Types Of Workstations Research Articles

Fault Tree Analysis as a Tool to Increase the Level of Security in an Enterprise

Abstract Technological progress, as well as the development of the sciences on occupational health and safety, increased safety and improved working conditions in enterprises of even the most onerous industries. To maintain the required level of safety, preventive actions are taken to identify all hazards in the workplace. In practice, many methods are used to identify hazards depending on the type of technological processes and the types of workstations analyzed. The article presents the advantages of the fault tree analysis method as a tool to support the process safety management in the enterprise. The article presents features of the fault tree analysis method as a tool for better security management in an enterprise. Cause and effect relationships between events in the fault tree schema on selected examples were examined. Indirect and direct causes of accidents and failures in the enterprise have been identified, including human errors (human factor). The use of the fault tree analysis method to support accident and failure risk assessment in an industrial plant was also analyzed.

Effects of office workstation type on physical activity and stress

ObjectiveOffice environments have been causally linked to workplace-related illnesses and stress, yet little is known about how office workstation type is linked to objective metrics of physical activity and stress....

A personalized self-management and intensive spa therapy intervention for musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities contributes to reduce disability: A randomized controlled trial

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) constitute a major occupational health problem in the working population. MSDs manifest as localized pain or functional difficulty in one or more anatomical areas, such as the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist. Although physical exercise is widely recommended, few studies with a good level of evidence have enabled us to base a complete, well-constructed intervention on exercise that can be offered as secondary prevention in these disorders. A prospective, multicenter, comparative, randomized study using Zelen's design. This study falls under active prevention of MSDs of the upper extremities. Participants are workers aged between 18 and 65 years, with any type of job or workstation, with or without a history of sick leave. The primary aim is to show the superiority at 3 months of a combination of spa therapy, exercise, and self-management workshops for 6 days over self-management workshops in terms of employee functional capacity in personal and professional daily life (QUICK DASH scale). We included 148 patients, 73 assigned to the intervention group and 75 to the control group. At 3 months, the total score of functional disability assessed by QUICK DASH decreased in both groups. This reduction was higher in the intervention group (−10.04 ± 15.83) versus control group (−5.57 ± 13.45). We noticed a non-significant decrease for QUICK DASH total score ( P = 0.10). However, the field specifically assessing disabilities in physical activities; QUICK DASH sport; had significantly decreased in the intervention group (−14.58 ± 21.49) versus control group (−6.72 ± 19.04) ( P = 0.02). The originality of this intervention lies, in its short, intensive format, which is compatible with remaining in work; and in its multidisciplinary approach. This trial demonstrates the benefits of a short course of spa therapy combined with a personalized self-management program on the functional capacity in their daily life.

Use and physiological responses of portable dynamic office workstations in an occupational setting – A field study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the use of two types of dynamic workstations (Deskbike, activeLife Trainer) and their effects on physiological activation in an occupational setting. Methods30 employees were given access to the devices for 28 days. Frequency and duration of borrowing and use was recorded by a Chipcard-system. Physiological activation (energy expenditure, heart rate) while working in a seated position and using the workstations was measured with the activity tracker Fitbit Charge HR. ResultsParticipants used dynamic workstations on 40% of their working days for an average of 54.3 ± 23.9 min per day. Energy expenditure and heart rate increased significantly while using the workstations compared to working seated. The Deskbike was used more frequently and resulted in greater heart rate elevation. ConclusionBoth types of dynamic workstations were used by the employees and had positive effects on physiological activation. The implementation of either type can be recommended.

Effect of laser remelting on microstructure and immersion corrosion of cold–sprayed aluminum coating on S355 structural steel

A cold–sprayed aluminum (Al) coating was processed on S355 structural steel using a laser remelting (LR). The surface and interface morphologies, chemical composition, and phases of obtained Al coating were analyzed using a field emission scanning electronic microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X–ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively, and its residual stress was analyzed using a X–ray diffraction residual stress tester. The corrosion behavior of Al coating was investigated using an immersion corrosion test, in 3.5% NaCl solution for 720 h, the electrochemical corrosion was tested on a PS268A type of electrochemical workstation, and the mechanism of LR on the corrosion behavior of Al coating was also discussed. The results show that the porosity on the cold–sprayed Al coating reduced and its compactness increased after LR, the phase of Al coating after LR is composed of Al, with no other oxides. The residual compressive stress of cold–sprayed Al coating after LR is −69.0 MP, increased by 25% than the cold–sprayed Al coating, improving its bonding strength. The corrosion potential of cold–sprayed Al coating after LR shifts positively, showing that the electrochemical corrosion resistance of cold–sprayed Al coating is improved after LR.

