| 1. |
- Blomkvist, Anna-Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Computer use in cold environments
- 2000
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 31:3, s. 239-245
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study addresses computer work in cold environments with the two-fold aim to explore conditions for such work, and to add knowledge about the use of fingers at data entry in the cold. Five workplaces were visited and work contents and use of computers are briefly described. Effects of work in the cold were in line with those mentioned in the literature, and manual lifting of heavy goods the most impairing activity. Subjects contended with strenuous working postures--holding the computers in their hands or arms--and with cold fingers. Individual fingering for data input was noted. Forefinger or a pen were used, and a pen is recommendable for input, either as a touch pen or, simply to press the keys. A supportive rack could be recommended for portable workstations.
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| 2. |
- Gard, Gunvor, et al.
(författare)
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Towards a learning organization: the introduction of a client-centered team-based organization in administrative surveying work.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 1872-9126 .- 0003-6870. ; 34:2, s. 97-105
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Within administrative surveying work in Sweden, a transition to a client-centered team-based organization was made during 1998. The aim of this study was to describe the employees’ perceptions and expectations of job and organizational practices when working as a generalist in a client-centered team-based organization; job and organizational practices and well-being and effectiveness measures were examined when introducing a team-based organization. Interventions such as courses in how to cope with the role of a generalist, how to increase service to clients, education in technology, law and economics, as well as computer information support, were ongoing at the time of the study. The Team Work Profile and QPS Nordic questionnaires were used. All the surveyors in five regions in Sweden participated, in total 640 surveyors. The transition to a client-centered team-based organization was expected to improve job control and job content but at the same time lead to impairments in job climate and group cohesion. Distress was associated with negative future expectations of the organization. High job control and group cohesion were the central contributors towards growth in personal competence and social effectiveness of teamwork. Both internal and external client-related activities of team and organization were in focus during the transition.
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| 3. |
- Abeysekera, John D.A., et al.
(författare)
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Ergonomics assessment of selected dust respirators : their use in the tropics
- 1987
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 18:4, s. 266-272
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The suitability and effectiveness of four different types of British made respirators were studied with respect to comfort, convenience and fit on wearers in Sri Lanka (a developing country). Objective and subjective assessments were made to evaluate the degree of discomfort and interferences to the use of senses. The study revealed that factors such as breathing resistance, work-rate and activity period affected the physiological responses. The weight of the respirator and the skin temperature had no direct relationship with the cardiovascular stress. Positive-pressure respirators that gave lower face temperatures than negative-pressure masks gave this type of respirator an additional advantage in hot environments. Respirators that restricted jaw movement affected the speech intelligibility of the wearer. Orinasal masks restricted vision more than the other types. The problem of fit was found negligible though head and face dimensions significantly differed between the British and the Sri Lankans. Subjective assessment correlated well with objective tests.
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| 4. |
- Abrahamsson, Lena
(författare)
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Production economics analysis of investment initiated to improve working environment
- 2000
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 31:4, s. 1-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article describes the results of an evaluation of a new work place for ladle preparation at Swedish Steel in Luleå, Sweden. The company initiated a development project related to ladle service work, in order to come to grips with the difficult working environment and problems associated with absenteeism due to illness and occupational injuries. The evaluation was performed for the first three years after implementation of the project and it shows that the new work place considerably improved working conditions and increased both the quality and efficiency of production. The purpose of this article is also to discuss some methodological problems. The follow-up of the various changes in working environment and personnel statistics was fairly simple to carry out. But in terms of production effects, the company's in-house production follow-up system proved to be too unspecified and oversimplified. It was also difficult to decide which changes should count as effects of the new work place and to value these in monetary terms. The profitability calculation shows that an investment initiated to improve the working environment can yield good profitability.
