Expert system application for prioritizing preventive actions for shift work: shift expert

Introduction. Shift patterns, work hours, work arrangements and worker motivations have increasingly become key factors for job performance. The main objective of this article is to design an expert system that identifies the negative effects of shift work and prioritizes mitigation efforts according to their importance in preventing these negative effects. The proposed expert system will be referred to as the shift expert. Methods. A thorough literature review is conducted to determine the effects of shift work on workers. Our work indicates that shift work is linked to demographic variables, sleepiness and fatigue, health and well-being, and social and domestic conditions. These parameters constitute the sections of a questionnaire designed to focus on 26 important issues related to shift work. The shift expert is then constructed to provide prevention advice at the individual and organizational levels, and it prioritizes this advice using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process model, which considers comparison matrices provided by users during the prioritization process. An empirical study of 61 workers working on three rotating shifts is performed. After administering the questionnaires, the collected data are analyzed statistically, and then the shift expert produces individual and organizational recommendations for these workers.     

Driver’s mental workload prediction model based on physiological indices

Developing an early warning model to predict the driver’s mental workload (MWL) is critical and helpful, especially for new or less experienced drivers. The present study aims to investigate the correlation between new drivers’ MWL and their work performance, regarding the number of errors. Additionally, the group method of data handling is used to establish the driver’s MWL predictive model based on subjective rating (NASA task load index [NASA-TLX]) and six physiological indices. The results indicate that the NASA-TLX and the number of errors are positively correlated, and the predictive model shows the validity of the proposed model with an R² value of 0.745. The proposed model is expected to provide a reference value for the new drivers of their MWL by providing the physiological indices, and the driving lesson plans can be proposed to sustain an appropriate MWL as well as improve the driver’s work performance.     

The Subjective Rating Scales for Measurement of Mental Workload—Thurstonian Scaling

Subjective rating scales for measuring work demands and individual capabilities to cope with work requirements were developed using the Thurstonian procedure. The scales measure six dimensions of mental workload: mental difficulties, feeling of responsibility, awareness of risk, interpersonal conflicts, monotony, and time pressure. Individual scale results make it possible to assess the level of mental workload understood as a relation between the subjective rating of work demands and individual capabilities in each of the six dimensions. Two versions of scales were prepared: classic and modified ones. To assess the level of reliability of the particular scales, 481 participants were examined twice at a 1-month interval. A procedure to prepare scales for the measurement of other dimensions of mental workload is also presented.     

Combined Effects of Physical Demands and Shift Working on Low Back Disorders Among Nursing Personnel

The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of physical demands and shift working on low back disorders (LBDs) among nursing personnel. The study used 2 questionnaires: a self-administered questionnaire composed of parts of Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire to assess LBDs and job content questionnaire to assess physical demands. The participants were divided into 4 groups: from group 1 (low physical demands day workers) to group 4 (high physical demands shift workers). In regression analysis, high physical demands were associated with the prevalence of LBDs independently (OR 4.4, 95% CI [2.40, 8.00] and p < .05), but there was no association between shift working and LBDs (p > .05). Odds ratio in high physical demands shift workers was 9.33 compared to the reference group (p < .001). Calculated synergistic index was 7.37. Simultaneous impacts of shift working and high physical demands may increase the prevalence of LBDs among nursing personnel.     

Simultaneous effect of shift work on blood pressure and lipid profile: a path analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the direct and indirect effects of shift work (SW) on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lipid profile of male workers. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 6539 male workers of Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company. From all of the participants, 3065 (46.8%) were day workers and the remainder were shift workers. The results of path analysis revealed that the most effective variables on SBP were body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and SW with a total effect of 0.241, 0.095, 0.064 and 0.056, respectively.     

Mental Workload and Health: A Latent Threat

The aim of this study is to investigate changes in cardiovascular activity associated with a high mental workload. The reported experiments, carried out in naturalistic settings, point to information load and information processing under time pressure as main risk factors. This kind of occupational stress had to be dealt with by two of the three groups under investigation: brokers and simultaneous interpreters; it was not experienced by lecturing university professors. The pattern of cardiovascular activity of the two former groups consisted of overmobilization of cardiovascular activity at the beginning of work, and only partial normalization of task-evoked changes in cardiovascular activity at the end of work. Substantial elevations of diastolic blood pressure and tachycardia, which followed earlier overmobilization, resemble a miniature copy of changes seen in the development of cardiovascular diseases.     

进近管制员工作进程分类及工作负荷研究

空中交通管制员是管制工作的核心,其工作负荷直接决定该管制空域的飞行容量,而管制员的工作负荷包括可观察的客观负荷和认知理解的主观负荷两类.借鉴国外的MBB,DORA原理,将雷达管制的实施细分为18个工作进程,并通过调查、统计,确定每一工作进程的难度系数;通过多角度摄像方式对成都进近管制室雷达管制席位的工作进行长时间的拍摄,参照划分的工作进程对采集的数据进行深入的统计、分析,采用MMBB方法计算出指挥单架飞机的操作时间和思考时间;确定得出管制单架飞机的工作负荷,以及该空域的容量.     

