Arbetsmiljöarbete och effekter en kunskapsöversikt

Work environment improvements and effects a literature review This report addresses the question 'Do work-environment improvements have any effects?' The aim was to produce a summary of knowledge that includes the methodological problems of measuring and evaluating effects, as well as literature reviews of effects from work environment improvement efforts on musculoskeletal health, health promotion, and economy. Results show that published literature reviews do not give unambiguous support for health benefits of interventions against musculoskeletal problems, when only studies using natural science criteria with experimental or quasi-experimental design are included. There are, on the other hand, many case studies in the so called 'grey' literature that report positive effects. Further, results show that health promotion interventions, and especially physical activity, have a positive effect on low back pain. Workplace interventions to increase physical activity are effective and lead to increased physical activity amongst employees. More studies are needed, however, at the organisational level. There is some support for the profitability of work-environment investments at the organisational level; even though there are few studies and methodological problems. The review also indicates that the financial benefits come mostly from quality and productivity improvements and, to a lesser extent from reductions in costs related to sickness absenteeism. While more recent literature reviews of the effects of health promotion interventions seem to show a stronger effect than older studies, comparisons of older versus more recent studies of interventions against musculoskeletal problems give a more ambiguous picture. Often, the focus of these reviews is on study design with less priority on the quality of the interventions themselves. Multifactorial interventions are particularly difficult to evaluate. At the same time, many studies and research reviews emphasise the need for multifactorial approaches as necessary for successful intervention. Inclusion criteria in literature reviews that only consider experimental designs in organisational interventions exclude studies with good interventions that can't be evaluated with traditional experimental methods. Difficulties in proving the effectiveness of interventions depends on views of what constitutes good scientific quality in the studies. This shows a need for a critical examination of the assumptions used for knowledge generation in this area. Conclusions are that work-environment improvement efforts have effects that are clear in some cases but are difficult to show in others. Effect evaluation poses large methodological challenges. These difficulties are considered to be an important cause of the lack of clear evidence, especially in the area of interventions against musculoskeletal problems. There is a need for new non-experimental research strategies that are suited to today's complex systems and an increased focus on practical, well conducted multifactorial interventions. Key words: Intervention, health promotion, ergonomics, economy, methodology, researchDetta arbete har inriktats mot frågeställningen om arbetsmiljöarbete har några effekter. Syftet har varit att göra en kunskapssammanställning som omfattar en beskrivning och problematisering av metodiken att mäta eller utvärdera effekter, samt litteraturöversikter om vad arbetsmiljöarbete har för belastningsergonomiska, hälsofrämjande och ekonomiska effekter. Resultaten visar att publicerade litteraturöversikter inte ger säkra belägg för att belastningsergonomiska interventioner har effekter på besvärsförekomst, i de fall enbart studier inkluderats utifrån naturvetenskapliga kriterier med krav på experimentell eller kvasi-experimentell metodik. Däremot finns ett flertal fallstudier och så kallad grå litteratur som i högre grad rapporterar positiva effekter. Vidare framgår det att hälsofrämjande interventioner, och speciellt fysisk aktivitet har en positiv effekt på ländryggsbesvär. Interventioner på arbetsplatser för att öka den fysiska aktiviteten är effektiva och ger en ökad fysisk aktivitet hos arbetstagarna. Fler studier behövs emellertid på organisationsnivå. Det finns visst belägg för att arbetsmiljösatsningar ofta är lönsamma på organisationsnivå, även om studierna är få och uppvisar metodbrister. Det finns flera indikationer på att lönsamheten i huvudsak härrör från produktivitets- och kvalitetsförbättringar, och i mindre grad från minskade frånvarokostnader. Nya litteraturöversikter om hälsofrämjande interventioner tycks uppvisa starkare effekter än gamla, medan jämförelser mellan äldre och nyare studier om belastningsergonomiska interventioner ger en mer mångtydig bild. Ofta ligger fokus på utvärderingsdesign, samtidigt som kvaliteten hos interventionens genomförande och utformning i sig inte ges samma prioritet. Interventioner med multifaktoriella insatser blir synnerligen svåra och komplexa att utvärdera, samtidigt som det i många studier och forskningsöversikter betonas att en förutsättning för framgång i förändringsarbetet är att man arbetar med en mångfald av insatser. Inklusionskriterier i litteraturöversikter som förutsätter experimentella upplägg i organisationsinterventioner selekterar bort studier med goda interventioner som inte kan utvärderas med traditionella metoder. Svårigheten att identifiera effekter av interventioner bedöms bero på synen om vad som utmärker god vetenskaplig kvalitet hos studier. Detta visar på behovet att närmare kritiskt granska förutsättningarna för kunskapsbildning inom området. Slutsatsen är att arbetsmiljöarbete i vissa fall har effekter men att det i andra fall är svårt att påvisa effekter. Effektutvärdering innebär stora metodologiska svårigheter. Dessa svårigheter bedöms vara en viktig orsak till bristen på underlag, speciellt inom det belastningsergonomiska området. Det finns ett stort behov av nya icke experimentella undersökningsstrategier som är anpassade till dagens komplexa system, såväl som ett behov av starkare fokus på praktiskt väl genomförda multifaktoriella interventioner