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| 5. |
- Abrahamsson, Lena
(författare)
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Restoring the order : gender segregation as an obstacle to organisational development
- 2002
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 33:6, s. 549-557
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper raises questions about the links between gender and organisational changes. The empirical base for the discussion is a qualitative study of the effects of organisational changes in the pulp and paper industry, the electronics industry, the food industry and the laundry industry in Sweden during the mid-1990s. At the studied companies, restoration responses in the work organisations brought the organisation back into its original form and function. The study shows that gender exerts an influence both on the existing work organisation and in the organisational change. The modern organisation, with its focus on integration and decentralisation, challenges the gender order, which is a strong system, built on segregation and hierarchy. The conclusion from the study is that gender segregating and stereotypic gender-coding of workplaces and work tasks were strong restoring mechanisms and obstacles to strategic organisational changes.
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| 6. |
- Bao, Shihan, et al.
(författare)
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Ergonomic effects of a management-based rationalization in assembly work — a case study
- 1996
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 27:2, s. 89-99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Due to unsatisfactory productivity, a large company in the Swedish manufacturing industry decided to rationalize their assembly system. The intended rationalization comprised several changes with deliberate ergonomic implications. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the rationalization on the physical work load of the operators. The work load was assessed before and after the changes using expert observations, company records and direct technical measurements. The results indicate that the intervention led to only minor changes in muscle load, body postures and movement patterns. Several of the planned initiatives were never implemented, e.g. teaching the workers multiple skills and designing work stations at which a major part of the assembly sequence could be performed. This was mainly due to a policy revision caused by changes in the market situation. In spite of the company's original intentions, the revised production system contained only minor ergonomic improvements. Thus, the realization of the ergonomic potential in a rationalization seems to depend on management culture, as well as factors outside the company.
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| 7. |
- Bao, Shihan, et al.
(författare)
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The promises and problems of ergonomics application in the Peoples Republic of China
- 1989
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 20:4, s. 287-292
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ergonomics or human factors, as an applied science concerning the design of interfaces between man, machine and the working environment, has shown its great capacities and potentials for improving working conditions and efficiency during its applications in most industrially developed countries (IC). As a means of improving the economy, industrialisation has been initiated in many industrially developing countries (DC). Knowledge and technology available in ICs have been transferred to DCs in order to increase the process of industrialisation. Ergonomics as a western discipline has also been transferred to many DCs during the technology transfer process. As an example of the transfer and development of ergonomics in industrially developing countries, this paper examines the development of ergonomics and its various areas of application in the People's Republic of China. After reviewing the current ergonomics situation and its applications in China from various points of view - i e, from organisation, research, education and industrial application - promises and problems associatd with the development of this new area of science are discussed.
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| 8. |
- Bergquist, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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A method for dynamic measurement of the resistance to dry heat exchange by footwear
- 1997
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 28:5-6, s. 383-388
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Five different types of cold protective footwear have been tested with regard to their resistance to dry heat loss (i.e. the insulation) with a new electrically heated foot model. The model is able to simulate ‘walking' movements in order to provide a more realistic simulation of wear conditions. Thermal insulation of shoes with and without a steel toe cap was the same. The insulating properties during simulated walking movements were 10-25% lower compared with static conditions. For two of the shoe models a significantly lower insulation value for the sole area was obtained when adding a weight of 30 kg. A significant difference could also be found between the insulation values of two different sizes of one of the models. Measurements with the standard method (EN 344) correlated well with the local insulation value of the sole part of the thermal foot. Correlation with the insulation value for the whole shoe was much less, variation was bigger and ranking in terms of cold protection differed between methods. The electrically heated foot model appears to provide a reproducible, accurate and more realistic method for measuring the insulation properties of shoes than EN 344.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Dekker, Sidney
(författare)
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Failure to adapt or adaptations that fail : Contrasting models on procedures and safety
- 2003
