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Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 14986

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paula Machado De Sousa Carneiro

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Guest Editor

ALGORITMI Centre, Production and Systems Department, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: occupational ergonomics; occupational safety and health; human factors

Dr. Ana Sofia de Pinho Colim

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Guest Editor

1. ALGORITMI Centre, School of Engineering, Production and Systems Department, University of Minho, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal
2. DTx Digital Transformation Colab, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biomechanics; applied ergonomics; occupational safety and hygiene; human-centric design
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, society and organizations have experienced numerous transformations caused by scientific and technological advancements and by the growing concern with worldwide sustainability. Emerging concepts and technologies, such as human–robot collaboration (HRC), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), cyber-physical systems (CPSs), the Internet of Things (IoT) and nanotechnology, will constitute the future working systems. These provide more efficient, more flexible, and higher-quality products, but they also require the reorganization of work, with a potential negative impact on workers’ health and safety.

In parallel, the aging and eventual physical and cognitive limitations of workers may cause occupational health problems (e.g., work-related musculoskeletal disorders), for which conventional workplaces and technologies are not always adequate. Therefore, it is crucial to create customizable human-centric workplaces tailoring to workers’ characteristics and their possible health limitations.

These issues emphasize the need for technology to be advanced, together with human involvement and empowerment. In the future, successful working systems will only be possible if the socio-technical systems are properly aligned with human factors.

Safety and human well-being are the main challenges in this context, and in-depth research is still required, mainly in occupational environments, to test and validate the implementation of these novel technologies.

This Special Issue aims to address possible occupational health problems and occupational risk using techniques developed in the fields of human–machine interaction, ergonomics and health.

Dr. Paula Machado De Sousa Carneiro
Dr. Ana Sofia de Pinho Colim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biomechanics
human factors and ergonomics
human–machine interaction
aging workforce
exoskeletons
collaborative robotics
virtual/augmented reality
risk assessment
risk perception
occupational safety and health

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Musculoskeletal Complaints in a Needle Manufacturing Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Paulo C. Anacleto Filho, Ana Cristina Braga and Paula Carneiro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080996 - 29 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1784

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) encompass a variety of conditions affecting muscles, joints, and nerves. In Portugal, MSDs are the most prevalent occupational health problem in companies. Based on the relevance of work-related MSD (WMSD), this study aims to assess the prevalence of MSD complaints in a needle manufacturing industry in Northern Portugal, following a cross-sectional approach. Thus, 526 workers from five departments (i.e., operator, tuning, maintenance, administration, and logistics) answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Within the last 12 months, females exhibited a higher frequency of complaints than males across all body parts except for ankles/feet. The body parts eliciting the most percentage of complaints for both genders include the lower back (54.2%), neck (42.2%), shoulders (39.0%), ankles/feet (38.2%), and wrists/hands (35.7%). No significant association was found between Body Mass Index (BMI) and body part complaints. Tuners reported the highest complaint rate, with occupations as substantial predictors of complaints in certain body parts. Likewise, complaints tend to increase with age. The findings advocate for ergonomic interventions that are gender-, age-, and job-sensitive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health)

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21 pages, 650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perspectives and Experiences of Public Safety Personnel Engaged in a Peer-Led Workplace Reintegration Program Post Critical Incident or Operational Stress Injury: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

by Chelsea Jones, Shaylee Spencer, Elly O’Greysik, Lorraine Smith-MacDonald, Katherine S. Bright, Amy J. Beck, R. Nicholas Carleton, Lisa Burback, Andrew Greenshaw, Yanbo Zhang, Phillip R. Sevigny, Jake Hayward, Bo Cao and Suzette Brémault-Phillips

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070949 - 19 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1905

Abstract

Introduction: Public safety personnel (PSP) experience operational stress injuries (OSIs), which can put them at increased risk of experiencing mental health and functional challenges. Such challenges can result in PSP needing to take time away from the workplace. An unsuccessful workplace reintegration process may contribute to further personal challenges for PSP and their families as well as staffing shortages that adversely affect PSP organizations. The Canadian Workplace Reintegration Program (RP) has seen a global scale and spread in recent years. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based literature on this topic and the RP specifically. The current qualitative study was designed to explore the perspectives of PSP who had engaged in a Workplace RP due to experiencing a potentially psychologically injurious event or OSI. Methods: A qualitative thematic analysis analyzed interview data from 26 PSP who completed the RP. The researchers identified five themes: (1) the impact of stigma on service engagement; (2) the importance of short-term critical incident (STCI) program; (3) strengths of RP; (4) barriers and areas of improvement for the RP; and (5) support outside the RP. Discussion: Preliminary results were favorable, but further research is needed to address the effectiveness, efficacy, and utility of the RP. Conclusion: By addressing workplace reintegration through innovation and research, future initiatives and RP iterations can provide the best possible service and support to PSP and their communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health)

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23 pages, 2129 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ergonomics, Health, and Perceptions about Remote Domestic Workposts: Study in Areas of City of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

by Luiz Bueno Silva, Carmem Julianne Beserra Melo, Adriana Gomes Lisboa de Souza and Lucas Guedes de Oliveira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070941 - 19 Jul 2024

