Cardiovascular Strain of Sawmill Workers in South-Western Nigeria

This study aimed to assess cardiovascular strain during sawmilling operations in terms of physical workload, based on heart rate changes. We measured resting and working heart rates and calculated cardiovascular load (%CVL), cardiovascular strain (%CVS) and relative heart rate (%RHR) in 35 sawmill workers. Based on heart rate only, the work in sawmills was classified as very heavy and extremely heavy. Similarly, a high-level category was recorded for %CVL and a very high range for %CVS. Thus, the workload in sawmill operations is usually very high and can lead to physiological strain of the workers. There is a need to redesign the work content of this occupation to prevent excessive strain in the workers, as this will increase their productivity and reduce their health risk.     

Comparison Between the Strain Indicator HRV of a Head-Based Virtual Retinal Display and LC-Head Mounted Displays for Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality uses Head Mounted Displays (HMD) to overlay the real word with additional virtual information. Virtual Retinal Displays (VRD), a new display technology, no longer requires Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD). VRD technology addresses the retina directly with a single laser stream of pixels. There are no studies on the user’s informational strain in this new VRD technology. Various papers have shown that Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a valid indicator for the user’s informational strain. An empirical test revealed no difference in the user’s HRV between VRD technology and LCD technology. Consequently, there seems to be a comparable user informational strain regarding the display types.     

Effect of Subjective and Objective Workload on Asthenopia at VDU Workplaces

An ergophthalmological tool has been developed to investigate effects of subjective and objective workload on work-related visual complaints (asthenopia). In field studies on different visual display unit (VDU) workplaces effects of objective and subjective workload, work intensity, and work breaks (5-9 min/hour) could be found. It could be shown that during the first hours of VDU work, asthenopic complaints have the tendency to follow effective workload. With increasing working time the effect of a general and visual fatigue overlaps other reported visual complaints in the majority of cases.     

In-vehicle workload assessment: effects of traffic situations and cellular telephone use

PROBLEM: Assessment of drivers' on-road workload is an important traffic safety consideration. This study was conducted to examine the effects of cellular phone communication on driving performance, with particular emphasis on variations in task demand in different traffic situations. METHOD: Twelve participants were asked to drive on urban roads and motorways with or without concomitant mathematical-addition tests relayed via cellular phone. Measurements included task and driving performance, physiological responses, and compensatory behavior. RESULTS: Analysis of task performance revealed that mean response time was markedly increased (11.9%) for driving on urban roads compared to motorways. The mean driving speed only decreased 5.8% in the presence of phone tasks in comparison to normal driving without distractions. In addition, overall physiological workload increased through compensatory behavior in response to the phone tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Driving with phone use in different traffic environments induced measurable variations in driver workload. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: When faced with heavy traffic, a greater safety margin is typically adopted, with more lowered driving speed and restricted phone use, and it can be assumed that there is a general trade-off between tasks to preserve driving safety.     

民航从业者工作负荷研究

回顾民航业特殊行业中从业者(飞行员、管制员和机务维修人员)特定的工作负荷及其测量方法,工作负荷引起压力的心理机制,以及过高的工作负荷可能对从业者生理反应和身体健康造成的负面影响,并提出了改善从业者过高工作负荷的措施和方法。与此同时,指出应该进一步研究民航从业者的工作负荷与某些组织变量(如人误、离职意向、工作满意感)的关系,这不仅可以帮助保障飞行安全、提高从业者的工作满意度,而且具有理论意义。     

Predicting the time needed for environmental systematic reviews and systematic maps

Systematic reviews (SRs) and systematic mapping aim to maximize transparency and comprehensiveness while minimizing subjectivity and bias. These are time-consuming and complex tasks, so SRs are considered resource intensive, but published estimates of systematic-review resource requirements are largely anecdotal. We analyzed all Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) SRs (n = 66) and maps (n = 20) published from 2012 to 2017 to estimate the average number of articles retained at each review stage. We also surveyed 33 experienced systematic reviewers to collate information on the rate at which those stages could be completed. In combination, these data showed that the average CEE SR takes an estimated 164 d (full-time equivalent) (SD 23), and the average CEE systematic map (SM) (excluding critical appraisal) takes 211 d (SD 53). While screening titles and abstracts is widely considered time-consuming, metadata extraction and critical appraisal took as long or longer to complete, especially for SMs. Given information about the planned methods and evidence base, we created a software tool that predicts time requirements of a SR or map with evidence-based defaults as a starting point. Our results shed light on the most time-consuming stages of the SR and mapping processes, will inform review planning, and can direct innovation to streamline processes. Future predictions of effort required to complete SRs and maps could be improved if authors provide more details on methods and results.     

