Work - Volume 41, issue Supplement 1

Authors: Yazdani, Amin | Wells, Richard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and summarize the research evidence on prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) within Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) and Integrated Management Systems (IMS). Databases in business, management, engineering and health and safety were systematically searched and relevant publications were synthesized. The number of papers that could address the research questions was small. However, the review revealed that many of the techniques to address MSD hazards require substantial background knowledge and training. This may limit employees’ involvement in the technical aspects of the risk assessment process. Also these techniques did not …usually fit into techniques used by companies to address other risk factors within their management systems. This could result in MSD prevention becoming a separate issue that cannot be managed with company-wide tools. In addition, this review also suggested that there is a research gap concerning the MSD prevention within companies’ management systems. Show more

Keywords: Occupational health and safety management systems, integrated management systems, musculoskeletal disorders, risk assessment, ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0522-2765

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2765-2767, 2012

Authors: Cristiane, A.A.Z. | Danielle, M.D. | Vanessa, C.B.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: From of Macroergonomic Analysis of Work were diagnosed the main ergonomics demands in a furniture company in the city of Cambé, Paraná. Through this method we could identify the most problematic points of the analyzed environment for posterior solutions of improvement with the objective of increasing the working and phsychological quality of the employees, motivating their good performance and satisfaction.

Keywords: Macroergonomics, furniture company, solutions, improvement, quality

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0657-2768

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2768-2775, 2012

Authors: Village, Judy | Greig, Michael | Salustri, Filippo A. | Patrick Neumann, W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: For human factors (HF) to avoid being considered of “side-car” status, it needs to be positioned within the organization in such a way that it affects business strategies and their implementation. Tools are needed to support this effort. This paper explores the feasibility of applying a technique from operational research called cognitive mapping to link HF to corporate strategy. Using a single case study, a cognitive map is drawn to reveal the complex relationships between human factors and achieving an organization’s strategic goals. Analysis of the map for central concepts and reinforcing loops enhances understanding that can lead to discrete …initiatives to facilitate integration of HF. It is recommended that this technique be used with senior managers to understand the organizations` strategic goals and enhance understanding of the potential for HF to contribute to the strategic goals. Show more

Keywords: Cognitive mapping, Strategic goals, Human Factors

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0523-2776

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2776-2780, 2012

Authors: Onkham, Wilawan | Karwowski, Waldemar | Ahram, Tareq Z.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Financial costs of investing in people is associated with training, acquisition, recruiting, and resolving human errors have a significant impact on increased total ownership costs. These costs can also affect the exaggerate budgets and delayed schedules. The study of human performance economical assessment in the system acquisition process enhances the visibility of hidden cost drivers which support program management informed decisions. This paper presents the literature review of human total ownership cost (HTOC) and cost impacts on overall system performance. Economic value assessment models such as cost benefit analysis, risk-cost tradeoff analysis, expected value of utility function analysis (EV), growth …readiness matrix, multi-attribute utility technique, and multi-regressions model were introduced to reflect the HTOC and human performancetechnology tradeoffs in terms of the dollar value. The human total ownership regression model introduces to address the influencing human performance cost component measurement. Results from this study will increase understanding of relevant cost drivers in the system acquisition process over the long term. Show more

Keywords: Human Performance Estimation, Human Total Ownership Cost

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0524-2781

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2781-2788, 2012

Authors: Viola, Elaine | Vidal, Mario Cesar

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents a protocol for work distress assessment. Work distress is defined as a merge between nonergonomic related aspects, in tasks or environment, and adversely conditions perceived for a worker, in a certain work situation. This frame requires an approach that can treat individuals and organizational factors in the same way, at the same time. For this, we elaborate a psycho-ergonomics method, associating concepts and practices from cognitive-behavioral techniques and work ergonomic analysis, which we named CEWAT – Cognitive-Behavioral Work Analysis Technique. This paper presents CEWAT’s foundations and structure, in steps. An application to a complex and dangerous system …illustrates its benefits in the ergonomics action. Show more

Keywords: Stress, ergonomics, cognitive-behavioral techniques, participatory design

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0525-2789

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2789-2794, 2012

Authors: Trierweiller, Andréa Cristina | Peixe, Blênio César Severo | Tezza, Rafael | do Valle Pereira, Vera Lúcia Duarte | Pacheco Jr, Waldemar | Bornia, Antonio Cezar | de Andrade, Dalton Francisco

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to measure the effectiveness of the organizations Information and Communication Technology (ICT) from the point of view of the manager, using Item Response Theory (IRT). There is a need to verify the effectiveness of these organizations which are normally associated to complex, dynamic, and competitive environments. In academic literature, there is disagreement surrounding the concept of organizational effectiveness and its measurement. A construct was elaborated based on dimensions of effectiveness towards the construction of the items of the questionnaire which submitted to specialists for evaluation. It demonstrated itself to be viable in measuring organizational …effectiveness of ICT companies under the point of view of a manager through using Two-Parameter Logistic Model (2PLM) of the IRT. This modeling permits us to evaluate the quality and property of each item placed within a single scale: items and respondents, which is not possible when using other similar tools. Show more

Keywords: item response theory, two-parameter logistic model, information and communication technology sector, strategy

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0526-2795

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2795-2802, 2012

Authors: de Carvalho, Paulo Victor Rodrigues | de Souza, Alan Pinheiro | Gomes, Jose Orlando

