Advances in Physical Ergonomics and Human Factors: Part I

AHFE International

Accelerating Open Access Science in Human Factors Engineering and Human-Centered Computing

Advances in Physical Ergonomics and Human Factors: Part I

book-cover

Editors: Tareq Ahram, Renliu Jang

Topics: Physical Ergonomics and Human Factors

Publication Date: 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4951-2104-3

DOI: 10.54941/1001

Articles

The Interrelationship between Quality Production and Safety in Factories

This paper describes the importance of the role of factory employees' perceptions of safety and their influence on the production quality. The employees’ perceptions of safety largely depend on the relationship between employees and the company’s top management. Increased safety awareness positively influences the degree of occupational safety and health management within an organization.

Štefan Markulik, Lukáš Kamenický, Jana Namešanská, Anna Nagyová

Conference Proceedings

Integrated Security or Selective Risk Assessment?

The utilization of SMART technologies in various sectors of industrial technologies assumes the achievement of results that lead to competitive products popular with customers. These properties, achieved by technological processes, are subject to one of basic customer requirements associated with the Safety First imperative and Vision Zero philosophy – a safe final product. In this context, and in line with effective managerial activities, scientific and technical discussions should search for a way how to ensure fulfilling the requirements for effective prevention in all areas of machine/technology life and its consequences for society.

Juraj Sinay, Adrian Tompos, Slavomira Vargova, Frantisek Kalafut

Conference Proceedings

Influence of Physical Properties of Concrete on Operator´s Exposure to Noise and Hand-transmitted Vibration

The contribution is focused on the assessment of influence of material properties on operator’s exposure to noise and hand-transmitted vibration. Screening measurements of work exposure to noise and hand-transmitted vibration were made in accordance with relevant standards for drilling in four types of concrete with different physical characteristics and used for different applications in the construction industry. The measurements were carried out twice in four different types of drilling using a hammer drill, Makita HR 2440. Results obtained by the screening measurements testify to the importance of material physical properties to the amount of operator’s exposure to noise and hand-transmitted vibration.

Svetla Fiserova

Conference Proceedings

System of Lifelong Learning in Occupational Safety and Health in the Slovak Republic

The area of OSH is currently widely debated issue in the European Union and also in other countries of the world. It is a given fact that the level of development of OSH standards and their application in daily life of a human is directly related to the quality of life and economic development of society. In that connection there must be interest in the educational system that perform the task of preparing the public perception of the importance of OSH in the lives of individuals and the acquisition of respect the OHS rules in work and non-work activities.Legal norms and OSH measures are very precisely elaborated. However daily experience of real life shows the low level of perception, understanding and respect for the principles of safe work and human health protection at the workplace and during free time.Authors of the report analyzes the state educational program and the curriculum framework to answer the question, whether the current education system in the Slovak Republic in relation to current legal standards and rules adequately prepares graduates of particular types of schools, to show an interest for safe conditions of work and life in healthy environment.

Tomáš Kozík a, Ivana Tureková a, Róbert Bulla b, Terézia Bagalová a

Conference Proceedings

Workplace Lighting as an Element Influencing the Working Process

Artificial light measurements can be carried out with the goal of verification of the lighting designed using the computer models used in designing, if the workplace is already arranged. This paper deals with the principles and gained results of the intensity of artificial lighting in an average office. Gained results are confronted with values of the computer program DIALux used in designing the lighting of work places. The results are compared with the results given by technical standards and legal regulations. The real result of the measurement is gained not only by meeting the limited values, but also by right arrangement of work tables. However, the most important thing is the work comfort of employees. Optical performance determines labor productivity with all its economic outcomes.

Ivana Turekova, Tomas Kozik, Terezia Bagalova, Jan Neovesky

Conference Proceedings

The Role of Human Factor in the Transport of Hazardous Materials

This article describes and analyses issues related to modelling of human factor in the transport of hazardous materials. Due to its complexity, a human being constitutes an element parameterization of which encounters numerous difficulties. In the literature various attempts of human actions’ modelling have been presented. Authors of the article have used heuristic techniques – particularly, fuzzy set methods – in order to build a model of human factor for the purposes of their work. This model defines human actions by text description, that is, linguistically. The specificity of fuzzy sets allows the “precision” of human actions’ description to be “naturally” limited. The model has been built upon proprietary expert-based surveys, enabling selection of specific features, influencing driver’s efficiency, with their corresponding fuzzy sets. The model’s initial parameter is λL – intensity of accidents caused by driver’s mistake. The parameter has been created for the purposes of the proprietary risk assessment model in the road transportation of hazardous materials. Driving mistakes can significantly increase the risk of accidents. This heuristic model has been used to prepare a simulation of the influence of selected features on the driving safety.

Sylwia Bęczkowska, Iwona Grabarek, Wlodzimierz Choromanski

Conference Proceedings

Study on Safe Activity Activation Based on the Attitude Survey About the Safe Activity of the Employee

The manager must review whether there is not activity developing whether an employee can feel a merit to oneself for current security activity without an employee understanding. Therefore the manager clarifies what kind of thought an employee has for safe activity carrying out now, and it is necessary for dissatisfaction and understanding to grasp whether there is an insufficient point concretely where. And a manager shows the guidance so that activity keeps canceling them smoothly, and it is important that an employee carries it out.Therefore, in this study, I perform the safe attitude survey to an employee and clarify a thought, consciousness for the safe activity of the employee. And I plan activation of the safe activity based on it. For example, I suggest the action guidance that aimed to improvement of the quality of the example that felt a chill and at understanding to safe activity and the improvement of the will. I grasp it about the consciousness in the depths of the employee who is not cooperative with the basic problem and activity that are not seen only in one investigation versatilely by carrying out plural attitude surveys, and putting the result together and allow you to show the action guidance that met the present conditions more on this occasion. (see Figure 1 )Figure 1 Image of the action guidance choice process

