A case study of an ergonomic evaluation for a shop floor facility

The aim of this paper is to discuss and recommend solutions for the ergonomic hazards present in a shop floor type of manufacturing facility. This type of study is important since the ergonomic issues that concern the shop floor worker are different than those faced by the assembly line worker. The shop floor employee for the most part enjoys work satisfaction, task variety, and is able to control his own work pace. From an ergonomic standpoint, this is the preferred work environment. The focus of this paper is a case study. This study is a one-day ergonomic assessment of a plastic manufacturing facility located in New Jersey. The ergonomic hazards found in this facility provided valuable information for developing guidelines that can be applied in most shop floor facilities. Among these guidelines is the implementation of a program that includes joint participation from management and workers for hazard evaluation

Ergonomic assessment of the activities developed by the canteen professionals of a Portuguese university: study of the main WMSD risk factors

Dissertação de mestrado em Human EngineeringWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are currently one of the main causes of absenteeism related to health problems. Taking into account that he work was carried out in an industrial kitchen, where different types of activities are performed, this study aims to identify and characterize the activities to evaluate the ergonomic risks to which the employees are exposed. Those risks are associated to postures, repetitive movements, manual handling of loads, among others. The analysis allows giving recommendations to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The main methodologies used were a questionnaire based on the Nordic questionnaire, videos, direct interviews with the employees, which allowed to choose the main activities in which there were flaws in the ergonomic factors. The Rapid Entire method Body Assessment (REBA) was used for the evaluation for those activities in which there were repetitive movements, incorrect postures, whereas the Key Indicator Method (KIM) was used for the activities involving manual handling of loads. Twenty-three workers were evaluated obtaining the body regions with the highest percentage of musculoskeletal complaints in the last 12 months: the lumbar area with 83%, 74% feet, and 74% neck; these body areas coinciding with absenteeism in the last 12 months with 57% lumbar, 48% feet and 43% neck. An average was obtained for the pain scale, ranging from 0 (without pain) to 10 points (maximum pain), giving 7 points for the lower back and 6 points for both the feet and neck. Six activities were evaluated with the KIM method and the results show that five activities obtained a medium-risk level and the sixth activity a high-risk level in terms of classification It was concluded that the typical activities of the canteen can generate musculoskeletal disorders in workers, for which a series of recommendations are given.As lesões musculoesqueléticas relacionadas com o trabalho (LMERT) são atualmente uma das principais causas de absentismo associado a problemas de saúde. Considerando que durante o trabalho realizado numa cozinha industrial existem diferentes tipos de atividade, este estudo tem como objetivo identificar e caracterizar as atividades desenvolvidas pelos trabalhadores de uma cantina universitária Portuguesa com o intuito de avaliar o risco de LMERT a que os trabalhadores estão expostos, devido a fatores como posturas, movimentos repetitivos, manipulação manual de cargas, entre outros. Pretende-se, ainda, dar sugestões e recomendações de alteração dessas atividades de forma a reduzir o risco de LMERT. A metodologia de trabalho envolveu a aplicação de diversos métodos de recolha de informação, tal como um questionário, baseado no questionário nórdico de avaliação da sintomatologia musculoesquelética auto-referida, vídeos, entrevistas diretas com os funcionários, o que permitiu selecionar as atividades com maiores problemas ao nível da ergonomia. A avaliação do risco associado a estas atividades foi efetuada através do método Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), para as atividades em que houve movimentos repetitivos, posturas inadequadas, ou alterações rápidas à postura e o Key Indicator Method (KIM) para as atividades que envolvem manipulação manual de cargas. A amostra constou de 23 trabalhadores, sendo que as regiões corporais com maior prevalência de queixas musculoesqueléticas nos últimos 12 meses foram a região lombar (83%), os pés (74%) e o pescoço (74%). Essas áreas corporais coincidem com os valores obtidos relativamente à questão “nos últimos 12 meses deixou de fazer as suas atividades devido a esses distúrbios”, com 57% (região lombar), 48% (pés) e 43% (pescoço). Da aplicação da escala de dor, variando de 0 (sem dor) a 10 pontos (dor máxima), foram obtidos valores médios para as diferentes egiões corporais: 7 pontos para a região lombar e 6 pontos para os pés e pescoço. Seis atividades foram avaliadas com o método KIM, em cinco obteve-se um nível de risco médio e na outra atividade obteve-se um nível de risco alto. Com o método REBA, foram avaliadas quatro atividades, numa obteve-se um nível de risco médio, em duas obteve-se um nível de risco alto e noutra um nível de risco muito alto. Concluiu-se desta maneira que as atividades típicas da cantina podem gerar distúrbios musculoesqueléticos nos trabalhadores, para os quais foram fornecidas várias recomendações e sugestões de melhoria

The association between risk factors and the prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) among vehicle technicians in PERODUA Puchong Service Center

The primary objective of this study was to determine the association between risk factors and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) among vehicle technician in Perodua Puchong service center. Overall, 35 technicians from Perodua Puchong service center were stratified sampling as participants of this study. For evaluations of perceived MSD in nine different sections of the body, a modified version of the general Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used. This study made use of the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), vibration measurement on a hand power tool, a job content questionnaire, and force exertion. To assess the impact of risk factors on MSD prevalence, direct logistic regression was used. Vehicle technicians at the Perodua Puchong service center are likely to be exposed to a variety of ergonomic hazards and risk factors. As a result, ergonomics awareness among employers and employees, as well as training and information sharing, must be increasedin order to reduce the prevalence of MSDs. (Abstract by author

"Production Ergonomics

"Production ergonomics – the science and practice of designing industrial workplaces to optimize human well-being and system performance – is a complex challenge for a designer. Humans are a valuable and flexible resource in any system of creation, and as long as they stay healthy, alert and motivated, they perform well and also become more competent over time, which increases their value as a resource. However, if a system designer is not mindful or aware of the many threats to health and system performance that may emerge, the end result may include inefficiency, productivity losses, low working morale, injuries and sick-leave. To help budding system designers and production engineers tackle these design challenges holistically, this book offers a multi-faceted orientation in the prerequisites for healthy and effective human work. We will cover physical, cognitive and organizational aspects of ergonomics, and provide both the individual human perspective and that of groups and populations, ending up with a look at global challenges that require workplaces to become more socially and economically sustainable. This book is written to give you a warm welcome to the subject, and to provide a solid foundation for improving industrial workplaces to attract and retain healthy and productive staff in the long run.

