A Continuous Improvement Instrument for the evaluationof the ergonomics management system in the supply chain.

Nowadays, organizations must comply with high-quality standards, health and safety regulations, and socially sustainable practices to succeed in a globalized world. Supply Chains (SC) enable them to satisfy their customers' needs for quality products just in time and at the best price. However, management systems (MS) need to be improved to identify, evaluate, and control ergonomic risks, which opens a research opportunity for Ergonomics Management Systems (EMS) as they apply to sustainable SCs.

Comparing workload and performance during demanding push force and mental tasks.

Background: The effects of performing occupational tasks that demand physical and mental efforts in combined and simultaneous approaches are unknown, especially when pushing force is analyzed as a physical effort and solving arithmetic problems as a mental effort.

Objective: In this study, physical and mental demands were simulated in a lab environment to assess the workload.

Methods: Using a push force dynamometer, the maximum push force strength of each participant was recorded, and the physical demand was simulated exerting the push force in low, medium, and high levels.

Improving Working Conditions Using the Ergonomic Checkpoints Tool: Application in a Colombian Meat Processing Plant.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSIntegrating ergonomics (or human factors) in production and service processes is a topic of interest for ergonomics researchers and practitioners, especially in industrially-developing countries. In this paper, we present how an ergonomic intervention was carried out in an area of a Colombian meat processing plant using the Ergonomics Checkpoints tool. Of 65 checkpoints verified, 24 required improvement action and 17 of them were a priority.

Integration of human factors/ergonomics in healthcare systems: A giant leap in safety as a key strategy during Covid-19.

In this article, we present a model for integrating Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE) into healthcare systems to make them more robust and resilient. We believe that to increase the impact of HFE during and after the Covid-19 pandemic this integration should be carried out simultaneously at all levels (micro, meso, and macro) of the healthcare system. This new model recognizes the interrelationship between HFE and other system characteristics such as capacity, coverage, robustness, integrity, and resilience.

Frontiers in human factors: integrating human factors and ergonomics to improve safety and quality in Latin American healthcare systems.

Background: The importance of human factors/ergonomics (HFE) is well established in all high-reliability systems but only applied in the healthcare sector relatively recently. Across many sectors, low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) lag behind more economically developed countries in their application of this safety science, due to resource and, in some cases, awareness and expertise. Most previous applications of HFE related to occupational ergonomics rather than healthcare safety.

A method for non-experts in assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders--ERIN.

A practical method for non-experts in assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) is presented. Evaluación del Riesgo Individual (Individual Risk Assessment) (ERIN) is based on available ergonomic tools, epidemiological evidence and the joint IEA-WHO project for developing WMSDs risk management in developing countries. ERIN focuses primarily on the interaction of some physical workplace factors but also includes the workers' assessment.

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.

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.