Takahiro Oikawa, Yusaku Okada

Conference Proceedings

The Ergonomics of Interactive and Stereoscopic 3D Product Models for Design Education

Recently, some research groups had tried to use the technologies of stereoscopic 3D displays to present teaching materials for product design education. However, the issue of visual discomfort for viewing stereoscopic 3D contents was not considered. To conduct experiments, representative 3D virtual models of office furniture were constructed with simple shapes and textures. These models were displayed on a 50-inch stereoscopic 3D TV and viewed through passive polarizing glasses. The task was to walk through a virtual office and identify the design problems of furniture. Thirty students, majored in Industrial Design, were invited to participate in these experiments. The number of design problems identified was considered as the major performance measure. In addition, total time spent in stereoscopic 3D mode or traditional 3D mode, degree of discomfort, and self-reported symptoms were collected. The result showed that although stereoscopic 3D images had advantages over traditional 3D images for the task of dimension and distance estimations, the degree of visual discomfort increased significantly while the participants were interacting with the virtual product components intensively. The result indicated that adaptive adjustments of binocular and monocular depth cues were necessary for highly interactive tasks to ensure visual comfort and depth cue integration.

Li-Chieh Chen a, Po-Ying Chu a, Yun-Maw Cheng b

Conference Proceedings

“Will Use it, Because I Want to Look Cool” A Comparative Study of Simple Computer Interactions Using Touchscreen and In-Air Hand Gestures

The Xbox Kinect and now the Leap Motion Controller have brought about a paradigm shift in the way we interact with computers by making the recognition of 3D gestures affordable. Interfaces now understand natural user interfaces, integrating gestures, voice and various other kinds of multi-modal input simultaneously. In this paper we attempted to understand in-air gesturing better. The purpose of the study was to understand differences between touchscreen and in-air gesturing for simple human computer interactions. The comparison of the gestures was done in terms of Muscle effort/fatigue and Frustration, Satisfaction and Enjoyment We have also tried to study the learnability of in-air gesturing. In our research we found that in-air gesturing was significantly superior with respect to muscle effort and fatigue when compared with touchscreens. We also found that in-air gesturing was found to be more fun and preferred because of its “coolness factor”. Lastly, in-air gesturing had a rapid learning curve.

Vidya Vaidyanathan, Daniel Rosenberg

Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of Endpoint Compliance Based on the Estimation of the Muscle Activity

In this paper, endpoint compliance based on muscle activity is calculated by using a musculoskeletal model. Muscle force and muscle activity during a reaching movement are estimated by an optimization calculation based on the musculoskeletal and muscular contraction models. The calculated endpoint compliance during the reaching movement is shown by an ellipsoid. The difference between the muscle force- and the muscle activity-based endpoint compliance ellipsoids are discussed. The simulation results show that the short axes of the muscle activity-based ellipsoids tend to become longer than those of the muscle force-based ellipsoids.

Yuichi Kurita, Kohei Sakurada, Tosho Tsuji

Conference Proceedings

Effects of Personalized Environmental Control (PEC) on User Comfort, Health and Typing Performance

Result are presented for an experiments investigating the effects of the personal control of the thermal micro-environment on typing performance and environmental comfort ratings. Twelve participants performed typing tasks for two 2 hours sessions in individual cubicles, each with its own air handling module, in a climate controlled laboratory. For each session the initial thermal condition was an air temperature of 26.7°C. Cubicles were paired. For each session half of the participants were able to control air temperature using a custom designed software interface, while the others experienced identical thermal conditions without control and the order of having no control/control was counterbalanced. Results showed a small but significant difference in cubicle air temperature among cubicles (p = 0.000) and an effect of time-of-day on cubicle air temperature (p = 0.035) - the mean temperature was slightly higher in the morning session (26.2°C) than the afternoon session (26.0°C). Cubicle air temperature was significantly positively correlated with ratings of air temperature (p = 0.000) and negatively correlated with ratings of air freshness (p=0.000), and air movement (p=0.000) There was a significant effect of personal control on ratings of overall air movement (p=0.042). There was no significant effect of personal control on cubicle temperature, or ratings of thermal comfort, health symptoms, effort and alertness, or on typing performance. Implications of the study will be discussed.

Alan Hedge a

Conference Proceedings

Experimental Study of Task Load Measurement for Basic Flight Operation Task

The aim of this research is to do experimental measurement research of the task load by subjective and objective measurement, and find the most effective measurement tool for the basic flight task load, for providing experimental research foundation for task load quantitative research. Three sets of experiments were designed in this research. The first two sets of experiments were based on human information processing stages and different processing modalities, designed as following: Visual (Perception) - Cognition – Manual (Responding), and Auditory (Perception) - Cognition –Manual (Responding), with consideration of different processing codes; the third set of experiment was designed based on flight operation task (obtaining instrument data information), including two experiments. Physiological parameters of participants were recorded with apparatus, and questionnaires were used to record subjective evaluation results. The experimental data were processed with correlation and significance analysis. The correlations between the pupil diameter, subjective evaluation and their average value are high (p<0.05). The significance between each set of data of the pupil diameter are high (p<0.05). The task load of basis flight operation task units can be measurement based on the pupil diameter and subjective assessment, the task load of perception tasks, cognition tasks, responding tasks divided from flight operation task can be measured by subjective evaluation.

Lijing Wang a, Xueli He a, Yuhui Wang a, Yingchun Chen b

Conference Proceedings

Probe into the Methods of Flight Training Based on Special Flight Environment

With the changing nature of modern warfare, warfighters have to equip with agile fighting skills and robust psychological qualities. Only by staying calm and being unruffled when facing complicated circumstances, can they give full play to the skills learned during training or save the plane in emergencies. This article is against such background to probe into the methods of flight training based on special flight environment. 10 participants were selected in this experiment. The FSX was used and a retired FT-6 was adapted as the cockpit, the training scheme had been set out. With respect to three certain special flight environments, tasks scenes had been selected from FSX. Meanwhile, the heart rate amplitude was recorded, and the scales of state anxiety conducted before and after training were investigated. By analyzing the 10 subjects' physiological and psychological data, the conclusions had been drawn as follows: (a) the effects of training reflected more on the relief of the psychological anxiety; (b) a decline in psychological levels of anxiety had more effect on task-performing efficiency; (c) in the special fight environment, a certain degree of physiological arousal combined with a decline of anxiety had made the participants complete the tasks more successfully.

