International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics最新文献

{"title":"Vocational training and occupational health: An ergonomics approach to gender and disabilities for social sustainability","authors":"Myriam Bérubé ,&nbsp;Céline Chatigny ,&nbsp;Marie Laberge","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Work-Oriented Training Path (WOTP) in Quebec, Canada, is a dual vocational training program that offers students with learning difficulties supervised traineeships. Teachers play a pivotal role in managing students' occupational health and safety (OHS), yet must do so under tight time constraints, limited institutional guidance and highly diverse student profiles. Building on an activity-centered ergonomics and capabilities framework, this multiple-case study explores how gender, disabilities, and work determinants shape OHS management within the WOTP, emphasizing their implications for social sustainability. Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 WOTP teachers; 497 narrated anecdotes, which are units of speech when teachers' talk about students, were thematically analyzed to capture everyday mechanisms that expand or restrict safe participation in traineeship. The findings highlight challenges stemming from power dynamics between teachers, parents, and employers, which influence the operational leeway available for teachers to implement OHS prevention. Their work organization, conditions and tools also expand or restrict their capability to have an equitable approach. Additionally, the analysis reveals disparities in traineeship placement opportunities and OHS prevention, particularly concerning students’ gender identity and disabilities. Key factors influencing traineeship placements and OHS practices included students' communication skills, perceived autonomy, and suitability of behavior compared to social norms. Students with disabilities are frequently assigned repetitive tasks, increasing exposure to hazards that remain under-recognized. These results underscore the critical need for inclusive OHS prevention, fostering a more socially sustainable approach within vocational training programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103821"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145269038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effectiveness of an ergonomics programme to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in high voltage overhead powerline workers","authors":"Sunisa Chaiklieng ,&nbsp;Apiwat Youngwilai ,&nbsp;Mark G. Boocock","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High voltage overhead powerline work is physically demanding and exposes workers to a high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). This study investigated the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the risk of WRMSDs in powerline operators. Sixteen operators from Thailand who regularly used mobile elevating work platforms participated in the study. Following a task evaluation, an ergonomics improvement programme was implemented which involved engineering-design changes (e.g. purpose designed handling devices) and ergonomics training (e.g. techniques to reduce physically demanding postures). Pre- and post-intervention measures involved a musculoskeletal health survey, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and the assessment of WRMSD risk levels (risk matrix). The ergonomics improvement programme led to changes in postures and working practices, and a reduction in WRMSD symptom reporting and WRMSD risk classifications when compared to pre-intervention measures. Following the intervention, musculoskeletal discomfort decreased by 25 % in the hands and wrists, 12.5 % in the shoulders, arms, and lower back, and 6.3 % in the neck, upper back, hips, knees, feet, and ankles. There was a significant shift to lower REBA scores and risk matrix classifications changed from high to medium risk. The implementation of engineering-designed changes combined with ergonomics training was effective in reducing the short-term risks associated with WRMSDs in high voltage overhead powerline workers. Further work is needed to determine the long-term effects of these interventions on the occupational health of powerline workers, along with strategies for addressing other risk factors (e.g. psychosocial, work organisation) known to impact on the incidence of WRMSDs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103819"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145269037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of upper-limb occupational exoskeletons: From technology to assessment","authors":"Giovanni Brunelli ,&nbsp;Océane Dubois ,&nbsp;Monica Tiboni ,&nbsp;Nathanaël Jarrassé","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Occupational exoskeletons are emerging as a promising solution to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) across various industries. Upper-limb exoskeletons are particularly relevant, given the high prevalence of MSDs associated with repetitive arm motions and overhead tasks. However, evaluating the effectiveness of these devices requires careful analysis of the specific technologies and kinematic designs they incorporate to ensure their safe and effective integration. This paper presents a detailed technological review and analysis of the existing literature, focusing on the diversity of technologies and the need for more comprehensive studies addressing challenges in both laboratory and real-world settings. This study particularly highlights the necessity of assessments that account for the unique characteristics of different exoskeleton technologies, rather than generalizing across them. It also emphasize the need to examine not only reductions in muscle activity but also the potential for overlooked side effects, long-term impacts, and adaptations across different task types. These factors are crucial, as upper-limb exoskeletons are planned to be deployed for prolonged use in complex industrial environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103815"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145268647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevention through design integration in AEC education: Empirical assessment of discipline-specific barriers and motivational factors","authors":"Farouq Sammour ,&nbsp;Zhenyu Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prevention through Design (PtD) mitigates risks by integrating safety into early design stages, thereby enhancing building lifecycle safety. Despite its recognized importance, PtD remains insufficiently integrated into Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) education. This study examines discipline-specific barriers and motivators influencing student engagement with PtD, which had not been documented previously. A survey of 178 AEC students revealed low overall familiarity with PtD (11–15 %) and significant differences among disciplines in learning readiness and preferences. Architecture