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 34:3, s. 233-238
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper introduces two models on procedures and safety and assesses the practical consequences these have for organizations trying to make progress on safety through procedures. The application of procedures is contrasted as rote rule following versus substantive cognitive activity. It reveals a fundamental double bind: operators can fail to adapt procedures when adapting proved necessary, or attempt procedural adaptations that may fail. Rather than simply increasing pressure to comply, organizations should invest in their understanding of the gap between procedures and practice, and help develop operators' skill at adapting. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 12. |
- Eklund, Jörgen
(författare)
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Development work for quality and ergonomics
- 2000
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 31:6, s. 641-648
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Employee participation in the development and improvement of their own work activities and daily production tasks has been strongly emphasised by the quality movement. From this point of view, the quality perspective, and in particular development work, are supportive of improved working conditions and ergonomics. This paper proposes a classification of development work in relation to participative problem solving. Further, the introduction of development work was found from a theoretical point of view to be consistent with improvement in the characteristics that represent good and rewarding work. Several empirical studies in the field confirm that improvements in work and company performance take place as a result. There is also criticism of development work, which largely focuses on the difficulties of integrating such concepts into organisational structures and of making developments long-lasting. In addition, stress, intensification of work and increased pressure are also mentioned as possible harmful outcomes. It is concluded that the development work concept is an important innovation with great potential, but the organisational models and applications need to be further developed for the future.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Feng, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of arm suspension in simulated assembly line work : muscular activity and posture angles
- 1999
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - Oxon, United Kingdom : Elsevier. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 30:3, s. 247-253
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The electromyogram and posture angles of the shoulder and arm were recorded during sitting manipulative work in three positions, with and without the forearm suspended by a balancer. A Selspot system was used to record movements. The results from 12 female subjects (mean age 29 yr) showed that the activity in deltoideus anterior decreased significantly by using a balancer. Lower mean values were also noted for deltoideus lateralis and the trapezius muscles. The neck inclination increased with higher work area position, but was independent of the use of a balancer.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Fernström, E, et al.
(författare)
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Computer mouse or Trackpoint--effects on muscular load and operator experience.
- 1997
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 28:5-6, s. 347-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to evaluate four different modes of human-computer interaction. The modes were: use of the keyboard alone as input device, use of keyboard and mouse, use of keyboard and mouse with a three-dimensional arm support, and use of a keyboard with a Trackpoint device in its centre. Ten women and 10 men volunteered to participate. Questions asked were whether working in the different modes influenced shoulder and forearm muscular load differently during word processing, and how much strain on the neck, shoulder and arms subjects perceived in the different modes. Muscular load was studied with electromyography in three shoulder muscles and three forearm muscles. The subjects also rated the different modes in one questionnaire concerning perceived strain and in one concerning preference for any of the modes tested. Intra-individual analysis for each muscle and mode showed two possible ways of decreasing the strain from computer mouse work on the shoulder muscles--either to use Trackpoint or to use the mouse combined with the movable arm support. However, both of these computer-interaction modes increased the muscular load in the hand and forearm.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Gustafsson, Ewa, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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The use of information technology among young adults--experience, attitudes and health beliefs
- 2003
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Ingår i: Appl Ergon. - : Pergamon. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 34:6, s. 565-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore attitudes, coherence and health beliefs among young adults, related to their use and experience of information technology (IT). A qualitative approach was used and the data were collected through individual thematised interviews with 25 young IT users, aged 18-24. The interviews were analysed in line with the grounded theory method with a constructivist approach. The main findings were the young adults' experience of the two sides of being social, efficient and independent here and now. They described almost unlimited opportunities in connection with IT, but they also had misgivings, and perceived risks regarding IT use. Feelings of freedom and being efficient were countered by feelings of restrictions on living space and of intangibility. Knowledge concerning these attitudes, coherence and health beliefs can be considered when designing epidemiological and ergonomic studies aimed at risk identification.
