Participatory Ergonomics Research Articles

A group-level approach to analyzing participative ergonomics (PE) effectiveness: The relationship between PE dimensions and employee exposure to injuries

Most studies concerned with participative ergonomic (PE) interventions, focus on organizational rather than group level analysis. By implementing an intervention at a manufacturing plant, the current study, utilizing advanced information systems, measured the effect of line-supervisor leadership on employee exposure to risks. The study evaluated which PE dimensions (i.e., extent of workforce involvement, diversity of reporter role types and scope of analysis) are related to such exposure at the group level. The data for the study was extracted from two separate computerized systems (workforce medical records of 791 employees and an intranet reporting system) during a two-year period. While the results did not confirm the effect of line-supervisor leadership on subordinates' exposure to risks, they did demonstrate relationships between PE dimensions and the employees' exposure to risks. The results support the suggested level of analysis and demonstrate that group-based analysis facilitates the assimilation of preventive interventions.

Working conditions review using ILO checklist based on participatory ergonomics approach and its impact on quality of work life and musculoskeletal disorders

Working conditions review using ILO checklist based on participatory ergonomics approach and its impact on quality of work life and musculoskeletal disorders

Analisis Prioritas Perbaikan Sistem Kerja Industri Rumah Tangga Dengan Program WISH

The purpose of this paper is to analyze work system improvements of home industries in Yogyakarta City,<br />based on participatory ergonomics approach. WISH (Work Improvement for Safe Home) action checklist<br />has been used as the instrument to analyse and evaluate the working conditions. WISH programme is<br />an action manual published by ILO (International Labour Organization) to improve work conditions of<br />home manufacturing by using a participatory approach. The working conditions in WISH action checklist<br />covers five aspects; i.e. materials storage and handling, machine safety, work stations, physical environment,<br />and welfare facilities and work organization. The early step in this study was identification of general<br />characteristics of home industries in Yogyakarta City. The results of identification were used as input in<br />developing improvement actions. Analysis was done to determine the priority among all improvement aspects<br />and improvement actions based on WISH action checklist. The findings show the most priority aspect of<br />improvement was Work Stations aspects with index priority 0.172. The action needed for the most priority<br />improvement aspect was developed by consideration of home industries characteristics.

Human-Centered Safe Design of Mining Equipment

Human-centered safe design is an increasingly influential approach in mining and other high-hazard work domains in part due to a growing recognition of the contribution of design to occupational safety. Human- centered safe design aims to eliminate workplace hazards by systematically involving end-users in the design of equipment. In this paper, the need for human-centered safe design work in the minerals industry is first introduced and a method previously developed by the authors and colleagues is presented. This human-centered safe design method is a task-based, participatory ergonomics, risk management approach that focuses on mining equipment operators and maintainers. A case study follows which demonstrates that focusing on end-users and their tasks by means of a structured user-centered process can help produce fit- for-purpose equipment for the mining industry.

Implementation of Active Rest in Participatory Ergonomics Decrease Workload and Women Musculoskeletal Complaints of Parking in Mall Ramayana Denpasar

The women workers usually work more than 8 hours a day and are in static condition, especially in the parking lot. Such conditions give rise to (a) fatigue accumulation, (b) musculoskeletal disorders, (c) increased workload, and (d) decreased work productivity. The study used the same subject design (treatment by subject design) involving 8 workers. In this case, will be compared the average score of workload and musculoskeletal disorders between before and after treatment. The data analysis used is paired t-test with 5% significance level. Some of the findings in this study are: (1) physical work environment in the comfort category based on acclimatization of Indonesian people; (2) the attitude of the parking officer is relatively natural, since they are using an ergonomic work station in terms of the suitability between the work table and the height of the worker's elbow and the seat is already referred to the popliteal height; (3) there was a significant decrease of workload between before and after the implementation of active participatory ergonomic break of 3.41% (p l0.05); and (4) there was a significant decrease of musculoskeletal disorder 41,63% (p l0,05).