Industry 4.0 and the human factor : A systems framework and analysis methodology for successful development

The fourth industrial revolution we currently witness changes the role of humans in operations systems. Although automation and assistance technologies are becoming more prevalent in production and logistics, there is consensus that humans will remain an essential part of operations systems. Nevertheless, human factors are still underrepresented in this research stream resulting in an important research and application gap. This article first exposes this gap by presenting the results of a focused content analysis of earlier research on Industry 4.0. To contribute to closing this gap, it then develops a conceptual framework that integrates several key concepts from the human factors engineering discipline that are important in the context of Industry 4.0 and that should thus be considered in future research in this area. The framework can be used in research and development to systematically consider human factors in Industry 4.0 designs and implementations. This enables the analysis of changing demands for humans in Industry 4.0 environments and contributes towards a successful digital transformation that avoid the pitfalls of innovation performed without attention to human factors. The paper concludes with highlighting future research directions on human factors in Industry 4.0 as well as managerial implications for successful applications in practice

Ergonomics and human factors in healthcare system design – An introduction to this special issue

Ergonomics and human factors in healthcare system design – An introduction to this special issu

The Optical-Near-IR Spectrum of the M87 Jet From HST Observations

We present 1998 HST observations of M87 which yield the first single-epoch optical and radio-optical spectral index images of the jet at $0.15''$ resolution. We find $\approx 0.67$, comparable to previous measurements, and $\approx 0.9$ ($F_\nu \propto \nu^{-\alpha}$), slightly flatter than previous workers. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. These observations reveal a large variety of spectral slopes. Bright knots exhibit flatter spectra than interknot regions. The flattest spectra ($\alpha_o \sim 0.5-0.6$; comparable to or flatter than $\alpha_{ro}$) are found in two inner jet knots (D-East and HST-1) which contain the fastest superluminal components. In knots A, B and C, $\alpha_o$ and $\alpha_{ro}$ are essentially anti-correlated. Near the flux maxima of knots HST-1 and F, changes in $\alpha_{ro}$ lag changes in $\alpha_o$, but in knots D and E, the opposite relationship is observed. This is further evidence that radio and optical emissions in the M87 jet come from substantially different physical regions. The delays observed in the inner jet are consistent with localized particle acceleration, with $t_{acc} << t_{cool}$ for optically emitting electrons in knots HST-1 and F, and $t_{acc} \sim t_{cool}$ for optically emitting electrons in knots D and E. Synchrotron models yield \nu_B \gsim 10^{16} Hz for knots D, A and B, and somewhat lower values, $\nu_B \sim 10^{15}- 10^{16}$ Hz, in other regions. If X-ray emissions from knots A, B and D are co-spatial with optical and radio emission, we can strongly rule out the ``continuous injection'' model. Because of the short lifetimes of X-ray synchrotron emitting particles, the X-ray emission likely fills volumes much smaller than the optical emission regions.Comment: Text 17 pages, 3 Tables, 11 figures, accepted by Ap