ZHAO Xin, LI Yan, DING Li, Zhang LuDan, Zhang WenBo, Zhu ZhaoWei

Conference Proceedings

Workload Assessment for Manual and Automated Processes in Life Sciences

In life science process development, optimized manual protocols are converted to semi-automated processes to address high throughput and accuracy demands and to promote technician safety. However, little research has been conducted on technician workload assessment as a basis for identifying and prioritizing automation targets. The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess technician workload in a manual protocol and identify automation “targets” (for load reduction); and 2) compare workload with prototype automation vs. purely manual performance. Three expert technicians performed a mercury analysis process for three replications. Perceived workload was collected for each task using the NASA-Task Load index (TLX). Results on the manual process indicated “pipetting” and “measuring/recording” tasks to pose significantly higher perceived workload. The pipetting task posed the highest mental demand and risk of repetitive strain injuries, and was identified as a priority automation target. An automated pipetting system was prototyped and integrated in the manual protocol. The technician’s role was changed to transporting materials and programming tasks. In general, findings indicate that perceived workload assessment can be used to effectively identify target tasks for automation in life science processes. Technicians perceived significantly lower workload when performing automated pipetting, as compared with manual performance. However, there may be other factors (e.g., task time, number of steps) that influence workload and such factors may represent other targets for automation.

Manida Swangnetr, David Kaber, Ellen Vorberg, Heidi Fleischerand Kerstin Thurow

Conference Proceedings

The Treatment Performances of Smart Healthcare Clothing System Based on u-Computing Using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator for the Hypertensive

Recently, the healthy industry is interested in more innovative portable devices for healthcare with ubiquitous computing environment. There are integrated medicine, advanced high-tech smart devices, electronics technology, and other research areas. For these issues, we aimed to develop the ubiquitous computing Smart Healthcare Clothing System (SHCS) using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) for the hypertensive. Wearable smart technologies will give the wearable functional industry a high-tech value of making healthy and anywhere-anytime comfortable life. Hypertension is a typical chronic disease stressful life. TENS is especially the effective rehabilitation and preventive treatment healthcare device for the hypertensive. We designed SHCS with TENS which was embedded in glove with four textile-based electrodes, and instructed by oriental medical ergonomics. This research was conducted the healthcare performance and wear comfort of SHCS by clinical experiment. The results of effect analysis of care performances were as follows: 1) the mean of subject’s blood pressure was decreased to the lower ranges after wearing the SHCS with tens in the systolic pressure (p1<.001, as the paired t-test using statistical analysis method SAS 9.1). We could suggest SHCS with TENS that is easy-to-use, and effective rehabilitation and preventive treatment healthcare device for the hypertensive.

Ryang-Hee Kim

Conference Proceedings

Self-Adaptive Blur: A Persuasive Method for Healthy Posture

In this paper, we presented an interactive method named as Self-Adaptive Blur (SAB). By altering the sharpness of display according to the context, the SAB method was designed to prevent common discomforts of computer users by helping them maintain healthy posture. Based on previous pathophysiological studies, the causation of discomfort, mainly of neck and shoulder pain, was reviewed to select effective factors. A functioning prototype was developed using Microsoft Kinect and a desktop client program. The efficacy of our persuasive practice was examined by a series of experiments with the prototype. Objective records demonstrated the effectiveness of the SAB method, while subjective questionnaires and interviews revealed other instructive findings for further improvements.

Liu Yishuo, Liao Chen, Zhang Jingning

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic Analysis of Rice Basketwork

A survey of the Thai National Statistical Office in 2012 indicated the number of informal employment was about 24.8 million, which was as high as 62.6% of the total number of employed persons (39.6 million persons) in . Considered by the work regions, the informal employment mostly worked in the Northeast of Thailand, approximately 41.5% of all informal workers. In general, these workers are rice farmers who involve rice cultivation processing as their main occupation. Previous studies found most of them to have rice basketwork as the major supplement of career. Most tasks in rice basketwork are performed with prolonged sitting on the floor and using repetitive movements of hands, fingers, wrists and shoulders for more than 6 hours a day, were likely to increase the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A task analysis was conducted on basketwork tasks at a large area in the Khon Kaen and was then used to structure a job screening for ergonomics-related risk factors. The basketry process was divided in to six steps, including: 1) scrape bamboo skin, 2) cut a piece of bamboo, 3) tear strips of bamboo, 4) sharpen the bamboo, 5) weave the strips of bamboo and, 6) form the rice basket. The activities in each step were associated with different tools, for example, some steps included using a knife to slit bamboo or a bamboo cylinder for lifting. Subjective ratings of risk of injury, as part of job screening, were then made for each basketry step in each body part, focusing on motion, force, and posture. The screening tool used in this study was based on the Hand Activity Level (HAL) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methodologies. The screening results revealed worker exposure to repetitive motion, high forces and extreme postures at the neck, shoulders, hands, and legs when performing in each step of basketry. The results indicated the basketwork procedure to pose ergonomics risk to workers. The highest risk was due to awkward work postures. Results also revealed continuously repetitive motion of upper limbs for long periods of time and inappropriately use of load and force at upper body parts. Therefore, this study suggested that ergonomics interventions, using engineering, administration and/or personal protection controls, should be applied in order to reduce risk of occupational injury of informal workers in .