Safety-Critical Manuals for Agricultural Tractor Drivers: A Method to Improve Their Usability

This work sets out the planning phases adopted for the first time to put together a manual on injury and accident prevention in the use of farm tractors. The goal is to convey information more effectively than at present, while taking the end users’ opinions into consideration. The manual was devised, created, and tested based on a human-centred design (HCD) process, which identified the operators’ requirements using a participatory ergonomics (PE) strategy. The main topics of the manual were outlined by engaging the users in a qualitative research activity (i.e., focus groups and workshops with final users), and the contents were prioritized and labelled by way of a noun prioritization activity. The users were involved right up to the choice of graphics and print layout in order to orient the publication to the farming context. The research activity highlighted a divergence between the operators’ requirements and the topics currently dealt with in the sector publications. The project resulted in the publication of the “Safe Tractor” manual, which features some innovations. The experience highlighted the need to adopt HCD processes to create innovative editorial products, which can help speed up the dissemination of safety culture in the primary sector.

Can participatory ergonomics process tactics improve simulator fidelity and give rise to transdisciplinarity in stakeholders? A before–after case study

Production of high fidelity simulators requires stakeholders to remain engaged throughout the process, and development of research-oriented simulators requires the sharing of knowledge beyond individual disciplines. Failings in simulator design that compromise the goals of the End-user evidence a participatory problem associated with how actors are coordinated during its development. Participatory ergonomics has been shown to improve collaboration between eclectic groups in a variety of psychosocial settings and may help people transcend disciplinary boundaries, enabling them to anticipate problems, create solutions and produce innovation. A before–after approach involving design evaluations and Design Decision Group sessions with three stakeholder groups was used to evaluate and re-design a high fidelity rail simulator. Prior to re-design, the evaluation identified issues with functional design, task design, visual ergonomics, and tractability for the End-user, which meant that the simulator was unfit for purpose. Following the participatory ergonomics process, the second evaluation identified significant improvements in all these areas and solutions, providing compelling evidence that transdisciplinarity had occurred. Based on the pattern of continued engagement, the process produced further innovation and opportunity for collaboration in the long term. This study supports the utility of collaborative initiatives that energise iterative design processes, find common ground, and ensure that knowledge and methods are utilised in ways that transcend the boundaries of conventional disciplines. The study reveals a unique perspective and research scope on the design of a simulator facility, with insights about research-industry partnerships that highlight the value and necessity of participatory processes. This work contributes to the literature on participatory methods calling for more research on team function, and a corresponding framework incorporating participatory ergonomics and collective function is proposed for further study. Relevance to IndustryThe approach and lessons from this study are broadly generalisable to a variety of industry contexts, particularly those that would benefit from conditions where people with disparate views must work together with end-users to achieve a common goal and where exchange of knowledge is a crucial predictor for success.

Evolución De La Ergonomía Participativa: Conceptos y Aproximaciones Metodologicas

Se realizó una revisión descriptiva de la evolución de la ergonomía participativa como estrategia de intervención, su progreso conceptual y metodológico desde sus inicios de aplicación a la actualidad. La revisión se realizó a partir de estrategias de consulta que incluyeron las siguientes: 1) consulta de seis bases de datos, 2) seis principales revistas científicas y 3) selección de cuatro libros especializados. Se seleccionaron 70 artículos potenciales clasificados como bibliografía exploratoria. Se establecieron como criterios de selección los siguientes: artículos científicos o libros especializados y tema central ergonomía participativa aplicada. De acuerdo con estos criterios se determinó como bibliografía pertinente y relevante 37 publicaciones, las cuales fueron analizadas a la luz de la evolución de la ergonomía participativa. Como conclusión se determinó que la ergonomía participativa puede ubicarse como una subárea de la Macroergonomía en cons- tante evolución que llega a considerarse por distintos autores como filosofía, modelo, enfoque, estrategia o metodología. Es necesario revisar la evidencia científica para desarrollar un concepto más acertado, que le permita a la ergonomía participativa ser parte integral en cada una de las dimensiones de la ergonomía.