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| 20. |
- Johansson, Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Work environment functions in small enterprises in Sweden
- 1992
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 23:2, s. 91-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Sweden, a governmental commission has formed new strategies concerning the work environment with the aims of reducing employee absenteeism and re-employing those individuals who have already left employment as a result of bad working conditions. The main features in this new approach are: strengthening of the legislation; a responsibility for work injury costs; and a distinct rehabilitation responsibility. In this paper the authors discuss how these proposals suited the constraints and facilities of small enterprises, employing less than 50 persons. The results are based on interviews carried out with company directors, safety representatives and labour inspectors. The interviews revealed that the company directors had a negative attitude towards both the strengthening of legislation and responsibility for work injury costs. It was also revealed that the small companies lack both knowledge of how a good environment can be created and the state of their own work environment. It seems that the small companies cannot handle work environment questions in a systematic way without comprehensive education and training or without seeking expert assistance outside the company.
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| 21. |
- Karlqvist, Lena
(författare)
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A process for the development, specification and evaluation of VDU work tables
- 1999
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 23:6, s. 423-432
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Development, specification and evaluation of a work table, suitable for VDU work with a mouse, was carried out in collaboration with furniture manufacturers, employees and an employer in a Research and Development Company. Ten VDU-operators expressed their ideas for improvements at their present workstations and the company and the researchers made a preliminary version of workstation specification to the furniture manufacturers. The three different furniture manufacturers set up four test stations with prototype tables, which were evaluated by 39 subjects using comfort ratings. The results of the comfort ratings and comments from the subjects were used when the final specification for new workstations was made. Three new work tables were evaluated in the ten selected operators' ordinary environment. Evaluations were made by technical recordings of physical load during work and by preference studies. The most important results from the evaluation can be summarized as follows: the work table should make it possible to support the arms, make it possible to vary between sitting and standing posture and prevent extreme outward rotation of the shoulder. Furthermore, the study showed that it is possible to improve the furniture manufacturers' knowledge and attitudes regarding how to minimize musculoskeletal disorders and to improve the study persons' working technique
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Karltun, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Working Conditions and Effects of ISO 9000 in Six Furniture-Making Companies - Implementation and Processes
- 1998
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 29:4, s. 225-232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- What effects will the implementation of the quality standard ISO 9000 have regarding working conditions and competitive advantages? Which are the most important change process characteristics for assuring improved working conditions and other desired effects? These are the main questions behind this study of six furniture-making companies which implemented ISO 9000 during the period 1991-1994. The results show that customer requirement was the dominant goal to implement ISO 9000. Five of the six companies succeeded in gaining certification. The influence on working conditions was limited, but included better order and housekeeping, more positive attitudes towards discussing quality shortcomings, a few workplace improvements, work enrichment caused by additional tasks within the quality system and a better understanding of external customer demands. Among the negative effects were new, apparently meaningless, tasks for individual workers as well as more stress and more physically strenuous work. The effects on the companies included a decrease in external quality-related costs and improved delivery precision. The study confirms the importance for efficient change of the design of the change process, and identifies ‘improvement methodology’ as the most important process characteristic. Improved working conditions are enhanced by added relevant strategic goals and by a participative implementation process.
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Kemmlert, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Slips, trips and falls in different work groups : with reference to age and from a preventive perspective
- 2001
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 32:2, s. 149-153
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inter-record linkage between two Swedish databases on population and injury was effected to provide information on occupational slip, trip and fall (STF) accidents. The text descriptions in more than 1600 accident reports from occupational groups with high incidence rates of STF accidents were categorised by gender and age and the factors contributing to the accidents studied. Both older male and female workers had higher rates of reported STF accidents than younger workers, but it was established that within any one occupation the workplace hazards were common to all. Both for men and for women, the initial approach to the prevention of STF accidents should be to improve orderliness in the workplace.
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| 26. |
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| 27. |
- Liu, Xiaoxiong, et al.