Nattaporn Rodjanapanurat, Orawan Buranruk*

Conference Proceedings

Effect of Time of Day and Treadmill Running on the Vertical Spinal Creep Response

Height loss during the day is attributed to gravitational loading of intervertebral discs. Previous research demonstrated treadmill running could maximize magnitude of vertical spinal creep (VSC) response. To date, previous studies have not yet investigated time of day when performing treadmill running has effects on VSC response. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of diurnal variation on VSC response after treadmill running. Sixty healthy subjects were recruited. Subjects were randomly assigned into either treadmill running or control groups. Each subject was asked to visit the lab on three consecutive days. The first day included familiarization sessions. The subsequent two consecutive days was to perform treadmill running or normal daily activity. Each subject was measured VSC responses using height loss stadiometer. For the intervention group, subjects were asked to perform treadmill running. For the control group, subjects were asked to continue normal daily activities during the experimental trials. Subjects were measured VSC responses after the completion of test trials. Paired t-test revealed significant increases in VSC responses in the treadmill running group for morning (p = 0.007) and afternoon sessions (p = 0.023). However, the time of day had no significantly effects on magnitude of VSC responses.

Rungthip Puntumetakul, Usa Karukunchit, Manida Swangnetr, MonteinPuntumetakul

Conference Proceedings

A Study of the Impulse Noise for the Protecting Earplug Performance

The objective of this study is the frequency of the noise source 170 dB level of impulse noise attenuation performance by earplugs to identify, to analyze the frequency characteristics of a shape and pattern. The impulse noise of the frequency earplug in order to analyze the impulsive noise attenuation performance for the analysis of the noise source equipment was built. In order to check the noise attenuation performance and noise attenuation performance Ear simulator production was verified. Previous studies have most transportation and public noise, even in the noise source for sound levels were 140 dB, but this study is higher than that of the impulsive noise source features. The result of the impulsive noise attenuation effect is frequency-dependent mean 28.58 dB.

SungHak Chung, HyoSeok Yun

Conference Proceedings

Error Analysis for Three-Dimensional Anthropometric Survey of Young Chinese Males

Based on the requirement of design and manufacture, a three-dimensional anthropometry survey was conducted in China in 2010-2011. 10319 young Chinese males (18~36 years old) were measured. The errors of the three-dimensional scanning method and the errors between three-dimensional scanning method and traditional manual method were analyzed in this paper. Three different error analysis methods were used to study the accuracy of the anthropometric survey. The results showed that the accuracy of the anthropometric data is acceptable.

Xuezhi Zhang a, Xiaoghui Zheng a, Songtao Ding a, Taijie Liu band He Fang a

Conference Proceedings

Development of BAC Consumption and Related Structure Equation Model on Korean Driver

This study is to provide the criteria necessary for justification on any administrative measure possible to revoke ones driving license or to legally punish any person who has been under the influence whilst driving. The alcohol concentration in blood/breath was measured in this research through the drinking culture habits. The conclusion of this study estimates per hour, the average consumption rate of BAC (β) -0.0178g/kg and SD was 0.00497. Then, a consumption rate of the BAC will be calculated out through the multiple regression analysis thereof. A structural equation model of the effect that the drinking culture habit and the consumption rate of the BAC have on unsafe human behavior tendency factor is expressed in a model. In this study, a questionnaire on behavioral response whilst under alcohol influence, physical characteristics and personality test was conducted, also included was the alcohol test of NHTSA and the WHO alcohol test.

SungHak Chung

Conference Proceedings

Risk Assessment for LPG Storage

In view of the growing prices of petrol and oil, the interest of drivers in liquefied propane-butane (LPG) as a fuel for cars rises. The number of storage tanks for car filling, both stand-alone tanks and tanks as part of petrol filling stations increases. Prevention of accidents associated with LPG storage facilities is a priority in the protection of people in the vicinity of the facilities and equipment and forms an integral part of the management of system safety. The aim is to contribute to the prevention of accidents and incidents of process equipment with LPG based on the analysis of possible scenarios of accidents of LPG storage tanks and on the assessment of risks.

Ales Bernatik, Ivana Bartlova

Conference Proceedings

RBI – Support Tool for Industrial Risk Prevention

Risk management requires a high level of knowledge, process and system approach, management culture and the organization in order to eliminate any non-conformity, that threaten organizational aims. Systematic approach to the management level is possible in the current conditions to create the most objective platform for decision-making process at all management levels of the organization. Changes in different areas of the external environment of enterprises carrying the legislative as well as other requirements in its internal environment, creating pressure for changes in management and decision-making processes, which must take new trends, especially in area of new emerging risks. Monitoring the critical equipments with progressive methods supported by risk management processes, allows reducing uncertainty and increase confidence in the management practices of employees but also all stakeholders.

Hana Pacaiova, Milan Oravec, Jan Kolesar

Conference Proceedings

Method for Fidelity Evaluation of Nuclear Power Plant Simulators from the Human Factors Point of View

In order to support operator skill acquisition, training simulator environments have to be realistic and represent the real-world counterpart. There is a lot of research on simulator fidelity on various domains, and even though it is also an important topic in the nuclear energy field, there is little research and guidance on how the fidelity of nuclear power plant training simulator should be evaluated. Simulator fidelity evaluation is challenging in the nuclear domain: to be able to use the simulator for training purposes, fidelity evaluation is required before commissioning; on the other hand, it is difficult to compare the simulator to a control room that does not yet exist or that has not yet been upgraded.Our solution to this challenge is a stepwise iterative approach to fidelity assessment that is based on a well-defined fidelity assessment plan, according to which different components of simulator fidelity are evaluated successively in different instants of time. First, we evaluate the physical fidelity including environmental and equipment fidelity; second, we evaluate task and functional fidelity. We will apply our approach in the fidelity evaluation of a training simulator of a Finnish nuclear power plant whose automation and control room systems are digitalized.

