IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors最新文献

{"title":"Implementing Practical Ergonomics Knowledge Transfer Using Ergonomic Checkpoints to Support the Participatory Ergonomics Process in an Industrially Developing Country","authors":"N. Abdollahpour, Faramarz Helali","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2022.2054880","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2022.2054880","url":null,"abstract":"OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Ergonomics knowledge transfer is one of the potential challenges in organizations in industrially developing countries. For the effective implementation of a systemic ergonomics knowledge transfer process, the involvement of all organizational levels is necessary, especially workers, with the facilitation of ergonomics expert. Applying a participatory ergonomics process with different participatory approaches for participant involvement – including a top-down approach, as a pushing tactic for intentional learning, and a bottom-up approach, as a pulling tactic for voluntary learning – can play a key role in the transfer and application of practical ergonomics knowledge. The results of this study showed that active involvement of all organizational levels, especially workers through action learning and a learner-centered approach, and using the ILO ergonomic checkpoints, could improve participant learning of ergonomics principles. In addition, this process can lead to improved competence of personnel in identifying problems and providing and implementing solutions to improve working conditions, especially low-cost solutions. Accordingly, if this process continues as a constant improvement process through multiple learning cycles, it can improve participation and ergonomics culture and achieve additional practical benefits of the Human Factors/Ergonomics. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: Implementing ergonomics principles in workplaces requires good knowledge transfer with the participation of professionals, workers, and managers. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate practical ergonomics knowledge transfer to support the participatory ergonomics process that could lead problem identification and the implementation and development of feasible and low-cost solutions. Methods: This was action research on the type of intervention and conducted in four phases. Accordingly, 106 participants from different organizational levels of a manufacturing company, facilitated by an ergonomist by forming 14 action groups, were involved in practical ergonomics knowledge transfer to identify and solve problems of work divisions. Participant reflections were obtained through interviews and field notes. Results: The results contributed to the presentation of 145 solutions to improve working conditions by the action groups. Most solutions were low-cost and 57.5% were implemented. The interviews showed the development of a participation culture, learning and institutionalizing ergonomics principles in practice, and improving competence in identifying problems and implementing solutions. Conclusions: The key findings were achieved by the participatory ergonomics intervention approach through different tactics of participant engagement, including a pushing tactic for intentional learning and a pulling tactic for voluntary learning, which resulted in the improvement of working conditions and promotion of a participatory culture.","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 1","pages":"59 - 70"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49346447","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":"Acute Pain, Neck Extensor Endurance, and Kinematic Changes Resulting from Sustained Neck Flexion during Smartphone Use","authors":"K. Gallagher, J. Jefferson, A. Human, C. Burruss","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2021.2011805","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2021.2011805","url":null,"abstract":"OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS The National Occupational Research Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health in the United States identified that with the changing nature of the traditional office environment, mobile devices are now frequently used for longer durations, warranting research on the impacts of mobile computing on musculoskeletal health. A recent study of office workers showed that those with “smartphone overuse” were six times more likely to report neck pain. Working in pain may also result in withdrawal and less proactive extra-role behaviors at work (such as making recommendations at work and willing to help colleagues). We found that 30-minutes of mobile device use resulted in pain reporting in the neck and upper back when the device was used with neck flexion. This musculoskeletal pain could lead to acute concerns during the workday and long-term problems over time. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: People commonly use their phones with a flexed neck. Such use is concerning because epidemiological studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between prolonged neck flexion and neck pain, and mobile device use is associated with neck pain development. Purpose: Determine the repeatability of neck and upper back pain symptom development among young adults (ages 18-29) during 30-minutes of smartphone use with a flexed neck and compare neck flexion range of motion, neck extensor endurance, and posture among participants who develop neck and/or upper back pain during the task compared to those who do not develop pain. Methods: Participants (n = 40) came to the lab on two days separated by one week. They completed a 30-minute smartphone use trial with the device in their lap to elicit neck flexion. Participants were separated into pain groups based on a 10-mm change in their self-reported pain reports on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Pre-post tests and kinematics during the 30-minute trial were compared between individuals who did and did not consistently develop pain. Results: Seventy-five percent of the total study sample were categorized in the same pain category in the two trials using VAS score change. Of those participants, 66% developed neck pain during 30-minutes of smartphone use with sustained neck flexion. The most common symptom description was “aching.” Pain developers had a lower cervical extensor test duration after 30-minutes of smartphone use than before smartphone use. Conclusions: Two-thirds of young adults developed consistent neck and/or upper back musculoskeletal pain that they described as aching after 30-minutes of smartphone use with sustained neck flexion. Since the nontraditional work environment may result in the use of these devices, employers