Examining human factors and ergonomics aspects in a manufacturing organisation's metrics system: measuring up to stakeholder needs.

This research examines the status of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) metrics in the case context of product realisation in an electronics manufacturing company. Interactions with 100+ stakeholders over a five year period were thematically analysed for metrics-related views and content. A disconnect between engineering metrics and HF/E metrics was evident.

Assessing human factors and ergonomics capability in organisations - the Human Factors Integration Toolset.

This paper presents the development of a tool that allows an organisation to assess its level of human factors (HF) and ergonomics integration and maturity within the organisation. The Human Factors Integration Toolset (available at: https://www.researchgate.

Design for human factors (DfHF): a grounded theory for integrating human factors into production design processes.

The 'design for human factors' grounded theory explains 'how' human factors (HF) went from a reactive, after-injury programme in safety, to being proactively integrated into each step of the production design process. In this longitudinal case study collaboration with engineers and HF Specialists in a large electronics manufacturer, qualitative data (e.g.

"Employment and arthritis: making it work" a randomized controlled trial evaluating an online program to help people with inflammatory arthritis maintain employment (study protocol).

Background: Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions are the leading cause of long-term work disability (WD), an outcome with a major impact on quality of life and a high cost to society. The importance of decreased at-work productivity has also recently been recognized. Despite the importance of these problems, few interventions have been developed to reduce the impact of arthritis on employment.

An ergonomics action research demonstration: integrating human factors into assembly design processes.

Unlabelled: In action research (AR), the researcher participates 'in' the actions in an organisation, while simultaneously reflecting 'on' the actions to promote learning for both the organisation and the researchers. This paper demonstrates a longitudinal AR collaboration with an electronics manufacturing firm where the goal was to improve the organisation's ability to integrate human factors (HF) proactively into their design processes. During the three-year collaboration, all meetings, workshops, interviews and reflections were digitally recorded and qualitatively analysed to inform new 'actions'.

Ergonomics action research II: a framework for integrating HF into work system design.

Unlabelled: This paper presents a conceptual framework that can support efforts to integrate human factors (HF) into the work system design process, where improved and cost-effective application of HF is possible. The framework advocates strategies of broad stakeholder participation, linking of performance and health goals, and process focussed change tools that can help practitioners engage in improvements to embed HF into a firm's work system design process. Recommended tools include business process mapping of the design process, implementing design criteria, using cognitive mapping to connect to managers' strategic goals, tactical use of training and adopting virtual HF (VHF) tools to support the integration effort.

Assessing whole body vibration exposure for use in epidemiological studies of back injuries: measurements, observations and self-reports.

Unlabelled: Improved assessment of whole body vibration exposure is needed for epidemiological studies investigating the causes of low back disorders. Vibration was measured on 54 worker-days in five heavy industries, with data collected on observed and self-reported driving conditions, demographics, and vehicle characteristics. Variables significant at p < 0.

Linking human factors to corporate strategy with cognitive mapping techniques.

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.

Injury risk associated with physical demands and school environment characteristics among a cohort of custodial workers.

Few epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between work exposures and injury risk among custodians. The relationship between injury risk and occupational physical demands (e.g.

Process and implementation of participatory ergonomic interventions: a systematic review.

Participatory ergonomic (PE) interventions may vary in implementation. A systematic review was done to determine the evidence regarding context, barriers and facilitators to the implementation of participatory ergonomic interventions in workplaces. In total, 17 electronic databases were searched.

Back injury trajectories in heavy industries: defining outcomes for epidemiological research.

Objective: To propose an incidence definition of back injury for epidemiologic studies using health care contacts.

Methods: Medical services, hospitalizations, and workers' compensation data were linked for a longitudinal database of health care contacts among a cohort of heavy-industry workers for trajectory, group-based analysis.

Results: During follow-up, 25.

Using observation and self-report to predict mean, 90th percentile, and cumulative low back muscle activity in heavy industry workers.

Occupational injury research depends on the ability to accurately assess workplace exposures for large numbers of workers. This study used mixed modeling to identify observed and self-reported predictors of mean, 90th percentile, and cumulative low back muscle activity to help researchers efficiently assess physical exposures in epidemiological studies. Full-shift low back electromyography (EMG) was measured for 133 worker-days in heavy industry.

Assessing attitudes, beliefs and readiness for musculoskeletal injury prevention in the construction industry.

The objectives are to determine attitudes and beliefs among construction workers and supervisors related to taking action to reduce musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs). "Action" stage of change was confirmed if workers in the last 6 months are continuing to take steps to reduce MSIs. Surveys (520 workers; 35% and 171 supervisors; 67%) revealed that more workers are concerned about MSIs (p<0.

Measuring posture for epidemiology: comparing inclinometry, observations and self-reports.

The objective of this study was to use and evaluate three postural assessment methods for epidemiological studies of back disorders. The methods were: (1) a data-logging inclinometer; (2) observations by trained observers; (3) self-reports by employees. All methods were feasible in 50 heavy industry worksites.