(författare)
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Evaporative heat transfer characteristics of industrial safety helmets
- 1995
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 26:2, s. 135-140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thermal discomfort is one of the major complaints from the wearers of industrial safety helmets. While studies have been reported on dry heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation) in safety helmets, the investigation of wet heat dissipating (evaporation) properties has not been found in the literature. To evaluate experimentally the evaporative heat transfer characteristics of industrial safety helmets, a method was developed to simulate sweating of a human head on a thermal head manikin, and to use this manikin to assess the wet heat transfer of five industrial safety helmets. A thermal head manikin was covered with a form-fitting cotton stocking to simulate 'skin'. The skin was wetted with distilled water to simulate 'sweating'. A form-fitting perforated polyethylene film was used to cover the wetted stocking to control the skin wettedness at two levels, 0.64 and 1.0. Experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber, under the following conditions: the ambient temperature = head manikin surface temperature = 34 +/- 0.5-degrees-C; ambient relative humidity 30% and 60%. Also, the effects of wind and a simulated solar heat load were investigated. The five helmets showed statistically significant difference in evaporative heat transfer under the experimental conditions. Skin wettedness, ambient humidity, wind and solar heat showed significant effects on evaporative heat transfer. These effects were different for the different helmets.
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| 28. |
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
- Rose, Linda, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Endurance, pain and resumption in fully flexed postures
- 2001
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 32:5, s. 501-508
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study effects of low loads in fully flexed postures were investigated. Thirteen men who were unused to the postures participated. Thirteen professional construction workers with long experience of suchlike postures were also studied. Pain reactions during and after loading were observed, as well as endurance time and the recovery process, here by studying the resumption time. Endurance and resumption times differed little from those given by models used for more common postures. Pain from the legs and not from the back limited the working ability in 86% of the endurance tests. Thirdly, the construction workers had significantly longer endurance time and shorter resumption time.
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| 31. |
- Rumar, Kåre
(författare)
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Effectiveness of old, new, and future motor-car lighting
- 1971
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 2:2, s. 99-103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article results have been reported from experiments carried out by the Traffic Safety Research Group, University of Uppsala, Sweden. The philosophy behind the research was to try to adapt the lighting conditions in night driving to human visual characteristics.
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| 32. |
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| 33. |
- Shahnavaz, Houshang
(författare)
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Ergonomics in Vietnam
- 1992
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 23:2, s. 133-134
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 34. |
- Shahnavaz, Houshang
(författare)
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Letter
- 1992
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 23:1, s. 69-
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 35. |
- Singer, G., et al.
(författare)
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The ergonomics of flight management systems : Fixing holes in the cockpit certification net
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 32:3, s. 247-254
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent air traffic control regulations mandate the installation of computer-based flight management systems in airliners across Europe. Integrating and certifying add-on cockpit systems is a long and costly process, which in its current form cannot meaningfully address ergonomics aspects. Two levels of problems occur: add-on systems carry many 'classic' HCI failures, which could easily be addressed with modified certification requirements. Further, adding new technology changes practice, creates new skill and knowledge demands and produces new forms of error, which are more difficult to assess in advance. However, one innovative certification approach for add-on cockpit systems, based on the use of a representative population of user pilots, was found to be promising. This method minimizes the subjective bias of individual pilots in addition to defining pass/fail criteria in an operational environment. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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| 36. |
- Solman, KN
(författare)
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Analysis of interaction quality in human-machine systems : applications for forklifts
- 2002
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 33:2, s. 155-166
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the work presented here was to propose a methodology for analysis of interactions between humans and machines. The driver-truck system in a warehouse context was used as a case for empirical evaluation. The work consists of three empirical studies and one analysis of statistical data. In total 29 pallet truck drivers have been involved in the studies which were performed at two Swedish distribution companies. A framework is proposed, where effects on performance, safety, subjective experiences and physical and mental impact on the humans are used as indicators of the quality of interactions. The results show that the methodology proposed supports appropriate input for the evaluation of the interaction quality between humans and technology. One example of this is musculoskeletal loads and discomfort, which could be related to the task and the design of the steering arm. Another conclusion from this work is that many factors outside the warehouse truck affect the interaction in the human-truck system. for example the design of loading ramps, This supports the importance of having a holistic ergonomics view when studying a human-machine system. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 37. |
- Synwoldt, U., et al.
