220 research outputs found
The Increasing Use of Portable Computing and Communication Devices and its Impact on the Health of EU Workers
[Excerpt] Portable computing and communication devices are widely used by workers from different occupations and their use is steadily increasing.
The risks associated with working with portable devices and systems, for which at present no guidelines exist, differ considerably from those associated with working with visual display units at workstations. The latter are covered by the European VDU Directive and governed by a host of guidelines and recommendations within the EU Member States.
In the light of the above, the study addresses the following issues:
· To what extent are mobile communication devices used by the working population – how is such use growing in absolute terms and which types of workers are using them?
· How is the technology behind these devices – hardware and telecommunications – developing, and how is the technology likely to evolve in the future?
· Description of the possible hazards arising from the use of portable computing and communication devices and the risks to workers in terms of ill health and accidents. We also consider how the nature and extent of these risks will change in the future in the light of likely developments in technology and its use.
· The implications of the use and development of mobile communication and computing devices for occupational health and safety management and for legislation and implementation in the context of European law concerning health and safety at work.
· The scope is limited to work carried out in locations and environments that are impossible or difficult for the employer to control
Defining the methodological challenges and opportunities for an effective science of sociotechnical systems and safety
An important part of the application of sociotechnical systems theory (STS) is the development of methods, tools and techniques to assess human factors and ergonomics workplace requirements. We focus in this paper on describing and evaluating current STS methods for workplace safety, as well as outlining a set of six case studies covering the application of these methods to a range of safety contexts. We also describe an evaluation of the methods in terms of ratings of their ability to address a set of theoretical and practical questions (e.g. the degree to which methods capture static/dynamic aspects of tasks and interactions between system levels). The outcomes from the evaluation highlight a set of gaps relating to the coverage and applicability of current methods for STS and safety (e.g. coverage of external influences on system functioning; method usability). The final sections of the paper describe a set of future challenges, as well as some practical suggestions for tackling these.
Practitioner Summary: We provide an up-to-date review of STS methods, a set of case studies illustrating their use and an
evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes with a ‘roadmap’ for future work
Defining the methodological challenges and opportunities for an effective science of sociotechnical systems and safety
An important part of the application of sociotechnical systems theory (STS) is the development of methods, tools and techniques to assess human factors and ergonomics workplace requirements. We focus in this paper on describing and evaluating current STS methods for workplace safety, as well as outlining a set of six case studies covering the application of these methods to a range of safety contexts. We also describe an evaluation of the methods in terms of ratings of their ability to address a set of theoretical and practical questions (e.g. the degree to which methods capture static/dynamic aspects of tasks and interactions between system levels). The outcomes from the evaluation highlight a set of gaps relating to the coverage and applicability of current methods for STS and safety (e.g. coverage of external influences on system functioning; method usability). The final sections of the paper describe a set of future challenges, as well as some practical suggestions for tackling thes
Human centric collaborative workplace: the human robot interaction system perspective
The implementation of smart technologies and physical collaboration with robots in manufacturing can provide competitive advantages in production, performance and quality, as well as improve working conditions for operators. Due to the rapid advancement of smart technologies and robot capabilities, operators face complex task processes, decline in competences due to robots overtaking tasks, and reduced learning opportunities, as the range of tasks that they are asked to perform is narrower. The Industry 5.0 framework introduced, among others, the human-centric workplace, promoting operators wellbeing and use of smart technologies and robots to support them. This new human centric framework enables operators to learn new skills and improve their competencies. However, the need to understand the effects of the workplace changes remain, especially in the case of human robot collaboration, due to the dynamic nature of human robot interaction.
A literature review was performed, initially, to map the effects of workplace changes on operators and their capabilities. Operators need to perform tasks in a complex environment in collaboration with robots, receive information from sensors or other means (e.g. through augmented reality glasses) and decide whether to act upon them. Meanwhile, operators need to maintain their productivity and performance. This affects cognitive load and fatigue, which increases safety risks and probability of human-system error. A model for error probability was formulated and tested in collaborative scenarios, which regards the operators as natural systems in the workplace environment, taking into account their condition based on four macro states; behavioural, mental, physical and psychosocial. A scoping review was then performed to investigate the robot design features effects on operators in the human robot interaction system. Here, the outcomes of robot design features effects on operators were mapped and potential guidelines for design purposes were identified. The results of the scoping review showed that, apart from cognitive load, operators perception on robots reliability and their safety, along with comfort can influence team cohesion and quality in the human robot interaction system.