Quantifying tasks, ergonomic exposures and injury rates among school custodial workers.

A job exposure matrix of ergonomics risk factors was constructed for school custodial workers in one large school district in the province of British Columbia using 100 h of 1-min fixed-interval observations, participatory worker consensus on task durations and existing employment and school characteristic data. Significant differences in ergonomics risk factors were found by tasks and occupations. Cleaning and moving furniture, handling garbage, cleaning washrooms and cleaning floors were associated with the most physical risks and the exposure was often higher during the summer vs.

Evaluation of selected ergonomic assessment tools for use in providing job accommodation for people with inflammatory arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis (IA) is a leading cause of work disability, especially for those with jobs involving repetitive, hand-intensive or manual work. Ergonomic interventions may mediate against job loss. Our objective was to identify desirable features of an ergonomic tool for use in providing job accommodation for people with IA, and to evaluate a selection of ergonomic and rehabilitation tools against these features.

Development and evaluation of an observational Back-Exposure Sampling Tool (Back-EST) for work-related back injury risk factors.

We developed and evaluated an observational Back-Exposure Sampling Tool. A literature review suggested 53 exposure variables; these were reduced to 20 following field trials. Kappas for agreement beyond chance between six observers assessing exposures in 72 photos ranged from 0.

The Ergonomic Assessment Tool for Arthritis: development and pilot testing.

Objective: Ergonomic assessment and recommendations may help people with arthritis maintain employment; however, most ergonomic tools are designed to assess injury risk in the general population and are not specific to the needs of people with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Our objectives were to design and pilot test an ergonomic assessment tool for people with IA and to propose ergonomic modifications to prevent work loss and maintain at-work productivity.

Methods: Relevant content was identified in a literature review by an interdisciplinary team.

How long is long enough? Evaluating sampling durations for low back EMG assessment.

Few ergonomic measurement tools explicitly state when and how to sample exposures. Traditional ergonomic sampling has used short, task-based or worst-case measurements, but these may misrepresent exposures, since they neglect the temporal variations throughout the workday. Understanding the representativeness of data from shorter measurement durations compared with full-shift measurements allows for optimization of measurements resources.

Measuring low back injury risk factors in challenging work environments: an evaluation of cost and feasibility.

Background: Measuring low back injury risk factors in field research presents challenges not encountered in laboratory environments.

Methods: We compared the practical application of five measurement methods (observations, interviews, electromyography (EMG), inclinometry, and vibration monitoring) for 223 worker days in 50 heavy-industry worksites in western Canada. Data collection successes, challenges, costs, and data detail were documented for each method.

Work organization and musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of health care workers.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between work-organization factors (job control, job demands, and workload measures) and the risk of lower-body musculoskeletal injury among health care workers.

Methods: A four-year, retrospective cohort study of 3769 health care workers was carried out in one acute care hospital in the Canadian province of British Columbia. A job-exposure matrix was constructed for the work-organization factors from survey and administrative data and assigned to workers on the basis of their occupation and department of employment.

Electromyography as a measure of peak and cumulative workload in intermediate care and its relationship to musculoskeletal injury: an exploratory ergonomic study.

Injury rates in Intermediate Care (IC) facilities are high and the factors related to these injuries are unclear. The objectives of this exploratory sub-study, which is part of a large multi-faceted study in 8 IC facilities are to: (1) evaluate EMG measured over a full-shift in the back and shoulders of 32 care aides (CAs) as an indicator of peak and cumulative workload (n = 4 x 8 facilities); investigate the relationship between EMG measures and injury indicators; and explore the relationship between EMG measures and other workload measurements. Lumbar EMG was converted to predicted cumulative spinal compression and ranged in CAs from 11.

Workload as a determinant of staff injury in intermediate care.

Care aides (CAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in intermediate care (IC) facilities experience high risks of injury. Workload measures were examined in eight IC facilities to ascertain their relationships with musculoskeletal injury rates, pain, burnout, and self-reported health. Workload was measured using (1) focus groups and telephone interviews to obtain CA/LPN perceptions; (2) systematic observation (numbers of tasks performed in shift); and (3) CA-to-resident staffing ratios.

Factors associated with staff injuries in intermediate care facilities in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Large variations in staff injury rates across intermediate care facilities suggest that injuries may be driven by facility-specific work environment factors.

Objectives: To identify work organization, psychosocial, and biomechanical factors associated with staff injuries in intermediate care facilities, to pinpoint management practices that may contribute to lower staff injuries, and to generate a provisional conceptual framework of work organization characteristics.

Methods: Four representative intermediate care facilities with high staff injury rates and four facilities with comparable low staff injury rates were selected from Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) databases.

Biomechanical comparison of carpet-stretching devices.

Peak impact forces, measured from seven male carpetlayers using a knee-kicker over 39 trials were 2933 N (SD 397), taking 9.5 ms (SD +/- 1.1) to reach peak.