Work - Volume 41, issue Supplement 1

Authors: Mafra, Simone Caldas Tavares | da Silva, Vania Eugênia | de Oliveira, Luciana Aparecida

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The crib is the infantile furniture more mentioned in infantile accidents. In spite of the existence of several models, many of them are not appropriate to their users and considered insecure. The objective of this study was to structure the prototype of ERGOBERÇO®, considering technical norms and evaluation in loco of the prototype through structured interview answered by the participants of the research. The prototype was evaluated as safer, resistant and comfortable than the crib used by the mothers and participant users of the study. The aspects with larger acceptance index were the movable grating and the compact base, defined …for the users as facilitators of the use and attribute of safety of the prototype. Even the prototype having been very appraised and accept for the users, it will be necessary to restructure the prototype so that the same can still be adapted more the users’ needs, being, besides insurance and comfortable, with compatible aesthetic pattern with the expectation of these. Show more

Keywords: Product ergonomics, Children’s Furniture, Cribs, Security, Comfort

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0567-3085

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3085-3092, 2012

Authors: Chen, Yung-Ching | Leung, Cherng-Yee

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper utilized a user-centered design approach as the foundation for technology in dementia care in order to improve the quality of telemedicine service. A status-quo analysis and questionnaire survey were conducted to explore the actual needs of the elders in using the lost seeking devices and the problems they encountered. In total, 37 caregivers for people with dementia were surveyed (20 female, 17 male, M = 50.08, SD = 15.47). The dementia-patients: 16 are male, 21 female (M = 72.75, SD = 10.23). Through analysis and induction, 3 problems were identified: poor information transmission, low user acceptance, individual material …security anxiety. 2-4 improvement proposals are suggested for each problem. Most care-givers hope technological products would increase the efficiency and safety, but they also think it’s too expensive and lack of computer skills. This result demonstrates the choice of seeking methods depends on the education level of the caregivers and most of them are elders. The concern of data leakage is also related to today’s fraud issue, which may be the reason limiting the promotion of electronic products and biometrics. Further research is required, suggesting researchers should pursue improvements in lost seeking design devices in dementia for caregivers. Show more

Keywords: care-givers, Dementia, e-Health, Safety, Telemedicine services, User-Centered Design, Wandering

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0568-3093

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3093-3100, 2012

Authors: Morales, Karen Lange | García-Acosta, Gabriel

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Ergonomics has been successful in increasing productivity and comfort in the work arena. It has also contributed to reducing occupational accidents. Despite this, ergonomics is frequently limited to understanding the health-disease process related to human-technology interactions, as this process is more complex than what can be understood from an ergonomic evaluation. Recognising this limit, this work ontologically and epistemologically contrasts the notions of ‘human being’ and ‘social subject’, and concludes that the study object of ergonomics, or human-technology interaction, greatly depends on social aspects that nowadays are not tackled explicitly: route (history), project, structure, agency, motivations and power. It also …analyses how participatory ergonomics tacitly includes many of these aspects, including some implications that the change of notion, from ‘human being’ to ‘social subject’, brings to the understanding of the health-disease process and the reduction of associated risks during human activities. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, Occupational health, Health-disease process, Social subject, Participatory ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0569-3101

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3101-3108, 2012

Authors: Lira, Mario | Kohlman Rabbani, E. | Barkokébas Junior, Beda | Lago, Eliane