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The concepts developed by resilience engineering allow the understanding and monitoring the functioning of organizations and, particularly, to map the role of human activities, in success or in failure, enabling a better comprehension about how people make decisions in unexpected situations. The capture of information about human activities in the various organization levels gives managers a deeper real-time understanding of what is influencing the people performance, providing awareness of the factors that influence positively or negatively the organizational goals initially projected. The monitoring is important because the correct functioning of complex systems depends on the knowledge that people have to …perform their activities and how the system environment provides tools that actually support the human performance. Therefore, organizations should look forward through precursors in operating signals to identify possible problems or solutions in the structure of tasks and activities, safety, quality, schedule, rework, and maintenance. We apply the concepts of resilience engineering to understand the organization by the analysis of cognitive tasks and activities. The aim is the development of a computerized system to monitor human activities to produce indicators to access system resilience. The validation of the approach was made in a real organization and the results show the successful applicability of the system. Based on findings obtained after the experiment of the system in a real organization, and managers and workers opinions, it was possible to show that the use of system provided an anticipated (real-time) perception about how activities are effectively being performed, allowing managers and workers to make decisions more consistent with daily problems, and also to anticipate solutions to cope with unexpected situations. Show more

Keywords: Cognitive Tasks Analysis, performance monitoring, safety control, resilience engineering

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0527-2803

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2803-2809, 2012

Authors: Huber, Gilbert Jacob | Gomes, Jose Orlando | de Carvalho, Paulo Victor Rodrigues

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The main objective of this work is to propose a method and a tool to support the development of indicators able to inform an organization about the state of its resilience through a cyclical process of identifying its resilience factors, proposing resilience indicators, assessing its organizational resilience followed by assessing and improving the resilience indicators. The research uses concepts from complex adaptive systems and from resilience engineering to establish an initial set of indicators able to assess elements that contribute to organizational resilience, and structures them temporarily as a hierarchy. A software application to support indicator definition and structuring, questionnaire …generation, and result assessment activities was built to assist in speeding up the experiment-adjust cycle. Prototype indicators were instantiated with helicopter operating companies in mind, and were reviewed by a domain expert. Show more

Keywords: resilience engineering, indicators, complex systems

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0528-2810

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2810-2816, 2012

Authors: Bau, Lucy M.S. | Farias, Jean P. | Buso, Sandro A. | Marcon Passero, Carolina R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Organizational ergonomics refers to the optimization of social technical systems, including their organizational structures, policies and processes. The relevant topics include communications, management of resources, work projects, temporal organization of work, team work, participative project, new work paradigms, cooperative work, organizational culture, network organizations and quality management (IEA, 2000). The purpose of this study was the reorganization of the methods and processes of the occupational health sector (SMS/SO – Portuguese acronym of the area) of a petrochemical company. The work involved thirty professionals: a coordinator, two occupational physicians, one cardiologist, one occupational dentist, two occupational nurses, eleven occupational health technicians, …one social worker, one nutritionist, one phonoaudiologist, one ophthalmologist, one biochemist, two ergonomists, three administrative assistants, one administrator and one psychologist, during a six-month period. The methodology that was used sought to establish a cooperative alliance focused on change, transformation and acquisition of skills, reflecting directly on the attitudes and performance of the leaderships and their work teams. In addition to the feedback practice, the following supporting tools were used for the study’s success: “Functional Polyvalence Matrix”, “Management of Failures”, 5W2H”, “6M”, “5 Why” and “process mapping”. The intended results after the organization ergonomics restructuring process will allow the leader to help his or her team to make a diagnosis of the problems, identify options, develop strategies, establish targets and action plans, remove barriers, review contexts and implement the business management fundaments: planning, organization, management, coordination and control. The transformation possibilities allow us to consider some hypothesis: Before: Focus only on results. After: Engage collaborators to create sustainable results. Before: Operating profile. After: Tactical/strategic profile. Before: Find errors. After: Value effort and development. Before: Listen to what is being said. After: Understand what is being said. Before: Create fears of the consequences. After: Create room for risk. Before: Be the one who approves and decides. After: Be the cooperative support. Show more

Keywords: reliability, health management, user satisfaction, leadership

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0529-2817

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2817-2821, 2012

Authors: Santos, R.M. | Sassi, A.C. | Sá, B.M. | Miguez, S.A. | Pardauil, A.A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper aims to present the benefits achieved in the ergonomics process management with the use of the TPM methodology (Total Productive Maintenance) in Tucuruí Hydropower Plant. The methodology is aligned with the corporate guidelines, moreover with the Strategic Planning of the company, it is represented in the TPM Pillars including the Health Pillar in which is inserted the ergonomics process. The results of the ergonomic actions demonstrated a 12% reduction over the absenteeism rate due to musculoskeletal disorders, solving 77,0% of ergonomic non-conformities, what favored the rise of the Organizational Climate in 44,8%, impacting on the overall performance of …the company. Awards confirmed the success of the work by the achievement of the Award for TPM Excellence in 2001, Award for Excellence in Consistent TPM Commitment in 2009 and more recently the Special Award for TPM Achievement, 2010. The determination of the high rank administration and workers, allied with the involvement/dynamism of Pillars, has assured the success of this management practice in Tucuruí Hydropower Plant. Show more

Keywords: TPM, Hydropower Plant, Health Pillar

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0530-2822

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 2822-2830, 2012