{"title":"How to walk to reduce footstep noise in multi-story residential buildings.","authors":"Woojin Yoon, Yujin Kwon, Jaehyun Yoon, Seobin Choi, Gwanseob Shin","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2300954","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2300954","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Loud footsteps from upstairs cause disturbance to downstairs neighbours in multi-story residential buildings. In this experiment, we examined how participants walk when asked to walk quietly and evaluated the efficiency of their quiet walking patterns. Changes in vertical impact loading rates during the early stance phase, walking speed, and lower limb muscle activity when asked to walk quietly were evaluated from twenty-six young participants. Study data show that participants who struck the ground with the rearfoot reduced the impact loading rate by 44.6% with 29.3% slower walking speed than normal walking. Those who struck with the fore- or mid-foot reduced the impact loading by 69.2% with a 23.4% decrease in speed. Quiet walking with the non-rearfoot strike pattern reduced the impact loading by 48.7%, even when asked to walk as fast as normal walking. The results support the non-rearfoot strike pattern as an efficient walking strategy for lowering footstep impact.<b>Practitioner summary</b>: Data of this study show that voluntary gait alteration, such as adopting a non-rearfoot strike pattern, can reduce footstep impact. The study results propose that implementing such changes could be beneficial in addressing floor noise issues of multi-story residential buildings.<b>Abbreviations:</b> RFS: Rearfoot strike; NRFS: non-rearfoot strike; COP: Center of pressure; NW: Normal walking; QWs: Quiet walking at a preferred slower speed; QWn: Quiet walking at the speed of normal walking; EMG: Electromyography; BW: Body weight; iNEMG: integrated normalized EMG.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"112-119"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139378719","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2023-12-02DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2286910
Lea S Müller, Guido Hertel
{"title":"Trusting information systems in everyday work events - effects on cognitive resources, performance, and well-being.","authors":"Lea S Müller, Guido Hertel","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286910","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In today's data-intensive work environments, information systems are crucial for supporting workers. However, workers often do not rely on these systems but resort to workarounds. We argue that trust is essential for workers' reliance on information systems, positively affecting workers' cognitive resources, performance, and well-being. Moreover, we argue that the organisational context (accountability, distractions) and user-related factors qualify trust-outcome associations by affecting workers' trust calibration. In a preregistered study, we asked <i>N</i> = 291 employed users of information systems to re-experience prior everyday usage events (event reconstruction method) and assess event-specific trust in the system, work outcomes, and context conditions. Results confirmed the assumed association between trust in the information system and workers' ratings of both performance and well-being. Moreover, workers' technology competence and need for cognition - but not contextual conditions - qualified trust-outcome associations. Our results offer specific suggestions for achieving successful use of information systems at work.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"19-36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138452928","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2023-12-06DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2287975
Zizheng Guo, Huishan Pang, Jingyu Zhang, Jun Zhang, Jiazhe Wang, Chuanning He, Chengen Li
{"title":"Using HFACS to understand human error in railway dispatcher performance: a study of proactive safety inspection records.","authors":"Zizheng Guo, Huishan Pang, Jingyu Zhang, Jun Zhang, Jiazhe Wang, Chuanning He, Chengen Li","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2287975","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2287975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study analyzes 4,095 proactive safety inspection records obtained from a large dispatching centre by utilising the HFACS framework. These proactive safety inspection records offer comprehensive documentation of incidents, capturing major accidents and numerous minor discrepancies and lapses that often go unnoticed in accident reports. The analysis revealed that most incidents were attributed to unsafe actions, primarily skill-based errors and poor decision-making. Additionally, contributing factors such as adverse mental states, personal readiness, and crew resource management were found to play a significant role as preconditions for unsafe acts. Path analyses further established a significant correlation between factors such as unsafe supervision, preconditions for unsafe acts, and the occurrence of unsafe acts. In our discussion, we critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of proactive safety inspection records in safety research. Moreover, we emphasise these findings' potential to enhance safety within the railway industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"37-50"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464127","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2024-01-08DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2300952
Dipayan Das, Ashish Kumar Singh
