IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors最新文献

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSErgonomists and engineers often look to technology to improve workplace outcomes such as safety and productivity. However, hesitancy toward new technology can hinder the adoption of devices such as wearables. In this study, we spoke to industry representatives about the factors that influence the implementation of wearables in the manufacturing workplace. Focus group participants provided several actionable insights to reduce hesitancy in adopting wearables in the industrial workplace. First, emphasizing safety culture and the benefits to workplace safety and health is paramount. Second, the case for using wearable for performance improvement should also be discussed after leading with safety. Finally, organizations should consider voluntary participation in a wearables program with early adopters.

TECHNICAL ABSTRACTBackground: Musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are prevalent among veterinary surgeons. Recent research has proposed exoskeletons as potential solutions in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons, but no studies have addressed the neck forward postures (opposite of overhead work), a unique ergonomic neck risk, commonly required during live, open surgery. Purpose: We explored the effectiveness of a passive neck-support exoskeleton during live veterinary surgical procedures with experienced surgeons. Methods: We employed a within-subject crossover design involving surgeons who participated in procedures across specialties including soft tissue and orthopedics. Participants performed entire surgeries with and without a front head posture support prototype exoskeleton, and they completed pre- and post-surgical surveys to assess MSS and perceived effort. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to compare median values of MSS and the perceived effort of each participant when they operated with and without the exoskeleton. Results: We collected data during 28 procedures involving eight surgeons, with each subject performing at least one surgery with (intervention) and at least one surgery without (control) the exoskeleton (randomized order). The number of control and intervention cases for each participant was balanced. We found that the difference in neck stiffness before and after surgery was greater in the control surgeries compared to when using the exoskeleton intervention. Increases in neck pain and neck stiffness were only observed in control cases, whereas no participant reported increased neck pain or neck stiffness when the exoskeleton was used. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a passive forward head posture support exoskeleton is a promising intervention for reducing the risk of MSS in live surgical procedures.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSWe investigated the impact of wearing a passive back-support exoskeleton on posture, task duration, and subjective feedback during order-picking tasks. Participants performed a simulated and repetitive picking task both with and without the exoskeleton, using a randomized placebo methodology to investigate the psychological effect of the exoskeleton. Our findings indicate that, while the exoskeleton may offer certain physical benefits, it could also negatively affect task execution time and lead to less favorable subjective feedback from workers. Our results can help practitioners in the evaluation of exoskeletons for in-field applications, since we demonstrate that this exoskeleton has the potential to reduce physical strain, but it can negatively impact execution time and workers' satisfaction.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSOur study evaluated four occupational exoskeletons using universal design principles, and we found that the exoskeleton design needs improvement to achieve equitable use by diverse worker sets (including disabled, older, and women workers). Assembling exoskeletons for use, donning and doffing wearable devices, and disassembling them can all be difficult because of the strength, dexterity, reach, and balance requirements of users. Workers with disabilities are likely to require additional support from another person to assemble or use these devices. Exoskeleton design can be improved to provide feedback on user actions, error prevention, and recovery. Factors such as assembly and storage space demands, training needs, additional personnel to assist users, and personalization costs could pose substantial barriers in industrial adoption.

