Para los lectores que aún no han tenido la oportunidad de leer la primera parte de dicha colección en el número anterior, recordamos que la originalidad de este proyecto resulta de la publicación del ...conjunto de los textos del simposio "Ergonomics work analysis and training (EWAT)". Ergonomic analysis of work activity and training: basic paradigm, evolutions and challenges. In, R. Pikaar, E. Koningsveld, and P. Settels, (eds.), Meeting diversity in ergonomics (129-142), Amsterdam and Boston: Elsevier. (https://www.elsevier.com/books/meeting-diversity-in-ergonomics/pikaar/978-0-08-045373-6). -
Participatory ergonomic (PE) interventions may vary in implementation. A systematic review was done to determine the evidence regarding context, barriers and facilitators to the implementation of ...participatory ergonomic interventions in workplaces. In total, 17 electronic databases were searched. Data on PE process and implementation were extracted from documents meeting content and quality criteria and synthesised. The search yielded 2151 references. Of these, 190 documents were relevant and 52 met content and quality criteria. Different ergonomic teams were described in the documents as were the type, duration and content of ergonomic training. PE interventions tended to focus on physical and work process changes and report positive impacts. Resources, programme support, ergonomic training, organisational training and communication were the most often noted facilitators or barriers. Successful PE interventions require the right people to be involved, appropriate ergonomic training and clear responsibilities. Addressing key facilitators and barriers such as programme support, resources, and communication is paramount.
Statement of Relevance: A recent systematic review has suggested that PE has some effect on reducing symptoms, lost days of work and claims. Systematic reviews of effectiveness provide practitioners with the desire to implement but do not provide clear information about how. This article reviews the literature on process and implementation of PE.
In this paper, we analyse two approaches that attempt to address how a human factors and ergonomics (HFE) perspective can contribute to the sustainability of the human race. We outline the ...principles, purposes and fields of application of ergoecology and green ergonomics, and thereafter deal with their context of emergence, and the overlaps in purpose, and principles. Shared values are deduced and related to socio-technical principles for systems' design. Social responsibility and environmental/ecospheric responsibility are the leading threads of ergoecology and green ergonomics, giving rise to the values of: respect for human rights, respect for the Earth, respect for ethical decision-making, appreciation of complexity, respect for transparency and openness, and respect for diversity. We discuss the consequences of considering these values in HFE theory and practice.
Practitioner summary: Through the analysis of ergoecology and green ergonomics, this qualitative interpretative study presents the importance of values in the shift towards sustainability from a human factors and ergonomics perspective, contributing to the design of more sustainable socio-technical systems and HFE practices.
The recent availability of the Kinect™ sensor, a low-cost Markerless Motion Capture (MMC) system, could give new and interesting insights into ergonomics (e.g. the creation of a morphological ...database). Extensive validation of this system is still missing. The aim of the study was to determine if the Kinect™ sensor can be used as an easy, cheap and fast tool to conduct morphology estimation. A total of 48 subjects were analysed using MMC. Results were compared with measurements obtained from a high-resolution stereophotogrammetric system, a marker-based system (MBS). Differences between MMC and MBS were found; however, these differences were systematically correlated and enabled regression equations to be obtained to correct MMC results. After correction, final results were in agreement with MBS data (p = 0.99). Results show that measurements were reproducible and precise after applying regression equations. Kinect™ sensors-based systems therefore seem to be suitable for use as fast and reliable tools to estimate morphology.
Practitioner Summary: The Kinect™ sensor could eventually be used for fast morphology estimation as a body scanner. This paper presents an extensive validation of this device for anthropometric measurements in comparison to manual measurements and stereophotogrammetric devices. The accuracy is dependent on the segment studied but the reproducibility is excellent.
Objective:
Motivation is a driving force in human–technology interaction. This paper represents an effort to (a) describe a theoretical model of motivation in human technology interaction, (b) ...provide design principles and guidelines based on this theory, and (c) describe a sequence of steps for the evaluation of motivational factors in human–technology interaction.
Background:
Motivation theory has been relatively neglected in human factors/ergonomics (HF/E). In both research and practice, the (implicit) assumption has been that the operator is already motivated or that motivation is an organizational concern and beyond the purview of HF/E. However, technology can induce task-related boredom (e.g., automation) that can be stressful and also increase system vulnerability to performance failures.
Method:
A theoretical model of motivation in human–technology interaction is proposed, based on extension of the self-determination theory of motivation to HF/E. This model provides the basis for both future research and for development of practical recommendations for design.
Results:
General principles and guidelines for motivational design are described as well as a sequence of steps for the design process.