(författare)
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Ergonomic initiatives for machine operators by the Swedish logging industry
- 2003
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 34:2, s. 149-156
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 1994, the Swedish work Environment Authority (SWEA) considered to regulate the amount of working hours in a logging machine in order to force an increased use of job rotation. Occupational neck and shoulder disorders had been threatening machine operators' health ever since the late 1970s. Representatives of the logging industry argued that detailed regulations, would not solve the problem. SWEA agreed to shelve the matter for 2 years and industry promised to take necessary measures. In 1996. the Labour Inspectorate investigated the industry's ergonomic initiatives. They found that awareness, in combating health problems,, had increased. However, there was a gap between awareness and the ability to carry out improvements. In 1999. SWEA decided not to regulate working hours but strongly recommended the work teams, to use job rotation. A minor follow-up in the year 2000 found work teams with both high production and low, health risk. but also more specialised teams.
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| 38. |
- Torén, Anna
(författare)
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Muscle activity and range of motion during active trunk rotation in a sitting posture
- 2001
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 32:6, s. 583-591
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Twisted trunk postures during tractor driving are associated with low-back pain. The purposes of this study were to quantify the muscle activity as a function of twisting angle, to quantify the range of motion (ROM) during active trunk rotation and to determine whether there were any differences between tractor drivers and office workers and between twisting direction for these variables. The subjects performed exertions in a seated position, twisting from the neutral position to the end of the ROM. The results showed that external oblique and erector spinae had significantly different activation patterns depending on twisting direction. For the contralateral external oblique and the ipsilateral erector spinae, the muscle effort required to twist the trunk was low up to about 20° twisting angle, then the muscle effort needed to twist the trunk increased progressively. No significant differences due to occupation or twisting direction were found. The result implies that work in twisted trunk postures might be a risk factor for low-back pain. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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| 39. |
- Torén, A, et al.
(författare)
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Tractor-driving hours and their relation to self-reported low-back and hip symptoms.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Appl Ergon. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 33:2, s. 139-46
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Tractor driving might be one causal risk factor in the incidence of low-back and hip symptoms among farmers. Information on the annual exposure to tractor driving and its distribution among different work operations is scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify the total and the annual time driving tractors among Swedish farmers and its distribution into different work operations, and to investigate the risk of low-back and hip symptoms in relation to tractor driving within different work operations. The data were collected from a questionnaire study sent to all farms with acreage more than 10 ha in a county in Sweden. Farmers having farming and/or forestry as their main occupation in 1995 were included in the analysis. The annual tractor-driving time and the percentage distribution within different work operations were calculated for females, males, the total group and four production groups. The risk calculations for low-back and hip symptoms from the variables related to tractor driving were performed on the total group. The results showed that the mean annual tractor-driving time was 472 h. Ploughing was the single most time-consuming work operation but it had no influence on the risk for low-back or hip pain. The results showed that some of the variables investigated related to tractor driving influenced the risk for low-back and hip symptoms.
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| 40. |
- Wangenheim, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Automatic ergonomic work analysis
- 1987
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 18:1, s. 9-15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 41. |
- Westlander, Gunnela, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of an ergonomics intervention programme in VDT workplaces
- 1995
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 26:2, s. 83-92
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper focuses on an intervention programme based on the concept of participatory ergonomics. The study was designed within the framework of a multidisciplinary project concerned with identifying the work conditions and problems necessary to improve the working life of VDT operators with routine data-entry and data-dialogue tasks. The intervention programme was evaluated in two follow-up studies. The evaluation criteria covered the proposals for improvement emerging from (1) the intervention programme's final joint decisions (of experts and employees) on measures needed, and (2) workers' views of the effectiveness of the progrmme itself. As the implementation period was marked by increasing turbulence caused by recession in many branches of the Swedish economy, attention was paid to the impact of the restructuring and rationalization effected by company management in the workplaces under study. To obtain a better understanding of the outcome of the intervention programme, the follow-up was extended systematically to explore the disturbing organizational factors operating during the implementation period. The results of the evaluation offer increased knowledge of organizational barriers to the implementation of ergonomics measures decided upon within the framework of intervention research.
