Derek N Wolf, Shimra J Fine, Chad C Ice, Paul R Slaughter, Katherine M Rodzak, Karl E Zelik
{"title":"Integrating Exosuit Capabilities into Clothing to Make Back Relief Accessible to Workers Unserved by Existing Exoskeletons: Design and Preliminary Evaluation.","authors":"Derek N Wolf, Shimra J Fine, Chad C Ice, Paul R Slaughter, Katherine M Rodzak, Karl E Zelik","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2295859","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2295859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSWe developed a method for integrating back-assist exosuit capabilities into regular clothing to make musculoskeletal relief accessible to more workers. We demonstrated proof-of-concept that this uniform-integrated exosuit can be effective and usable. Existing occupational exosuits are standalone accessories worn on top of a user's clothing and are not suitable for all workers. Our newly developed sub-class of exosuit could be beneficial to workers who alternate between bending, lifting, and sitting tasks, or to those in customer- or patient-facing jobs where it is important for wearable technology to be discreet.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":" ","pages":"94-107"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139041059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nosrat Abdollahpour, Faramarz Helali, Yahya Rasoulzadeh, Hadi Hassankhani
{"title":"Barriers and Challenges to Human Factors/Ergonomics Knowledge Transfer to Small Business Enterprises in an Industrially Developing Country.","authors":"Nosrat Abdollahpour, Faramarz Helali, Yahya Rasoulzadeh, Hadi Hassankhani","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2179687","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2179687","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONWe found that small business enterprises (SBEs) face intra- and extra-organizational barriers in different dimensions related to their work system to practically implement human factors/ergonomics (HFE) knowledge transfer and to achieve its benefits in an industrially developing country. Utilizing a three-zone lens, we evaluated the feasibility of overcoming the barriers identified by stakeholders, especially ergonomists. To overcome the identified barriers in practice, three types of macroergonomics interventions (top-down, middle-out, and bottom-up) were distinguished through macroergonomics theory. The bottom-up approach of macroergonomics, as a participatory HFE intervention, was considered as the entry point to overcome the perceived barriers in the first zone of the lens, which included such themes as lack of competence, lack of involvement and interaction, and inefficient training and learning approaches. This approach focused on improving emotional literacy as a care zone among the small business enterprise personnel.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"11 1-2","pages":"14-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10471894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sociotechnical Factors Supporting Mobile Phone Use by Bus Drivers.","authors":"Ross O Phillips, Siri Hegna Berge","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2166161","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2166161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSResults of a survey of drivers working for two bus companies in Norway suggest that 20% of drivers sometimes use a mobile phone while driving, even though it is not permitted. Sociotechnical analysis of the system surrounding drivers at one of the companies elicited ways in which social and technical factors combined to support mobile phone use by bus drivers. These factors were arranged under four themes: increased societal dependence on technology; developments in bus driver culture; the need for bus drivers to resolve conflicting goals; and a lack of belief in adverse consequences of using mobile phone while driving. Our findings (i) support claims that driver-centered analyses of mobile phone use or other traffic safety challenges are an insufficient basis for the development of measures and should be supplemented by sociotechnical analyses; and (ii) can inspire the design of more comprehensive measures to help reduce mobile phone use and road safety risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"11 1-2","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10097574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigating the Use of Changes in Facial Features as Indicators of Physical Workload.","authors":"Qian Zhang, Lora Cavuoto","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2228329","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2228329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSPhysical workload may lead to negative outcomes, including musculoskeletal disorders. In this study, we found that there were observable changes in facial features over the length of a low intensity, prolonged assembly task, and that these changes were correlated to other measures of physical workload. This method can be implemented by practitioners to evaluate physical workload.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"11 1-2","pages":"48-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10155358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Steven A Foster, Sudeep Hegde, Tyler C O'Brien, Emily L Tucker
{"title":"Organizational Adaptive Capacity during a Large-Scale Surprise Event: A Case Study at an Academic Institution during the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Steven A Foster, Sudeep Hegde, Tyler C O'Brien, Emily L Tucker","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2221045","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2221045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThe COVID-19 pandemic caused large organizations and institutions to adapt their decision-making procedures and hierarchical structures to address pandemic-specific concerns. By examining a large public university, we found that effective adaptation occurred through restructuring the decision-making processes, coordinating decisions between departments, and effective monitoring of prior decisions. When considering the COVID-19 pandemic as a fundamental surprise event, our work identified strategies and decision-making that both maintained and increased adaptive capacity through the course of such an event. Through this case study, we highlight decisions that can be made by similar large organizations, to increase adaptive capacity when they are faced with similar surprise events.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"11 1-2","pages":"32-47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10100218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joseph W Hendricks, Alec Smith, S Camille Peres, Farzan Sasangohar