采油队派工单制度的探索与实践

用风险控制理论,分析采油队日常操作的不安全行为,提出派工单设计思路,探索建立适合采油队日常安全管理的派工单制度,取得了较好的效果。     

基于扇区动态复杂性因素的航空管制员工作负荷计算

为了更加准确地计算和预测航空管制员的工作负荷,利用雷达管制模拟试验获取的数据,分别采用线性回归、神经网络的非线性回归和基于神经网络的支持向量机方法,建立了基于扇区复杂性因素的管制员工作负荷实时计算模型。结果表明,这3种模型的绝对误差平均值分别为0.969、1.049、0.240;相对误差平均值分别为16.667%、17.979%、6.229%;均方根误差分别为0.186、0.206、0.114。另外,若采用5%作为基准精度,基于神经网络的支持向量机模型可以将相对误差控制在-0.5%~0.5%,表现出较强的误差控制能力。研究表明,可以采用扇区动态复杂性因素来计算管制员的工作负荷,相比线性回归、神经网络的非线性回归方法,基于神经网络的支持向量机方法对管制员工作负荷的计算有更高的精度。     

Classification of driving workload affected by highway alignment conditions based on classification and regression tree algorithm

Objective: Guaranteeing a safe and comfortable driving workload can contribute to reducing traffic injuries. In order to provide safe and comfortable threshold values, this study attempted to classify driving workload from the aspects of human factors mainly affected by highway geometric conditions and to determine the thresholds of different workload classifications. This article stated a hypothesis that the values of driver workload change within a certain range.

Methods: Driving workload scales were stated based on a comprehensive literature review. Through comparative analysis of different psychophysiological measures, heart rate variability (HRV) was chosen as the representative measure for quantifying driving workload by field experiments. Seventy-two participants (36 car drivers and 36 large truck drivers) and 6 highways with different geometric designs were selected to conduct field experiments. A wearable wireless dynamic multiparameter physiological detector (KF-2) was employed to detect physiological data that were simultaneously correlated to the speed changes recorded by a Global Positioning System (GPS) (testing time, driving speeds, running track, and distance). Through performing statistical analyses, including the distribution of HRV during the flat, straight segments and P-P plots of modified HRV, a driving workload calculation model was proposed. Integrating driving workload scales with values, the threshold of each scale of driving workload was determined by classification and regression tree (CART) algorithms.

Results: The driving workload calculation model was suitable for driving speeds in the range of 40 to 120 km/h. The experimental data of 72 participants revealed that driving workload had a significant effect on modified HRV, revealing a change in driving speed. When the driving speed was between 100 and 120 km/h, drivers showed an apparent increase in the corresponding modified HRV. The threshold value of the normal driving workload K was between ?0.0011 and 0.056 for a car driver and between ?0.00086 and 0.067 for a truck driver.

Conclusion: Heart rate variability was a direct and effective index for measuring driving workload despite being affected by multiple highway alignment elements. The driving workload model and the thresholds of driving workload classifications can be used to evaluate the quality of highway geometric design. A higher quality of highway geometric design could keep driving workload within a safer and more comfortable range. This study provided insight into reducing traffic injuries from the perspective of disciplinary integration of highway engineering and human factor engineering.     

无人机操作主观心理负荷测评与心率数据比较

为探究在无人机实操试验的心理负荷测量中主观量表与心率测评工具的性能,招募14名从未接触过无人机操作的被试者,在参加飞行操作培训后进行4种不同难度的无人机飞行操作情景试验;使用Polar V800监测被试者试验过程中的心率变化,并在试验结束后采用NASA-TLX,MCH,SWAT 3种主观量表进行评分,以比较飞行难度间各...