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| 42. |
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| 43. |
- Winkel, Jörgen, et al.
(författare)
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An EMG-study of work methods and equipment in crane coupling as a basis for job redesign
- 1988
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 19:3, s. 178-184
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous studies have shown that physical strain is perceived as the main work environment problem for crane couplers. During one year, 70% of the crane couplers at two Swedish steelworks (n = 124) indicated complaints of the locomotor system. An experimental field study comprising seven healthy female crane couplers was therefore carried out to determine if crane coupling implies too high a physical strain for healthy individuals, and to suggest ergonomics solutions to such problems if they occur. The significance of using different methods and equipment for reducing physical strain was evaluated by vocational EMG (four shoulder/neck and arm muscles), heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion.The data suggest that crane coupling may have harmful effects on the shoulder/neck. The investigated changes in work methods and equipment reduced the peak loads. If the crane coupler also has to operate the crane by radio control, this implies a rationalisation as well as a reduction in strain.
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| 44. |
- Winkel, Jörgen
(författare)
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On the manual handling of wide-body carts used by cabin attendants in civil aircraft
- 1983
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 14:3, s. 162-168
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A study was made of manual handling of wide-body carts used in civil aircraft. Under laboratory conditions, 11 females adjusted their pushing and pulling forces on fixed carts to the maximum amount they perceived as acceptable with repeated exertions. Subsequently their ability to push and pull the carts was tested with maximum exertions.The initial forces required to just get a fully loaded cart in motiom were measured for different inclinations of the floor on which the cart stood. In a DC-9 aircraft, floor inclination and flying speed were measured while climbing to cruising altitude and during descent prior to landing. The maximum acceptable force for repetitive exertions was, on average, 68 N. The maximum force was, on average, 270 N. No significant differences were found between the pushing and pulling forces.The findings in the experiments caused the Swedish National Board of Occupational Safety and Health to reduce its recommended limit for repetitive push and pull in this task from 200 N to 100 N. As a result the handling of wide-body carts in the DC-9 should be delayed until at least 14-15 minutes after take-off to fulfil the new recommendation. On short flights, for which the DC-9 is used, ihis is not possible without reducing the level of service. A follow-up project on the development of an improved cart is under way, incorporating changes suggested in this paper and elsewhere.
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| 45. |
- Åborg, Carl, et al.
(författare)
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Work content and satisfaction before and after a reorganisation of data entry work
- 1998
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 29:6, s. 473-480
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to analyse the psychosocial and physical effects of a reorganisation of data entry work at a data processing unit with 153 employees. The reorganisation was planned to redistribute the repetitive work and improve health and satisfaction as well as efficiency. Methods used were questionnaires and, for a sub-group of 22 participants, interviews, diaries and video recordings. During the one-and-a-half-year study period the data processing unit was closed down and the employees transferred to units with more varied tasks. The reorganisation gave opportunities to improve working conditions. The results of this study show that important improvements were achieved. The majority of the 22 participants got less data entry work and the changes permitted a better work-load distribution. However, the work content after the reorganisation still did not provide satisfactory mental variation for most of the subjects, and the changes did not seem to affect health complaints.
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| 46. |
- Östberg, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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On the merits of ancient Chinese eye acupressure practices
- 1992
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 23:5, s. 343-348
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chinese schoolchildren and adults with strenuous visual tasks routinely perform massage-and-pressure exercises on selected acupressure points around the eyes. This practice, taught by the Jing-Luo school of acupuncture for more than 4000 years, is claimed to prevent and cure myopia and other afflictions thought to result from visual close work. A four-week pilot experiment was carried out with the aim of designing a proper study on the possible short-term benefits of eye acupressure programmes. Questionnaire data revealed that the subjects did experience various eye/vision symptoms as a result of the 90 min experimental task. This could not be verified by the measurements of accommodation precision and critical flicker fusion, nor could any beneficial effects of acupressure be seen over the four experimental weeks.