Occupational ApplicationsIn this study, we present force myography (FMG) as an objective method for quantifying physical effort. We utilized a noninvasive wearable FMG sensor to capture the radial force exerted by muscles during contractions, and we evaluated the effectiveness of FMG in assessing varying perceived exertion levels. We found a strong correlation between FMG measurements and perceived exertion, which highlights its potential as an indicator of physical effort. Integrating FMG sensors could allow for monitoring of worker exertion, facilitating adjustments to workloads and the design of ergonomic tools and interfaces. Doing so could help identify risks of fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders and provide a valuable metric for refining job design and ergonomics assessments, ultimately contributing to healthier workplaces and enhanced worker productivity.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSResults from our exploratory study of restaurant worker mental models of injury and safety emphasize the need for improved occupational safety in the culinary industry through targeted interventions for chefs and managers. The analysis we performed showed that managers possess more integrated and coherent mental models of injury and safety than chefs, reflected in network parameters showing better organization of safety concepts. Kitchen training programs should focus on bridging gaps in safety awareness and mitigating hazards such as burns, cuts, slips, and equipment-related risks. Given their stronger understanding of safety protocols, managers are well positioned to lead kitchen staff training. Leadership-focused training for managers is vital for improving communication, enforcing protocols, and leveraging their integrated mental models of injury and safety in daily practice. Continuous education tailored to the specific responsibilities of chefs and managers is essential for ensuring effective safety training and maintaining standards.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSWhen compared to not using a soft-hand exoskeleton, the IronHand^® caused both increases and decreases in forearm muscle activity while completing automotive assembly tasks. Surprisingly, although there were reductions in muscle activity when wearing the IronHand^®, only a few of these decreases resulted in muscle activity changing such that they fell to below recommended ergonomic thresholds. Despite this, some individuals in our study clearly benefited from the device, and this suggests that there is potential for widespread use of such a device if fine tuned to the individual and task demands. Much work is still required for a design that will allow for optimal physical benefit.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSStandard operating procedures (SOPs) in complex industrial settings require a process for change management which can accommodate updates and adapt to changing tasks, roles, and tools. Interviews with users and administrators of SOPs in a large petrochemical company revealed contrasting perceptions of the procedural change process. Administrators (those who write or oversee the procedures, such as at the mid-level management level or "blunt end" of the process) perceived the change process as transparent, accessible, and encouraging for users of procedures at the sharp end, whereas users themselves perceived the process to be opaque and futile. Given the critical role of effective procedures in maintaining a safe workplace, these findings have important implications for ergonomics and human factors practitioners. Considerations for designing SOP change management should include accounting for process change transparency, emphasizing the importance of employee buy-in, and effectively communicating about procedures, policies, and safety in the change management.

Occupational applications: Our analysis of construction firm accident data in Québec, Canada, spanning from January 2019 to June 2022, provides critical insights for ergonomics and human factors practitioners. The predominant accidents involved being struck by objects (31%) and falls (15%), with lacerations and bruises comprising 37% of injuries. Notably, carpenters had the highest accident rate (22%), prompting attention to task-specific safety measures. We also examined musculoskeletal injuries (MSI), finding that bodily reactions (46%) and overexertion (44%) were primary causes. Importantly, we qualitatively explored the potential of exoskeletons as possible proactive safety measures; our results suggested that in 50% of MSI cases, exoskeletons might have helped to mitigate or eliminate risks. These findings underscore the potential for exoskeletons to enhance safety and productivity in the construction industry, offering opportunities for intervention and preventive measures in ergonomics practice.

Technical abstract: Background: The construction industry is a hazardous working environment, having a relatively high risk of accidents and injuries compared to other industries. Purpose: We aimed to describe the characteristics of work accidents in a large construction firm in Québec, Canada, using accident data from the Health, Safety, and Environment Department. Methods: Our dataset spanned from January 2019 to June 2022 and included 2065 complete entries for analysis. Accidents were categorized using a standardized classification scheme, augmented with additional accident types to provide more precision. Results: The most common type of accident was being struck by an object, comprising 31% of reported incidents, followed by falls at 15%. Lacerations and bruises were the most prevalent injuries, accounting for 37% of cases, with injuries to the hand (31%) and the head/eye (24%) being the most frequent. Among the trades analyzed, carpenters had the highest accident rate at 22%, closely followed by laborers at 20%. We also focused on occupational musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in the dataset to qualitatively investigate the viability of exoskeletons as a proactive safety measure. Of the 268 incidents categorized as MSI-related (13% of the 2065 events), bodily reactions (46%) and overexertion (44%) were the leading causes. A detailed qualitative analysis of the event descriptions suggested that if exoskeletons had been made available and used, they could have contributed to reducing or eliminating MSI risk in 50% of cases. Conclusions: These results contribute to enhancing safety and productivity in the construction industry by providing insights into work accidents and task characteristics that can be used to improve exoskeleton design and compatibility with the work to be performed.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSWe systematically examined the effect of obliquely-oriented shoe tread channels on traction performance, by manipulating tread angle, thickness, and gap width across 24 outsole designs. Through robotic slipping tribotesting and computational fluid dynamics modeling, outsoles with a tread inclination angle of 75 and 105 degrees, 2 mm tread thickness, and 5 mm gap width exhibited superior dry and wet traction. This work introduces experimental and computational techniques, offering potential for footwear manufacturers and those who prefer formal shoes to understand the effect of designs on the slip-resistance of a footwear for better safety.