 270 eligible women. The reliability of the tool was assessed using McDonald’s Omega coefficient.ResultsFrom a total of 67 primary items, 50 were confirmed. The study demonstrated good validity with CVR = 0.92 and CVI = 0.97, along with reliable results indicated by McDonald’s Omega coefficient of 0.74. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed ten distinct dimensions: outcome expectations, outcome expectancies, normative beliefs, perceived barriers, social support, observational learning, reinforcement, behavioral skills, self-efficacy, and intention. Together, these dimensions accounted for 66.25% of the variance in the data. Additionally, the confirmatory factor analysis results supported the presence of these ten constructs and demonstrated a satisfactory fit.ConclusionsEBET is a dependable and valid instrument for evaluating the ergonomic behaviors of workers, utilizing the principles of SCT. Researchers can employ EBET to gather data and implement suitable training interventions to enhance ergonomic behavior among WwAL. However, it is crucial to recognize that EBET may not encompass all facets of ergonomic behaviors. Therefore, it is imperative for future research to prioritize the evaluation of EBET’s suitability among diverse worker populations and to consider additional dimensions of ergonomics to ensure its wider applicability and effectiveness.