From the findings of the reviews, an experimental study was designed with the support of the industrial partner. The main hypothesis was that cognitive load, due to collaboration, is correlated with quality of product, process and human work. In this experimental study, participants had to perform two tasks; a collaborative assembly and a secondary manual assembly. Perceived task complexity and cognitive load were measured through questionnaires, and quality was measured through errors participants made during the experiment. Evaluation results showed that while collaboration had positive influence in performing the tasks, cognitive load increased and the temporal factor was the main reason behind the issues participants faced, as it slowed task management and decision making of participants. Potential solutions were identified that can be applied to industrial settings, such as involving participants/operators in the task and workplace design phase, sufficient training with their robot co-worker to learn the task procedures and implement direct communication methods between operator and robot for efficient collaboration
Workforce challenges: 'inclusive design' for organizational sustainability
Today's challenge for workforce management lies in providing a healthy, safe and productive working culture where people are valued, empowered and respected. Workforce diversity is becoming an essential aspect of the global workforce, and ageing is the most prominent and significant factor in this regard. Diversity brings many opportunities and challenges, as workers with different backgrounds, cultures, working attitudes, behaviours and age work together, and in future, the key to organizational effectiveness and sustainability will heavily depend on developing and sustaining inclusive work environments where people with their differences can co-exist safely and productively. Manufacturing organizations expect the highest levels of productivity and quality, but unfortunately the manufacturing system design process does not take into account human variability issues caused by age, skill, experience, attitude towards work etc.
This thesis focuses on proposing an inclusive design methodology to address the design needs of a broader range of the population. However, the promotion and implementation of an inclusive design method is challenging due to the lack of relevant data and lack of relevant tools and methods to help designers. This research aims to support the inclusive design process by providing relevant data and developing new design methodologies.
The inclusive design methodology suggested in this thesis is a three step approach for achieving a safe and sustainable work environment for workers, with special concern for older workers. The methodology is based on the provision of relevant human capabilities data, the capture and analysis of difference in human behaviour and the use of this knowledge in a digital human modelling tool. The research is focused on manual assembly through a case study in the furniture manufacturing industry and joint mobility data from a wide-ranging population has been analysed and the task performing strategies and behaviours of workers with different levels of skills have been recorded and analysed.
It has been shown that joint mobility significantly decreases with age and disability and that skilful workers are likely to adopt safer and more productive working strategies. A digital human modelling based inclusive design strategy was found to be useful in addressing the design needs of older workers performing manufacturing assembly activities. This strategy validates the concept of using human capabilities data for assessing the level of acceptability of any adopted strategy for older workers, and suggests that the strategies adopted by skilful workers are more likely to be equally acceptable for older and younger workers keeping in view differences in their joint mobility.
The overall purpose of this thesis is to present a road map towards the promotion and implementation of the inclusive design method for addressing workforce challenges and in future the same strategies might be implemented within a variety of other industrial applications. The proposed three step inclusive design methodology and getting a reasonable understanding of human variability issues along with the use of human capabilities data (joint mobility in this case) in a human modelling system for design assessment at a pre-design stage can be considered as the major contributions of this research
Cumulative trauma disorders in the workplace: bibliography
"This publication provided a compilation of materials describing research conducted by NIOSH on cumulative trauma disorders in the workplace. Selected references, both NIOSH and nonNIOSH, were provided, concentrating on NIOSH activities in preventing work related musculoskeletal disorders, prevention and intervention research at NIOSH for work related musculoskeletal disorders, comments to the Department of Labor on the OSHA proposed rule on ergonomic safety and health management, a manual for musculoskeletal diseases of the upper limbs, a review of physical exercises recommended for video display tube operators, management of upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders, ergonomics and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome. A bibliography of NIOSH publications on cumulative trauma disorders in the workplace was provided, including numbered publications, testimony, journal articles, grant reports, contract reports, and health hazard evaluations. NonNiosh references were also listed." - NIOSHTIC-2Part I. Selected NIOSH and non-NIOSH References -- A. NIOSH Activities in Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders -- B. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: Prevention and Intervention Research at NIOSH -- C. Comments to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Proposed Role on Ergonomic Safety and Health Management - Part 1 -- C. Comments to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Proposed Role on Ergonomic Safety and Health Management - Part 2 -- D. Cumulative Trauma Disorders: A Manual for Musculoskeletal Diseases of the Upper Limbs -- E. A Review of Physical Exercises Recommended for VDT Operators ) -- F. Management of Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders -- G. Preventing Illness and Injury in the Workplace: Ergonomics and Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injuries -- H. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome -- -- Part II. Cumulative Trauma Disorders in the Workplace - Bibliography -- A. NIOSH Publications Reports -- 1. Numbered Publications -- 2. Testimony -- 3. Journal Articles -- 4. Grant Reports -- 5. Contract Reports -- 6. Health Hazard Evaluations -- -- B. Selected non-NIOSH ReferencesAlso available via the World Wide Web
Beyond Lean and the Working Environment
Lean Production System (LPS) has become very popular among manufacturing industries, services and large commercial areas over the years due to its production increase abilities. However, LPS practices can have both negative and positive impacts in worker’s psychosocial factors like motivation, satisfaction and commitment and physical and psychological health factor like musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and stress.