Ergonomic interventions for prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in a small manufacturing assembly line

This study involves performing improvements in workstation specification using a three-dimensional human modeling tool and proposing well-balanced work scheduling (WBWS) to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in a small manufacturing plant. To analyze risk factors of WMSDs, various tasks at 10 different types of workstation were evaluated with detailed motion analysis using a customized checklist. Questionnaires were administered to 27 workers to evaluate symptoms related to WMSDs. Revised workstation specifications were suggested based on anthropometric characteristics of workers using before–after analyses as an engineering control. Additionally, WBWS was proposed as an administrative control to avoid continuous physical stress on specific body parts in repetitive tasks. A software tool for WBWS was developed for convenient and easy application. The results of the study may aid managers in applying ergonomic interventions with time and cost savings, and enhance worker satisfaction and motivation due to improvements in working conditions to prevent WMSDs.

Determining the prices of remanufactured products, capacity of internal workstations and the contracting strategy within queuing framework

This paper studies a remanufacturing facility with several types of incoming nonconforming products and different independent remanufacturing workstations. The workstations have limited capacities so that an outsourcing strategy can be practiced. Each workstation is modeled with an M/M/1/k queuing system considering k as a decision variable. Additionally, a binary decision variable is taken into account to determine the contracting strategy along with some decision variables for the prices of remanufactured products. Thus, a bi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear programming is built to obtain optimal values of the decision variables. The first objective attempts to maximize the total profit and the second minimizes the average length of queuing at workstations. To solve the complex bi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem, the best out of six multi-objective decision-making (MODM) methods is selected in order to make the bi-objective optimization problem a single-objective one. Afterward, a genetic algorithm (GA) is developed to find a near-optimum solution of the single-objective problem. Besides, all of the important parameters of the algorithm are calibrated using regression analysis. To validate the results obtained, the solutions of some test problems are compared to the ones obtained by the GAMS software. The applicability of the proposed model and the solution procedure are shown with an illustrative example.

Remote reading of coronary CTA exams using a tablet computer: utility for stenosis assessment and identification of coronary anomalies

The feasibility of remote reading of coronary CT examinations on tablet computers has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of coronary CT angiography reading using an iPad compared to standard 3D workstations. Fifty coronary CT angiography exams, including a spectrum of coronary artery disease and anatomic variants, were reviewed. Coronary CT angiography exams were interpreted by two readers independently on an iPad application (Siemens Webviewer) and a clinical 3D workstation at sessions 2weeks apart. Studies were scored per vessel for severity of stenosis on a 0-3 scale (0 none, 1 <50%, 2 ≥50-69%, 3 ≥70%). Coronary anomalies were recorded. A consensus read by two experienced cardiac imagers was used as the reference standard. Level of agreement with the reference for iPad and 3D workstations was compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between agreement and display type and to adjust for inter-reader differences. For both readers, there was no significant difference in agreement with the reference standard for per-vessel stenosis scores using either the 3D workstation or the iPad. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis including reader, workstation, and vessel as co-variates, there was no significant association between workstation type or reader and agreement with the reference standard (p > 0.05). Both readers identified 100% of coronary anomalies using each technique. Reading of coronary CT angiography examinations on the iPad had no influence on stenosis assessment compared to the standard clinical workstation.

Postural variability: an effective way to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort in office work.

This article investigates whether different interventions aimed at promoting postural change could increase body movement throughout the shift and reduce musculoskeletal discomfort. Many researchers have reported high levels of discomfort for workers that have relatively low-level demands but whose jobs are sedentary in nature. To date, few interventions have been found to be effective in reducing worker discomfort. Thirty-seven call center operators were evaluated in four different workstation conditions: conventional workstation, sit-stand workstation, conventional workstation with reminder software, and sit-stand workstation with break reminder software-prompt to remind workers to take break The primary outcome variables consisted of productivity, measured by custom software; posture changes, measured by continuous video recording; and discomfort, measured by simple survey. Each condition was evaluated over a 2-week period. Significant reductions in short-term discomfort were reported in the shoulders, upper back, and lower back when utilizing reminder software, independent of workstation type. Although not significant, many productivity indices were found to increase by about 10%. Posture-altering workstation interventions, specifically sit-stand tables or reminder software with traditional tables, were effective in introducing posture variability. Further, postural variability appears to be linked to decreased short-term discomfort at the end of the day without a negative impact on productivity. An intervention that can simply induce the worker to move throughout the day, such as a sit-stand table or simple software reminder about making a large posture change, can be effective in reducing discomfort in the worker, while not adversely impacting productivity.

