| 1. |
- Elcadi, Guilherme H.
(författare)
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Near infrared spectroscopy for assessing oxygenation and hemodynamics in the upper extremities of healthy subjects and patients with work-related muscle pain
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The prevalence of work-related muscle pain (WRMP) is large in the general population in the industrialized world. Despite significant advances over recent years in some research areas, the mechanisms of why WRMP occurs and the pathophysiological mechanisms behind the disorders are still unclear. One suggested explanation is that WRMP is caused initially by a limitation of the local muscle circulation and oxidative metabolism. There is a lack of objective methods to gauge the development and diagnosis of WRMP. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique that allows for determinations of oxygenation and blood flow. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate NIRS (1) as a method for measuring muscle oxygenation and hemodynamics for the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) and trapezius descendens muscles (TD), and (2) to investigate whether variables measured by NIRS differed between patients diagnosed with WRMP and healthy subjects. Several variables of NIRS were produced and investigated. These included muscle oxygenation (StO2%), changes during contractions (∆StO2%) and StO2% recovery (Rslope), total hemoglobin (HbT) as an indication of blood volume and its changes during contractions (∆HbT). In addition, for the ECR, by applying an upper arm venous occlusion (VO) HbTslope increase as a surrogate of blood flow, and for both VO and arterial occlusion (AO) HHbslope increase (i.e. deoxyhemoglobin slope) as a surrogate of oxygen consumption were variables of interest. A first objective was to determine how StO2% and HbT responded to various contraction forces and how it related to muscle activation measured by electromyography (EMG). For both muscles isometric contractions of 10, 30, 50 and 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) were maintained for 20 s each by healthy males and females; additionally a 10% MVC contraction was sustained for 5 min. For the different contraction levels, predictable relationships were seen between ∆StO2% and force, and between ∆StO2% and EMG RMS amplitude. The general trend was a decrease in ∆StO2% with increasing force and increasing EMG. Females showed a tendency for a higher oxygen use (i.e., drop in StO2%) for the ECR over force levels than males and a higher RMS% MVC for the TD. For the 10% MVC contraction sustained for 5 min gender specific changes over time for HbT and RMS for the ECR, and for StO2% for the TD muscle were seen. A second objective was to determine the day-to-day reliability of NIRS variables for the ECR and TD muscles at group level (Pooled data) and at gender level (males and females). Measurements were performed on two occasions separated by 4-6 days and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and limits of agreement (LOA) were determined as reliability and reproducibility indicators, respectively. Variables tested were ∆StO2% during submaximal isometric contractions of 10, 30, 50 and 70% MVC and StO2% recovery (Rslope) after contractions and after AO. For the ECR, HbTslope as an indication of blood flow (using VO) and HHbslope as a surrogate of oxygen consumption for both VO and AO were computed. For ∆StO2% for the ECR the highest ICC was at 30% MVC for both the pooled data and at gender level. For the TD ICCs were comparably high for 30, 50, 70 % MVC (for both muscles the ∆StO2% at 10% MVC showed the lowest ICC). Further, females showed a higher ICC than males for contraction levels of 50 and 70% MVC. For both muscles, LOA for ∆StO2% was lowest at 10% and highest at 50 and 70% MVC. For the ECR Rslope ICCs were high for all contraction levels, but was lower for AO; LOA was lowest at 70% MVC. For the TD, Rslope ICCs were also high for all contraction levels and LOA was lowest at 30 % MVC. ICC for HbTslope was the lowest of all variables tested. For HHbslope ICC was higher for AO than for VO, and LOA was lower for AO. A third objective was to determine if there were differences between healthy subjects and patients diagnosed with WRMP in ∆StO2% and ∆HbT responses during varying submaximal contractions (10, 30, 50 and 70% MVC), and StO2% recovery (Rslope) immediately after contractions and AO. Additional variables