Occupation-related low back pain and functional activities of mineworkers from Solwezi District, Zambia

Masters of Science - Msc (Physiotherapy)Low back pain (LBP) injury rates have been increasing over the years in the mining industry due to the physical nature of the work. It has been ranked among the most common occupational health problems worldwide, and regarded as a major contributor to high absenteeism rates at work, low productivity and high disability in the mining industry. The aim of the study is to determine the role of occupation-related LBP on the functional activities of mineworkers from the Solwezi District, Zambia. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. A cross-sectional, descriptive design, using a survey, was employed to address the first three objectives while an exploratory design using focus group discussions was employed to address the last objective of the study. Simple random sampling was adopted in the survey and a total of 222 respondents who were workers at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi District, Zambia participated in the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the study and data from the survey was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The study indicated that 68% of the respondents suffered LBP in the past one year, one month prevalence was reported by 40.4% of the respondents, and a one-week prevalence by 33.1% of the respondents

"Production Ergonomics

"Production ergonomics – the science and practice of designing industrial workplaces to optimize human well-being and system performance – is a complex challenge for a designer. Humans are a valuable and flexible resource in any system of creation, and as long as they stay healthy, alert and motivated, they perform well and also become more competent over time, which increases their value as a resource. However, if a system designer is not mindful or aware of the many threats to health and system performance that may emerge, the end result may include inefficiency, productivity losses, low working morale, injuries and sick-leave. To help budding system designers and production engineers tackle these design challenges holistically, this book offers a multi-faceted orientation in the prerequisites for healthy and effective human work. We will cover physical, cognitive and organizational aspects of ergonomics, and provide both the individual human perspective and that of groups and populations, ending up with a look at global challenges that require workplaces to become more socially and economically sustainable. This book is written to give you a warm welcome to the subject, and to provide a solid foundation for improving industrial workplaces to attract and retain healthy and productive staff in the long run.

Overview of pedal cyclist traffic casualties in South Australia

Characteristics of pedal cycle crashes (as reported to the police) in South Australia, and how they have changed over the period 1981-2004, are examined. The paper describes both the present situation (2001-2004) and how it has changed since 1981; both child and adult casualties; both the numbers of casualties and the proportions seriously injured; and both factors that are commonly tabulated and some that are relatively unusual. In 1981, pedal cyclist casualties were mostly children and teenagers, but in 2004, pedal cyclist casualties were mostly spread across the age range from 16 to 49. Child pedal cyclist casualties reached a maximum in 1982-1987, and have fallen sharply since. Adult pedal cyclist casualties reached a maximum in 1987-1990, and then fell. Concerning the proportion of casualties seriously injured (i.e., killed or admitted to hospital), in 2001-2004 this proportion among adults (16+) was 12% when the speed limit was 60 km/h or less, and 33% when the speed limit was 70 km/h or higher. Among the four most frequent types of crashes (right angle, side swipe, right turn, and rear end), the proportions of adult casualties seriously injured were 11%, 11%, 16%, and 18%. The proportion was 14% for male drivers of the motor vehicle and 9% for female drivers; it was 17%, 15%, 15%, 14%, 10%, and 11% for motor vehicle driver age groups 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-99.T. P. Hutchinson, C. N. Kloeden, and A. D. Lon

The effect of offsite construction on occupational health and safety

The continuous desire to improve health and safety in UK construction has in recent years been challenged to adopt offsite strategies in order to address the poor health and safety record of construction. Despite the benefits of using offsite there has been little research on the actual benefits and disadvantages of the effect of offsite on occupational health and safety. This is important given that the UK government has promoted the use of offsite to improve health and safety performance. This thesis provides a strategy for the management of offsite risk and a risk management tool has been developed. The study investigated offsite manufacturers views on offsite activities and risks in comparison with insitu activities and risks. This was achieved through three phases: phase I comprised two expert group interviews, phase II involved ergonomic audits and phase III consisted of three semi-structured interviews with three offsite manufacturers. The thesis identified that there are significant health and safety benefits of offsite. The benefits relate to specific activities within the offsite categories and context studied. Examples include the elimination of work at height, reduction in noise, reduction in work in confined space, reduction in congested work with trade overlap and greater control over work in the factory. The research revealed that there are still potential health and safety risks with offsite. Examples include; transportation and delivery of units of large size and weight with associated high consequence craneage and handling risks (unit fall and hand injury), whole body vibration, cuts, MSDs, RSIs, fumes and slips trips and falls. There appears to be little in the literature to support the identification of offsite risk issues. The study identified strategies to eliminate and reduce offsite residual risks. The case study investigated solutions to further reduce residual risks, which were further explored in phase III the semi-structured interviews. The solutions are grouped into four approaches: process change, workplace environment designing out risks, automation and the use of tools. An offsite risk management tool was developed which transfers knowledge from the study to provide awareness and management of offsite risk. The thesis provides a contribution to knowledge by providing a better understanding of offsite risks, offsite residual risks and strategies used to reduce residual risks