Changing occupational health and safety practices in the manual handling of highway kerbs: cultural impediments and obstacles to innovation

It is regularly reported that the construction industry has one of the highest levels of incidents of work-related injury in the UK. Research to date involving the management of health and safety in construction has concentrated on safety and in particular fatalities of construction workers. Yet the manual handling of heavy loads leading to occupational health problems is widespread in the industry. The aim of this research was to better understand the continued use of manual handling for the installation of concrete highway kerbs in the construction industry. The initial objectives were to review alternatives to and research on kerb handling; compare kerb handling methods; investigate the design process; and finally produce information for the supply chain. Due to time constraints on the project and the nature of the investigation an exploratory interpretive investigation was used to provide a flexible approach. A literature review led to research questions on training, risk of injury, designing for safety, organisation of the work and culture which narrowed the scope of the enquiry. The research used qualitative methods with observation of the work and a survey of key members of the supply chain through interviews and focus groups which provided rich data for analysis. The observation work, including postural analysis, has added to existing research mainly from other industries confirming the risk of injury of the manual handling operation and the reduced risks through using alternatives. The survey collected a considerable amount of rich data from the supply chain members. This recorded their perceptions of the culture of other members and the change occurring with the introduction of new innovative technology. Results from the data analysis have been used to produce guidance material, including a process model, to support the industry with the management of highway kerb installation. Further research is required, collaborating with members of the supply chain, to validate the process model with practical applications. Data of the supply chain members perceptions can also be used for further examination of communication failings between members

Ergonomic Evaluation of Percentile Height Differences During Automorive Assembly Tasks – A Focus on Joint Angle Kinematics

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of anthropometric height on movement variability during seven simulated automotive assembly tasks. Twenty participants completed seven simulated automotive assembly tasks commonly found in industry. The 20 participants were evenly distributed into one of four groups based on their height. For each group, and during each task, the following seven time-series joint angle profiles were assessed: Elbow Flexion/Extension (Flex/Ext), Shoulder Abduction/Adduction (Abd/Add), Shoulder Forward/Backwards movement (For/Back), Trunk Flex/Ext, Trunk Lateral bending (Lat), Hip Flex/Ext and Knee Flex/Ext. To compare between groups, Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) was used to assess group differences between mean joint angles over the entire task duration. Specifically, a SPM one-way ANOVA (p\u3c0.05) was used to evaluate between group differences and if necessary six pairwise post hoc SPM t-tests (p\u3c0.05) were carried out subsequently. Analysis of the data indicated that during each task, all four height groups shared at least one statistically similar joint-angle trajectory. The results further indicated that all during each task, each height group performed with a unique set of joint-angle profiles which were statistically different from all other groups. Thus, this study has provided evidence that the amount of kinematic joint angle variability between individuals of different height groups is dependent on the joints evaluated and the task performed

Interpretive Structural Model of Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Manufacturing Evaluation in Cement Industry

This paper aims to analyze the relationships among the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sustainable manufacturing evaluation in the cement industry. The initial KPIs have been identified and derived from literature, and then validated by industry survey. As a result, three factors dividing into a total of thirteen indicators have been proposed as the KPIs for sustainable manufacturing evaluation in cement industry. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) methodology is applied to develop a network structure model of the KPIs. The results show the indicators of economic factor are regarded as the basic indicator, while the indicators of environmental factor are indicated to be the leading indicator. Of those indicators, raw material substitution is regarded as the most influencing indicator. The ISM model can aid the cement companies by providing a better insight in evaluating sustainable manufacturing performance

Interpretive Structural Model of Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Manufacturing Evaluation in Cement Industry

This paper aims to analyze the relationships among the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sustainable manufacturing evaluation in the cement industry. The initial KPIs have been identified and derived from literature, and then validated by industry survey. As a result, three factors dividing into a total of thirteen indicators have been proposed as the KPIs for sustainable manufacturing evaluation in cement industry. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) methodology is applied to develop a network structure model of the KPIs. The results show the indicators of economic factor are regarded as the basic indicator, while the indicators of environmental factor are indicated to be the leading indicator. Of those indicators, raw material substitution is regarded as the most influencing indicator. The ISM model can aid the cement companies by providing a better insight in evaluating sustainable manufacturing performance

Advanced Knowledge Application in Practice

The integration and interdependency of the world economy leads towards the creation of a global market that offers more opportunities, but is also more complex and competitive than ever before. Therefore widespread research activity is necessary if one is to remain successful on the market. This book is the result of research and development activities from a number of researchers worldwide, covering concrete fields of research

An Analysis of Astronaut Performance Capability in the Lunar Environment. Volume 2 - Performance Capability Support Data

Astronaut performance capability in lunar environmen

Industry 4.0 for SMEs

This open access book explores the concept of Industry 4.0, which presents a considerable challenge for the production and service sectors. While digitization initiatives are usually integrated into the central corporate strategy of larger companies, smaller firms often have problems putting Industry 4.0 paradigms into practice. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) possess neither the human nor financial resources to systematically investigate the potential and risks of introducing Industry 4.0. Addressing this obstacle, the international team of authors focuses on the development of smart manufacturing concepts, logistics solutions and managerial models specifically for SMEs. Aiming to provide methodological frameworks and pilot solutions for SMEs during their digital transformation, this innovative and timely book will be of great use to scholars researching technology management, digitization and small business, as well as practitioners within manufacturing companies

Space Station Human Factors Research Review. Volume 3: Space Station Habitability and Function: Architectural Research

Articles are presented on a space station architectural elements model study, space station group activities habitability module study, full-scale architectural simulation techniques for space stations, and social factors in space station interiors