Sitting Comfort of Ergonomic Office Chairs—Developed Versus Intuitive Evaluation

The sitting comfort of office chairs with different ergonomic layouts (inferior, superior) was examined. Fifty participants were randomly assigned to a 2 × 5 factorial experimental design with 2 different conditions of ergonomic chair layout (inferior or superior) and 5 different conditions of instruction to explore the chair. Four conditions were created to differentiate between various levels of perceptual awareness and processing of chair-related information (guided exploration and developed evaluation). In a 5th condition, participants remained uninstructed (free exploration and intuitive exploration). Under guided exploration, the participants’ perception of sitting comfort was in line with objective differences in the chair layout. Different conditions of guided exploration, however, did not influence the evaluations. Under free exploration, the participants’ perceptions did not match the ergonomic chair layout. In contrast to participants under guided exploration, they even rated the ergonomically inferior office chair more favourably than the ergonomically superior chair.     

Workplace Hazards and Prevention Options From a Nonrandom Sample of Retail Trade Businesses

Employer commitment is a key factor in an effective safety program, yet limited research has focused on the safety priorities of retail store managers. To address this, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recruited 4 experienced ergonomists, who met and interviewed 9 retailers in different parts of the eastern USA. The reports from the 9 interviews were used to document the hazards facing retailers and the interventions they attempted. Those interviewed were managers/owners of establishments that ranged from a small bakery with 11 employees to a supermarket with 85 or more employees. The main hazards across all establishments included overexertion, contact-with-objects, and falls-to-the-same-level. We also compared the retailers’ perceptions of safety hazards with injuries from actual hazards as supplied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This report provides insight into the retailers ‘ perceptions of safety hazards as well as their commitment to the prevention of workplace injuries.     

A flexible intelligent algorithm for identification of optimum mix of demographic variables for integrated HSEE-ISO systems: The case of a gas transmission refinery

This study proposes a flexible intelligent algorithm for assessment and optimization of demographic features on integrated health, safety, and environment and ergonomics (HSEE)-ISO systems among operators of a gas transmission refinery. To achieve the objectives of this study, standard questionnaires with respect to HSEE and ISO standards are completed by 80 operators. Demographic features include age, education, gender, weight, stature, marital status, and work type. The average results for each category of HSEE are used as inputs and effectiveness of ISO systems (ISO 18000, ISO 14000, and ISO 9000) are used as output for the intelligent algorithm. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in addition to conventional regression are used in this paper. Result shows the applicability and superiority of the flexible intelligent algorithm over conventional methods through mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Computational results show that the proposed ANN performs better than ANFIS and conventional regressions based on its relative error. Finally, the optimum mix of demographic variables from viewpoint of HSEE and ISO are identified. This is the first study that proposes a flexible intelligent algorithm for assessment of optimum mix of demographic features for HSEE and ISO systems in a complex system such as a gas transmission refinery.     

新疆维吾尔自治区第一次全国污染源普查工作的若干经验

新疆维吾尔自治区污染源普查工作于2007年10月启动,历经一年多的艰辛努力,现已圆满完成普查清查、培训、入户调查报表填报、数据录入、质量审核、质量抽查、数据汇总上报、档案建立、集中式预验收等工作,取得了阶段性的成果。总结和探索新疆污染源普查工作经验,旨在为今后的环保专项调查、污染源普查工作提供有益、可借鉴的宝贵经验。     

Dental Workers,Musculoskeletal CumulativeTrauma,and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Who is at Risk? A Pilot Study

A pilot study was conducted at a dental clinic to identify (a) the prevalence of musculoskeletal cumulative trauma disorders (MCTD), (b) associated symptoms (with special attention paid to carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]), and (c) practitioners at risk. Videotapes, two questionnaires, a medical record review, and interviews were used. Forty-five dental workers participated and were classified into three categories: (a) dentists, (b) dental assistants and special assistants (DA/SA), and (c) dental hygienists and dental assistant-expanded function (DH/DAEF). Categorical data were analyzed using the chi- square statistic and risk ratios. The Fisher exact probability test was used for categorical data with a small cell. One or more symptoms associated with CTS were noted by 75.6% of the dental workers, 11% reported diagnosed CTS, and 53% reported back and shoulder pain. Both psychosocial factors and job demands appear to be associated with MCTD. All three categories of dental workers reported MCTD symptoms, and the DH/DAEF group was found to be at greatest risk for developing upper extremity symptoms, CTS, and back pain.     