Methodological Issues in Evaluating Workplace Interventions to Reduce Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Through Mechanical Exposure Reduction

Researchers of work-related musculoskeletal disorders are increasingly asked about the evidentiary base for mechanical exposure reductions. Mixed messages can arise from the different disciplinary cultures of evidence, and these mixed messages make different sets of findings incommensurate. Interventions also operate at different levels within workplaces and result in different intensities of mechanical exposure reduction. Heterogeneity in reporting intervention processes and in measuring relevant outcomes makes the synthesis of research reports difficult. As a means of synthesizing the current understanding of measures, this paper describes a set of intervention and observation nodes for which relevant workplace indicators prior to, during, and after mechanical exposure reduction can provide useful information. On the basis of this path of impacts from exposure reduction, an approach to the evaluation of multilevel ergonomic interventions is described that can assist fellow researchers in producing evidence relevant to the challenges faced by workplace parties and policy makers

How compatible are participatory ergonomics programs with occupational health and safety management systems?

ABSTRACT: Objectives Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major cause of pain, disability, and costs. Prevention of MSD at work is frequently described in terms of implementing an ergonomics program, often a participatory ergonomics (PE) program. Most other workplace injury prevention activities take place under the umbrella of a formal or informal occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). This study assesses the similarities and differences between OHSMS and PE as such knowledge could help improve MSD prevention activities. Methods Using the internationally recognized Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001), 21 OHSMS elements were extracted. In order to define PE operationally, we identified the 20 most frequently cited papers on PE and extracted content relevant to each of the OHSAS 18001 elements. Results The PE literature provided a substantial amount of detail on five elements: (i) hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls; (ii) resources, roles, responsibility, accountability, and authority; (iii) competence, training and awareness; (iv) participation and consultation; and (v) performance measurement and monitoring. However, of the 21 OHSAS elements, the PE literature was silent on 8 and provided few details on 8 others. Conclusions The PE literature did not speak to many elements described in OHSMS and even when it did, the language used was often different. This may negatively affect the effectiveness and sustainability of PE initiatives within organizations. It is expected that paying attention to the approaches and language used in management system frameworks could make prevention of MSD activities more effective and sustainable

Human mobility at Tell Atchana (Alalakh), Hatay, Turkey during the 2nd millennium BC: Integration of isotopic and genomic evidence

The Middle and Late Bronze Age, a period roughly spanning the 2nd millennium BC (ca. 2000–1200 BC) in the Near East, is frequently referred to as the first ‘international age’, characterized by intense and far-reaching contacts between different entities from the eastern Mediterranean to the Near East and beyond. In a large-scale tandem study of stable isotopes and ancient DNA of individuals excavated at Tell Atchana (Alalakh, located in Hatay, Turkey), we explored the role of mobility at the capital of a regional kingdom, named Mukish during the Late Bronze Age, which spanned the Amuq Valley and some areas beyond. We generated strontium and oxygen isotope data from dental enamel for 53 individuals and 77 individuals, respectively, and added ancient DNA data of 10 newly sequenced individuals to a dataset of 27 individuals published in 2020. Additionally, we improved the DNA coverage of one individual from this 2020 dataset. The DNA data revealed a very homogeneous gene pool. This picture of an overwhelmingly local ancestry was consistent with the evidence of local upbringing in most of the individuals indicated by the isotopic data, where only five were found to be non-local. High levels of contact, trade, and exchange of ideas and goods in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, therefore, seem not to have translated into high levels of individual mobility detectable at Tell Atchana