tested in the ECR at rest were HHbslope to indicate oxygen consumption (using AO) and HbTslope as an indication of blood flow. There were no differences between groups in ∆StO2% and ∆HbT variables during the contractions or Rslope in the recovery after contractions or AO. Furthermore, HbTslope was not different between groups However, oxygen consumption for the ECR and StO2% for the TD at rest were significantly greater for healthy subjects compared to patients. A fourth objective was to determine if there were differences in StO2% and HbT between healthy subjects and WRMP patients during a 12 min sustained contraction of 15 % MVC. In addition, the protocol included a recovery period of 30 min. Prior to contraction, as well as during the recovery period, HbTslope as a surrogate of blood flow was determined for the ECR. Neither the ECR nor the TD exhibited significant differences between groups for StO2% and HbT during the contraction. For the TD patients showed a lower StO2% value at rest and throughout the contraction than healthy subjects. For the ECR HbT during the sustained contraction the general trend was an initial decrease with gradual increase throughout the contraction for both groups. For HbTslope no differences were seen between patients and healthy subjects before the sustained contraction and during the recovery period for both muscles.NIRS is deemed a suitable technique for assessing physiological measurements of the upper extremity, including for day-to-day testing.NIRS was not able to distinguish between the patients with WRMP and controls. A concern in the thesis is the characteristics of the patient group in being equally active in recreational sports, actively working, and similar in muscle strength as controls. Thus, applying NIRS for studying a more severe patient group could yield different results.
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| 2. |
- Palm, Peter, 1975-
(författare)
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Methods to assess physical load at work : With a focus on the neck and upper extremities
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- To prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), useful, reliable and valid methods for assessing physical workload and risks for MSDs are needed. Ergonomists often assess work by short visual observations without a specific tool. A branch-specific tool was developed for assessing working technique during cash register work (BAsiK observation protocol).Inclinometers are an alternative for assessing upper arm postures - over several days. Ergonomists need guidelines explaining how to analyze and interpret such data.The aim was to examine and investigate methods for assessing physical load at work, with focus on the neck and upper extremities.In Paper:I, the reliability and criterion validity of the BAsIK observation protocol were assessed.II, the reliability of risk assessments of repetitive work, based on visual observations performed by 21 ergonomists without a specific tool, was assessed.III, whole-day inclinometer measurements of upper arm elevation were compared between work and leisure, across 13 different occupations – before and after arm elevations during sitting time was excluded.IV, the association between inclinometer-based upper arm elevation and neck/shoulder pain was assessed among 654 blue-collar workers. The intra-observer reliability of the BAsIK protocol was deemed acceptable, but only 3 of 10 questions in the protocol showed acceptable inter-observer reliability, and 3 showed acceptable criterion validity.Neither the inter- or intra-observer reliability of risk assessment without any specific method was acceptable for any upper body regions.None of the occupation groups, in paper III, had higher proportion of time with arm elevation during work than leisure. However, when arm elevation during sitting was excluded, 8 occupation groups had higher proportion of time with elevated arms during work than leisure.Whole-workday inclinometer-based upper arm elevation was not associated with neck/shoulder pain within the assessed population. The results indicate that, in most cases, a single visual observation of a work sequence is not a reliable means of assessing repetitive work. A large proportion of arm elevation may derive from sitting time. At low exposure levels, arm elevation per se may not be a risk factor for neck/shoulder pain.This must be taken into account when evaluating the risk for MSDs.
