The development of a scenario-based human-machine-environment-procedure (HMEP) classification scheme for the root cause analysis of helicopter accidents.

The current study analyzed the root causes of 22 helicopter accidents/incidents that took place between 1998 and 2019. Each root cause was coded using three commonly used classification models in aviation HFACS, ATSB, and IATA to identify recurring factors for better targeting of future prevention strategies. The frequency analysis revealed that not following procedure (22 observations), training inadequate or unavailable (17), inadequate regulatory oversight (17), inadequate procedure guidance (16), company management absent or deficient (10) and incorrect manuals/charts/checklists (9) were the most frequent contributing factors.

Preference ranking test for different icon design formats for smart living room and bathroom functions.

The current study illustrates the icon design process for 20 functions for a smart living room and smart bathroom of a commercial smart building control system. For each function name, seven icon formats (image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, arbitrary, word, abbreviation, and combined) were developed by 30 graduate students and compared with a preference ranking test by another 13 executive MBA students. The results indicated that the combined, image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, word, and abbreviation each had nine, four, three, two, one and one function names ranked as the most preferred format, respectively.

Learning rate and subjective mental workload in five truck driving tasks.

Both learning curve models and subjective mental workload are useful tools for determining the length of training for new workers and predicting future task performance. An experiment was designed to collect the task completion times and subjective mental workload of five driving tasks including (a) reverse into garage, (b) 3-point turn, (c) parallel parking, (d) S-curve and (e) up-down-hill. The results indicated that task completion times of truck driving can be predicted with a learning curve.

Classification scheme and prevention measures for caught-in-between occupational fatalities.

The current study analyzed 312 caught-in-between fatalities caused by machinery and vehicles. A comprehensive and mutually exclusive coding scheme was developed to analyze and code each caught-in-between fatality in terms of age, gender, experience of the victim, type of industry, source of injury, and causes for these accidents. Boolean algebra analysis was applied on these 312 caught-in-between fatalities to derive minimal cut set (MCS) causes associated with each source of injury.

The perceived quality of in-vehicle auditory signals: a structural equation modelling approach.

The current study applied Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the relationship among pitch, loudness, tempo and timbre and their relationship with perceived sound quality. Twenty-eight auditory signals of horn, indicator, door open warning and parking sensor were collected from 11 car brands. Twenty-one experienced drivers were recruited to evaluate all sound signals with 11 semantic differential scales.

Psychophysical evaluation of auditory signals in passenger vehicles.

Twenty-one experienced drivers were recruited for the evaluation of sounds of four functions (horn, indicator, door open warning, and parking sensor) made by 11 car brand names. Each participant was required to evaluate all of the above sound signals by a pair-comparison test. After the comparison test, each participant was shown his/her pair-comparison result and was asked to comment on their preference and appropriateness of a sound.

Graphical fault tree analysis for fatal falls in the construction industry.

The current study applied a fault tree analysis to represent the causal relationships among events and causes that contributed to fatal falls in the construction industry. Four hundred and eleven work-related fatalities in the Taiwanese construction industry were analyzed in terms of age, gender, experience, falling site, falling height, company size, and the causes for each fatality. Given that most fatal accidents involve multiple events, the current study coded up to a maximum of three causes for each fall fatality.

The influence of cooling forearm/hand and gender on estimation of handgrip strength.

Unlabelled: Handgrip strength is essential in manual operations and activities of daily life, but the influence of forearm/hand skin temperature on estimation of handgrip strength is not well documented. Therefore, the present study intended to investigate the effect of local cooling of the forearm/hand on estimation of handgrip strength at various target force levels (TFLs, in percentage of MVC) for both genders. A cold pressor test was used to lower and maintain the hand skin temperature at 14°C for comparison with the uncooled condition.

Matching performance of vehicle icons in graphical and textual formats.

The current research classified 82 vehicle icons into seven categories (image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, arbitrary, abbreviation, word, and combined) for their matching accuracy, matching sequence, and matching time. These data can be compared and used as a framework for future icon development. Forty participants, all with a university degree, took part in this experiment.

Pruning a decision tree for selecting computer-related assistive devices for people with disabilities.

Many disabled individuals lack extensive knowledge about assistive technology, which could help them use computers. In 1997, Denis Anson developed a decision tree of 49 evaluative questions designed to evaluate the functional capabilities of the disabled user and choose an appropriate combination of assistive devices, from a selection of 26, that enable the individual to use a computer. In general, occupational therapists guide the disabled users through this process.

Flow diagram analysis of electrical fatalities in construction industry.