Since LPS is a very broad term, there is no simple relation between LPS implementation and its consequences over work environment and workers. Therefore, it is necessary to study the different factors that can affect the work environment in each case. A wide variety of LPS practices can have negative and positive impacts on workers. Furthermore, the effects of lean may also depend on the sector and country in which it is implemented. There are no studies in the literature that cover all these effects and analyse them together with the involved environment. In this study, articles were collected in scientific publications in the last 26 years and analysed.
Results show that Just-in-Time (JIT) practices are strongly related with negative effects in MSDs and stress caused by intensification of work and increase of control over workers. However, JIT practices such as manufacturing cells can increase job enrichment trough multi-skilling.
Respect for people practices can act as buffers to lean practices. Job rotation reduces human effort and work pace trough the increase of recovery time. Workgroups create job support acting as buffers to psychosocial factors. Results show a majority of negative effects in the automotive sector and in countries such as Canada, USA and UK. Scandinavian countries have implemented hybrid forms of Lean which are related to an increase in effects such as motivation and job satisfaction. However, the overall analysis is that the effects of lean on workers depend more on the way companies manage and implement it rather than the countries cultural factors.
This study can be useful for managers and leaders who seek to transform traditional enterprises into exemplars of lean success, showing the need to balance lean and good working conditions
Achieving impact through research and partnerships
The seventh NORA Symposium held in conjunction witt the University of Cincinnati; marking 15 years of NORA and the 40th anniversary of NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)."The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety (LMRIS) and the National Safety Council (NSC), hosted the fifth National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) on October 18-20, 2011 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia. NOIRS is the only national forum focused on the presentation of occupational injury research findings, data, and methods. This symposium served numerous objectives aimed at preventing traumatic occupational injury through research and prevention. They included: presenting current research findings; fostering collaboration among researchers from a broad range of disciplines, perspectives, and topic areas; identifying "best practices" for the prevention of work-related injuries; exploring the cost-effectiveness of injury prevention strategies and interventions; showcasing innovative and high technology approaches to research and prevention; and continuing to promote the implementation of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). Questions addressed included: What are the latest traumatic occupational injury research findings? What are emerging problems and research areas in workplace trauma? How is prevention through design being applied to occupational injury research and prevention? What activities are being done to implement research to practice in the area of traumatic occupational injury? What are the best practice intervention and prevention strategies? What are the economic costs of traumatic occupational injuries and are the prevention strategies cost-effective? What are the trends in traumatic occupational injury and fatality incidence? In research tools, techniques, and methods? In prevention? What specific workplace risks are faced by adolescents, older adults, foreign-born workers, non-English-speaking workers, low-literacy workers, and other special populations? How can researchers and practitioners in different sectors and disciplines better collaborate and coordinate their activities to reduce traumatic occupational injuries? What methods are available to assess, quantify, and compare traumatic occupational injury risks? Occupational injury researchers from all disciplines attended and shared their research. We encouraged participation by all interested individuals, including: safety researchers; safety practitioners; health care professionals; administrators; epidemiologists; engineers; manufacturers; communication researchers; regulators; employers; policy makers; insurers; students; advocates; workers; educators and trainers; and others interested in attending. The symposium consistd of contributed oral presentations in concurrent sessions and a poster session." - NIOSHTIC-2Welcome -- Award winners -- Agenda -- RAPID presentation agenda -- Abstracts/Poster Session 1 -- Abstracts/Poster Session 2 -- Abstracts/Poster Session 3 -- Abstract author indexConsists of the program and abstracts for the conference
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