Human factors, ergonomics, and safety
Md Sumon Rahman; Jiro Sakamoto
Abstract
Construction trades are considered to be at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) due to their nature. Previous reviews have addressed various risk factors for developing WRMSDs among construction workers. In contrast, the results appear insufficient because proper evidence was ...
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Construction trades are considered to be at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) due to their nature. Previous reviews have addressed various risk factors for developing WRMSDs among construction workers. In contrast, the results appear insufficient because proper evidence was not reported. Therefore, the purpose of this current review was to summarize the occurrence rates of WRMSDs and quantify the relationships between various risk factors and WRMSDs among construction workers. Literature searches were conducted through the following electronic databases from 2000 to 2022: Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Medline. Selected articles were classified as strong, moderate, limited, and no effect, respectively, based on their association with WRMSDs. From the selected 66 articles, the highest occurrence rates of WRMSDs were found in construction workers (ranging from 33% to 89%). There were various significant risk factors for developing WRMSDs in construction workers, including age, working experiences, awkward working postures, vibration, repetitive body movement, manual material handling, biomechanical stress, and physical fatigue. Although most of the study was conducted through a cross-sectional survey to find out the relationships between risk factors and WRMSDs in construction workers. To determine the insights on risk factors and WRMSDs among construction workers, experimental, longitudinal, and real-time task-based studies can be conducted. This study may be helpful to improve awareness about risk factors for developing WRMSDs among construction workers.
Human factors, ergonomics, and safety
Dipon Roy; Sohyung Cho; Goksu Avdan
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to develop a framework utilizing the Constant Returns to Scale (CCR) model of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate the performance of workers and ergonomic risk and identify their postural models from efficient frontiers. Surface Electromyography (EMG) data and upper ...
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The purpose of the study was to develop a framework utilizing the Constant Returns to Scale (CCR) model of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate the performance of workers and ergonomic risk and identify their postural models from efficient frontiers. Surface Electromyography (EMG) data and upper limb joint angle data were collected from volunteers (Decision-Making Units (DMUs) to carry out the DEA analysis. The data was collected for both maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) and simple dynamic exercises. The DEA analysis was performed in several phases, including problem formulation and Single-Input-Multiple-Output (SIMO) model analysis. The study used muscle activation levels and upper limb joint angles to evaluate the ergonomic risks and performance of workers and identify role models for typical workers to follow. The study found that incorporating kinematics and EMG data into the DEA model's CCR framework identified efficient frontiers for workers who exhibit less muscle activation and use optimal arm angles while performing their work. The study also showed that workers can learn from their role models who exhibit efficient techniques, including the appropriate arm angle for performing a particular task, to improve their own efficiency. By following these superior work procedures, workers can increase their efficiency, reduce the risk of musculoskeletal problems, and enhance their output. The study concluded that the DEA framework utilizing the CCR model, combined with kinematics and EMG data, can assist in determining the performance of workers and best practices for workers to improve their performance and reduce ergonomic risk.
Human factors, ergonomics, and safety
Silas Oseme Okuma; Akpofure Avwerosuoghene Enughwure
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate the safety of inland waterway transportation in Kurutie, Okerenkoko, and Escravos River, Nigeria. The study used a cross-sectional research design, and the study's target group includes passengers who are technical experts, maritime workers, non-academic, ...
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The purpose of this research is to investigate the safety of inland waterway transportation in Kurutie, Okerenkoko, and Escravos River, Nigeria. The study used a cross-sectional research design, and the study's target group includes passengers who are technical experts, maritime workers, non-academic, academic personnel's and students of Nigeria Maritime University, and self-employed passengers who live in the study locations. Questionnaires and field observations were used to obtain data. 378 questionnaires were delivered throughout the study area. According to the study, most cases of maritime boat mishaps beleaguered the inland waterway in the study area due to unskilled boat drivers, overloading/overcrowding of boats, and a lack of enforcement of safety laws by government agencies within the study area. The study recommended that relevant authorities, such as the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, enforce safety regulations among jetty operators and boat drivers; that training and certifying boat drivers are enforced; and that government involvement be increased by developing a sensitization program to educate passengers on the importance of adhering to safety practices along the waterways.
Human factors, ergonomics, and safety
Yousef Ravanpeykar; Afsaneh Zamani Moghadam; Seyyed Abdollah Sajadi Jaghargh; Seyyed Ahmad Hashemi; Zeynol Abedin Amini Sabegh
Abstract
The pathology of a competency-based human resource management system results in the managers developing appropriate schedules for employee growth and excellence to gain a competitive advantage. The present study is meant to be an applied study of a descriptive exploratory nature. Information and data ...
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The pathology of a competency-based human resource management system results in the managers developing appropriate schedules for employee growth and excellence to gain a competitive advantage. The present study is meant to be an applied study of a descriptive exploratory nature. Information and data gathering involves library and field research making use of interviews and questionnaires. The statistical population of this study is comprised of experts including 10 human resource managers and chief officers, selected using a targeted method. The components were determined and analyzed using the experts' opinions and the Delphi method; furthermore, by implementing the importance-performance analysis, low-performance but high-importance components were categorized in 6 groups of "Human Resource Supply System", "Human Resource Training and Development System", "Human Resource Retention System", "Human Resource Labor Relations System", "Human Resource Performance Management System", "Human Resource Reward System". Moreover, to rectify the problems, the Fuzzy DEMATEL method was implemented with the results showing the "Human Resource Supply System" problem to be the most effective, eventually leading to the problem of "Human Resource Performance Management System", is the most affected. Managers can reach a desirable human resource management system by identifying individuals of professional competence to compete in a dynamic economy.
Human factors, ergonomics, and safety
S. V. S. Raja Prasad
Abstract
Safety audit is a system for evaluating the adherence of an occupational safety and health plan to fulfill statutory requirements with prior planning. Safety audit planning is the predetermining activity of what, how, where, when and by whom the audit will be carried out to achieve its objective. Safety ...
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Safety audit is a system for evaluating the adherence of an occupational safety and health plan to fulfill statutory requirements with prior planning. Safety audit planning is the predetermining activity of what, how, where, when and by whom the audit will be carried out to achieve its objective. Safety audit planning is a complex process and an anticipatory function which will provide audit activity on time with the least audit risk and cost by assigning the auditors with the required ability and skill level to the activities to be audited. In general, the safety audit planning is based on the professional judgment of a lead auditor by considering the qualitative characteristics of the auditors. However, the audit planning is possible by framing a mathematical model with an assumption that the auditors possess similar characteristics. The objective of the study is to optimize the safety audit planning by allocating auditors to activities using a linear programming model so as to minimize the audit cost; which is not possible with statistical tools. The study was conducted in an integrated cement plant located in India and the results of the study show that the number of hours and the activity of the auditors was specified with a minimum cost. Similar studies can be conducted to optimize time and cost of safety audit for industrial units involving more number of activities with large batch size of auditors by planning the audit process in advance.