The current study reanalyzed 250 electrical fatalities in the construction industry from 1996 to 2002 into seven patterns based on source of electricity (power line, energized equipment, improperly installed or damaged equipment), direct contact or indirect contact through some source of injury (boom vehicle, metal bar or pipe, and other conductive material). Each fatality was coded in terms of age, company size, experience, performing tasks, source of injury, accident cause and hazard pattern. The Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was applied to the coded data of the fatal electrocution to find a subset of predictors that might derive meaningful classifications or accidents scenarios.

Hand and finger dexterity as a function of skin temperature, EMG, and ambient condition.

Objective: This article examines the changes in skin temperature (finger, hand, forearm), manual performance (hand dexterity and strength), and forearm surface electromyograph (EMG) through 40-min, 11 degrees C water cooling followed by 15-min, 34 degrees C water rewarming; additionally, it explores the relationship between dexterity and the factors of skin temperature, EMG, and ambient condition.

Background: Hand exposure in cold conditions is unavoidable and significantly affects manual performance.

Method: Two tasks requiring gross and fine dexterity were designed, namely, nut loosening and pin insertion, respectively.

Effects of using a screen filter on call center workers' visual fatigue measurement.

This study evaluated the potential effectiveness of screen filters in relieving visual fatigue. Critical flicker frequency (CFF), accommodation power, visual acuity, and subjective rating of visual fatigue were evaluated at four different stages: without screen filter, screen filter use of 2.5 mo.

Assessment of English letters' legibility using image descriptors.

The study derived seven descriptors from the pixel matrices of both the uppercase and lowercase forms of the 26 letters in the English alphabet in the regular and italic versions of the most commonly used font, Times New Roman. A factor analysis of the seven descriptors showed that a two-factor solution of letter width and height explained 76.6% of the variance.

An ergonomic evaluation of a call center performed by disabled agents.

Potential ergonomic hazards for 27 disabled call center agents engaged in computer-telephone interactive tasks were evaluated for possible associations between the task behaviors and work-related disorders. Data included task description, 300 samples of performance, a questionnaire on workstation design, body-part discomfort rating, perceived stress, potential job stressors, and direct measurement of environmental factors. Analysis indicated agents were frequently exposed to prolonged static sitting and repetitive movements, together with unsupported back and flexed neck, causing musculoskeletal discomforts.

The causal analysis of requested alterations for pressure garments.

The purpose of this study was to examine altered pressure garments requested by burn patients, in Taiwan. Three hundred forty-two pressure garments needing alterations were collected from 127 burn patients at the Sunshine Foundation Organization, an nonprofit organization for burn patients, between March and September 2007, to identify the major defects found in these pressure garments and their causes. Causes of required alterations were classified according to a hierarchical coding scheme focusing on poor fit, discomfort, component part, fabric and sewing, and cosmetics to identify systematic problems for each garment type.

Job compensable factors and factor weights derived from job analysis data.

Government data on 1,039 job titles in Taiwan were analyzed to assess possible relationships between job attributes and compensation. For each job title, 79 specific variables in six major classes (required education and experience, aptitude, interest, work temperament, physical demands, task environment) were coded to derive the statistical predictors of wage for managers, professionals, technical, clerical, service, farm, craft, operatives, and other workers. Of the 79 variables, only 23 significantly related to pay rate were subjected to a factor and multiple regression analysis for predicting monthly wages.

Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in massage practitioners.

Introduction: Massage practitioners are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). We investigated the prevalence and risk factors.

Methods: We randomly selected 161 visually impaired practitioners.

In-depth investigation of escalator riding accidents in heavy capacity MRT stations.

In 2000, the accident rate for escalator riding was about 0.815 accidents per million passenger trips through Taipei Metro Rapid Transit (MRT) heavy capacity stations. In order to reduce the probability and severity of escalator riding accidents and enhance the safety of passengers, the Drury and Brill model [Drury, C.

Accident patterns and prevention measures for fatal occupational falls in the construction industry.

Contributing factors to 621 occupational fatal falls have been identified with respect to the victim's individual factors, the fall site, company size, and cause of fall. Individual factors included age, gender, experience, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Accident scenarios were derived from accident reports.

Applying image descriptors to the assessment of legibility in Chinese characters.

The current study derived seven descriptors from the pixel matrix of 5401 Chinese characters in the commonly used Ming, Kai, Li, and Hei fonts. A factor analysis was used to reduce the number of descriptors for a validation experiment. The three-factor solution (number of strokes, character height, and character width) explaining 89.