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: During the production of aggregates at quarry sites, elevated quantities of micro-particulate mineral dust are produced in all stages of the process. This dust contains appreciable amounts of free crystalline silica in a variety of forms which, if maintained suspended in the air in the work environment, expose the workers to the risk of developing occupational silicosis, which causes reduced ability to work and potential shortening of lifespan. This study was conducted to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate workers’ exposure to mineral dust containing free crystalline silica at a midsized quarry in the Recife metropolitan area, in the State of Pernambuco. …It involved evaluation of the industrial process, collection and analysis of representative dust samples, and interviews with the management team of the company with the intent to assess the compliance of the company with Regulatory Standard (NR) 22 - Occupational safety and health in mining. In order to assist the company in managing risks related to dust exposure, three protocols were developed, implemented and made available, the first based on NR 22, from which the company was also given an economic safety indicator, the second based on the recommendations and requirements of Fundacentro to implement a Respiratory Protection Program and, finally, an assessment protocol with respect to the guidelines of the International Labor Organization to implement a health and safety management system. This study also showed the inadequacy of the formula for calculating tolerance limits in Brazilian legislation when compared with the more strict internationally accepted control parameters. From the laboratory results, unhealthy conditions at the quarry site were confirmed and technical and administrative measures were suggested to reduce and control dust exposure at acceptable levels, such as the implementation of an occupational health and safety management system, integrated with other management systems. From these assessments it is hoped that the proposals can assist the company in developing mechanisms for management and control of dust exposure risks that may improve environmental quality and the well-being of workers. Show more

Keywords: Mining safety, occupational health, chemical hazard, mineral dust, quarry, free crystalline silica

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0570-3109

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3109-3116, 2012

Authors: Maiti, J

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this paper, the predictors of work injuries based on Leamon’s Man-Machine model are identified in a sociotechnical framework. Several hypotheses are developed and tested to describe the accident/injury phenomena in mining worksystems. Possible designs for improving work-system’s safety are specified using scaled Mahalanobis distance (MD). A case control study design is adopted. Five variables namely, age, negative-affectivity, physical-hazards, job-dissatisfaction, and safety-practice are emerged as significant contributors to work injuries for the mines studied. Two most interesting findings obtained through this study are (i) 36% of cases (injured employees) (MD < 1) are unlucky to meet an accident and (ii) …40% of the controls (non-injured employees) (MD > 1) are lucky to be able to avoid an accident. The most probable reason for the former case is the organizational ineffectiveness while that for the latter may be risky adventures of employees which are due to lack of education, awareness, and appropriate training. Based on the MD values for cases and controls, possible design guidelines are suggested. The study categorically identifies the accident situations where engineering control, education and training, and other organizational safety measures are to be adopted. Show more

Keywords: Work injuries, case-control study, Mahalanobis distance

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0571-3117

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3117-3122, 2012

Authors: Vilela, Rag | Almeida, IM | Nunes da Silva, A | Gomes, MHP | Prado, H | Buoso, E | Dias, MD | Cavalcante, S | Lacorte, LE

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In 2008, academic researchers and public service officials created a university extension studies platform based on online and on-site meetings denominated “Work-Related Accidents Forum: Analysis, Prevention, and Other Relevant Aspects. Its aim was to help public agents and social partners to propagate a systemic approach that would be helpful in the surveillance and prevention of work-related accidents. This article describes and analyses such a platform. Online access is free and structured to: support dissemination of updated concepts; support on-site meetings and capacity to build educational activities; and keep a permanent space for debate among the registered participants. The desired result …is the propagation of a socialtechnical-systemic view of work-related accidents that replaces the current traditional view that emphasizes human error and results in blaming the victims. The Forum uses an educational approach known as permanent health education, which is based on the experience and needs of workers and encourages debate among participants. The forum adopts a problematizing pedagogy that starts from the requirements and experiences of the social actors and stimulates support and discussions among them in line with an ongoing health educational approach. The current challenge is to turn the platform into a social networking website in order to broaden its links with society. Show more

Keywords: Education, University Extension, Web page, Work-related accident prevention

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0572-3123

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3123-3129, 2012

Authors: Maciel, Regina Heloisa | Fontenelle, Marselle Fernandes | Gonçalves, Rosemary Cavalcante | Lopes, Taise Araújo | Moura, Tuany Maria Sousa | Monteiro, Felipe Mendes

