International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics最新文献

{"title":"Biodynamic responses of the human hand-arm system under nail gun shock vibration and differences between males and females","authors":"Maxime Vincent ,&nbsp;Akira Engelbrecht ,&nbsp;Marc-André Gaudreau ,&nbsp;Mathias Legrand ,&nbsp;Thomas Dupont ,&nbsp;Pierre Marcotte","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Occupational exposure to vibration from hand tools poses significant health risks, potentially leading to chronic disorders affecting nerves, muscles, and joints in the Hand-Arm System (HAS). Despite extensive research, the biodynamic response of the HAS to real-world shock vibrations remains insufficiently characterized, limiting effective risk assessment and prevention strategies. This study quantifies the biodynamic response of male and female HAS during standardized nail gun operation. Thirty participants (15 males, 15 females) performed standardized nail gun tasks while vibration transmissibility was measured between the tool handle and the wrist, forearm, upper arm, and shoulder using triaxial accelerometers. Results show a consistent decrease in peak transmissibility frequency from the wrist to the shoulder, reflecting a shift in biodynamic response along the HAS. Modal analysis identified distinct natural frequencies across the HAS, with statistical analyses showing significant sex-related differences, particularly in lower-frequency modes. These differences remained significant after adjusting for age, hand length, palm width, and Body Mass Index, confirming the sex-specific biodynamic differences. The importance of a sufficiently large and balanced sample for reliably detecting sex-related effects is demonstrated. The findings highlight the importance of evaluating vibration exposure under realistic conditions, as conventional shaker excitations may not fully replicate the dynamics of shock vibrations. Notably, transmissibility increased at high frequencies and decreased below 10<!--> <!-->Hz, likely due to differences in experimental conditions. Furthermore, the observed sex-related differences support the need to incorporate sex-specific considerations into occupational health guidelines, ergonomic tool design, and exposure standards to reduce vibration-induced health risks and improve worker safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103913"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192879","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 effects of icon salience, familiarity and concreteness on visual load and behavioral performance","authors":"Minhui Yuan,&nbsp;Ruifeng Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103912","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103912","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the effects of icon external features (icon salience) and internal features (icon familiarity and concreteness) on visual load and behavioral performance across visual search and semantic recognition tasks. Twenty-seven college students participated in a 2 (icon salience: high, low) × 2 (icon concreteness: concrete, abstract) × 2 (icon familiarity: familiar, unfamiliar) within-subject experiment. In the search task, only icon salience significantly affected reaction time and visual load, while familiarity and concreteness showed no significant effects. In the semantic recognition task, icon salience significantly reduced visual load. Icon familiarity improved accuracy and decreased reaction time. Concreteness affected reaction time and visual load, with concrete icons being recognized more slowly but resulting in lower visual load than abstract icons. Significant interactions among internal features were observed, with familiarity exerting stronger benefits on reaction time and visual load for concrete than for abstract icons. Moreover, icon salience moderated the effects of familiarity and concreteness on visual load, enhancing the load-reducing effect of familiarity and reducing the visual load gap between concrete and abstract icons. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for considering the interaction effect of icon internal and external features in icon design for VDT (Visual Display Terminal) interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103912"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192878","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":"Reassessing nasal geometry: A PCA-based comparison of 2D dimensions and 3D point net","authors":"Jingjing Wang,&nbsp;Steve Summerskill,&nbsp;Mazher Iqbal Mohammed","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poor-fitting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) around the nose and eyes remains a persistent issue, due to the limited understanding of facial geometry diversity. This study aims to evaluate the representativeness and reliability of 2D and 3D nasal data using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and two-stage clustering for nose classification. A custom algorithm is developed to automate the nasal measurement from 3D facial scan data. The 3D nose point net achieved an average accuracy of 60.26 % ± 12.77 % across 8 clusters, outperforming the traditional nasal dimensions method (55.40 % ± 18.07 % across 15 clusters). These results demonstrate the superior stability and precision of the 3D approach in capturing nasal variability. This study introduces a universal classification process and key variables for nose shape analysis, offering a more holistic understanding of nasal morphology. This framework supports improved anthropometric design and has broader implications for PPE development and other facially fitted products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103895"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192876","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":"Safety culture and climate in the education sector and its relationship with health from a gender perspective","authors":"Pamela Astudillo Cornejo ,&nbsp;Carlos Ibarra Villanueva ,&nbsp;Ricardo Jorquera Gutiérrez","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103900","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the relationship between safety climate, safety culture, and occupational health outcomes among workers in the Chilean education sector. Although psychosocial risks in schools have received growing attention, the links between preventive culture and health symptoms remain underexplored. A mixed-methods design was implemented in 16 educational institutions. A safety climate questionnaire was completed by 363 participants (278 women and 85 men), and 34 semi-structured interviews were conducted with school personnel and occupational health professionals. Quantitative analyses showed that lower safety climate scores were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain and psychological distress. These associations were more pronounced among women, reflecting the gendered dynamics of the sector. Qualitative findings indicated a predominantly reactive prevention culture, in which risks are often normalized or overlooked, particularly in relation to emotional demands, organizational tensions, and work overload. Gender emerged as a structuring factor in how risks are perceived and managed, influencing access to support, recognition, and protective measures. The study concludes that occupational health strategies in education require a more integrated approach that combines ergonomic and psychosocial perspectives and incorporates a gender lens. Such an approach can help address structural inequalities in exposure to risk and foster a more inclusive and effective safety culture in schools. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of occupational health in service sectors and highlight the value of mixed methods for capturing the complex configurations of safety and health in feminized workplaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103900"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192877","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":"Integrating electroencephalogram with machine learning modeling to classify hazard perception for safety sign designs","authors":"Xiaoxu Bai ,&nbsp;Linfeng Hu ,&nbsp;Wenhao Mao ,&nbsp;Qingguo Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Safety signs are crucial for accident prevention, yet their effectiveness hinges on individuals’ accurate hazard perception. While electroencephalogram (EEG) studies have described the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying safety signs processing, they have been limited to descriptive associations and cannot quantitatively predict specific level of hazard perception from complex, high-dimensional EEG data, nor quantify the relative contribution of concurrent cognitive processes reflected by different EEG indicators. To address this gap, this study developed an interpretable machine learning framework to classify hazard perception levels based on EEG signals for safety signs. To better approximate the real-world safety signs processing, we employed a temporally dissociated paradigm: EEG was recorded during implicit viewing of safety signs, and explicit subjective hazard ratings were subsequently collected as ground-truth labels. From the pre-processed EEG, 9 time-domain and 14 frequency-domain features were extracted and tested across five classifiers (Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and Back Propagation Neural Network). The Random Forest model integrating both feature types achieved the highest accuracy (83.5%) in predicting three hazard levels (low, medium, high). Feature importance analysis further identified the occipital beta band and the parieto-occipital N100 component as the most contributive features, highlighting the roles of early attentional engagement and emotional valence evaluation in hazard perception. By advancing from descriptive mechanism to quantitative, predictive classification, this study establishes a neuro-cognitive framework for decoding hazard perception for abstract, symbolic warning. It also offers a practical, brain-based assessment tool to guide the design and evaluation of more effective safety signs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103902"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135626","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":"Experimental study on the impact of noise exposure on miners’ attention","authors":"Yajuan Wang ,&nbsp;Shuicheng Tian ,&nbsp;Hongxia Li ,&nbsp;Tao Ma ,&nbsp;Junrui Mao ,&nbsp;Lei Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the relationship between noise intensity and miners' attention levels to mitigate coal mine accidents caused by attention-related human factors. Using mine simulation experiments, this study examines how varying levels of noise exposure affect miners' behavioral-perceptual capabilities. Experimental data were used to quantitatively assess how miners' behavioral-perceptual capacity varies with noise levels, using machine learning models for attention state classification. Key findings indicate that: (1) Noise levels of 55 dB enhance miners' attention focus. manifested as reduced behavioral errors. However, noise intensities at or above 70 dB significantly deteriorate miners' behavioral-perceptual capacity, marked by increased task error, prolonged reaction times, and higher fatigue levels. (2) High noise substantially impacts miners' operational accuracy. At 70 dB, error rates notably increase, reaching 9.37% at 100 dB. (3) Among the tested machine learning models, Random Forest (RF), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) achieved prediction accuracies of 91.11%, 93.33%, and 95.56%, respectively. Following a comprehensive evaluation of prediction accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, the LSTM model was identified as having optimal predictive effectiveness. This study provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing underground coal mine environments, enhancing miners’ attention levels, minimizing unsafe behaviors, and advancing coal mine safety management practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103903"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192776","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":"User-centered thermal experience in smartphones: How form factor and grasping behavior impact thermotactile sensation","authors":"Tingshu Chen ,&nbsp;Lili Dong ,&nbsp;Yankuan Liu ,&nbsp;Pei-Luen Patrick Rau ,&nbsp;Pengbo Chen ,&nbsp;Yu Shen ,&nbsp;Kai Luo ,&nbsp;Jianhua Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103889","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103889","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, we present an approach to evaluate thermal experience for both slate and foldable smartphones. Based on user grasping behavior, we measured surface temperatures in ten testing landmarks across the front, rear, and frame to investigate heat generation. We examined thermotactile sensation across three smartphone form factors (slate, vertical foldable, and horizontal foldable) in three typical usage scenarios (video recording, short-form video streaming, and long-form video streaming). Our results revealed significant differences in thermal distribution across device types, with the front and back hottest regions identified as the most reliable predictor of thermotactile sensation. There were significant positive correlations between surface temperatures and subjective thermotactile ratings, with Spearman's correlation coefficients ranging from 0.42 to 0.91. Regression models further confirmed the back