International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics最新文献

This study aims to enhance the electromagnetic barrier performance of conductive cut-protective fabrics by incorporating stainless steel filament fiber into the fabric. This was accomplished by combining high-performance polyethylene, polyester and stainless-steel filament fibers to produce cut-protective woven samples with different areal densities. The shielding efficiency values and the correlation between input factors, such as frequency (100-1500 MHz), stainless steel (30-50 µm) and areal density (150-250 g/m²), were computed empirically using surface response curves. Several noteworthy results and a strong correlation coefficient (R² = 0.97) were observed, indicating the model's validity. Three-dimensional surface response curves were constructed to investigate how the independent factors affected the electromagnetic shielding efficacy. Furthermore, the optimal electromagnetic shielding effectiveness value of fabric made with distinct stainless-steel filament fiber diameters is apparent at varying measured frequencies. The diameter of metallic filament fibers strongly influences the fabric shielding effectiveness.

This study assessed the impact of a passive back-support exoskeleton (Laevo V2.5; Laevo, Netherlands) on trunk and hip postures, lower back muscle activity and heart rate during four common patient handling tasks: task 1, lying to sitting; task 2, sitting to standing; task 3, standing to sitting; task 4, bed-to-wheelchair transfer. Eight participants performed these tasks with and without the exoskeleton. Significant reductions (19%; p < 0.05) in erector spinae muscle activity were observed during tasks 2 and 4. Moreover, peak bilateral hip flexion angles decreased by up to 29° across tasks, with a notable decrease in median hip flexion angles in three tasks, except for task 3. These findings suggest that the exoskeleton may offer benefits in reducing lower back muscular strain during certain patient transfer tasks, indicating its potential utility in healthcare settings. Further research is needed to fully assess its effectiveness and practicality in improving patient-handling techniques.

Commercial diving, a specialized profession encompassing various underwater tasks for industries such as construction and maintenance, exposes divers to unique hazards and challenges. Fundamental diving knowledge, encompassing the understanding of diving theories (DTs) and decompression procedures (DCPs), plays a pivotal role in enhancing diving safety. This study aims to assess the knowledge level of professional commercial divers regarding fundamental DTs and DCPs. The findings reveal notable disparities in knowledge levels among divers based on their qualifications, service sectors and professional experiences. While first-class divers, mixed-gas divers and second-class divers demonstrated satisfactory understanding of essential DTs and DCPs, individual divers and aquaculture divers exhibited potential knowledge gaps. The identified discrepancies underscore the significance of professional knowledge in ensuring diver safety and signal the need for targeted training programs to enhance divers' understanding of essential DTs and DCPs.

Objectives. Incident involvement among pilots has been a major human factor safety concern. Enhancing safety by reducing accidents and improving pilot behaviour is vital for aviation safety. Future time perspective (FTP) has been found to be a protective factor in safety behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of FTP on safe flight performance and the underlying mechanisms. Methods. The model was examined with 514 Chinese civil pilots; the participants completed measurements regarding FTP, vocational calling, perceived organizational support (POS) and incident involvement. Results. The correlation analyses indicated that FTP was significantly negatively associated with pilot incident involvement, and POS was significantly negatively associated with pilot incident involvement. Mediation analyses revealed that vocational calling partially mediated the link between FTP and pilot incident involvement. Moderated mediation further indicated that POS moderated the negative mediation path of FTP on pilot incident involvement. Conclusion. This study reveals the mechanism of FTP in the maintenance of flight safety, which enriches the research system of human error prevention research, and provides certain suggestions for aviation safety culture.

To enhance firefighters' safety in fire environments, new phase-change protective clothing was developed using a drip molding process to improve thermal protection and thermal comfort. The effects of the droplet interval (1, 1.5 and 2 cm) and droplet diameter (4, 6 and 8 mm) on the thermal protective performance under low thermal radiation were examined by the stored energy tester (SET). The results demonstrate that the drip molding process extended the second-degree burn time compared to phase change material-coated fabrics, reducing skin heat absorption and alleviating heat storage injuries. The optimal drip molding parameters (1.5-cm droplet interval and 8-mm droplet diameter) were identified based on the observed negative correlation between the second-degree burn time and the total heat loss. The drip molding process used in this study effectively improved the thermal protective performance and thermal comfort of protective clothing, offering enhanced protection for firefighters in low-radiation environments.