Jari Laarni, Hanna Koskinen

Conference Proceedings

A System for Automated Live Ergonomics Assessment and Its Applications in Manufacturing

We present a system to assess ergonomics of a manual production process in real time. The system computes a score based on the current working pose of the subject using the “Ergonomics Assessment Worksheet (EAWS)” method. Furthermore, we propose an application scenario where this system is used to automatically adjust the height of a lifting table to enable an ergonomically optimal working pose for the worker. Our sensing system provides necessary information to assess the situational physical load. It consists of a “Microsoft Kinect”, a low cost 3D camera, and a software component. To demonstrate a practical application, we use the component to automatically adjust the height of a lifting table in order to enable comfortable working in straight pose with arms below shoulder level. In other words, it is able to adapt to different subjects with different anthropometrics.

T.D. Nguyen, Martin Kleinsorge, Jörg Krüger

Conference Proceedings

Safety Assessment of Pesticide-Barrier Protection Properties of High-Tech Material Agricultural Safety Clothing: In Vivo-Test Using the Artificial Skin

Industrial safety clothing is supposed to have capability to adjust its inside microclimate, to protect the human body from dangerous environments, and to improve productivity. So, it is important to select proper materials, forms, and wearing methods of work-clothes. Agricultural Safety Clothing (ASC) should protect the human body from environmental conditions such as cold, heat, and humidity as well as from working conditions. Agricultural Safety Clothing should also enhance the safety, comfort, and efficiency of works. However, they have increased the use of pesticide to harvest more crops, which has caused various side effects, and insects have become resistant to pesticides. For these issues, we aimed to develop the newly agricultural safety clothing based on highly technology finish textiles, and to estimate pesticide protective performance properties. And we were to evaluate the pesticide barrier property and safety performance properties of newly designed ASC being made with high-tech proof finish spun-laced nonwoven fabrics. The results of this study were as follows: 1). New high-tech proof finished ASC has respectively negligible or sometimes inconclusive amount of pesticide residue. Hence, newly designed ASC with high-tech proof finish fabrics was evaluated as the safety ASC better than the conventional safety clothing.

Ryang-Hee Kim, Sung-Sic Choi

Conference Proceedings

Rollermouse vs. Standard Computer Mouse –Electromyographic and Subjective Assessment of the Usability in Applications with Graphical User Interfaces

The positioning of the hand-arm-shoulder system while computer-aided data entry, text processing or mouse operations – due to the kinematical chain’s own weight – represents an important risk factor for musculoskeletal complaints such as RSI syndrome as well as PC-work-induced carpal tunnel syndrome. A new system to control the mouse cursor by a rollerbar promised beneficial support and a more comfortable working with a standard keyboard. 24 subjects – classified by gender and age – were part of standardized working tests to proof the ergonomic quality of the rollerbar mouse. The hypothetically expected relief of the hand-arm-shoulder muscles was measured with electromyographic methods. Subjective assessments based on the work experiences were obtained in order to enhance the evaluating of the product’s ergonomic quality. The rollerbar system was rated more favorably than the standard mouse. There are some differences along age and gender lines with regard to the strength of preference, but the rollerbar was the unequivocally preferred input device. Unfortunately, the results of the measurements do not support as strong an endorsement for either of the two products. The reason is that the level of physical strain is simply not high enough. But the conclusion of establishing the rollerbar mouse as an ergonomically promised product could be confirmed.

Karsten Kluth, Erwin Keller

Conference Proceedings

Assessment of the Ergonomic Quality of European Screwdrivers

In a comparative ergonomic study, the ergonomic quality of 10 various screwdriver handles from European manufacturers which exhibited decisive differences in the design aspects “shape”, “dimension”, “material” and “surface” was tested. For this purpose, a test layout was developed in order to analyze the potential advantages and disadvantages of each handle type taking into account the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the human hand-arm-shoulder system. A group of 21 male right-handed test subjects (Ss) aged between 20 and 32 years, had to carry out different static and dynamic screw driving tests. In order to reveal possible model-specific differences in muscle strain, the electromyographic activity (EA) of 4 muscles involved in the different screwing tasks was measured via surface electrodes. Each of the Ss had to complete the test series with all screwdrivers under identical, controlled working conditions.Before and after the tests, the Ss had to assess specific criteria of the handles using a specially developed questionnaire addressing aspects such as handling, design features, material, surface finish as well as color design and manufacturing quality. In a second approach, the Ss were asked to express potential physical complaints in the fingers, hand, palm and forearm with respect to intensity and occurrence. This test-procedure with an objective and subjective evaluation offered a differentiated view on the impacts of the work situation and should reflect the advantages and disadvantages of the different handle types. When analyzing the results from the determined EA data and the users’ subjective perceptions while handling the screwdrivers, a great impact of the design features “shape”, “dimension”, “material” and “surface” became quite apparent. Only those screwdrivers designed according to appropriate ergonomic criteria enable a high operational performance with lower physiological costs which have to be paid by the muscles.

Mario Penzkofer, Anna-Sophia Henke, Karsten Kluth

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic Evaluation of Pressure Limits for the Fire Water Supply for Physically Feasible and Safe Indoor Fire-fighting

So far, there exists no internationally uniform regulation about the pressure limits of water used for putting out fires in multi-story buildings and large properties. In order to prove whether the nozzles work most efficient and a fire can be extinguished safely and precisely, 12 professional fire-fighters carried out simulated fire-fighting procedures under nearly realistic conditions. Throughout the entire test, the electromyographic activity (EA) from 7 muscles of the right hand-arm-shoulder system and one muscle of the left arm was recorded. Additionally, a special questionnaire had to be filled in to evaluate the subjective experiences when handling the nozzles. The EA – standardized through MVCs (Maximum Voluntary Contractions) – exceeded the limit for short-term static work for 3 muscles, especially when the pressure was 0.8 MPa and higher. The subjective ratings confirmed the measured physiological responses. Based on these results, the operating pressure for the fire water supply should not exceed 0.6 MPa (as compromise 0.7 MPa), in order to ensure safe and precise fire-fighting, and that the nozzles work most efficient.