students exhibited the lowest worker safety awareness (56.7 %) and considered it less central to their design roles. Engineering students demonstrated moderate recognition of their worker safety responsibilities (77 %), while construction students, despite acknowledging the highest responsibility (92 %), expressed the least enthusiasm for formal PtD education. PtD's life-saving potential emerged as the primary motivator across all AEC disciplines. Secondary motivators varied by discipline. Construction students preferred learning PtD through tangible outcomes such as cost savings and schedule efficiencies, while architecture and engineering students were motivated by technology integration and career enhancement. Students showed an aversion to traditional reading and writing approaches, indicating a misalignment between conventional instruction and student preferences. Learning preferences differed by discipline. Architecture students favored visual learning strategies, while engineering and construction students preferred kinesthetic methods. These insights highlight the need for technology-enabled, case-based learning strategies that leverage disciplinary motivators and align with preferred learning modalities. Adopting these approaches is critical for equipping future AEC professionals with essential PtD competencies and advancing safer design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103820"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agile healthcare: The role of information technology ambidexterity and human resource practices fostering workforce agility and job performance","authors":"Jorge Flavio Sarmiento Falla ,&nbsp;Waldemar Karwowski ,&nbsp;Shiva Jahani ,&nbsp;Luis Rabelo ,&nbsp;P.A. Hancock","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103818","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103818","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Workforce agility is critical in the healthcare sector to navigate uncertainties and sudden changes in clinical environments, contributing significantly to job performance. However, specific factors contributing to agility in healthcare remain mainly unknown. This study investigates the impact of information technology ambidexterity and human resource practices on workforce agility. One hundred thirty-eight medical professionals from Peru participated in the study. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed. The results indicate that information technology ambidexterity and human resource practices positively affect workforce agility. Furthermore, workforce agility mediates the effects of information technology ambidexterity and human resource practices on job performance. These results also suggest that healthcare organizations in Peru should not only invest in information technology ambidexterity and enhance human resource practices but also actively foster workforce agility to positively impact medical professionals' job performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103818"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linking working memory capacity and response inhibition ability to driving behavior and eye movements in young novice drivers","authors":"Huiming Zhang,&nbsp;Wei Yuan,&nbsp;Yingshi Guo,&nbsp;Rui Fu,&nbsp;Yali Zhang,&nbsp;Yuwei Mu","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The weakness of cognitive control in young novice drivers may be a potential mechanism leading to road traffic injuries and fatalities among this group. While previous research has demonstrated the association of cognitive control with risky driving, the mechanism of cognitive control in driving and the role of eye movements in this relationship remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to clarify the theoretical framework of the relationships between two typical cognitive control capacities, namely working memory and response inhibition, with driving performance and eye movements. The goals are to determine when working memory capacity (WMC) and response inhibition ability (RIA) influence driving performance, to explore the possible interactive moderating effect between WMC and RIA, and to reveal the mediating effect of eye movements in the relationship between cognitive control and driving performance. During the experimental process, participants completed two WMC tasks (visuospatial working memory (VSWM), and verbal working memory (VWM)), an RIA task (cued go/no-go), and a simulated driving task (including car-following, pedestrian-crossing, etc.). Experimental data were obtained from 49 young Chinese novice drivers. The results showed that WMC and RIA significantly predicted overall driving performance, and stronger cognitive control leading to better driving performance in terms of the percentage of time spent over the speed limit (speeding), the standard deviation of the lateral position from the central line (SDLP), driving performance score, accident frequency, minimum time to collision (TTC), braking reaction time (BRT), and time to meet pedestrian (TMP). Moreover, WMC was found to moderate the relationship between RIA and driving performance. Specifically, WMC significantly predicted the driving performance score, accident frequency, and TMP for drivers with lower inhibitory control, and the WMC prediction of BRT was more pronounced for inattentive drivers. WMC was also found to predict eye movements, including vigilance (horizontal and vertical gaze variability) and effort level (pupil dilation). The relationship between WMC and driving performance was also found to be mediated by eye movements. Specifically, vertical gaze variability mediated the effects of VSWM on the driving performance score, accident frequency, and BRT, as well as the effects of VWM on BRT. Furthermore, pupil dilation mediated the effects of VWM on BRT. This study also discusses the potential mechanism of risky driving from the cognitive perspective, and improves the theoretical framework of “working memory–eye movement–driving performance.” Thus, this research is of theoretical and practical significance for driver safety training and risky driving intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103814"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Older people's needs for soft exoskeletons: a human-centered, participatory study","authors":"Ke Chen ,&nbsp;Vivian Weiqun Lou ,&nbsp;Ning Xi","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exoskeletons offer significant potential to enhance mobility and support independent living in older adults. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by a limited understanding of the diverse user needs and design requirements. To address this gap, we conducted a two-stage human-centered participatory study to identify user needs, preferences, and design requirements for soft exoskeletons design and evaluation. Stage 1 comprised six co-design workshops with older adults with mobility challenges and their family caregivers (n = 14), focusing on lived experiences, physio-psychosocial needs, and design expectations. Stage 2 involved laboratory-based assessments with 157 older adults to collect behavioral, functional, and biomechanical parameters relevant to exoskeleton performance requirements. The study identified four core physio-psychosocial needs, 13 design requirements, and nine objective performance benchmarks. Key priorities include facilitating daily task performance and mobility to foster independence and prevent injury; ensuring comfort, personalization, and durability; supporting competence and self-esteem through ease of use, aesthetic design, and affordability; promoting social connectedness and inclusion; and upholding ethical and moral integrity through accessibility, data security, and transparency. The nine evaluation benchmarks encompass biomechanical, functional, and behavioral parameters, including step length, stride length, handgrip strength, knee maximal voluntary contraction at multiple angles, walking speed, chair stand performance, and Short Physical Performance Battery scores. The finding offers a practical, evidence-based framework for aligning soft exoskeletons with the complex physical, psychological, and social needs of older adults, thereby promoting usability, acceptance, and adoption in aging societies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103813"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145100081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adoption evaluation of an AI-enabled immersive virtual reality tool in gerontological nursing using an extended technology acceptance model","authors":"Amirarash Kashef ,&nbsp;Yu Wang ,&nbsp;Ayse Malatyali ,&nbsp;Junfeng Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing shortage of qualified gerontological nurses poses a significant challenge to the healthcare system. To address this issue, an AI-enabled immersive virtual reality (VR) system was previously developed to enhance gerontological nursing training in senior care facilities. In this study, we focus on systematically evaluating user acceptance of this AI-enabled VR-based training system using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The evaluation framework incorporates both classical TAM constructs and additional context-specific factors such as personal innovativeness and presence. Data collected from 45 gerontological nurses (41 valid records) were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results show that perceived usefulness significantly impacts intention to use, as well as perceived enjoyment of the system; personal innovativeness significantly influences perceived ease of use, enjoyment, and intention to use; and intention to use positively influences intention to purchase if commercialized. These findings offer new insights into the adoption of immersive AI-VR tools in healthcare education and extend existing acceptance modeling approaches in the field of nursing training.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103812"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145100080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A decision support model for nursing chair design driven by patent literature analysis and trapezoidal fuzzy AHP","authors":"Jun Du ,&nbsp;Jiangang Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The postpartum period presents significant ergonomic challenges for women. Prolonged and frequent breastfeeding often leads to fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), affecting maternal and infant health. Our preliminary study shows that 78 % of breastfeeding mothers experience lower back discomfort after just 15 min, and 62 % suffer from shoulder and neck tension due to forward-leaning postures. Current nursing chair designs struggle to meet postpartum needs due to the lack of standardized evaluation tools and user-centered design approaches. This study aims to address the significant ergonomic challenges faced by postpartum women by developing a novel decision-support model that integrates Patent Literature Analysis (PLA) and the Trapezoidal Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).PLA identifies key innovation trends in nursing chair design, while fuzzy AHP ranks evaluation criteria, forming a dynamic framework of “technology trend insights, quantitative indicator evaluation.” The model effectively aligns technical feasibility with user needs, providing a robust framework for optimizing nursing chair designs to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and enhance maternal-infant health. PLA clarifies technical boundaries by capturing evolution trends, while fuzzy AHP quantifies priority levels of user requirements and addresses uncertainties in subjective evaluations using fuzzy numbers. This enables a continuous design loop of “trend updates, weight adjustments, solution optimization.” Evaluation results highlight “structural rationality” (weight 0.2195) and “safety” (weight 0.1272) as top priorities. The optimized design achieved a score of 0.6669, significantly enhancing user comfort and product competitiveness. This framework offers a user-driven, technically grounded path for nursing chair optimization, aiming to reduce MSDs and promote maternal-infant well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103811"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145100079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating affective and emotional responses to motion in 4D movies","authors":"Kimin Kwon ,&nbsp;Sung H. Han ,&nbsp;Dawoon Jeong ,&nbsp;Junseong Park ,&nbsp;Seungmoon Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2025.103810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the film industry, physical effects that enhance the sense of reality are known as four dimensional (4D) effects, which aim to intensify viewers’ affective and emotional experiences. Despite their growing use, empirical research on how 4D effects influence emotional responses remains limited. This study focuses on motion, one of the most commonly applied 4D effects, and investigates how single roll motion influences affective and emotional responses. Participants viewed short movie clips with and without a single roll motion while their physiological responses such as heart rate (HR), skin conductance level (SCL), and facial electromyograph (EMG) were recorded. They also reported the intensities of felt emotions and perceived emotions and affects. The results revealed that single roll motion significantly increased HR and SCL. The subjective evaluation showed enhanced levels of surprise and arousal (felt emotions), as well as increased perceived dangerous and strong (perceived affects). These findings provide empirical evidence that single roll motion can enhance affective and emotional responses in 4D experiences. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of motion and emotion in 4D experience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103810"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}