This study aims to evaluate the aerobic fitness of miners and develop a predictive equation to assess their maximum oxygen uptake (V_O2max), which is crucial for ensuring their safety and health in harsh working conditions. Measurement of V_O2max via indirect calorimetry is costly and requires skilled personnel; developing a predictive equation is a viable alternative. Existing predictive equations, e.g., Hunt, Kline and Dolgener equations, were tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient, constant error, standard error of estimate and total error. The aerobic fitness of shearer operators, bolters miners, jackhammer drillers and road header operators was very low. Bland-Altman analysis revealed that predicted V_O2max measurements of all three equations had a total error of >10%, which is unacceptable for usage. Therefore, a new predictive equation was developed with a total error of 9.78%. The developed predictive equation is useful to evaluate miners' functional capacity with higher precision and assist in allocating work.

Objectives. A headscarf is a piece of fabric designed to cover the head while also wrapping around the neck. Styling of the headscarf in different ways can affect posture or balance control and a rise in forward head posture (FHP). This research aimed to examine the impact of wearing a headscarf on FHP and dynamic balance (DB) in young collegiate females. Methods. The sample size of 100 participants was categorized into two groups (wearing a headscarf and not wearing a headscarf). Measurements of FHP (craniovertebral angle, sagittal head tilt) by the photographic method and DB by the Y-balance method were performed. Results. The findings reveal that the group wearing a headscarf exhibits significant differences in both FHP and DB compared to those not wearing a headscarf, suggesting that headscarf usage may lead to abnormal head repositioning and increased tension in the posterior neck, and affect DB in females. Conclusions. The practice of wearing a headscarf contributes to abnormal head positioning and altered DB, providing valuable insights into the potential musculoskeletal effects. Implementing a comprehensive approach, encompassing education, ergonomic guidance, stretching and strengthening exercises, can enhance posture, DB and musculoskeletal health while wearing a headscarf.

Objectives. Neck and shoulder problems are increasing among workers, particularly during low-level repetitive tasks. Considering the interaction between neck and shoulder muscles during these tasks, studying the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) activity pattern is crucial. This study aimed to investigate SCM activity during a simulated repetitive task involving muscle fatigue and upper limb elevation. Methods. Nineteen females and 20 males aged 18-35 years with body mass index 18.5-28 participated. Exclusions included musculoskeletal problems within the past 7 days, circulatory/rheumatic/inflammatory disorders, routine engagement in overhead sports or expertise in repetitive movements. Surface electromyography was used to record SCM activity, normalized using maximum voluntary contractions and converted into the root mean square (rms) and median frequency (MF). Pre-fatigue and post-fatigue periods were the first and last 30 s of the task. The craniocervical flexion test assessed deep cervical flexors and their interaction with SCM activity. Results. The rms of SCMs increased bilaterally post fatigue, regardless of sex. Females showed lower MF values in the SCM left side than males, independent of task duration. Conclusion. There were no gender differences. However, SCM changes during upper limb fatigue may indicate overuse of neck muscles during repetitive tasks involving fatigue and upper limb elevation.

This article uses novel microdata to estimate the prevalence of occupational injuries among informal workers in a developing country with a segmented labour market like Argentina, and analyses their socio-economic consequences, exploring the heterogeneity according to the formality status of the worker. The results indicate that the prevalence of injuries is roughly similar between informal and formal workers. However, the socio-economic consequences are substantially more severe for informal workers and their families. These consequences include: a reduction in consumption of basic goods and services; and the need for household members - including school-age children and older people - to search for work to compensate for the income drop resulting from the injured worker.

Ergonomic problems have increased at a considerable rate in manufacturing industries. Failure to practice ergonomic principles and workplace design are the main causes. Poor ergonomic awareness and failure to monitor ergonomic practices magnify the problem in developing countries. Different barriers to ergonomics implementation cause ignorance of ergonomics/human factors and affect employee safety and productivity. This study intends to evaluate ergonomic implementation barriers in Ethiopian apparel industries. Five hundred apparel industries from industry parks and other apparel industries in and around the capital were selected through judgmental sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) using AMOS version 21. Ergonomic awareness, lack of resources, management commitment and unsupportive organizational culture hinder ergonomic implementations. This study provides insight for policymakers and manufacturing industries to make decisions about ergonomics implementation.