will need to be aware of the potential consequences of sustained postures during mobile device use and develop methods to mitigate pain.","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 1","pages":"21 - 33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46638210","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":"Low Back Biomechanics during Repetitive Deadlifts: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Vanessa Johan Ramirez, Babak Bazrgari, Fan Gao, Michael Samaan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSHeavy deadlifting is used as a screening tool or training protocol for recruitment and retention in physically-demanding occupations, especially in the military. Spinal loads experienced during heavy deadlifts, particularly shearing forces, are well above recommended thresholds for lumbar spine injury in occupational settings. Although members of the noted occupation likely have stronger musculoskeletal systems compared to the general population, experiencing shearing forces that are 2 to 4 times larger than the threshold of injury, particularly under repetitive deadlift, may transform a screening tool or training protocol to an occupationally-harmful physical activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 1","pages":"34-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9837526/pdf/nihms-1862633.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9092313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the Influence of Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics on Shoe Wear Rate.","authors":"Sarah C Griffin,&nbsp;Sarah L Hemler,&nbsp;Kurt E Beschorner","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSWe investigated the association between shoe wear rate and several metrics describing an individual's spatiotemporal gait characteristics (cadence, step length, and preferred walking speed). No associations were found, indicating that alternative metrics should be investigated to predict the individualized rate at which workers wear down shoe tread.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39880278","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":"A Passive Back-Support Exoskeleton for Manual Materials Handling: Reduction of Low Back Loading and Metabolic Effort during Repetitive Lifting.","authors":"Thomas Schmalz,&nbsp;Anja Colienne,&nbsp;Emily Bywater,&nbsp;Lars Fritzsche,&nbsp;Christian Gärtner,&nbsp;Malte Bellmann,&nbsp;Samuel Reimer,&nbsp;Michael Ernst","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSGlobalization and eCommerce continue to fuel unprecedented growth in the logistics and warehousing markets. Simultaneously, the biggest bottleneck for these industries is their human capital. Where automation and robotic solutions fail to deliver a return on investment, humans frequently take over handling tasks that place harmful loads and strains on the body. Occupational exoskeletons can reduce fatigue and strain by supporting the lower spine and are designed to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders and other injuries. They are a mid- to long-term investment for industries to improve ergonomic conditions in workplaces, with the potential for reducing absences from work, sick days logged, and workers compensation claims. To examine the effectiveness of the newly introduced Paexo Back exoskeleton, a study was completed with 10 participants who completed manual load handling tasks with and without the exoskeleton. Key findings include significant reductions in metabolic effort and low back loading when the exoskeleton is worn.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":" ","pages":"7-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39612266","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":"Field Observation of Hospital Food Service Workers and the Relationship between Customer Demand and Biomechanical Stress: A Case Study.","authors":"Vernnaliz Carrasquillo,&nbsp;Thomas J Armstrong,&nbsp;S Jack Hu","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSMotion analysis of three workers at a large hospital kitchen was conducted using video recordings as part of this case study. Workers were observed during both a high-demand period and a low-demand period to evaluate their exposure to physical risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. On average, workers' reaching posture did not change significantly with customer demand. However, recovery time decreased by 18% and hand activity level (HAL) increased by 27% when customer demand increased. On an individual basis, the only worker whose work pace was constrained by processing (cooking) time and the availability of materials to complete the tasks had the most recovery time and did not show an increase in HAL even with an increase in demand. These results suggest the importance of designing tasks that are paced externally (e.g., cooking time) in a self-paced operation to limit the reduction in recovery time and increase in HAL as demand increases.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":" ","pages":"47-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39871084","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":"Acute Pain, Neck Extensor Endurance, and Kinematic Changes Resulting from Sustained Neck Flexion during Smartphone Use.","authors":"Kaitlin M Gallagher,&nbsp;John Jefferson,&nbsp;Ashton Human,&nbsp;Caleb Burruss","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThe National Occupational Research Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health in the United States identified that with the changing nature of the traditional office environment, mobile devices are now frequently used for longer durations, warranting research on the impacts of mobile computing on musculoskeletal health. A recent study of office workers showed that those with \"smartphone overuse\" were six times more likely to report neck pain. Working in pain may also result in withdrawal and less proactive extra-role behaviors at work (such as making recommendations at work and willing to help colleagues). We found that 30-minutes of mobile device use resulted in pain reporting in the neck and upper back when the device was used with neck flexion. This musculoskeletal pain could lead to acute concerns during the workday and long-term problems over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":" ","pages":"21-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39798595","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":"Field Observation of Hospital Food Service Workers and the Relationship between Customer Demand and Biomechanical Stress: A Case Study","authors":"Vernnaliz Carrasquillo, T. Armstrong, S. J. Hu","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2021.2018372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2021.2018372","url":null,"abstract":"OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Motion