Redesign of Liquid Aluminum Pouring Tool based on Participatory Ergonomics to Improve Productivity, Workload, and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Redesign of Liquid Aluminum Pouring Tool based on Participatory Ergonomics to Improve Productivity, Workload, and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Facilitators and barriers to the adoption of ergonomic solutions in construction.

Rates of musculoskeletal disorders in construction remain high. Few studies have described barriers and facilitators to the use of available ergonomic solutions. This paper describes these barriers and facilitators and their relationship to the level of adoption. Three analysts rated 16 proposed ergonomic solutions from a participatory ergonomics study and assessed the level of adoption, six adoption characteristics, and identified the category of adoption from a theoretical model. Twelve solutions were always or intermittently used and were rated positively for characteristics of relative advantage, compatibility with existing work processes and trialability. Locus of control (worker vs. contractor) was not related to adoption. Simple solutions faced fewer barriers to adoption than those rated as complex. Specific adoption characteristics can help predict the use of new ergonomic solutions in construction. Adoption of complex solutions must involve multiple stakeholders, more time, and shifts in culture or work systems. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:295-305, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The impact of a participatory ergonomics intervention: the value of involvement

ABSTRACTThis article presents the implementation of a participatory ergonomics (PE) approach in a multinational company in the northern side of Italy, aiming to improve ergonomics, well-being and production outcomes. The methodology used is based on the creation of a multi-disciplinary team to provide and discuss ergonomics’ solutions according to the physical problems of the workers involved and better manage the re-introduction of the workers in the line of production. The study consists of a longitudinal analysis before and after the plant redesign and the PE intervention. Some psychosocial variables as job satisfaction, perceived fatigue, perceived usefulness, repetitiveness, occupational safety and company attention to safety have been monitored to verify the impact of the PE intervention. The results show how the PE intervention positively influences the perception of workers regarding the level of fatigue and repetitiveness and increasing job satisfaction, usefulness and occupational safety with a positive impact on productivity.

Field tests of a participatory ergonomics toolkit for Total Worker Health

Growing interest in Total Worker Health® (TWH) programs to advance worker safety, health and well-being motivated development of a toolkit to guide their implementation. Iterative design of a program toolkit occurred in which participatory ergonomics (PE) served as the primary basis to plan integrated TWH interventions in four diverse organizations. The toolkit provided start-up guides for committee formation and training, and a structured PE process for generating integrated TWH interventions. Process data from program facilitators and participants throughout program implementation were used for iterative toolkit design. Program success depended on organizational commitment to regular design team meetings with a trained facilitator, the availability of subject matter experts on ergonomics and health to support the design process, and retraining whenever committee turnover occurred. A two committee structure (employee Design Team, management Steering Committee) provided advantages over a single, multilevel committee structure, and enhanced the planning, communication, and teamwork skills of participants.

Participatory ergonomics in Indonesian tin mining

Thousands of small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) employees in Indonesian tin mining companies work in dangerous environments without sufficient safety and health protections. This study’s aim was to investigate the identified factors, such as difficulty in communication among stakeholders (owner, manager, and worker), and workers’ negative attitudes towards and lack of knowledge in the use of personal protective equipment that inhibit the implementation of Participatory Ergonomics in Indonesian tin mining companies. Eighteen participants from five SMEs, encompassing three different roles, i.e. worker, owner and manager, participated in the interview study. The study revealed that the dissemination of occupational safety through a kinship approach and specific safety training were preferred to resolve communication, cultural and knowledge problems. The provision of clear definitions of roles and tasks and the allocation of time and resources were suggested as ways to empower workers and supervisors.

