Ergonomics最新文献

{"title":"Arm-support exoskeleton reduces shoulder muscle activity in ceiling construction.","authors":"S J Baltrusch, F Krause, A W de Vries, M P de Looze","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2280443","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2280443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and user's impression of an arm-support exoskeleton in complex and realistic ceiling construction tasks. 11 construction workers performed 9 tasks. We determined objective and subjective efficacy of the exoskeleton by measuring shoulder muscle activity and perceived exertion. User's impression was assessed by questionnaires on expected support, perceived support, perceived hindrance and future intention to use the exoskeleton. Wearing the exoskeleton yielded persistent reductions in shoulder muscle activity of up to 58% and decreased perceived exertion. Participants reported limited perceived hindrance by the exoskeleton, as also indicated by no increase in antagonistic muscle activity. The findings demonstrate the high potential of an arm-support exoskeleton for unloading the shoulder muscles when used in the dynamic and versatile working environment of a ceiling construction worker, which is in line with the consistent intention of the workers to use the exoskeleton in the future.<b>Practitioner Summary:</b> The majority of research focuses on the effect of using an arm-support exoskeleton during isolated postures and prescribed movements. We investigated the efficacy of an exoskeleton during a complex and realistic work, namely ceiling construction. Shoulder muscle activity was lower in almost all tasks when wearing the exoskeleton.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71523263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of different extreme cold exposure on heart rate variability.","authors":"Boyang Sun, Jiansong Wu, Chuan Li, Chenming Li, Zhuqiang Hu, Ruotong Wang","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286906","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286906","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Frequent extreme cold events in recent years have brought serious threats to outdoor workers and rescuers. Changes in ambient temperature are associated with altered cardiac autonomic function. The study aims to investigate heart rate variability (HRV) and its relationship to other physiological parameters under extreme cold exposures. Twelve males underwent a 30-min preconditioning phase in a neutral environment followed by a 30-min cold exposure (-5, -10, -15, and -20 °C). Time-domain indexes(meanRR, SDNN, RMSSD, and pNN50), frequency domain indexes [Log(HF), Log(LF), and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF)], parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) were analysed. Results showed all HRV indexes of four cold exposures were significant. The decrease in temperature was accompanied by progressive PNS activation with SNS retraction. SDNN was the most sensitive HRV index and had good linear relationships with blood pressure, pulse, and hand temperature. The results are significant for formulating safety protection strategies for workers in extremely cold environments.<b>Practitioner Summary:</b> This study investigated heart rate variability (HRV) in 12 males during a 30-min cold exposure (-5, -10, -15, and -20 °C). Results showed all HRV indexes of four cold exposures were significant. The decrease in temperature was accompanied by progressive PNS activation with SNS retraction. SDNN was the most sensitive HRV index and had good linear relationships with blood pressure, pulse, and hand temperature.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138292308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can we enable individuals to reach further down without rounding their backs before beginning a lift? Examining the influence of starting foot and trunk position on reach depth.","authors":"Danielle R Carnegie, Steven M Hirsch, Samuel J Howarth, Tyson A C Beach","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2282953","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2282953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is disagreement regarding the efficacy of 'safe' lifting recommendations for reducing low back disorder risk. These recommendations commonly focus on minimising lumbar spine flexion, which limits the range of allowable starting lift positions for that person. This study evaluated whether starting postural adaptations could allow a person to reach down further without rounding their lumbar spine before beginning a lift. Reach displacement was measured as participants performed a series of maximal reach tasks under different combinations of stance width, foot orientation and trunk inclination, with their lumbar spine motion restricted. There were no interactions between any of the three postural adaptations or any effect of stance width or trunk inclination. Seventy-nine percent of participants achieved their greatest reach displacement with their feet externally rotated, which contributed to a 4 cm greater reach displacement compared to a neutral foot orientation (<i>p</i> < 0.001).<b>Practitioner summary:</b> This study examined whether aspects of initial posture could influence the ability to adhere to 'safe' lifting recommendations across a range of lift heights. As a component of lifting (re)training interventions, practitioners should consider starting lift posture adaptations (e.g. manipulating foot external rotation) to improve capacity to adhere to recommendations.