analysis of three workers at a large hospital kitchen was conducted using video recordings as part of this case study. Workers were observed during both a high-demand period and a low-demand period to evaluate their exposure to physical risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. On average, workers’ reaching posture did not change significantly with customer demand. However, recovery time decreased by 18% and hand activity level (HAL) increased by 27% when customer demand increased. On an individual basis, the only worker whose work pace was constrained by processing (cooking) time and the availability of materials to complete the tasks had the most recovery time and did not show an increase in HAL even with an increase in demand. These results suggest the importance of designing tasks that are paced externally (e.g., cooking time) in a self-paced operation to limit the reduction in recovery time and increase in HAL as demand increases.","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 1","pages":"47 - 58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49070760","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":"Low Back Biomechanics during Repetitive Deadlifts: A Narrative Review","authors":"Vanessa J. Ramirez, B. Bazrgari, F. Gao, M. Samaan","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2021.2015642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2021.2015642","url":null,"abstract":"OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Heavy deadlifting is used as a screening tool or training protocol for recruitment and retention in physically-demanding occupations, especially in the military. Spinal loads experienced during heavy deadlifts, particularly shearing forces, are well above recommended thresholds for lumbar spine injury in occupational settings. Although members of the noted occupation likely have stronger musculoskeletal systems compared to the general population, experiencing shearing forces that are 2 to 4 times larger than the threshold of injury, particularly under repetitive deadlift, may transform a screening tool or training protocol to an occupationally-harmful physical activity. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: Low back pain is a significant problem and one of the primary musculoskeletal conditions affecting active duty service members. There is a need to comprehensively assess the effects of repetitive deadlifts as a physical training modality on lumbar spine loads and the potential mechanisms involved in lumbosacral injuries among soldiers. Purpose: The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize studies of low back biomechanics during repetitive deadlifts as used in training programs to improve lifting capacity. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for studies of lifting that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only full text articles in English were included, and their reference lists were further searched. Results: Heavy deadlifts can result in large compressive and shearing spinal loads that range from 5 − 18 kN, and 1.3 − 3.2 kN, respectively. No studies of lower back biomechanics during repetitive deadlifts were found. However, findings of studies that investigated lower back biomechanics during other types of repetitive lifting suggest a high likelihood for adverse changes in lower back biomechanics that can increase risk of lower back injury. Conclusion: Repetitive deadlifting is increasingly implemented as a training modality to develop maximal lifting capacities required in military occupations. Further research is needed to understand the effects of such a training modality on lower back biomechanics and risk of injury.","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 1","pages":"34 - 46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128623","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 Influence of Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics on Shoe Wear Rate","authors":"Sarah C. Griffin, Sarah L. Hemler, K. Beschorner","doi":"10.1080/24725838.2021.2005184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2021.2005184","url":null,"abstract":"OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS We investigated the association between shoe wear rate and several metrics describing an individual’s spatiotemporal gait characteristics (cadence, step length, and preferred walking speed). No associations were found, indicating that alternative metrics should be investigated to predict the individualized rate at which workers wear down shoe tread. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background Shoe wear has been associated with increased slips and falls in the workplace. People wear down shoe tread at different rates; therefore, individualized shoe replacement timelines could improve resource targeting for organizations that use time as a basis for shoe replacement. Previous work has found that the shoe-floor kinetics, such as the friction requirements of walking, correlate with shoe wear rate. The use of easily measured metrics such as cadence, step length, or preferred walking speed to predict wear has not yet been investigated despite their relationship with friction requirements. Purpose This study seeks to determine the association between shoe wear rate and gait spatiotemporal characteristics. Methods Thirteen participants completed a longitudinal shoe wear study that consisted of a gait assessment followed by prolonged shoe wear in two pairs of slip-resistant shoes. The gait assessment was comprised of dry level-ground walking trials; kinematic and kinetic data were collected through optical motion capture and force plates. The participants’ mean cadence, step length, and preferred walking speed were calculated. The participants then wore their shoes at work; the shoe wear rate was determined by measuring the periodic volumetric tread loss during this wear-at-work portion of the study. Results Three linear regression models found no significant association between the chosen gait metrics and the shoe wear rate. Conclusions The lack of an association between the spatiotemporal gait characteristics and shoe wear rate indicates that these factors may not explain the differences in wear rate between participants. This negative finding suggests that other measures such as the required coefficient of friction are better for individualizing footwear replacement guidelines.","PeriodicalId":73332,"journal":{"name":"IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors","volume":"10 1","pages":"1 - 6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47833145","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}