{"title":"Interactions between work-related factors, perceived fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders among handicraft artisans: structural equation model analysis.","authors":"Dipayan Das, Ashish Kumar Singh","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2300952","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2300952","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between work-related factors, perceived work fatigue (PWF) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among handicraft artisans. 364 artisans participated in a questionnaire survey, and a structural equation model (SEM) was developed to explore the direct and indirect relationships between these factors using partial least squares analysis. The SEM explained 98.2% of the variance in MSDs and revealed that exposure to biomechanical factors had a direct impact on PWF and MSDs, with PWF mediating the effect of biomechanical factors on MSDs. Additionally, job demand was found to be positively associated with MSDs, while job control and social support reduced the risk of MSDs. The findings underscore the importance of strategic initiatives to mitigate the risk of developing MSDs among artisans. The study also highlights the potential of SEM as a novel framework for understanding the complex pathogenesis of MSDs in occupational health research.<b>Practitioner summary:</b> The study sought to comprehensively examine the intricate relationships among work-related factors, PWF, and MSDs. To achieve this, an SEM approach was employed to capture both direct and indirect relationships between these factors, employing partial least squares analysis. Findings revealed SEM as an innovative framework for understanding the intricate development of MSDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"95-111"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139405090","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2023-11-28DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2286909
Mehmet Acar, Yusuf Ziya Erdil, Can Ozcan
{"title":"Computer-aided ergonomic analysis of primary school furniture dimensions.","authors":"Mehmet Acar, Yusuf Ziya Erdil, Can Ozcan","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286909","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2286909","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this study was to determine the match level of school furniture with student dimensions and conduct a pilot study to examine practicality of a computer-aided ergonomic analysis software with a Motion Capture System (MoCap) for the purpose of improving school furniture design process in terms of determining optimum dimensions. The research involved measuring the anthropometric data of 218 voluntary primary school students in Mugla, Turkiye and the dimensions of the existing school desks they use. The compatibility between the students' anthropometry and the existing school desks were analysed by using reference equations. Computer-aided ergonomic analysis performed only for seat and desk height. Four virtual human model and ten different school desks in various dimensions were created and evaluated according to joint reaction forces and muscle activations in three different postures by using Anybody Modelling System (AMS). The results of compatibility level showed that there were significant incompatibilities between the students' anthropometry and the existing school desks, with 80% of seat heights and 96% of desk heights being too high. Overall, in order to assess the optimal school desk dimensions, ergonomic analyses provided data indicating reduced joint reaction forces and muscle activations within the musculoskeletal system for the seat and desk height dimensions determined using reference equations. Also, the findings from the ergonomic analysis revealed valuable information on how even minor dimensional modifications to school desks can affect the musculoskeletal system.<b>Practitioner summary:</b> The study examined the impact of simulating student-school desk matching in various sizes and postures within a virtual environment using computer-aided ergonomic analysis software. The analysis focused on specific local areas of the musculoskeletal system to determine optimum school desk dimensions. The results indicated that the software has a potential in facilitating school furniture design based on user's anthropometric measurements. However, a multidisciplinary team is required to make more detailed analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138446862","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2023-11-29DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2288543
Bárbara Cardoso, Catarina Mateus, Rúben Magalhães, Matilde A Rodrigues
{"title":"Ergonomic intervention program for office workers: a case study about its effect in computer vision syndrome and musculoskeletal discomfort.","authors":"Bárbara Cardoso, Catarina Mateus, Rúben Magalhães, Matilde A Rodrigues","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2288543","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00140139.2023.2288543","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to develop and implement an ergonomic intervention program at the workplace of knowledge workers, and to evaluate its impact on the reduction of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and musculoskeletal symptoms. 84 workers were part of the study (mean age 43.2 ± 9.7 years). The intervention included training, delivery of a packaging of artificial tears, and adjustments in workstations. It was conducted intensively along 6 weeks. Data was collected on-site, with questionnaires administered pre-intervention, 2 months after, and 4 months after. Participants exhibited behavioural changes, especially in workplace adjustments and visual rest. By the intervention's end, over 90% had correctly adjusted screens and adopted appropriate postures, while 42.7% adhered to the 20x20x20 rule. CVS severity and prevalence decreased, but not significantly across the three time points. Significant improvements were observed in upper back and neck musculoskeletal symptoms at the end of workdays. Findings suggest that an ergonomic intervention program can benefit employees by reducing visual and musculoskeletal symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"51-62"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138452927","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2024-12-28DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2441443
Guofang Liu, Huiting Li, Jun Yu