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89720385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What can we learn from severity index on flight data monitoring? Analysis of safety resilience in flight operations during COVID-19 disruptions.","authors":"Wen-Chin Li, Arthur Nichanian, John Lin, Graham Braithwaite","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286908","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286908","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The unexpected spread of the pandemic raised concerns regarding pilots' skill decay resulting from the significant drops in the frequency of flights by about 70%. This research retrieved 4761 Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) occurrences based on the FDM programme containing 123,140 flights operated by an international airline between June 2019 and May 2021. The FDM severity index was analysed by event category, aircraft type, and flight phase. The results demonstrate an increase in severity score from the pre-pandemic level to the pandemic onset on events that occurred on different flight phases. This trend is not present in the third stage, which indicates that pilots and the safety management system of the airline demonstrated resilience to cope with the flight disruptions during the pandemic. Through the analysis of event severity, FDM enables safety managers to recommend measures to increase safety resilience and self-monitoring capabilities of both operators and regulators.<b>Practitioner summary:</b> The onset of the pandemic led to a rise in the severity of flight data monitoring events in a large airline, likely linked to a lack of operational practice and skills decay. This was demonstrated across different flight phases and aircraft types. In the settled pandemic period, the severity index returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating that the resilience of individual pilots and safety management systems is critical to operational safety.HIGHLIGHTSThe FDM event severity scores significantly increased following the pandemic onset, especially for event categories involving pilot core competencies.The FDM event severity scores stagnated or decreased during the later pandemic stage indicating resilience among the airline pilots and the airline's safety management system.The airline and pilots demonstrated resilience by effectively mitigating the effects of proficiency decay which took place as the pandemic started.FDM analysis has shown to be effective in establishing a proactive SMS programme to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on aviation safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138296420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Worker and work-related factors influence on musculoskeletal symptoms among veterinary surgeons.","authors":"Ryan Thomas Villarreal, Sun Young Kim, Denny Yu","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2280830","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2280830","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Worker and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms are prevalent among surgeons operating on human patients. Despite incidence rates for accidents among veterinarians and their staff being 2.9 times higher than that of general practitioners of human medicine, little is known about musculoskeletal symptoms among veterinary surgeons. In this study, 212 board-certified members of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons responded to a survey regarding various work-related activities and their experience with musculoskeletal symptoms in 10 different body regions. Across all body regions, reported pain increased from before to after a typical day of surgery (<i>p</i> <.01). Gender, weight, age, and years performing surgery were worker factors that were related to pain (<i>p</i> <.05), while number of procedures, practice focus, and proportion of minimally invasive surgery were work factors related to pain (<i>p</i> <.05). Our findings suggest that musculoskeletal symptoms are prevalent among veterinary surgeons and may help provide evidence for guidelines for minimising musculoskeletal injuries in veterinary surgery.<b>Practitioner summary</b>: Little is known about the risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) among veterinary surgeons. This cross-sectional survey of veterinary surgeons investigates worker and work factors related to MSS. We show that MSS are prevalent and identify key factors providing evidence that MSS are a concern in veterinary surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71488402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 the influence of keyboard inclinations on sitting and standing workstations.","authors":"Victor Eghujovbo, Eunsik Kim","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2284682","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2284682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Given the growing global computer workforce, concerns exist about the escalation of computer related injury with Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) being one of the most reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among office workers. The optimal range of keyboard angles for sitting and standing positions based on wrist posture, forearm muscle activities and user preference as well as the keyboard location in relation to user position were analysed. 30 volunteers with an above 40 words per minute typing speed participated in this study. Result show that, although user prefer to use positive keyboard angle, the negatively tilted keyboard is more ergonomically friendly at both sitting and standing workstations, reducing muscle activity and awkward wrist posture while maintaining performance. The findings indicate that negative sloped keyboard might have the possibility to reduce the risk of developing CTS in office workers.<b>Practitioner summary:</b> This study determines the range of optimal slope of keyboard angle in a sit and stand workstation. Our results indicate a trend in the negative slope keyboard as an ergonomically friendly option for the intervention to Carpal tunnel pressure.