hottest region as the critical thermal interaction area. Thermotactile sensation occurs across three distinct temperature zones: 39–41 °C (initial awareness), 43–45 °C (discomfort or dissatisfaction), and 46–48 °C (pain). The study demonstrates that both device form factor and grasping behavior significantly modulate thermotactile sensation, with their interaction becoming predominant in extreme heat conditions characterized by elevated surface temperatures. These findings offer practical guidance for thermal management and user-centered design in future mobile devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103889"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038511","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":"Neuroergonomics evaluation of teamwork in a fast-paced communication and shared decision-making task","authors":"Yifan Zhang ,&nbsp;Shen Dong ,&nbsp;Ruoyu Niu ,&nbsp;Yang Chu ,&nbsp;Yafeng Pan ,&nbsp;Jie Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined whether inter-brain synchrony (IBS), measured via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning, may serve as a neurophysiological indicator for team collaboration following structured training. Conventional evaluations of team training rely primarily on subjective ratings and performance metrics. Although IBS has been proposed as an index of neural coordination, its relation to collaboration quality and training-induced change remains unclear. Forty-eight adults (24 dyads) were randomized to a structured team-training or no-training control group and completed a fast-paced microworld task. Independent observers subsequently rated teamwork quality from video recordings. Exploratory machine-learning classifiers were trained on channel-wise IBS features to predict each team's training status. Trained dyads showed significantly lower prefrontal IBS in specific channels than controls, a pattern accompanied by higher observer-rated teamwork scores. Classifiers achieved moderate cross-validated accuracy (≈0.73) for nominal labels and higher performance when calibrated against observer ratings (AUC up to 0.94). Interpreted within Mutual Prediction Theory (MPT), these findings suggest that IBS need not monotonically increase with better teamwork; in high-tempo operational tasks, improved coordination may coincide with reduced online mutual prediction demand. This pattern is compatible with a team neural efficiency account in which effective coordination is achieved with reduced inter-brain coupling. Together, the results motivate future work to validate generalizability and assess feasibility for monitoring and training applications in safety-critical domains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103892"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145980067","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":"Exploring the impact of haptic feedback locations and mid-air haptic technology on driver's takeover performance and user experience in automated vehicles","authors":"Ruiheng Lan ,&nbsp;Xu Sun ,&nbsp;Qingfeng Wang ,&nbsp;Bingjian Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As automated vehicles (AVs) increasingly allow drivers to engage in non-driving-related tasks (NDRTs), effective takeover request (TOR) systems become critical for safety. This study evaluates how four haptic feedback configurations—two technologies (vibrotactile vs. ultrasonic mid-air haptics, UMH) delivered to two locations (hand vs. face)—shape driver takeover performance and user experience in Level 3 driving. In a simulator study with 32 participants, vibrotactile cues consistently produced faster reaction and takeover times than UMH, demonstrating clear advantages for time-critical TORs. Feedback location predominantly influenced subjective experience: hand-based cues were rated as more pleasant, whereas face-based cues offered high perceptual salience but lower comfort. Despite slower responses, UMH was valued for its contactless convenience, though concerns about tracking reliability limited trust. These findings show that haptic configuration—not just modality—critically determines TOR effectiveness, and they provide actionable guidance for designing safer, more intuitive, and user-centered AV HMIs. The results also highlight key technical barriers for UMH that must be addressed to support broader adoption in future AVs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103878"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929007","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":"Gender-inclusive ergonomics for sustainable cancer prevention: insights from self-reflection interviews with vulnerable young workers","authors":"Marie Laberge ,&nbsp;Liam Lett ,&nbsp;Sami Fettah ,&nbsp;Jena Webb ,&nbsp;Nadielda Pastor-Bédard ,&nbsp;France Labrèche ,&nbsp;Sabrina Gravel ,&nbsp;Sylvain Letscher","doi":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article examines exposure to carcinogens in workplaces among vulnerable youth in a Co-op training program for adolescent and young adult trainees with low educational attainment. It explores how socio-environmental factors increase these risks. An ergonomic approach was used to understand real-world work situations, going beyond measuring exposure to understanding the mechanisms involved. The methodology includes self-reflection interviews (SRI) with eleven trainees, using video of their work situations to stimulate reflection. The analysis examines how gender, communication difficulties, and the gendered nature of trades influence the perception of risks, the understanding of exposure mechanisms, and knowledge of prevention measures. Key findings reveal that trainees often underestimate cancer-related risks, associating the absence of immediate discomfort with the absence of danger. Their understanding of exposure pathways is limited, with ingestion being the most recognized route. Trainees often recognize immediate effects over long-term health consequences. Gender plays a significant role, with young women in caregiving roles prioritizing the safety of others over their own. Trainees in masculine-typical jobs are more likely to receive support and guidance from colleagues. Communication skills impact risk awareness, with trainees who struggle to articulate their thoughts having more difficulty in identifying and explaining hazards in interviews. The study highlights significant gaps in trainees’ comprehension and application of occupational health and safety measures. This research advances efforts toward a sustainable and equitable approach to occupational cancer prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50317,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103893"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145980069","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}