矿工工作应激与对策探讨

工作应激对煤矿工人的影响是导致煤矿安全管理事故发生的主要原因,所以,煤矿工人的工作应激是一个亟待解决的问题.通过文献的搜集和访谈,与其他职业压力源的比较分析,并结合矿工这一职业的特点,第一,界定煤矿工人工作应激的概念;第二,从工作特征、组织因素、社会因素和个人特征4个大的方面来全面地分析矿工工作应激的来源;第三,依据工作应激的来源,从个人、组织和社会3个层面来探讨矿工工作应激的解决对策.为煤矿安全管理及维护矿工身心健康提供一定的依据.     

Organization–environment adaptation: A macro‐level shift in modeling work distress and morale

We theorized that organization–environment adaptation, the interaction between external demands and personnel resources, predicts distress and morale. We tested this hypothesis in 29 stations within one state police department, and combined three data sources. We measured environmental demands for policing via census data pertaining to the station precinct (e.g., per cent unemployed; per cent in public housing). We assessed resources via personnel numbers within stations. Outcomes were employee's perceptions of staff distress and morale at the station (N = 247), assessed twice, 14 months apart. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we found that environmental demands predicted perceptions of workgroup distress and morale and that the relationships were moderated by personnel resources. For distress, when resources were low, demands were positively associated with distress; when resources were high, demands were negatively associated with distress. For morale, when resources were high, demands were positively associated with morale; there was no relationship when resources were low. Results show that aversive and pleasurable reactions at work may be traced to how resources are employed to manage external demands. Results support a macro‐level shift in modeling distress and morale, incorporating external demands, and strategic management decisions regarding personnel resourcing. Our research suggests that rather than being a result of individual failure to adapt, compromised work ability may result from an organizational failure to adapt to the environmental context. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

煤矿安全管理人员工作压力相关研究

为进一步探究煤矿安全管理人员的工作压力,并为其压力调节提供理论依据,以215名煤矿安全管理人员为研究样本,运用问卷法调查其工作压力、压力认知和压力应对方式;采用SPSS、AMOS统计软件分析调查数据。研究结果表明:煤矿安全管理人员积极的压力认知与2种积极的应对方式(挑战压力、转化压力)显著正相关,与工作压力(岗位工作强度、工作职责与发展、组织机制与氛围)不存在相关性;煤矿安全管理人员消极的压力认知与消极的应对方式(逃避压力)显著正相关,与工作压力的3个方面均显著正相关;转化压力的应对方式与工作职责、发展显著负相关,逃避压力的应对方式与工作压力3个方面均显著正相关;积极的认知不一定会纾解压力感受,但消极的认知会加强压力体验。     

就天津“8·12”事故论安全生产问题的复杂性

为阐明安全生产问题的复杂性,基于开放复杂巨系统理论,分析天津“8·12”事故的复杂特征。评述专家群体运用综合集成法成功处置事故的经验。研究表明,城镇化、工业化、全面信息化使每个企业、每个人的开放性空前高涨,如今的安全生产问题远比过去的情形复杂;企业的关系网络结构是安全生产问题复杂性的另一个内在根源;安全生产问题是安全生产监管体制和机制中的系统性风险的涌现。应运用综合集成法探索安全生产问题的一揽子解决方案。     

Are there any job resources capable of moderating the effect of physical demands on work ability? A study among kindergarten teachers

Background. It is recognized that teaching in a preschool context is physically demanding. Despite this, the consequences of physical demands on psychophysical health (including work ability) are significantly understudied among kindergarten teachers. Objectives. The aim of the present study is to examine (a) the association between physical demands and work ability and (b) whether psychosocial job resources buffer the negative impact of physical demands among kindergarten teachers. Method. A total of 426 kindergarten teachers employed in the municipal educational services of a city in northwest Italy filled out a self-reported questionnaire. Results. High association was found between physical demand and work ability. Moderated hierarchical regressions showed that decision authority, skill discretion, reward and meaning of work buffer the hampering effect of physical demands and work ability. No buffering effects were observed for support from superiors and colleagues. Conclusion. The present study has relevant, practical implications, highlighting the importance of investing in interventions encompassing a holistic perspective (e.g., psychosocial and ergonomic) in order to effectively combat the hampering effect of physical demands on work ability.     

Internal and External Factors Influencing Time-Related Injury Risk in Continuous Shift Work

Time-related accident risk in shift work may be attributed to internal factors, such as fatigue, level of performance, sleep propensity, and to some external factors, like shift system, physical and social environment. Six hundred and sixty-eight events in the metallurgical industry have been analysed in terms of time of day, time on task, consecutive day of the shift block, day of the week, and season.

The injury rate was similar on all shifts but more severe accidents happened in the nighttime. Somewhat more injuries occurred in the second half of the shift, in the second part of a shift block, and in summer compared with winter. There were fewer injuries at weekends.