| 1. |
- Neumann, W. Patrick, et al.
(författare)
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Innovation and employee injury risk in automotive disassembly operations
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Production Research. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0020-7543 .- 1366-588X. ; 56:9, s. 3188-3203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Engineering innovations in car disassembly systems are studied for affects on system operators’ risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI). Objective instrumented measures of injury risk factors with synchronized video-based task analyses were used to examine changes in operators’ RSI risk during two cases of engineering innovation: 1) a shift in industrial model from traditional extracting saleable parts to line-based full material recovery, and 2) the prospective effects of a simulated “Lean” inspired process improvement in the line system.Both cases of innovation showed significantly increased movement speeds and reduced muscular recovery opportunities, implying increased RSI risk. This case study reveals a mechanism by which innovation may increase RSI risks for operators. Managers responsible for engineering innovation should ensure their teams have the tools and mandate necessary to control injury hazards as part of the development and design process. These cases suggest how failure to manage RSI hazards in the innovation process may allow increases of injury risks that can compromise operational performance. This “innovation pitfall” has implications for operator health and organizational sustainability. Alternative pathways are discussed.
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| 2. |
- Jonker, Dirk, et al.
(författare)
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Rationalisation in public dental care - impact on clinical work tasks and mechanical exposure for dentists - a prospective study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 56:2, s. 303-313
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Swedish dentistry has been exposed to frequent rationalisation initiatives during the last half century. Previous research has shown that rationalisation often results in increased risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, thus reducing sustainability in the production system. In this prospective study, we assessed mechanical exposures among Swedish dentists in relation to specific rationalisations of clinical dental work during a six-year period. Body postures and movements of 12 dentists were assessed by inclinometry synchronised to video recordings of their work. No rationalisation effects could be shown in terms of a reduction in non-value-adding work (waste'), and at job level, no major differences in mechanical exposure could be shown between baseline and follow-up. Conclusion: The present rationalisation measures in dentistry do not seem to result in rationalisation at job level, but may potentially be more successful at the overall dental system level. Practitioner summary: In contrast to many previous investigations of the mechanical exposure implications of rationalisation, the present rationalisation measures did not increase the level of risk for dentists. It is highlighted that all occupations involved in the production system should be investigated to assess production system sustainability.
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| 3. |
- Rolander, Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Working conditions, health and productivity among dentists in Swedish public dental care - a prospective study during a 5-year period of rationalisation
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 56:9, s. 1376-1386
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent decades, comprehensive rationalisations have been implemented in public dentistry in Sweden. How rationalisations affect working conditions, health and production from a long-term perspective has been poorly investigated. This study aims to analyse changes and associations in dentists' working conditions, health and productivity during a 5-year period. In 2003 and 2008, 65 dentists responded to questionnaires measuring work conditions and health. Treatment times for patients and productivity were tracked in electronic registers. Paired t-tests showed that the number of treated adult patients per dentist increased, and perceived physical working conditions improved while perceived work control and leadership deteriorated. Structural equation modelling showed that physical factors were important for health and productivity. When assessing risks in the work environment, there is a need to understand the interaction of effects on working conditions and health due to rationalisations so as to increase the sustainability of production systems. Practioner Summary: Dentistry in Sweden has undergone considerable change. Questionnaire surveys with dentists, undertaken in 2003 and 2008, found that the present rationalisations resulted in improved perceived physical working conditions. Aspects of the psychosocial working environment had deteriorated, however. This is a concern as health and workability are important for workplace efficiency.
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| 4. |
- Winkel, Jörgen, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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The NOVO network: A Research and Development Platform with the Vision of a Nordic Model for Sustainable Systems in Health Care
- 2021
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Ingår i: Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies. - : University of Minnesota. - 2380-8969. ; 8:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Musculoskeletal and psychological/mental disorders are major causes of sick leave, threatening the welfare of individuals and the economics of companies and societies. The prevailing research and development (R&D) of ergonomic interventions show minimal long-term effects on health and wellbeing while interventions to improve production seem to have a dominant negative effect, particularly in the health-care sector. Scientific evidence suggests that improved partnership is needed between stakeholders with different and often opposing aims, i.e., organizational productivity vs. worker wellbeing. In 2006 a Nordic R&D network, the NOVO Network, was established highlighting the need for a new approach, integrating work environment and production needs in intervention R&D. Our hypothesis is that such an integration is more readily established in the Nordic countries, largely due to their leading positions in the world in terms of social capital. Through annual symposia and other activities, the NOVO Network brings together scholars and practitioners to share knowledge and experience and to suggest and develop new areas of collaboration towards increased organizational sustainability in health care. A multicenter study conducted within the framework of the NOVO network resulted in a new, practical tool. This tool aims to facilitate partnership instead of the prevalent domination orientation, thereby combining consideration of work environment and production needs. Based on our experiences so far, this article highlights some key future challenges. As a result, we hope to see development of a stronger Nordic R&D tradition towards increased organizational sustainability in health care.
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| 5. |
- Winkel, Jörgen, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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Scientific evidence suggests a changed approach in ergonomic intervention research
- 2017
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Ingår i: Osvalder A.-L., Blomé M. & Bodnar H. (Eds.) NES 2017, Conference Proceedings. - Lund. - 9789177531524
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ergonomic interventions have generally been unsuccessful in improving workers’ health, with concurrent rationalization efforts negating potentially successful intervention initiatives. We propose the two aims are considered simultaneously, aiming at the joint consideration of competitive performance and work environment in a long-term perspective (“organizational sustainability”). A prerequisite is a high level of dialogue between the different groups of stakeholders, and we argue that the Nordic countries, through high levels of trust and justice (social capital), have unique opportunity to carry out such research. The present authors bring forth the vision of “a Nordic Model for development of more sustainable production systems”.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Jarebrant, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Ergonomic Value Stream Mapping (ErgoVSM). Tool and User Guide.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nordic Council of Ministers, ANP 2016:731. - : Nordic Council of Ministers. ; :APN 2016:731
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Recent years Lean Production (”Lean”) has become a prevalent rationalization strategy in healthcare to create more efficient value streams. Research shows that this often results in impaired Ergonomics, i.e. impaired work content and physical work load (“physical ergonomics”). A common Lean tool used to rationalize value streams in healthcare is Value Stream Mapping (VSM). An ergonomic “add-in module” Ergonomic Value Stream Mapping (ErgoVSM) – has therefore been developed to be used as an integrated part of VSM in the analysis of value streams in healthcare. ErgoVSM as well as VSM are participative tools. All occupational groups performing tasks directly related to the investigated value stream should be represented when using the tool. This Guide includes description of methods and assessment templates for physical ergonomics and work content. An initial version of ErgoVSM for manufacturing industry was developed in Sweden. Later, this was further developed for the health-care sector. This tool was then evaluated in a Nordic Multicenter Study by national projects in Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. The Nordic evaluation showed that using the ErgoVSM tool may result in more focus on ergonomics in the Action Plans compared to just using VSM. This is obtained without jeopardizing performance aspects. Based on the field experiences from the Nordic Multicentre Study I, the ErgoVSM tool was further developed, resulting in this present English version.
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