Sandra Groos, Karsten Kluth

Conference Proceedings

Physical Strength and Hand Dimensions of a Population Sample: Results and Differences in Age and Gender

Anthropometric data and data about hand force could be a very important assistance for the ergonomic design of products, such as hand tools, machines etc. The aim of this study is to collect data about hand force and dimensions of the hand-arm-system of a representative sample of the population in Germany. The maximal isometric force and hand dimensions were determined among 1,214 participants (432 females, 782 males). The cases taken into account in force measurements include pulling strength, gripping strength and torque strength.

André Klussmann, Christoph Mühlemeyer, Patrick Serafin, Inna Levchuk, Karl-Heinz Lang, Hansjürgen Gebhardt

Conference Proceedings

Anthropometric Considerations for Designing a Test Finger to Avoid Electrical and Mechanical Hazards

Standardized test fingers are used for testing products against mechanical and electrical hazards. The most common one is given in EN 61032. An application for this test finger is the classification of enclosures by the IP (International Protection) - Code according to EN 60529 (2000). The dimensions of this test finger, mentioned in these standards, have remained unchanged for several decades. In the meantime the corresponding anthropometric dimensions of the human being have changed as well as the standard of safety and the level of safety awareness. Therefore, it has been investigated, whether the dimensions of the test finger specified in these standards are still in accordance with anthropometric considerations and whether they represent a sufficient level of safety. This article is based on a project, which has been performed on behalf of the Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardization (KAN). By this article, the report is carried forward.

Hansjürgen Gebhardt a, Christoph Mühlemeyer a, Karl-Heinz Lang a, Beate Schlutter b, Anja Vomberg b

Conference Proceedings

Physical Stress and Disorders of the Hand-Arm System at Construction Workers

Occupational medical preventive health examinations of the upper extremities of workers in the construction industry should represent findings and their relationship to occupations and physical stress. The age-, load-and job-related evaluation of results is a cross-sectional study from screening tests to 103.913 (1991-1999) and 108.963 (1994-2003) predominantly male employees.Occupational physicians determine abnormal medical findings at the shoulder joints in men 2.6% / 1.6% in women, elbow joints 1.5% / 1.0% and wrists 0.8% / 0.7% as well as the finger joints 1,2% / 0.6%. All findings steady increase in age. At the shoulders are scaffolders, glaziers / window installers and carpenters with 3.5, 2.9 and 2.5% on the highest level. At the elbows stove builder, pavers and plasterer (2.1, 2.1 and 2.0%) have highest rates of findings. Both regions show dominance at the right site over left. Findings in wrists are most common in concrete block manufacturers, crane operators and glaziers (2.9% / 1.5% / 1.3%). Shoulder joint disorders are the most common problem and highly specific to age. There is evidence for the influence of occupational stress on the elbow joints. Forced postures and vibration loads are the most common causes. Also repetitive strain must be considered as risk factor.

Bernd Hartmann

Conference Proceedings

Advances in Human Strength Measurement and Modeling in Workspace

Advances made in human strength measurement and modeling in three dimensional workspace are reported. A comprehensive experimental research was conducted to determine isometric and isokinetic push, pull, push-up and pull-down strengths in the workspace and the corresponding muscle activity during exertions. Data were obtained from able-bodied adult male and female participants in the normal, maximum and extreme reach envelopes at various horizontal and vertical angles/heights in both seated and standing positions. A three dimensional isometric strength measurement system was designed and constructed. The Kin-Com dynamometer was used to measure isokinetic strength. The Flex-Com system recorded electromyography (EMG) of four muscles: biceps, triceps, anterior deltoid and erector spiane. Strength profiles or data for isometric and isokinetic strengths were highlighted. Spatial factors affecting isometric and isokinetic strengths were analyzed. Muscle activity of the selected muscles during force exertions were investigated. Predictive models or equations were developed for isometric pull strengths in maximum reach of standing men by applying multiple regression analysis.

Biman Das

Conference Proceedings

Development and Validation of a Posture Driven Tool to Estimate the Hazards of Manual Lifting

The primary biomechanical criteria used are based upon maximum compression on L5/S1 disc. According to NIOSH’s report, it indicates that the workers with predicted compression force more than 3400N have higher risk of back problem, and most workers maybe suffer from back injury while the force reaches 6400N. Therefore, most studies adopt these two values as criteria for LBP risk assessment. A compression prediction program based upon Taiwanese anthropometric data was developed during the study. Furthermore, a validation was carried out by investigating manual lifting on LBP outpatients. 38 patients were randomly chosen as subjects in this study. Using prediction program developed, an investigation on compression force on L5/S1 disc for Taiwanese LBP workers is presented. The study results indicated a mean value of 4785N with a standard deviation of 1916N, while the mean value of male and female are 5155N and 3878N, respectively. These results suggest that, if the data were normally distributed, approximately 21% of workers who suffer LBP due to lifting had ultimate compression strength of less than 3400N. The computer program may be adopted as a tool for work design to reduce physical pain and money loss. It should benefit both lifting workers and their employers.

Shih-Yi Lu, Yi-Shyong Ing, Cheng-Lung Lee, Yi-Tsong Pan

Conference Proceedings

Trends in Management of Risks Associated to Biomechanical Overload Based on New ISO Technical Report

When studying WMSDs, several risk factors of different nature (mechanical, organizational, psychosocial, individual) are considered to be significant in general models of risk assessment and management and for epidemiologic purposes. As a consequence an “holistic” approach to their prevention was confirmed specially at international and national level when planning guidelines and interventions. On the other side there is a strong request, from OSH agencies and operators, for developing “simple” tools for risk assessment and management. ISO technical standard on “Ergonomics and Biomechanics” adopt a general approach to risk assessment and management according to four basic steps: hazard identification; risk estimation; detailed risk evaluation; risk reduction. ISO has defined a number of technical standards in the field of “physical ergonomics” regarding working postures, load manual handling, repetitive manual work (ISO 11226 and 11228 series) that in some manner take into account the contemporary presence of several risk factors. As a reaction to request from many practitioners, ISO has now completed a special application document (ISO TR 12295) to better clarify application procedures of the methods reported in such standards.