PENERAPAN PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMICS DALAM PERBAIKAN SISTEM K3 DI BAGIAN LAMINATING DAN CUTTING (STUDI KASUS DI PT PRIMARINDO ASIA INFRASTRUCTURE TBK)

This research concerns with the applications of participatory ergonomics (PE) for workplace improvement in the laminating and cutting department of a shoe industry, PT Primarindo Asia Infrastructure TBK. PE refers to making employees, managers, ergonomists, health and safety personnel and research experts take part in the system design progresses early and completelly to increase their autonomy and direct influence on all aspects of the work that they are going to perform. The implementation of PE consists of the following steps: (1) the analysis of workplace conditions based on International Labour Organization’s safety standard checklist (2) hazard identification using Job Safety Analysis (3) risk score determination and (4) recommendation on what to be improved. In this respect we recommend to provide personal protective equipment for the employees, safety division also to improve the workplace safety.

PENERAPAN PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMICS DALAM PERBAIKAN SISTEM K3 DI BAGIAN LAMINATING DAN CUTTING (STUDI KASUS DI PT PRIMARINDO ASIA INFRASTRUCTURE TBK)

This research concerns with the applications of participatory ergonomics (PE) for workplace improvement in the laminating and cutting department of a shoe industry, PT Primarindo Asia Infrastructure TBK. PE refers to making employees, managers, ergonomists, health and safety personnel and research experts take part in the system design progresses early and completelly to increase their autonomy and direct influence on all aspects of the work that they are going to perform. The implementation of PE consists of the following steps: (1) the analysis of workplace conditions based on International Labour Organization’s safety standard checklist (2) hazard identification using Job Safety Analysis (3) risk score determination and (4) recommendation on what to be improved. In this respect we recommend to provide personal protective equipment for the employees, safety division also to improve the workplace safety.

Participatory organizational intervention for improved use of assistive devices for patient transfer: study protocol for a single-blinded cluster randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have shown that patient transfer is a risk factor for back pain, back injuries and long term sickness absence, whereas consistent use of assistive devices during patient transfer seems to be protective. While classical ergonomic interventions based on education and training in lifting and transferring techniques have not proven to be effective in preventing back pain, participatory ergonomics, that is meant to engage and motivate the involved parties while at the same time making the intervention maximally relevant, may represent a better solution. However, these findings are largely based on uncontrolled studies and thus lack to be confirmed by studies with better study designs. In this article, we present the design of a study which aims to evaluate the effect and process of a participatory organizational intervention for improved use of assistive devices.MethodsThe study was performed as a cluster randomized controlled trial. We recruited 27 departments (clusters) from five hospitals in Denmark to participate in the study. Prior to randomization, interviews, observations and questionnaire answers (baseline questionnaire) were collected to gain knowledge of barriers and potential solutions for better use of assistive devices. In April 2016, the 27 departments were randomly allocated using a random numbers table to a participatory intervention (14 clusters, 324 healthcare workers) or a control group (13 clusters, 318 healthcare workers). The participatory intervention will consist of workshops with leaders and selected healthcare workers of each department. Workshop participants will be asked to discuss the identified barriers, develop solutions for increasing the use of assistive devices and implement them in their department. Use of assistive devices (using digital counters -, primary outcome, and accelerometers and questionnaire - secondary outcome), perceived physical exertion during patient transfer, pain intensity in the lower back, occurrence of work-related back injuries during patient transfer, organizational readiness to change, knowledge on how to perform proper patient transfer, social capital and work ability (secondary outcomes) were assessed at baseline and will also be assessed at 1 year follow-up. Process evaluation will be based on qualitative and quantitative data to assess the implementation, the change process, and the impact of context aspects.DiscussionThe study will evaluate the effect and process of a participatory intervention on improving the use of assistive devices for patient transfer among hospital healthcare workers. By using cluster-randomization, as well as process- and effect evaluation based on objective measures we will contribute to the evidence base of a promising intervention approach.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02708550). March, 2016.

