Teleoperation of unmanned vehicles in high stress environments has been a subject of research in many domains, which focus primarily on system and operator performance. Unmanned ground vehicles for ...rescue, also known as search and rescue robots, serve as extensions of responders in a disaster, providing real-time video and other relevant information about the situation. However, physically separating responder and robot introduces latency between the human input provided to the unmanned vehicle to execute an operation and the subsequent response provided by the system. This latency (lag or time delay) is determined by the distance and the bandwidth of the connection between the operator and the unmanned vehicle. Automating these systems may mitigate the effect of latency to an extent; however, this has its own consequences, such as leaving the responder out of the loop, which subsequently leads to detrimental effects on situational awareness. This research investigates the relationship between latency and the performance of the human operator of a teleoperated robot at different levels of system complexity and the effect of different levels of automation on this relationship. Eighty participants operated one or two unmanned teleoperated robots to complete two search and rescue tasks. The study utilized a 2 × 2 × 2 mixed-subjects experimental design with the automation level and latency level being the between-subjects factors and the system complexity (controlling one or two robots) being the within-subjects factor. The dependent variables were operator performance, perceived workload, and the subjective rating of trust with automation. A latency of 500 ms showed a significant decrease in performance in time to complete the task and a significant increase in the perceived physical workload. Both the automation level and latency level moderated the system complexity effect on the subjective rating of trust in the robotic system. The level of trust decreased over time in the one-robot condition as opposed to no change in the two-robot condition. The error rate decreased over time at different rates based on the number of robots or the latency level. Based on the results of the study, several design implications are suggested for improving performance including adding features to the automation that will allow the operator to use common strategies and providing necessary information using multiple sensory channels. Future research directions are also proposed.
•Examined the effect of lag, system complexity and LOA on operator performance•Increased lag had a detrimental effect on operator performance and perceived workload•System complexity had a substantial effect on operator trust over time•Findings can assist in decisions to design systems for appropriate LOA•Unmanned ground vehicles design implications and future directions are identified
This paper discusses about the manual material handling activities in the UD. Santosa. The activities give a particular injury because of the excessive load. Minimizing manual material handling can ...decrease and prevent a big number of injuries and fatigue. The increased rate of the injury that happened on the workers is also one of the indicator that there is excessive physical workload. This study aims to minimize the manual material handling and the physical workload by making multifunction trolley using anthropometrics. The method that used in this research is Cardiovascular Load, Anthropometrics. The result shows that the recommended weight load for each operator is 7.30411 kg, 5.93229 kg, 4.949725 kg, 2.88399 kg, and 2.594356 kg to avoid the risk of injury. For the physical workload for operators classified into 60% need to be improved and 40% no fatigue. The size for the multifunction trolley based on anthropometrics is 72.54 cm for the height of incline mode, 134.56 cm for the height of the trolley, 105.813 cm for the height of the of the hand holder, and 9.19177 cm for the width of the hand holder.
Terminal workers work with physical load activities every day and are in a hot work climate, which has the potential to experience status disturbances, potentially resulting in hydration problems. ...The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship between Heat stress and Physical Workload and Hydration Status of Tirtonadi Bus StationWorkers in Surakarta. research design using observational analytic with a cross-sectional approach. A sample of 48 people was taken by simple random sampling technique. Heat stress is measured by heat stress area, physical workload with SNI 726/2009, and hydration status by urine specific gravity examination. the average heat stress measurement results amounted to 34.75 ° C. the correlation between independent and dependent variables shows there is a significant relationship between heat stress and physical workload with hydration status with p-value = 0,000 and r = -0,799, and p-value = 0.028 and r = 0.317. Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between heat stress and hydration status, and there is a significant correlation between physical workload and the hydration status of workers at the Tirtonadi Surakata Terminal.
A workload that exceeds the ability of workers or vice versa can cause a problem for workers. In this paper, we present a measurement of the physical and mental workload of workers at UKM Batik ...Jumputan Ibu Sejahtera Yogyakarta, and it has a purpose to find problems that occur so that recommendation for further improvement and problem-solving can be proposed. The physical workload measured by using RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) method, while the mental workload is measured by using NASA-TLX (NASA Task Load Index). This study succeeded in revealing the problems occur on workers such as there are differences in the level of worker risk which is caused by differences in age and differences in worker perceptions towards the dimensions of workload, and some workers experience high or very high levels of risk which is caused by improper work postures. Recommendations that can be done to solve the case are adding or replacing workers, increasing the workability of workers, adding work aids, changing work methods, and increasing workers' understanding so that they can fill out questionnaires accurately.
Research aimThis study aimed to quantify how much of the adult social gradient in sick leave can be attributed to the mediating role of physical workload, while accounting for childhood and ...adolescent social position and neuroticism.MethodsOur sample consisted of 2099 women and 1229 men from a Norwegian birth cohort study (born 1967-1976) who participated in the Nord-Troendelag Health Study (2006-2008) (HUNT3). Data on sick leave (defined as >16 calendar days; 2006-2009) and social position during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood were obtained from national registers. Study outcome was time-to-first sick leave spell. Physical workload and neuroticism were self-reported in HUNT3. Mediating effects through physical workload were estimated using a method based on the additive hazards survival model.FindingsA hypothetical change from highest to lowest group in adult social position was, for women, associated with 51.6 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 24.7-78.5 additional spells per 100 000 person-days at risk, in a model adjusted for childhood and adolescent social position and neuroticism. The corresponding rate increase for men was 41.1 (95% CI: 21.4-60.8). Of these additional spells, the proportion mediated through physical workload was 24% (95% CI: 10-49) and 30% (95% CI: 10-63) for women and men, respectively. The effect of adult social position on sick leave was partly mediated through physical workload, even while accounting for earlier lifecourse factors. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing physical workload among those with lower adult social position could reduce the social gradient in sick leave.
IntroductionMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a critical problem among the nursing personnel. Physical workload is the major risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal disorders. The aim ...of this study was to investigate the physical workload and its association with MSDs among nursing personnel of a university hospital in Thailand. MethodA total of 916 nursing staffs comprised registered nurses (n = 540) and other nursing staffs (n = 376) were participated in this study. Self-administered questionnaires, including Hollmann's physical load index and a modified Standardised Nordic Questionnaire were used to measure the occurrence of physical workload and MSDs. ResultsThe finding showed that overall mean score of physical workload was 29.1 (SD = 10.1), half of the study sample (51.6%) perceived the physical workload higher than those mean score. Physical workload as perceived by other nursing staffs was sinificantly greater than registered nurses (p < 0.05). The MSDs rate in at least one body part during 12-month period was 90.5 percent and that during 7-day period was 79.1 percent. The frequently complaint areas were shoulder (69.1%), low back (58.2%), and neck (57.2%). There was a significant association between physical workload and musculoskeletal disorders (p < 0.01). High physical workload was related to developing musculoskeletal symptoms during 12 month period (OR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.13-2.83) and 7-day period (OR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.42-2.75).ConclusionThe high prevalence of MSDs among nursing personnel indicates that they are at risk occupations. Workers highly exposed to physical workload were more likely to report high symptoms of MSDs. Effective intervention strategies that aim to minimise physical workload should be implemented.
BackgroundIn Sweden, approximately 50% of the men and 60% of the women entering retirement pension have had other subsistence than paid employment the years before retirement. Associations between ...heavy physical workload and musculoskeletal disorders are well-documented. This study investigates the role of heavy physical work for reduced work ability and early exits from the labour market. Socioeconomic position (SEP) is a potential confounder as it both influences the choice of occupation and is a determinant of health and work ability. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between heavy physical workload, awkward work postures and long-term sickness absence, disability pension and long-term unemployment.Methods The study is based on the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, a population-based cohort of randomly selected residents in the Stockholm county. A total of 11 041 employed women and men, who answered a baseline questionnaire in 2002, were followed in national registers on sickness absence, disability pension and unemployment until 2010. The questionnaire contained questions on physical workload, work below knees, work above shoulder height and occupation.Results Heavy physical workload increased the risk of long-term sickness absence (HR 2.21, CI: 95% 1.83-2.68), disability pension (HR 2.06, CI: 95% 1.27-3.35), and long-term unemployment (HR 1.49, CI: 95% 1.15-1.93). Exposure for daily work below knees and above shoulder height were also associated with the three outcomes, with slightly lower hazard ratios. The associations were clearly attenuated after adjustments for SEP. Conclusions The results imply that heavy physical work contribute to reduced work ability and early exits from labour market manifested in long-term sickness absence, disability pension and long-term unemployment. The effects were partly explained by SEP. However, the associations were probably over-adjusted to some extent as SEP is closely related to occupational exposures, and to high physical workload in particular.
This paper presents the state of application of Precision Agricultural enabling Technology (PAT) in Swiss farms as an example for small-scale, highly mechanised Central European agriculture. ...Furthermore, correlations between farm and farmers’ characteristics and technology adoption were evaluated. Being part of a comprehensive and representative study assessing the state of mechanisation and automation in Swiss agriculture, this paper focuses on the adoption of Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) and activities in which Electronic Measuring Systems (EMS) are used. The adoption rate of DAS was markedly higher compared to EMS in all agricultural enterprises. The adoption rate was highest for high-value enterprise vegetables and surprisingly low for the high-value enterprise grapes. The results of a binary logistic regression showed that farmers located in the mountain zone were less likely to adopt PAT compared to farmers in the valley. Small farm size correlated with low adoption rates and vice versa showing adoption happens country-specific in the upper farm size distribution. The results show the potential for novel technologies to be adopted by farmers of high-value products. Furthermore, technologies have been partially used to reduce physical workload but not yet to evaluate crop or management performance to support decisions. However, automatic collection and forwarding of data is a fundamental step towards Smart Farming realizing its full potential in the future.
For improved prevention of health issues among blue-collar workers, there is a need for an overview of the physical activity at work and leisure using technical long-term measurements in blue-collar ...sectors investigation of differences between the sectors. Thus, the objective of this paper was to provide an overview and investigate differences in physical activities and body postures at work and leisure among blue-collar sectors.
The Dphacto cohort consists of 1087 workers from manufacturing, transportation and cleaning sectors (901 blue-collar and 186 white-collar workers) in Denmark. Eligible workers provided physical activity and heart rate measurements over several days with follow-up on health-related outcomes by self-report and registers.
Considerable differences in sitting, standing, time on feet (walking, shuffling and standing combined) and forward bending of the back were found between work and leisure, and between the sectors. This overview of physical activity at work and leisure can be useful for better prevention of work-related health issues among blue-collar workers.
•The Dphacto includes 1087 employees from transportation, cleaning and manufacturing industries.•All sectors were only marginally engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity.•Cleaners spent most time standing and with the back bent compared with workers from other sectors.•Transportation workers had higher average of time spent sedentary compared with the remaining.
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