Enrico Occhipinti, Daniela Colombini

Conference Proceedings

A Simple Tool for Preliminary Hazard Identification and Quick Assessment: Applicative Experiences

Physical activity at work is often characterized by time pressure, repeatability and levels of effort and gestural constraints, or the inverse of a "physical activity health." Therefore, they will be called physical workloads. Indeed, despite technological advances that alleviate the toughest tasks, physical burden remains a major source of industrial accidents and occupational diseases. It is still often causes fatigue, pain that degrade the professional gesture and perception of the task, leading not only to errors that affect the work quality, but also to accidents (traumatic cardiovascular...), damage to the musculoskeletal system and work incapacity. Factors that influence these risks are related to the individual, his work (content and organization), its physical and human environment...

Jean-Jacques Atain-Kouadioa, Laurent Claudona, Patricia Mazièreb, Jean-Pierre Meyera

Conference Proceedings

The Study of Work Situations

The OCRA method is the reference method chosen in ISO (ISO 11228-3) and CEN (EN 1005-5) standards regarding risk assessment and management of upper limbs repetitive movements and exertions. The method consists of two specific tools (OCRA index and OCRA checklist). In this paper special attention will be devoted to the procedures for the analysis of multiple repetitive tasks.When computing the OCRA index (checklist score) considering the presence of more than one repetitive task, a “traditional” procedure has been previously proposed. This approach, whose results could be defined as “time weighted average”, seems to be appropriate when considering rotations among tasks that are performed almost once every hour. On the contrary, when rotation among repetitive tasks is less frequent the “time weighted average” approach could result into an underestimation of the exposure level. For those scenarios an alternative approach is based on a concept that the most stressful task is the minimum starting point. A peculiar procedure allows to exactly estimate the resulting index within this range of minimum to maximum values. It is possible to apply this approach also for job rotation with weekly or monthly or annual cycle typical of agriculture, supermarket, cleaning sectors. This paper shows criteria and results in different working situation: plant nursery, viticulture (annual cycle).

With Exposure To Multiple

Conference Proceedings

Prevention of WMSDS from Biomechanical Overload in Agriculture: A Project by Italian Regions

The biomechanical overload disorders of the musculoskeletal system are constantly increasing in Italy and became the most reported occupational diseases to INAIL (Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority). Some sectors, such as agriculture, health and crafts, generally show a particular rise of these diseases while other sectors (such as fishing) are still struggling to bring out the work-related diseases. The Apulia Region included in the Regional Plan for Prevention 2010 - 2012 initiatives in order to secure a better understanding of the tools both for the assessment of risk due to the biomechanical overload of the musculoskeletal system and for the prevention of the diseases related to them. This approach allowed us to collect items of interest in order to better know the ergonomic risk in Apulian agriculture and to define the future prevention policies.

Giorgio Di Leone, Annamaria Del Rosso, Fulvio Longo

Conference Proceedings

Effects of Game-Setting on Wrist Motion and Muscle Fatigue

Playing on-line games is one of the popular entertainments in the world. Players often need to respond to the tasks required in the game by moving the mouse as fast as possible and clicking the button on the mouse at the precise place on the screen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of duration of playing time associated with the mode of the difficulty of the game on wrist motion and physical fatigue. Ten college students were participated in the experiment. Four combinations of experiments were tested: 2 durations (60/90 minutes) and 2 modes (difficult/easy) of the game. EMG median frequency was measured to determine the degree of fatigue of the muscles used. The positions of wrist in radial/ulnar plane were recorded using electrogoniometer. A subjective evaluation was used to measure the discomfort in wrist, arm, shoulder and neck after the experiment. The result showed that most of the time the wrist position was below 15 degrees in both radial and ulnar plane. The clicking number of left button of the mouse and the total distance of cursor moved were statistically significant between the game modes. There was statistically significant difference for change in median frequency in the difficult mode in extensor digitorum communis (EDC).

Ren-Liu Jang, Fukai Sung

Conference Proceedings

Medicine Slips Prevention for Patient Safety

The medicine deliver effect patient safety and prescription processes are always very important in the hospital. In Taiwan, the numbers of medicine event were 5960 (in 2008) and 9148 (in 2006). The trend of medicine events is increased, so medicine slips prevention is seriously. In this study, we analysis of factors medicine slips then by improving the environment of operating interface to prevent medicine events. Currently, the hospital into the computerized operations situation, deliver medicine correctly is an important part of patient safety, so human-computer interface design such as the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system, with pop-ups, colors warning to remind staff s of hospitals to avoid the use of to allergy medications and repeated medicine, the errors of medicine name input, as well as the error of using wrong dose to reduce events of human error and decrease the medication slips and promote patient safety.

Chih-Wei Lu

Conference Proceedings

Effects of Different Surfaces on Biomechanical Loading of the Upper Extremities While Handling Wheelbarrows

This study examines the effects of ground surfaces, gross weight loaded, and wheelbarrows on muscular activities, hand force, and subject-perceived exertions while pushing a construction trolley in a straight line on a horizontal surface. Twelve subjects pushed the trolleys on three different surfaces: asphalt pavement, paving gravel, and grass. Gross weight when loaded was 45, 75, and 105 kg, and two construction trolleys (a one-wheeled barrow and two-wheeled barrow) were used in this experiment. Experimental results show that gross weight loaded significantly affected muscular activities, hand force, and subject-perceived exertion while pushing construction trolleys. Additionally, different ground surfaces and wheelbarrow type also affected the muscular activities of the dominant hand; grass generated the highest muscle load and asphalt pavement generated the smallest muscle load. Muscular activity increased significantly in dominant hand with the one-wheeled barrow when compared with the two-wheeled barrow, suggesting that, in terms of muscle loads, the two-wheeled barrow is better than the one-wheeled barrow.