Viewed by 2397

Abstract

Home office (HO) stands out as one of the most promising and popular forms of teleworking, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, many companies want to implement or maintain this working method, given its numerous advantages. However, there are adverse effects that are mainly related to physical and mental health. This article presents ergonomic analyses of HOs in neighborhoods considered heat islands. Temperature levels, extreme low-frequency non-ionizing radiation (ELF-NIR), illuminance, physical layout characteristics, and physiological parameters of teleworkers were measured. The results reveal that 92% of these professionals work 6 to 8 h daily with an ambient temperature between 25 and 30 °C, illumination levels in the range 11.20–290 Lux, and ELF-NIR > 0.4 µT. The majority of teleworkers are overweight (BMI > 24.9), and some of them have blood pressure higher than average values (129 mmHg for systolic and 84 mmHg for diastolic) in addition to a reduction in the number of red blood cells and hematocrits. Symptoms such as burning sensation, dryness, tired eyes, redness, itching, and photophobia (light sensitivity) show a 68.95% similarity. These HOs do not meet the required ergonomic and health standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health)

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13 pages, 1471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Rodrick Adams and Valentina Nino

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070876 - 4 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2899

Abstract

The perception of work is closely linked to body reactions that facilitate task performance. Previous studies have shown that psychosocial work factors significantly impact employee health on both psychological and physical levels, though their cross-sectional designs limit causal interpretations. In this study, participants performed sitting and standing tasks under four different levels of mental workload. The NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) assessed mental workload perception across six dimensions, while Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scores evaluated body postures for standing and sitting tasks, respectively. This study examined the effects of alarms, distractions, and time constraints—common psychosocial factors in healthcare environments—on human behavior. We compared NASA-TLX scores with corresponding REBA/RULA scores to evaluate how perceived mental workload affects body postures. One-way ANOVA assessed the impact of experimental conditions on response variables, and Pearson correlation analyses explored the relationships between psychosocial factors and these variables. Results indicated that alarm conditions most negatively impacted mental workload perception and body postures. Temporal demand and effort scores were particularly affected by psychosocial factors in both tasks. Gender influenced physical demand and performance scores (higher in females) for the standing task but did not affect REBA and RULA scores. These findings suggest that organizational and psychosocial factors significantly influence healthcare workers’ behavior, health, and patient safety. Further research is needed to evaluate the specific effects of psychosocial factors on both physical and mental workload to understand the relationship between overall task workload and occupational disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health)

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22 pages, 28309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Case Study of Ergonomic Risk Assessment in Slovakia with Respect to EU Standard

by Daniela Onofrejova, Miriam Andrejiova, Denisa Porubcanova, Hana Pacaiova and Lydia Sobotova

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060666 - 23 May 2024

Viewed by 1568

Abstract

Attention on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) involves statistical surveys showing an increasing trend in the incidence of WMSDs. Technological development has led to new tools and methods for the assessment of physical load at work. These methods are mostly based on the direct sensing of appropriate parameters, which allows more precise quantification. The aim of this paper is to compare several commonly used methods in Slovakia for the assessment of ergonomic risk reflecting current EU and Slovak legislative regulations. A Captiv wireless sensory system was used at a car headlight quality control assembly workplace for sensing, data acquisition and data processing. During the evaluation of postures and movements at work, we discovered differences in the applicable standards: Decree 542/2007 Coll. (Slovak Legislation), the STN EN 1005-4+A1, and the French standards default in the Captiv system. Standards define the thresholds for hazardous postures with significant differences in several evaluated body segments, which affects the final evaluation of the measurements. Our experience from applying improved risk assessment methodology may have an impact on Slovak industrial workplaces. It was confirmed that there is a need to create uniform standards for the ergonomic risk assessment of body posture, including a detailed description of the threshold values for individual body segments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health)

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12 pages, 351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Disclosing Strain: How Psychosocial Risk Factors Influence Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Healthcare Workers Preceding and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Carla Barros and Pilar Baylina

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050564 - 29 Apr 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2816

Abstract

Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, engage in a daily work routine that takes a toll on their emotional well-being, rendering them vulnerable to psychosocial risk factors. This research seeks to analyse the influence of psychosocial risk factors on the occurrence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses. An additional analysis was performed to understand the role of age in work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the perception of psychosocial risk factors. The study was conducted during two separate periods—pre-pandemic and pandemic times—involving a sample of 456 nurses from both public and private hospitals in Portugal. The INSAT—Health and Work Survey—was used as measuring instrument. The primary observations indicated a consistency between psychosocial risk factors and the occurrence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The findings revealed a significant exposure to psychosocial risk factors, with work pace, intensity, work relationships, and emotional demands exhibiting higher global average percentages during both periods, pre-pandemic and pandemic. Nonetheless, we find that the psychosocial risk factors change when we analyse the pre-pandemic and pandemic results. During the period before the pandemic, the psychosocial risk factors that were most commonly reported included the demanding pace of work, long working hours, and emotional demands. Through the pandemic, the most pronounced psychosocial risk factors were work relationships, employment relationships, and ethical and values conflicts. Therefore, research in this domain is essential to understanding psychosocial risk factors and assessing the less obvious links between work and health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics, Human Factors and Safety for Occupational Health)

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