Economic assessment of aseptic compounding rooms in hospital pharmacies in five European countries

The aims of the study are to make an inventory of fixtures of aseptic compounding structures, to compare, using real examples, the design and operating costs of controlled atmosphere area (CAA) with isolators and CAA with laminar flow biological safety cabinets (BSCs) in order to determine the most economical scheme in hospitals and to give a final facilities cost calculated for one workstation. Forty-three hospitals were interviewed (21 French and 22 from four European countries) over seven months. Hospital pharmacists completed a form with 390 items. Hospitals are compared according to their workstation type: BSCII or BSCIII (group B) and isolator (group I), using Mann and Whitney's statistical test and Monte-Carlo modeling. Twenty-one hospitals responded (11 French and 10 from other European countries). All European compounding unit organizations are not significantly different. The study compared items such as infrastructure cost, equipment cost, staff cost, consumable cost, cleaning cost and control cost. A synthesis of all costs has been drafted to calculate an estimated preparation cost which seemed to be higher for group B than for group I when staff costs were included ($46 and $31, respectively, in study conditions). The different costs studied have revealed little significant difference between group B and I. The preparation cost in group B appears higher than in group I. This pilot study has resulted in the calculation of an estimated manufactured preparation cost but this work should be completed to help optimize resources and save money.

Software platform for flexible automated reconstruction of CMR data in a clinically feasible workflow

Background Integration of novel image reconstruction and processing methods into clinical workflow has been hampered by difficulties in implementing these techniques into the vendors’ softwares. While all vendors allow modification of imaging sequences, implementation of novel reconstruction techniques is not available in any of them. Currently, the workflow includes manually exporting the data, performing the custom reconstruction using standalone Matlab or C++ implementation, and then visualizing the results on a different workstation. This process usually requires an expert user and is not feasible in common clinical workflow. In this work, we developed a simple software tool that enables researchers to rapidly integrate post-processing and reconstruction methods developed in any programming language on any type of workstation via internet connection and directly visualize the data on the scanner console and store the data via clinical PACS system. Methods

Comparison of the Forward Head Angle and the Lumbar Flexion and Rotation Angles of Computer Workers Using Routine and Individually Fixed Computer Workstations

[Purpose] This study compared the forward head angle and the lumbar flexion and rotation angles of computer workers using routine and fixed computer workstations. [Subjects] Ten male workers voluntarily consented to participate in the study. [Methods] A 3-D motion analysis system was used to measure the angles of the forward head and lumbar flexion. All subjects performed computer work for 30 minutes using both types of workstation. [Results] When working at the fixed workstation, the forward head angle was less than that observed when the routine workstation was used. At the fixed workstation, the lumbar flexion and rotation angles were less than that at the routine workstation. [Conclusion] The computer workstation individually fixed for standard posture may have prevented poor sitting posture.

Evaluating a school based childhood obesity intervention for posture and comfort

Background: Research shows that students who are more active throughout the day have fewer reports of body part discomfort and greater energy expenditure needed to combat childhood obesity. Many factors may contribute to the overall health of the child, including the postures that are required to complete assigned tasks at their school workstations. Decreasing sedentary behaviors in children through the use of standing desks at school has been shown to increase calorie expenditure and may be a viable approach to the energy imbalance typical of modern children. The objective of this research was to quantify and analyze sub-optimal postures and self-reported discomfort of students during the use of traditional seated and stand-biased desks to determine whether any unintended consequences of the intervention were present. Methods: A postural analysis based on the Portable Ergonomic Observation (PEO) method was used to assess the posture of 42 elementary school students as they worked at their assigned workstation (either standing or seated). Two classrooms contained stand-biased workstations (15 students) and two classrooms had traditional seated workstations (27 students). Each student was assessed three times at 10 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes of observations each. The percent of time spent in preferred versus non-preferred postures was then computed. Student body part discomfort surveys were used to assess the discomfort of students between the two groups. The relationship between type of workstation and percent time in non-preferred postures and body discomfort was examined using Wilcoxon ranksum tests and Fisher’s exact tests, respectively. The significance level was p ≤ 0.05 for all of the two-sided tests. Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups and time spent in non-preferred postures and body discomfort, children using stand-biased workstations reported less discomfort overall. Stand-biased desks presented no additional ergonomic issues, while providing increased caloric expenditure. Conclusions: A study containing a larger sample and older children that includes postural observation throughout the school day is needed for future research.

POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION OF EMPLOYEES' WORK PERFORMANCE AND SATISFACTION AS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CRITERIA AND WORKSTATION TYPE

This case study investigated employees' work performance and satisfaction in relation to sustainable design criteria used to design the interior of their office building. The case study is part of ongoing research to continue testing a questionnaire for validity and reliability, which will contribute to the development of sustainable design/occupant scales relating to satisfaction and performance. A self-administered, Internet-based questionnaire was developed that reflects a set of recognized sustainable design guidelines. It was submitted to over 200 employees of a business housed in a newly built office building in a mid-western city. Generally positive results were found for employees' satisfaction with the new facility (site, building, and interior) and their performance as related to sustainable design criteria in the new facility. Dissatisfaction with acoustic and privacy conditions were found for employees of open-office workstation types (cubicles). Exploration of prior workstation types showed that moving from private offices to cubicles decreased employees' satisfaction with new cubicles compared to moving from cubicles in a prior building to cubicles in the new building, though dissatisfaction with these two criteria was found despite prior workstation type. These findings concur with other sustainable design studies and demonstrate that the questionnaire can be used by sustainable designers to document and explore design outcomes.

The Effects of FreeSurfer Version, Workstation Type, and Macintosh Operating System Version on Anatomical Volume and Cortical Thickness Measurements

FreeSurfer is a popular software package to measure cortical thickness and volume of neuroanatomical structures. However, little if any is known about measurement reliability across various data processing conditions. Using a set of 30 anatomical T1-weighted 3T MRI scans, we investigated the effects of data processing variables such as FreeSurfer version (v4.3.1, v4.5.0, and v5.0.0), workstation (Macintosh and Hewlett-Packard), and Macintosh operating system version (OSX 10.5 and OSX 10.6). Significant differences were revealed between FreeSurfer version v5.0.0 and the two earlier versions. These differences were on average 8.8±6.6% (range 1.3–64.0%) (volume) and 2.8±1.3% (1.1–7.7%) (cortical thickness). About a factor two smaller differences were detected between Macintosh and Hewlett-Packard workstations and between OSX 10.5 and OSX 10.6. The observed differences are similar in magnitude as effect sizes reported in accuracy evaluations and neurodegenerative studies.The main conclusion is that in the context of an ongoing study, users are discouraged to update to a new major release of either FreeSurfer or operating system or to switch to a different type of workstation without repeating the analysis; results thus give a quantitative support to successive recommendations stated by FreeSurfer developers over the years. Moreover, in view of the large and significant cross-version differences, it is concluded that formal assessment of the accuracy of FreeSurfer is desirable.

Financial assessment of aseptic preparation facilities in European hospital pharmacies

BackgroundThe drug manufacturing conditions in hospitals have become increasingly demanding and the use of a Controlled Atmosphere Area (CAA) in the preparation unit is now mandatory.PurposeTo make an inventory of...