{"title":"Workers' Acceptance of Digital Procedures: An Application of the Technology Acceptance Model.","authors":"Joseph W Hendricks, Alec Smith, S Camille Peres, Farzan Sasangohar","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2240342","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24725838.2023.2240342","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThere are increasing numbers of organizations that are implementing digital procedures (e.g., standard operating procedures). These efforts are often assumed to be a positive development but can be quite costly-both in terms of money and training for a digital rollout. As a result, organizations and practitioners may find themselves at risk for failure when implementing digital procedures. The results of the current study suggest that if workers perceive digital procedures as useful and easy to use, this perception translates into positive attitudes, which subsequently result in fewer deviations. Since acceptance is relatively easy to assess, practitioners can benefit from using these assessments prior to a digital transition/roll-out to both compare competing hardware and software applications, and to initiate and continuously monitor the development of digital procedures. We consider this approach as advantageous to having management develop a system and fully deploying digital procedures without any consideration of worker acceptance.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"11 1-2","pages":"59-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10475409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dan MacLeod, Anthony Banks, Steve Wish, Scotty Arrington
{"title":"A Distinctive Approach to Ergonomics Kaizens.","authors":"Dan MacLeod, Anthony Banks, Steve Wish, Scotty Arrington","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2022.2129523","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2022.2129523","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThis case report shares an approach to ergonomics kaizen events, that is, using workplace teams in a concentrated activity to make as many improvements as possible in a few days in a given work area. This report provides an overview of (1) the structure of this particular approach, (2) the average number of improvements implemented, and (3) guidance for smaller organizations on less-elaborate approaches. The value of kaizen events is described regarding cultural change and creating habits of continual improvement in daily life, whether at work or at home. Practitioners may benefit from the details in this report, such as features important for success and the schedule for a four-day event. Researchers may benefit from familiarity with a nontraditional organizational structure. Furthermore, the kaizen approach may lend itself to university-enterprise interactions, including a changing context in which research topics can be formulated and results applied.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 4","pages":"173-181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10822299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simona Rubine, Nadina Rimere, Zane Zundane, Alise Gulajeva, Dr Med Jelena Reste
{"title":"Sternocleidomastoid Muscle and Head Position: How to Minimize Muscle Tension.","authors":"Simona Rubine, Nadina Rimere, Zane Zundane, Alise Gulajeva, Dr Med Jelena Reste","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2022.2141369","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2022.2141369","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThe coronavirus disease pandemic has changed the setting of many jobs, forcing people to switch to remote work. In turn, telework is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders, as it is difficult to ensure an ergonomically correct work environment at home. Complaints of headaches, neck pain, and dizziness are reported by both young and old people. One of the reasons for such complaints might be an incorrect head position and prolonged tension in the neck muscles that is directly correlated with a spatially misaligned computer monitor and peripherals. We examined biomechanical parameters of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and found that it is possible to reduce tension in this muscle by keeping the head in an appropriate angular range to minimize potential health risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 4","pages":"192-200"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10831206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdolhamid Tajvar, Hadi Daneshmandi, Mozhgan Seif, Hossein Parsaei, Alireza Choobineh
{"title":"A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Occupational Health Specialists' Knowledge and Application of Pen-and-Paper Observational Methods for Ergonomics Assessment.","authors":"Abdolhamid Tajvar, Hadi Daneshmandi, Mozhgan Seif, Hossein Parsaei, Alireza Choobineh","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2022.2138637","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2022.2138637","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSErgonomic risk assessment is a key step in managing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Diverse assessment methods exist, and errors may occur if inappropriate methods are selected. Understanding the level of knowledge, how to use methods, and exploring factors affecting erroneous usage of these methods, can provide useful information for health and safety regulatory authorities and decision-makers to identify problems and determine an action plan to eliminate them. We found that Iranian occupational health specialists have little knowledge about the types of pen-and-paper observational methods (OMs), and most of them use a limited number of these methods. Content analysis of interviews identified three main categories of influential factors and 12 subcategories. The main categories were educational, individual, and organizational factors. These results suggest the need for more effort to ensure that practitioners possess better knowledge and skills in the selection and application of pen-and-paper OMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 4","pages":"182-191"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10825879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Variability of Time- and Frequency-Domain Surface Electromyographic Measures in Non-Fatigued Shoulder Muscles.","authors":"Hamad Nasser Alasim, Ashish D Nimbarte","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2022.2150724","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2022.2150724","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSLocalized Muscle Fatigue (LMF) can be monitored or predicted based on the relative change in the values of surface electromyography (sEMG) measures with respect to the \"fresh\" or no-fatigue condition. Quantification of LMF based on relative change, though, relies on the assumption that the sEMG measures recorded in a no-fatigue condition can serve as an appropriate reference. Results of this study indicate that sEMG measures in a no-fatigue condition are affected by various work-related factors and provide further guidance on the variability of commonly used time- and frequency-domain sEMG measures to assist the ergonomist in improving the accuracy of LMF assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 4","pages":"201-212"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9386989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}