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| 47. |
- Ahlström, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in glance behaviour when using a visual eco-driving system : A field study
- 2017
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 58, s. 414-423
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While in-vehicle eco-driving support systems have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save fuel, they may also distract drivers, especially if the system makes use of a visual interface. The objective of this study is to investigate the visual behaviour of drivers interacting with such a system, implemented on a five-inch screen mounted above the middle console. Ten drivers participated in a real-world, on-road driving study where they drove a route nine times (2 pre-baseline drives, 5 treatment drives, 2 post-baseline drives). The route was 96 km long and consisted of rural roads, urban roads and a dual-lane motorway.The results show that drivers look at the system for 5–8% of the time, depending on road type, with a glance duration of about 0.6 s, and with 0.05% long glances (>2s) per kilometre. These figures are comparable to what was found for glances to the speedometer in this study. Glance behaviour away from the windscreen is slightly increased in treatment as compared to pre- and post-baseline, mirror glances decreased in treatment and post-baseline compared to pre-baseline, and speedometer glances increased compared to pre-baseline. The eco-driving support system provided continuous information interspersed with additional advice pop-ups (announced by a beep) and feedback pop-ups (no auditory cue). About 20% of sound initiated advice pop-ups were disregarded, and the remaining cases were usually looked at within the first two seconds. About 40% of the feedback pop-ups were disregarded. The amount of glances to the system immediately before the onset of a pop-up was clearly higher for feedback than for advice.
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| 48. |
- Arcuri, R., et al.
(författare)
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On the brink of disruption : Applying Resilience Engineering to anticipate system performance under crisis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As COVID-19 spread across Brazil, it quickly reached remote regions including Amazon's ultra-peripheral locations where patient transportation through rivers is added to the list of obstacles to overcome. This article analyses the pandemic's effects in the access of riverine communities to the prehospital emergency healthcare system in the Brazilian Upper Amazon River region. To do so, we present two studies that by using a Resilience Engineering approach aimed to predict the functioning of the Brazilian Mobile Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) for riverside and coastal areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the normal system functioning. Study I, carried out before the pandemic, applied ethnographic methods for data collection and the Functional Resonance Analysis Method - FRAM for data analysis in order to develop a model of the mobile emergency care in the region during typical conditions of operation. Study II then estimated how changes in variability dynamics would alter system functioning during the pandemic, arriving at three trends that could lead the service to collapse. Finally, the accuracy of predictions is discussed after the pandemic first peaked in the region. Findings reveal that relatively small changes in variability dynamics can deliver strong implications to operating care and safety of expeditions aboard water ambulances. Also, important elements that add to the resilient capabilities of the system are extra-organizational, and thus during the pandemic safety became jeopardized as informal support networks grew fragile. Using FRAM for modelling regular operation enabled prospective scenario analysis that accurately predicted disruptions in providing emergency care to riverine population.
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| 49. |
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| 50. |
- Arvidsson, Inger, et al.
(författare)
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Neck postures in air traffic controllers with and without neck/shoulder disorders.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-9126 .- 0003-6870. ; 39:2, s. 255-260
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prolonged computer work with an extended neck is commonly believed to be associated with an increased risk of neck–shoulder disorders. The aim of this study was to compare neck postures during computer work between female cases with neck–shoulder disorders, and healthy referents. Based on physical examinations, 13 cases and 11 referents were selected among 70 female air traffic controllers with the same computer-based work tasks and identical workstations. Postures and movements were measured by inclinometers, placed on the forehead and upper back (C7/Th1) during authentic air traffic control. A recently developed method was applied to assess flexion/extension in the neck, calculated as the difference between head and upper back flexion/extension. Results: cases and referents did not differ significantly in neck posture (median neck flexion/extension: −10° vs. −9°; p=0.9). Hence, the belief that neck extension posture is associated with neck–shoulder disorders in computer work is not supported by the present data.
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