Occupationally Oriented Medical Rehabilitation and Hairdressers’ Work Techniques–A one-and-a-half-year follow-up

This study examined changes in work techniques and musculoskeletal symptoms after occupationally oriented medical rehabilitation arranged for 21 hairdressers who were experiencing neck-shoulder or back pain but were still able to work. OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysing System) analyses of working postures and questionnaire data were obtained at the beginning of the courses and one and a half years later. The participants worked with their back bent and twisted or their arms at or over shoulder level more seldom (p < .0001) at the end of the follow-up than at the beginning of the rehabilitation. Subjective work-related physical and mental strain had decreased by 45.4% (p < .001) and 27.1% (p < .05), respectively, and subjective neck and back pain by 40.0% (p < .0 1 ) and 45.3% (p < .01). respectively. This’study suggests that occupationally oriented medical rehabilitation can have significant and long-lasting effects on the rehabilitee’s work techniques and subjective well-being.     

Cultural Ergonomics in Ghana,West Africa: A Descriptive Survey of Industry and Trade Workers’ Interpretations of Safety Symbols

Globalization and technology transfer have led to the diffusion of risk communications to users from cultures that were not initially viewed as the target users. This study examined industry and trade workers’ overall impressions of symbols used to convey varying degrees of hazardousness. Six symbols, including symbols from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z535 Standard (ANSI, 1998) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 3864:1984 Standard (ISO, 1984) were selected. With the exception of the SKULL symbol, results showed wide discrepancies between users’ perceptions of the symbols and their intended meanings. Implications for cross-cultural research on warning components and risk communications are discussed.     

The Effect of an Ergonomic Intervention on Musculoskeletal,Psychosocial and Visual Strain of VDT Entry Work: Organization and Methodology of the International Study

This special issue of the International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics (JOSE) reports the results from an extensive multinational and multidisciplinary collaborative investigation of the impacts on visual display terminal (VDT) work of musculoskeletal, visual, ergonomic, and psychosocial factors. For brevity, this effort has been referred to as the MEPS project (musculoskeletal—eyestrain—psychosocial—stress). This paper lays out the basic methodological structure of the study. The study was conducted in 4 countries utilizing VDT data entry workers as the primary subject population. A battery of objective and subject assessment measures, including muscle load, visual function, physical and visual strain, postural, ergonomic and psychosocial factors, were assessed at 3 different points in time. A pre-test was given prior to an ergonomic intervention. Two post-tests were given 1 month and 1 year after the ergonomic intervention.     

An Ergonomics Study of a Semiconductors Factory in an IDC for Improvement in Occupational Health and Safety

The study aimed to conduct an ergonomic intervention on a conventional line (CL) in a semiconductor factory in Malaysia, an industrially developing country (IDC), to improve workers’ occupational health and safety (OHS). Low-cost and simple (LCS) ergonomics methods were used (suitable for IDCs), e.g., subjective assessment, direct observation, use of archival data and assessment of noise. It was found that workers were facing noise irritation, neck and back pains and headache in the various processes in the CL. LCS ergonomic interventions to rectify the problems included installing noise insulating covers, providing earplugs, installing elevated platforms, slanting visual display terminals and installing extra exhaust fans. The interventions cost less than 3 000 USD but they significantly improved workers’ OHS, which directly correlated with an improvement in working conditions and job satisfaction. The findings are useful in solving OHS problems in electronics industries in IDCs as they share similar manufacturing processes, problems and limitations.     

工业工程专业人因工程教学模式改革探索与实践

人因工程是工业工程专业中一门非常重要的专业课程。首先根据工业工程专业的特点和当前社会人才培养需求,分析了人因工程课程教学过程中存在主要问题。然后根据存在的问题对教学目标进行重新定位,并设计了层次化教学内容、动态化教学模块和多样化教学方法相结合的立体教学体系。最后,设计并尝试采用实验教学、案例教学、互动式教学等方法和手段进行教学改革。对提高教学质量、培养学生综合能力具有一定的意义。