Work - Volume 41, issue Supplement 1

Authors: Bertilsson, Erik | Högberg, Dan | Hanson, Lars

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: When evaluating human-machine interaction it is central to consider anthropometric diversity to ensure intended accommodation levels. A well-known method is the use of boundary cases where manikins with extreme but likely measurement combinations are derived by mathematical treatment of anthropometric data. The supposition by that method is that the use of these manikins will facilitate accommodation of the expected part of the total, less extreme, population. In literature sources there are differences in how many and in what way these manikins should be defined. A similar field to the boundary case method is the use of experimental design in where …relationships between affecting factors of a process is studied by a systematic approach. This paper examines the possibilities to adopt methodology used in experimental design to define a group of manikins. Different experimental designs were adopted to be used together with a confidence region and its axes. The result from the study shows that it is possible to adapt the methodology of experimental design when creating groups of manikins. The size of these groups of manikins depends heavily on the number of key measurements but also on the type of chosen experimental design. Show more

Keywords: Design of experiments, Confidence region, Ergonomics simulation, Digital human modelling

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0075-4598

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4598-4605, 2012

Authors: Gordon, Claire C. | Bradtmiller, Bruce

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Well-designed office workspaces require good anthropometric data in order to accommodate variability in the worker population. The recent obesity epidemic carries with it a number of anthropometric changes that have significant impact on design. We examine anthropometric change among US civilians over the last 50 years, and then examine that change in a subset of the US population – the US military – as military data sets often have more ergonomic dimensions than civilian ones. The civilian mean stature increased throughout the period 1962 to 2006 for both males and females. However, the rate of increase in mean weight was …considerably faster. As a result, the male obesity rate changed from 10.7% in 1962 to 31.3% in 2006. The female change for the same period was 15.8% to 33.2%. In the Army, the proportion of obesity increased from 3.6% to 20.9%, in males. In the absence of national US ergonomic data, we demonstrate one approach to tracking civilian change in these dimensions, applying military height/weight regression equations to the civilian population estimates. This approach is useful for population monitoring but is not suitable for establishing new design limits, as regression estimates likely underestimate the change at the ends of the distribution. Show more

Keywords: anthropometry, secular trend, obesity, workspace design

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0076-4606

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4606-4611, 2012

Authors: Reis, Pedro Ferreira | Peres, Luis Sérgio | Tirloni, Adriana Seára | Reis, Diogo Cunha dos | Estrázulas, Jansen Atier | Rossato, Mateus | Moro, Antônio Renato Pereira

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study was conducted with 90 poultry slaughterhouse workers, which perform the function of removing chicken parts from the conveyor belt, and sample was composed of 66 women (33.5 ± 6.5 years) and 24 men (35.7 ± 7.2 years), aiming to analyze the influence of anthropometry in the shoulder joint of these workers. Body discomfort was evaluated by a human body diagram, being applied at the end of the work shift. The anthropometric measurement of shoulder was performed by measuring the height of the acromion process, being compared with the height of the conveyor belt. Analysis of the results was …performed by descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation, percentage and percentiles 5%, 50% and 95%. It was found that the height of the conveyor belt was 1.74 meters, while the average shoulder height of workers was 1.38 meters for percentile 5%, 1.41 meters for percentile 50% and 1.65 meters for percentile 95%. The discomfort regions were shoulder 45%, neck 29%, column 26%, arms 23%, and wrists and hand 20%. The upper limb assessment was performed with percentile 5% through the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment method, resulting in a final score > 7, indicating the need for adjustments of the work organization. It was concluded that the workplace does not meet the workers’ anthropometric characteristics, mainly affecting the shoulder joint, and correction ergonomics becomes necessary so that the workers involved in this study can perform their functions with health, comfort and safety. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, repetitive tasks, biomechanics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0077-4612

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4612-4617, 2012

Authors: Pastura, F.C.H. | Guimarães, C.P. | Zamberlan, M.C.P. | Cid, G.L. | Santos, V.S. | Streit, P. | Paranhos, A.G. | Cobbe, R.T. | Cobbe, K.T. | Batista, D.S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The goal of this paper is to present 1D and 3D anthropometric data applied to two distinct design situations: one related to the interior layout of a public transport vehicle and another one related to oil and gas laboratories work environment design. On this study, the 1D anthropometric data were extracted from the Brazilian anthropometric database developed by INT and the 3D anthropometric data were obtained using a Cyberware 3D whole body scanner. A second purpose of this paper is to present the 3D human scanning data as a tool that can help designers on decision making.

Keywords: 1D anthropometry, 3D anthropometry, applied anthropometry, product and work environment design

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0078-4618

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4618-4625, 2012

Authors: Zanuncio, Sharinna Venturim | Mafra, Simone Caldas Tavares | Antônio, Carlos Emílio Barbosa | Filho, Jugurta Lisboa | Vidigal Guimarães, Elza Maria | da Silva, Vania Eugênia | de Souza, Amaury Paulo | Minette, Luciano José