Conclusion:
Human motivation is an important concern for HF/E research and practice. Procedures in the design of both simple and complex technologies can, and should, include the evaluation of motivational characteristics of the task, interface, or system. In addition, researchers should investigate these factors in specific human–technology domains.
Application:
The theory, principles, and guidelines described here can be incorporated into existing techniques for task analysis and for interface and system design.
Most authors have provided diameter recommendations for cylindrical handle design in order to increase performance, avoid discomfort, and reduce the risk of cumulative trauma disorders. None of the ...studies has investigated the importance of determining the correct handle shape on the subjective comfort ratings, which could further improve the handles' ergonomics. Therefore, new methods based on a virtual hand model in its optimal power grasp posture have been developed in order to obtain customised handles with best fits for targeted subjects. Cylindrical and anatomically shaped handles were evaluated covering ten subjects by means of an extensive subjective comfort questionnaire. The results suggest large impact of the handle shape on the perceived subjective comfort ratings. Anatomically shaped handles were rated as being considerably more comfortable than cylindrical handles for almost all the subjective comfort predictors. They showed that handle shapes based on optimal power grasp postures can improve subjective comfort ratings, thus maximising performance. Future research should consider real conditions, since the comfort ratings can vary based on the specific task and by the tool selected for the task.
•Anatomically shaped handle based on the hand shape in an optimal power grasp posture.•Comparison between anatomically shaped tool handle and optimal cylindrical handle.•Anatomically shaped handle provides higher comfort ratings than cylindrical handle.•Handle shape has significant impact on user subjective comfort rating.
In industrially developing countries (IDC), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for the highest proprotion of employment. Unfortunately, the working conditions in SMEs are often very poor and ...expose employees to a potentially wide range of health and safety risks. This paper presents a comprehensive review of 161 articles related to ergonomics application in SMEs, using Indonesia as a case study. The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent of ergonomics application and identify areas that can be improved to promote effective ergonomics for SMEs in IDC. The most urgent issue found is the need for adopting participatory approach in contrast to the commonly implemented top-down approach. Some good practices in ergonomics application were also revealed from the review, e.g. a multidisciplinary approach, unsophisticated and low-cost solutions, and recognising the importance of productivity. The review also found that more work is still required to achieve appropriate cross-cultural adaptation of ergonomics application.
Practitioner Summary: Despite continuous efforts in addressing ergonomics issues in SMEs of IDC, workers are still exposed to poor work conditions. We reviewed factual-based evidence of current ergonomics application to inform future strategies of ergonomics in IDC, using Indonesia as a case study.
Objective:
In this study, the reliability of measures of upper body postural behavior (head, thorax, neck, and arm) during sustained office work was evaluated.
Background:
Although there has been a ...substantial body of research examining the technical aspects of posture measurement in office workers using motion sensors, there is a paucity of literature examining whether posture-related behaviors are actually consistent among office workers in the field on different days and times.
Method:
Thirty one office workers performed their usual work for three, 1-hr sessions (two morning sessions and one afternoon session) while wearing wireless motion sensors. Reliability coefficients of the derived measures of postural behavior were calculated.
Results:
Most (30/31) of the postural behavior measures demonstrated modest to excellent reliability (ICC 2.1: 0.48–0.84). Reliability appeared to be mildly affected by factors such as the time of day recordings were taken and variations in desk setups.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest these measures may be a reliable method for evaluating postural behavior in the office work environment in future studies.
Application:
Postural measurement using a technical motion sensor described an acceptable reliability to be used for risk assessment in the workplace. Consideration of assessment time and desk setting would increase the accuracy of postural measurement.
In complexity science, the many models thinking philosophy argues for a multi-method approach to complex problems. This article investigates whether the use of multiple systems ergonomics methods to ...examine the same problem is useful, or whether using different approaches creates incompatible analyses. Five systems ergonomics analyses of road trauma are examined and their key insights extracted. The extent to which these insights are compatible with one another and can be integrated when attempting to reduce road trauma is assessed. The findings indicate that applying several systems ergonomics methods to the same problem is useful, as multiple insights are developed and deficiencies in one approach are countered by the others. Importantly, the case study demonstrates that the insights gained are compatible and support the development of holistic systems thinking-based interventions. In conclusion it is recommended that a many systems ergonomics model thinking approach be adopted by ergonomists working in complex problem spaces.
Practitioner Summary: Many model thinking uses multiple methods to understand complex problems. We explore whether this is beneficial in systems ergonomics. Five models of road trauma, developed using five systems ergonomics methods, are examined. The findings demonstrate that a many model systems ergonomics approach produces a diverse but complimentary set of insights.
PDF