Ergonomic implementation and work station design for quilt manufacturing unit

Background:Awkward, extreme and repetitive postures have been associated with work related musculoskeletal disorders and injury to the lowerback of workers engaged in quilting manufacturing unit. Basically quilt are made manually by hand stitch and embroidery on the quilts which was done in squatting posture on the floor. Mending, stain removal, washing and packaging were some other associated work performed on wooden table. their work demands to maintain a continuous squatting posture which leads to various injuries related to low back and to calf muscles.Material and Methods:The present study was undertaken in Tarai Agroclimatic Zone of Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand State with the objective to study the physical and physiological parameters as well as the work station layout of the respondent engaged on quilt manufacturing unit. A total of 30 subjects were selected to study the drudgery involved in quilt making enterprise and to make the provision of technology option to reduce the drudgery as well as musculoskeletal disorders, thus enhancing the productivity and comfortability.Results:Findings of the investigation show that majority of workers (93.33 per cent) were female and very few (6.66 per cent) were the male with the mean age of 24.53±6.43. The body mass index and aerobic capacity (lit/min) values were found as 21.40±4.13 and 26.02±6.44 respectively. Forty per cent of the respondents were having the physical fitness index of high average whereas 33.33 per cent of the respondents had low average physical fitness. All the assessed activities involved to make the quilt included a number of the steps which were executed using two types of work station i.e squatting posture on floor and standing posture using wooden table. A comparative study of physiological parameters was also done in the existing conditions as well as in improved conditions by introducing low height chair and wooden spreader to hold the load of quilt while working, to improve the work posture of the worker. The average working heart rate values were found to reduced by performing the activity using improved technology followed by energy expenditure (6.99 kj/min), total cardiac cost of work (1037.95 beats), physiological cost of work (103.79 beats) and rate of perceived rate of exertion to the score of 2.6 Results of postural analysis that is change in motion at cervical region reveal that range of motion in case of extension was found beyond the normal range in existing setup where as it reduced to normal range in improved work station.Conclusion:The finding of the study concludes that to ensure safety and to reduce occupational health hazards while performing the activity, an ergonomically designed work station by introduction of improved technology option will be a right choice which also enhances the productivity.

Acoustical modeling software as a tool to evaluate speech privacy in open plan office environments.

A productive work environment requires enough privacy to conduct confidential business on the telephone while maintaining background noise levels that allow others to concentrate on their work. However, many businesses also rely on the collaborative work environment that can be created in an open plan office. This study concentrates on using EASE computer models as a tool to demonstrate to clients and end‐users what type of acoustic environment to expect when selecting different types of workstations. The degree of speech privacy afforded was tested by determining the opposite effect: the level of speech intelligibility between workstations. A typical open office layout was modeled using EASE acoustical modeling software. The speech intelligibility between workstations was modeled in several potential configurations to demonstrate the effects of the changes in speech privacy within the office. The configurations tested include varying the heights of workstation partitions and using either reflective or ab...

Design of a workstation and its evaluation under the influence of noise and illumination for an assembly task

An experimental research was conducted to design a workstation for a lock manufacturing assembly. Two experiments were conducted in the present study. Nine male subjects in the age range of 18-35 years participated in the first experiment. For the second experiment, nine subjects in each of the three age groups (viz. 17-22, 23-28 and 29-35 years) volunteered for experimental investigations. The designed workstation was evaluated under varying levels of noise and illumination for workers of different age groups. Three different workstations were evaluated. The task was performed by a worker in two different sitting positions and three settings of arms position. It was found that workstation type, backrest support and arms positions were all having a statistically significant effect on task performance. Workstation with work surface to seat height ratio of 1.82 was found to be better when the task was performed using backrest and arms were supported on the work surface. This workstation was evaluated for three different age groups of workers under different levels of noise and illumination. The results of the study showed that age of the worker, illumination level and level of noise were all contributing significantly towards task performance. The design of a workstation for assembly task would help greatly in creating a better working environment and enhancing the productivity of workers exposed to environmental stressors like noise and illumination.

Relationship between office workers’ staying and workstation attributes in a non-territorial office using ultra wide band sensor network

This paper investigates the staying and moving characteristics of office workers in a non-territorial office using an ultra wide band (UWB) impulse radio sensor network. The differences between office workers’ staying and moving are clarified according to the individual workstation type that they select. The study determines the characteristics of each type of workstation. By clarifying office workers’ preference for staying and moving with regard to individual workstation types and office worker post, the reasons why office workers in different posts tended to select different types of workstations were revealed. Specifically, leaders tended to select workstations at the “inner meeting corner side” most frequently, as they had a greater need to stay in other areas. In contrast, ordinary staff needed to visit office workers in other areas less often, and as such, they tended to select individual workstations at the “middle meeting corner side.” Barring this, they tended to select individual workstations at the “middle corridor side” or “outer-meeting corner side.” Temporary staff members had little need to visit or stay at other places so they tended to select individual workstations at the “window side,” which is seldom visited or stayed at by other office workers and they could be disturbed less often from their solo work.