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The adequacy of facilities and the individual securities in their different age groups is importance to ensure greater functionality to them, allowing full development of daily activities. For this to occur more efficiently it is necessary the use of ergonomics which can ensure more comfort and safety for end users of products and spaces. The present study aimed to measure body dimensions of a representative sample of children aged 6 to 11 years old, children of graduate and pos graduate students, faculty and staff of the Federal University of Vicosa and also residents of the city of Vicosa, State of …Minas Gerais, Brazil, coming from different municipalities of State of Minas Gerais, to organize a database that will provide the furniture industry, anthropometric variables more appropriate to design products for both the leisure activities, and for the school sector. To realize this research we used the methodology proposed by the authors Panero and Zelnik, based on samples distributed in six age groups, and providing a measurement of 10 variables. By applying the methodology to the field was possible to compare the observed data, with the tables of the aforementioned authors. The main results revealed a significant variation of the 10 variables analyzed, and it is believed that this variation could lead to possible flaws in the designs of products that use the data from these authors. The completion of the study provided data on Vicosa considered more appropriate for the design of products and environments for the population of the study, considering age and region, of Brazil (State of Minas Gerais) and it is believed that the future may expand to the Brazilian population, with the progress of study of this nature. Show more

Keywords: Anthropometry, Ergonomics, Planning Interior Spaces, Quality of Life

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0757-4626

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4626-4632, 2012

Authors: Kaizer, A. | Ramos, F. | Ferro, E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Ergonomics and accessibility in banking has been the subject of numerous discussions, and in this work proposed by the partnership of companies and NR TN Mobile Work Safety and Occupational Medicine, aimed to analyze the service box and propose the development of a project to the teller accessible account of both the legal aspects regarding the factors inherent in banking, focusing primarily on the interface of the worker and the client user.

Keywords: Accessibility, Ergonomics, disabled, Box Bank

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0758-4633

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4633-4636, 2012

Authors: Castelhano, Joana | Lacomblez, Marianne | Santos, Marta | Valverde, Camilo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: An exploratory study was conducted about the initial training of the Public Security Police with the aim to understand the role of this initial training in the distinction between the work of men and women in the police force. This study is part of a broader study about the entry of women into typically male professions. After documental analysis and interviews to students, trainers and school board members, it was concluded that women face greater difficulties in the access to the profession. Moreover, female qualities like the capacity to dialogue are devalued. Nevertheless, women represent an important work tool for …the police force. The stigma of physical strength was also encountered and identified in the previous study conducted with elements of the police force. This fact leads us to believe that these stereotypes usually associated with women are defended by elements of the institution. Show more

Keywords: police, training, gender, professional path

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0759-4637

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4637-4641, 2012

Authors: Laberge, Marie | VéZina, Nicole | Saint-Charles, Johanne

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Women report fewer injuries than men when they are young, but report a higher proportion of professional diseases later in life (35 years +). Understanding early work conditions that lead to postponed health outcomes is necessary if we are to prevent women’s injury as well as men’s. Introduction to work and safe integration programs are often put forward to prevent injuries among youth. This paper aims to illustrate some differences in the job introduction / integration process for men and women and to discuss some gender-based Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) implications. Data come from two waves of interviews with …31 students enrolled in vocational training for a semiskilled trade. Results demonstrated differences between men and women: trades chosen, OHS complaints, supervising patterns, integration to work, etc. Women often choose customer service jobs, have less formal supervision and are often left to themselves when learning to do their job. Men declared more accidents while women reported more musculoskeletal symptoms. Findings from this research suggest young women’s OHS issues should not be trivialized and that specific youth prevention programs for sectors where women are more present, such as customer service, should be developed. Show more

Keywords: Gender differences, young workers, ergonomic approach, work socialization, occupational health and safety

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0102-4642

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4642-4649, 2012

Authors: Nogueira, SóNia | Lacomblez, Marianne | Santos, Marta | Cunha, Liliana | Castelhano, Joana

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Following a research carried out on the integration of women in professional areas predominantly for men, this paper intends to present and debate the project of a training course which aims the transformation of the organization of work schedules in order to improve the well-being of the workers involved. The conception of training courses with this type of objective involves the confrontation and debate between the “invested skills” of the trainers and the “constituted skills” of the trainees. But will this paradigm remain intact when applied to training courses permeated by the gender dimension? That is what one will try …to realize with the effective implementation of a training course, whose reflection will allow, ultimately, to enrich our understanding on gender, work, health and training. Show more

Keywords: Training, gender, motives, health, paradigms

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0103-4650

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4650-4652, 2012

Authors: Chatigny, CéLine | Riel, Jessica | Nadon, Livann

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Health and safety issues in a vocational training center were explored in this study. Several sources and methods were used: group interviews with students in traditionally female [F] and male [M] trades, i.e. hairdressing (7 F) and automated systems electromechanics (8 M, 1 F); self-administered questionnaires on injuries sustained at the school; observations of activities in these programs; and analysis of ministerial documents. Findings indicate that the partially divergent ways that OHS is addressed in these programs cannot be explained only by the specific characteristics of the two trades. Some aspects put female students in hairdressing at a disadvantage: status …accorded to OHS in the study programs, learning activities, and conditions for learning and managing prevention and injuries. The discussion focuses on a genderdifferentiated analysis, the importance of improving the way OHS is addressed in the programs, in particular, those primarily involving female students, and the need to pursue research. In addition, the results from individual interviews with women (5 F) training for non-traditional trades lead to discussion on the interrelated effects of sex-based gender and professional gender. Show more

Keywords: Gender, occupational health and safety, vocational training, students, ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0104-4653

Citation: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4653-4660, 2012