Yen-Hui Lin

Conference Proceedings

Usability Evaluation for Driving with the Joystick and Mechanical Hand Controllers

For lower limb disabled driving a car, mechanical manual controllers are mostly used to control the brake and accelerator. However, the joystick is mostly used to drive an airplane; is seldom used in driving a car. This study was aimed at evaluating usability of the joystick-style controller and mechanical manual controller for the lower-limb disabled driving a car. 20 participants were divided into experimental and control groups (10 persons for each group). The experimental group was lower limb disabled and the control group was non-disabled. Each subject performed driving simulator experiment with these two hand controllers, respectively. Driving performance, physiological load and subjective evaluation data were collected during the experiment. Both groups had significantly better driving performance with the joystick-type hand controller than that of the mechanical manual one. They also had significantly lower physiological load (percent of maximal heart rate) with the joystick-type hand controller than that of the mechanical manual one. However, they had similar subjective assessment between these two controllers. This study provides an advanced investigation for applying joystick in driving a car. But, further experiment should be conducted in the real road for confirming safety and efficiency.

Hsin-Chieh Wu a, Chin-Ting Lin a, Min-Chi Chiu b, Yu-Cheng Linc

Conference Proceedings

Investigating the Enhancement of Stereoscopic Displays to Parking Performance

To ensure the safety and performance in parking, equipping LCD visual displays of rear view imaging have become popular for modern automobiles. Existing technology often uses plain 2D display for such imaging system but the sense of depth, that is naturally perceived by bare eyes with stereoscopic visions and known to be a crucial piece of information in driving, is absent through such conventional displays. Our study aims to investigate the enhancement in parking performance by providing 3D (or stereoscopic) imaging of the primary rear view display. Research data were collected through the experiments of reverse/backward parking tasks with various types of physical obstacles and camera angles, tested by experienced drivers. Identical set of experiment conditions were instrumented both in 3D and 2D displays for comparison. Performance data, such as clearance to obstacle, task completion time, and parking deviation, as well as the subjective data in evaluating the advantages and disadvantages by providing 3D imaging were both recorded and cross-referenced. Generally speaking, our study does not find much significant advantages in stereoscopic imaging for the driving performance of reverse/backward parking. The subjective measures, however, did suggest the advantages of stereoscopic displays, especially in clearance estimation.

An-Che Chen, Chien-Chih Chen

Conference Proceedings

Quantitative Assessment of Computer Inputs and Musculoskeletal Complaints among Three Workgroups

Musculoskeletal disorders associated with computer use are closely related to the level of computer exposure. Various studies have been conducted for recording and evaluating long-term use of mouse and keyboard in computer workers. However, keyboard exposure is distributed over two hands and different fingers and mouse workload is mainly borne by the dominant hand which is with significantly higher musculoskeletal risk. This study utilizes an external logger for onsite measurements of computer activities in three professional groups over 6 months. All subjects include twelve university administrators, eight computer-aided design (CAD) draftsmen, and eight software programmers. Individual participant’s typing pattern was determined by a novel hardware and software developed in this study to separate keyboarding workload in the dominant hand from that in the nondominant hand. Each participant’s daily computer exposures, number of keystroke typing and mouse clicking, in one’s dominant and nondominant hand were then predicted by individual typing pattern and the logged computer activities. Estimated computer exposures of participants’ dominant and nondominant hand were then correlated with the musculoskeletal complaints collected by a questionnaire of body part discomfort rating. Regression analysis show participants’ average daily computer exposure was only moderately correlated with their hand discomfort. Research finding suggests computer associated discomfort may be affected by factors other than keyboard and mouse exposures.

Hsieh-Ching Chena, Yu-Wen Chena, Yung-Ping Liub, Yi-Tsong Pan

Conference Proceedings

Cell Phone Conversations with Hands-Free Devices Interfering with Cognition of Visual Information while Driving

Hands-free devices do not shift the line of vision from the road to a cell phone and limit the person driving. So, the use of hands-free devices while driving is permitted by law. However, it is conceivable that even the interaction with auditory information interferes with cognition of the visual information because the limited capacities of attention resources. Thus, this research discusses whether auditory information interactions interfere with cognition of visual information. In this research, the dual task method was carried out. This research obtained the reaction times and the frequency of oversight of signals from the primary task and the information by means of the NASA-TLX as the subjective evaluations. These data indicated that delays in reaction to signals, increases in oversight of signals, and so on were caused by the secondary task. Thus, it was suggested that cognition of visual information was disturbed by the auditory information interaction. Therefore, the use of a cell phone with a hands-free device interferes with driving.

Akihide Takano, Hiromi Nishiguchi, Mitsuhiko Karashima

Conference Proceedings

Factors Associated With Spinal Disorders Among Visual Display Unit Workers

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with spinal disorders among video display unit workers. Ninety-two workers answered the Nordic Questionnaire; Need for Recovery scale; Rolland-Morris Disability questionnaire; Work Ability Index; Job Content Questionnaire and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Workers reported musculoskeletal symptoms in last 7 days, functional limitation and medical seek in the last 12 months, respectively, for the neck (13.0%, 5.4%, 9.8%), upper (15.2%, 7.6%, 9.8%) and lower back (22.8%, 10.9%, 10.9%).Symptoms in the neck were predicted by gender; in the upper back by age; and in the lower back by dedication and absorption. Functional limitation in the neck was predicted by vigor; in the upper back by age, need for recovery and social support; and in the lower back by gender, need for recovery and work ability. Seek for health care due to neck symptoms was predicted by work ability and absorption; in the upper back by control, work ability and absorption; and in the lower back by age, work ability and absorption. Low back disability was predicted by need for recovery and functional limitation. Musculoskeletal complaints are predicted by multiple factors, which reinforces the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Karina Satiko Takekewa, Josiane Sotrate Gonçalves, Fabiana Almeida Foltran, Cristiane Shinohara Moriguchi, Ana Beatriz de Oliveira, Tatiana de Oliveira Sato

Conference Proceedings