A Collaborative Usability Evaluation (CUE) Model for Health IT Design and Implementation

ABSTRACTIn this article, the authors describe a collaborative usability evaluation (CUE) model based on a participatory ergonomics framework. The model was applied to an organization’s health IT design and implementation processes. Individuals received education on usability evaluation principles and methods and had an opportunity for hands-on experience with usability testing. Actual usability evaluations increased participant confidence in their ability to independently design and lead such evaluations. The CUE model has since been applied to the organization’s iterative process of health IT design, has been institutionalized by the health IT department, and is integrated in its health IT implementation timelines.

Effect of multifaceted interventions on musculoskeletal disorders in nurses

Objective To explore the effect of multifaceted interventions on musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) in nurses which consists of participatory ergonomics, physical training and cognitive behavioral training. Methods Totally 420 nurses were investigated about their situation of MSDs in June 2014 by Nordic self-rating MSDs scale. Nurses were assigned to the control group (n=191) and the intervention group (n=229) according to the survey. In the intervention group, the number of nurses with MSDs was 141, and the number of nurses without MSDs was 88; in the control group, the number of nurses with MSDs was 102, and the number of nurses without MSDs was 89. Nurses in the intervention group received multifaceted intervention, while nurses in the control group received no intervention. The changes on duration, intensity and related expenses of MSDs were compared between two groups after 6 months. Results For nurses with MSDs, there was no significance among the duration, intensity and related expenses between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). After intervention, the duration, intensity and related expenses of nurses with MSDs in the intervention group were (8.1±4.3)d, (3.5±2.6) points and (648.7±128.0) yuan, and they were lower than that of nurses with MSDs in the control group [(12.7±7.2) d, (3.4±2.2) points, (950.8±103.6) yuan](t=-6.211, -3.896, -19.631; P<0.01). Before intervention, there were no records of the duration, intensity and related expenses of nurses without MSDs; after intervention, the duration, intensity and related expenses of nurses without MSDs were (7.6±4.7) d, (3.4±2.2) points and (525.3±140.6) yuan, which were lower than that of the control group [(9.2±3.5) d, (4.5±3.3) points, (820.4±120.5) yuan] (t=-2.571, -2.606, -14.998; P<0.05). Conclusions Multifaceted interventions consisting of participatory ergonomics, physical training and cognitive behavioral training can reduce the duration, intensity and related expenses of nurses with MSDs, and they also have a preventive effect for nurses without MSDs. Key words: Musculoskeletal disorders; Multifaceted intervention; Participatory ergonomics; Physical training; Cognitive behavior

Case Study: Participatory Ergonomics in Road Construction and an Occupational Perspective of Health

Road construction comprises high-risk work activity including risks for collision, musculoskeletal disorder, and slips, trips and falls. A participatory ergonomics project was hosted after compelling field observations were made. A manual task involving roll-out of multi-laminate tape was redesigned with the fabrication of a customized trolley. A human-centered design process was engaged (The Design for Operability and Maintainability Technique) and the project outcomes were reviewed according to an Occupational Perspective of Health, a spectrum of safety through to productivity (or “doing – being – becoming – belonging”). Critical success factors of the project are described, also, to inform activity that may sustain a participatory ergonomics and human-centered design practice.

Processes, barriers and facilitators to implementation of a participatory ergonomics program among eldercare workers

This study aimed to investigate the processes of a participatory ergonomics program among 594 eldercare workers with emphasis on identified risk factors for low back pain and solutions, and reveal barriers and facilitators for implementation.Sixty-nine per cent of the identified risk factors were physical ergonomic, 24% were organisational and 7% were psychosocial risk factors. Most solutions were organisational (55%), followed by physical (43%) and psychosocial solutions (2%). Internal factors (e.g. team or management) constituted 47% of the barriers and 75% of the facilitators. External factors (e.g. time, financial resources, collaboration with resident or relatives) constituted 53% of the barriers and 25% of the facilitators.This study revealed the processes and implementation of a participatory ergonomics program among eldercare workers. The findings can be transferred to workers, workplaces, health and safety professionals, and researchers to improve future participatory ergonomics programs.