{"title":"Why do we not want to work onboard? An explanation of generational changes in seafarers' work values.","authors":"Guofang Liu, Huiting Li, Jun Yu","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2024.2441443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2024.2441443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The shortfall of seafarers is a constant challenge in the shipping industry. With the development of the world economy and changes in employees' psychological indicators, seafarers' spiritual needs play an increasingly important role in their work intentions. This study proposed that seafarers' work values should be a useful explanation for the shortfall of seafarers. This study investigated the work values of seafarers (<i>N</i> = 368) and college students majoring in navigation technology and marine engineering (<i>N</i> = 322), as well as their relationships with participants' work intentions. The results showed that conservation and self-transcendence had positive influences on (quasi)seafarers' willingness to work onboard. The results also showed that participants' conservation and self-transcendence values decreased generation by generation. Accordingly, researchers and managers should pay enough attention to seafarers' work values. Maritime schools and shipping companies may incorporate work values into the processes of seafarers' recruitment, training and education, and performance management.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142900029","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2024-12-27DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2437496
Deping Wang, Chi Liu, Chenxu Chen, Jianjiao Deng, Xu Zheng, Yi Qiu, Marco Tarabini
{"title":"Vibration discomfort of supine human body exposed to whole-body vibration: effect of vibration direction and magnitude.","authors":"Deping Wang, Chi Liu, Chenxu Chen, Jianjiao Deng, Xu Zheng, Yi Qiu, Marco Tarabini","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2024.2437496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2024.2437496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Supine postures are increasingly adopted in medical transport, long-duration flights, and other healthcare environments. This study is aimed to identify the effect of vibration direction and magnitude on the objective and subjective responses of the human body in a supine posture. The transmissibilities to the head, chest, abdomen, and thighs of 12 male subjects were measured with single-axis random vibrations in longitudinal (<i>z</i> axis), lateral (<i>y</i> axis), and vertical (<i>x</i> axis) direction at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 ms<sup>-2</sup> r.m.s. Subjective discomfort was determined using the absolute magnitude estimation method. It was found factors of 1.0, 1.5 and 1.0 multiplying with the weighted r.m.s. of input accelerations in x, y, and z axes, respectively, can predict the discomfort. Alternatively, the unweighted acceleration measured at the body, such as at the chest, which was found to highly correlate with vibration discomfort, can be used to predict vibration discomfort of supine subjects.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142900026","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2024-12-21DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2439922
Pierre Falzon, Vanina Mollo, Gianna Carta
{"title":"Constructive ergonomics and enabling interventions.","authors":"Pierre Falzon, Vanina Mollo, Gianna Carta","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2024.2439922","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2024.2439922","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper presents a constructive view of Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE) and its implications regarding work, organisations and HFE interventions.</p><p><p>In contrast to a defensive approach to HFE, which would view work mostly as a source of constraints, and the role of HFE as reducing these constraints, the goal of constructive ergonomics is to eliminate obstacles hindering success and development and to maximise opportunities for acting and learning.</p><p><p>After having developed the concept and the methods of enabling interventions, as well as their consequences on the role of ergonomists, two enabling interventions are presented to illustrate the implementation of the constructive approach in real work settings.</p><p><p>The discussion advocates a conception of development as a fact, a means and a goal of HFE interventions, and emphasises the maieutic role of ergonomists.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873225","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}
ErgonomicsPub Date : 2024-12-19DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2441451
Sabrina C Teno, Marlene N Silva, Hélio Silva, Pedro B Júdice
{"title":"Longitudinal analysis of sitting time and impact on wellbeing and quality-of-life of sedentary workers.","authors":"Sabrina C Teno, Marlene N Silva, Hélio Silva, Pedro B Júdice","doi":"10.1080/00140139.2024.2441451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2024.2441451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sitting time (ST) in the occupational domain has been linked to reduced wellbeing and quality-of-life. However, studies investigating the impact of reducing ST in these outcomes are scarce. An ancillary analysis using data from a RCT containing a 6-month sit-stand desk-based intervention, evaluated workers' changes in ST (objectively measured), and subjective wellbeing and quality-of-life. Two groups were created based on changes in ST. Independent and paired-sample T-tests were used to evaluate the differences between and within groups, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to evaluate the effects of ST reduction in the outcomes. Our analyses indicated that 13 participants out of 38 reduced ST (-72min/day [±40.0; <i>p</i> < 0.001], while 25 participants slightly reduced or increased ST (+36.7 min/day [±40.3; <i>p</i> < 0.001]). Both groups had an improvement in quality-of-life scores, but only those who reduced ST improved subjective wellbeing (<i>p</i> = 0.028). Despite these results, no time*group interaction was found.</p>","PeriodicalId":50503,"journal":{"name":"Ergonomics","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856496","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}