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents a comparative study of working conditions and health hazards of two ports in the state of Ceará: Mucuripe and Pecém, focusing workers in the various categories involved in the operational activities of the two ports. The aim is to investigate changes implemented by the restructuring process of ports arising from the Port Modernization Act. In the case of Ceará, the organization and control of work at the mentioned ports occur differently: Mucuripe, the oldest port, had to adapt to the changes enforced by the Modernization Act and Pecém, called Port Terminal, inaugurated in 2001, “was born modern”. …To achieve our objective, we carried out field work, using Ergonomic Work Analysis. Systematic observations were made of the various activities carried out by workers, as well as interviews with managers, workers and trade unionists. Container operations and other activities of the two ports were recorded in film and presented to groups of workers (focus groups) in order to better understand work organization and the main differences in tasks carried out in the two ports. Each reality presents different characteristics regarding port operations, type of work and labor control. Results indicate that due to the technological innovations, the restructuring process reduced some risks, but brought new occupational hazards and intensification of work. Show more

Keywords: Dockworkers, port systems restructuring, safety and health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0573-3130

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3130-3135, 2012

Authors: Simões, R. | Daniellou, F. | Nascimento, A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This article describes a particular way developed by employees to respond to the constraints of a very restrictive manufacturing plant: the mutual cooperation. Facing a very strict organizational context, the production workers can only rely on themselves to cope with the constraints of work. In this context, a complex system of strategies is deployed, resulting in a work environment governed by the sense of collaboration and mutual cooperation. The objectives of the implemented strategies, however, go beyond the attempts to reduce the work overload. They may be linked to a way of maintaining high levels of productivity and a way …for workers to keep their jobs. We hope to contribute, through this study, to the general knowledge of the strategies developed by workers in production lines in order to minimize the pains. Show more

Keywords: collective strategies, collective work, physical workload, margin of maneuver, cooperation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0574-3136

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3136-3142, 2012

Authors: De Souza Dias, Líssia Maria | Diniz, Raimundo Lopes | de Macedo Guimarães, Lia Buarque

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This article presents a study on the accidents related to the use of products and services, as recorded at two emergency hospitals at the city São Luís, Brazil. The goal of the study was to evaluate the main types and causes of unintentional acccidents as well as the more frequent injuries for further improvement of products and services. The study evaluated the victims profile (gender and age), the circumstances (activity, local and time) that lead to the accidents and the type of resulted injury. Non-parametric statistics showed that 83.64% of the accidents were related to products (57.6% of them being …consumer products) and 8.6% are related to maintenance services. 57.6% of the victims were children under 15 years old, and 58.4% were male. 50.2% of accidents occurred at home, more often (44.7%) in the afternoon. The most common injuriy was musculoesqueletal (48.6%), 49.0% being cranioencephalic trauma and 15.2% fractures. Show more

Keywords: accidents, product, service, injuries

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0575-3143

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3143-3147, 2012

Authors: Lopes, Manoela Gomes Reis | de Gouveia Vilela, Rodolfo Andrade | de Almeida, Ildeberto Muniz | Mioto, Odilamar Lopes | Takahashi, Mara Alice batista Conti | Perin, Fernanda Oliveira

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In 2010, an accident occurred in Americana-SP, Brazil, involving two trains and one bus on a Grade Crossing, when 10 people died and 17 were injured including workers. This paper aims to analyze the accident using the Model of Analysis and Prevention of Work Accidents (MAPA). The method provides observation of work, interviews and analysis of documents to understand precedents of the event in the following stages: to understand the usual work from the involved people, the changes occurred in the system, the operation of barriers, managerial and organizational aspects. By the end, measures are suggested to avoid new occurrences. …The accident took place at night in a site with insufficient lighting. The working conditions of bus drivers, train operators and watchmen are inadequate. There were only symbolic barriers (visual and acoustic signals) triggered manually by watchman upon train operator radio communication. The fragility of the barrier system associated to poor lighting and short time to trigger the signaling seem to play a critical role in the event. Contrary to the official report which resulted in guilt of the bus driver, the conclusion of the paper emphasizes the fragility of the safety system and the need of level crossing reproject. Show more

Keywords: Health and Safety, Highway, Railway, Work Accidents, Level Crossing

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0576-3148

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 3148-3154, 2012