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"107592660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing between-officer variability in responses to a live-acted deadly force encounter as a window to the effectiveness of training and experience.","authors":"Robert R Horn, William J Lewinski, Gustavo Sandri Heidner, Joshua Lawton, Craig Allen, Michael W Albin, Nicholas P Murray","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2278416","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2278416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We aimed to infer the effectiveness of officers' training and experience by assessing consistency of behavioural responses between them. If officers facing the same scenario respond in similar ways, this implies their use of shared cognition, through acquired in-common tactical knowledge. Officers (<i>n</i> = 42) responded to a live-acted scenario in which an assailant ultimately discharged his weapon. Triangulated camera positions assessed their movement patterns, final positions, and weapon responses relative to when the assailant fired his weapon. We also assessed the officers' visual search and gathered information regarding their experience and rest. Our second aim was to examine sources of variability in the officers' responses. We found extensive variability in all aspects of the response. Experience did not impact spatial or temporal behavioural responses. However, longer hours awake and lower reported rest negatively impacted officers' responses. We conclude that officers had insufficient training and experience to demonstrate in-common knowledge.<b>Practitioner summary:</b> Police officers showed high spatial and temporal variability in response to the same scenario. This implies inadequate tactical training, and is supported by our finding that training and experience did not impact performance. Instead, the officers' variability was constrained by their visual search, and the hours awake before being tested.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clothing impact on post-exercise comfort: skin-clothing physiology in transient environment.","authors":"Faisal Abedin, Emiel DenHartog","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2281272","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2281272","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sportswear manufactured from hygroscopic fibres can absorb moisture during activity or intermittent exercise and may change the thermal management of clothing. This change in the thermal behaviour of the fabric can lead to buffer the post-exercise chill. During activity in a moderately cold environment clothing made of 100% wool fibre helps wearers to slow down evaporative and conductive cooling, which can provide more thermal and comfort sensation compared to 100% cotton, 100% viscose, and 100% polyester. Twelve males performed cycling in a controlled climate chamber of temperature: 15 ± 0.5 °C, and relative humidity (RH):50 ± 5% followed by a drying phase in a windy environment by wearing full-sleeve t-shirts. Wool shirt was observed to hold a greater torso skin temperature (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than the other fibre types. Participants were asked a range of comfort-related questions at varying intervals. The temperature sensation was found (<i>p</i> < 0.05) significant for wool clothing. Moreover, participants rated wool shirt significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) as more comfortable during the post-exercise phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92157219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subjective and fitting evaluation of a revised physical attachment interface for a passive exoskeleton chair.","authors":"Jinghua Qiao, Jing Gan","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2024.2372460","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2024.2372460","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Passive exoskeleton chairs can alleviate fatigue, enhance efficiency, and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal diseases for workers standing for prolonged hours and have gradually been applied in recent years. In this study, by strategically distributing elastic and non-elastic fabrics, physical interfaces of the attachment system for the exoskeleton chair were revised to better adapt to bodily deformations and movements. We conducted an experiment using motion capture systems and subjective questionnaires to evaluate the performance of the initial and revised attachment systems of an exoskeleton chair worn by participants while performing multiple simulated assembly tasks. The results indicated that when wearing the revised one, some adverse effects on gait were significant reduced, as was the relative displacement of straps and discomfort in lumbar and abdominal, and system usability was improved, all of which were considered to be helpful in design to improve the performance of the attachment system in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of physiological responses to mental workload in n-back and arithmetic tasks.","authors":"Wiediartini, Udisubakti Ciptomulyono, Ratna Sari Dewi","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2284677","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2284677","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Working memory tasks, such as n-back and arithmetic tasks, are frequently used in studying mental workload. The present study investigated and compared the sensitivity of several physiological measures at three levels of difficulty of n-back and arithmetic tasks. The results showed significant differences in fixation duration and pupil diameter among three task difficulty levels for both n-back and arithmetic tasks. Pupil diameters increase with increasing mental workload, whereas fixation duration decreases. Blink duration and heart rate (HR) were significantly increased as task difficulty increased in the n-back task, while root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDNN) were significantly decreased in the arithmetic task. On the other hand, blink rate and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) were not sensitive enough to assess the differences in task difficulty for both tasks. All significant physiological measures yielded significant differences between low and high task difficulty except for SDNN.<b>Practitioner summary:</b> This study aimed to assess the sensitivity levels of several physiological measures of mental workload in n-back and arithmetic tasks. It showed that pupil diameter was the most sensitive in both tasks. This study also found that most physiological indices are sensitive to an extreme change in task difficulty levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136400125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}