Evaluation of Fatigue and Workload among Workers Conducting Complex Manual Assembly in Manufacturing.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSWe conducted a study to evaluate fatigue and workload among workers performing complex assembly tasks. We investigate several predictors of fatigue, including subjective workload estimates, sleep duration, the shift being worked, and production levels. High levels of fatigue were reported in one-third of the shifts evaluated.

The discipline of ergonomics in Cuba within the occupational health framework: background and trends.

The concept of ergonomics was introduced in Cuba at the beginning of the 1970s. More than 40 years later, the prevailing approach to workers' health is still generally reactive rather than proactive, despite the commitment of the government to the subject. A factor influencing this issue is, generally, lack of recognition of the benefits of establishing ergonomic principles within most occupational activities.

Evaluation and redesign of manual material handling in a vaccine production centre's warehouse.

This study was conducted in a warehouse at a vaccine production centre where improvement to existing storage and working conditions were sought through the construction of a new refrigerated store section (2-8C°). Warehousing tasks were videotaped and ergonomics analysis tools were used to assess the risk of developing MSDs. Specifically, these tools were the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and the NIOSH equation.

Preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Cuba, an industrially developing country.

Objectives: This paper briefly describes the history of ergonomics in Cuba and also presents some ergonomic interventions carried out in major economic sectors, focused on reducing musculoskeletal risk factors.

Methods: Five studies concerning musculoskeletal risk factors were reviewed comparing the results of various ergonomic tools. Cuban legislation related to occupational health as well as statistics available on musculoskeletal disorders were examined.