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| 3. |
- Bergsten, Eva L
(författare)
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Working conditions and musculoskeletal disorders in flight baggage handling
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Baggage handling is considered to be a heavy manual handling job including biomechanical exposures suspected of increasing the risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Aims: To document low back pain (LBP), shoulder pain (SP), and physical and psychosocial factors in baggage handlers, and to evaluate the implementation of an ergonomic intervention aiming to increase the use of loading assist devices. Methods: A questionnaire was utilized to characterize pain and psychosocial work conditions in 525 baggage handlers. The postures of 55 baggage handlers during 114 shifts were measured using inclinometry, half shift video-recordings were made for subsequent task analysis, and the number of aircraft handled was registered. Associations for psychosocial and biomechanical exposures with pain were assessed using regression analyses. An ergonomic intervention was implemented and evaluated using questionnaires and repeated interviews. Feasibility, intermediate outcomes, barriers and facilitators were assessed. Results: The prevalence rates of reported LBP and SP were 70% and 60%, respectively. Pain interfering with work (LBP - 30% and SP - 18%) and high pain intensity (LBP - 34% and SP - 28%) were associated with poor psychosocial working conditions. Extreme postures with arms elevated >60° occurred for 6.4% of the total time, and in trunk flexion >60° for 2.1% total time. In contrast, 71% of the total time was spent in a neutral trunk posture. The 90th percentile trunk forward flexion was 34.1°. Daily shoulder pain increased in approximately one-third of all shifts and was positively associated with extreme work posture and the number of aircraft handled; this association was modified by influence and support. The intervention was delivered as planned, and dose received and satisfaction were rated as high. Motivated trainees facilitated implementation while lack of manager support, opportunities to observe and practice behaviors, follow-up activities, staff reduction, and job insecurity were barriers. Conclusion: The high prevalence rates of LBP and SP in baggage handlers were associated with psychosocial exposures, and daily shoulder pain was associated with higher biomechanical exposure. Barriers to implementation can be minimized by recruiting motivated trainees, securing strong organizational support, and carrying out follow-up activities.
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| 4. |
- Mixter, Susanna, Doktorand, 1983-
(författare)
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Combining cognitive and physical work tasks: Short-term effects on fatigue, stress, performance and recovery
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Although combinations of physical and cognitive work tasks occurs in working life (both concurrent and alternating), no one has summarized the research regarding such combinations. Very few studies have investigated the effects of alternating physical and cognitive tasks, which have been suggested as an alternative to classic job rotation. The aim with this thesis was to investigate the effects of concurrent and alternating cognitive and physical work tasks on fatigue, stress, recovery, and performance and whether the task difficulty and the temporal pattern is important in this respect. Methods: In study I, 48 controlled studies comprising combinations of physical and cognitive work tasks was summarized in a systematic review. In two controlled experiments (study II, III and IV), participants performed alternations of a physical and a cognitive task. In study II and III, the difficulty levels of the cognitive task was varied between conditions, and in study IV, the temporal patterns and cognitive task difficulty was varied between conditions. During work, indicators of fatigue (study II and IV), stress (study III and IV) and performance (study II and IV) was assessed. Results: Concurrent physical and cognitive work tasks have a negative impact on biomechanical indicators, fatigue and performance, while the effect on stress seems mixed. Alternating physical and cognitive work tasks leads to some accumulated fatigue over time, with physical recovery taking place during the cognitive task. Indicators of stress did not increase over time, and neither fatigue nor stress was influenced by cognitive task difficulty. Conclusions: Concurrent physical and cognitive work should be avoided in working life and if they must be performed, employers should decrease task demands. Alternations on the other hand, could be carried out without excessive fatigue or stress, and with maintained performance. This thesis provides a basis for recommendations on how to properly organize job-rotation schemes.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Håkansson, Malin, 1973-
(författare)
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Lean Transformation of Industrial Work : Understanding What Supports Socially Sustainable Working Conditions During Lean Manufacturing
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of to what extent lean manufacturing transforms industrial work, including psychosocial and physical working conditions, and, to understand how socially sustainable working conditions can be supported in a lean organization.Four studies with different methodological approaches are included. The first study is a literature overview of the associations between lean and risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. The second study documented physical workload and pain among operators, through direct measurements and painratings, in a process industry with extensive usage of lean practices. In addition, two 3-year case studies were carried out in a medium-sized, Swedish manufacturing family company. The studies focused on the influence of lean on work characteristics, psychosocial working conditions, and what leadership practices contributed to supporting the socially sustainable working conditions respectively.The literature overview on lean and physical workload showed that the literature in the area was limited, of varying quality, and that none of the included studies had directly measured the physical workload. Further, it suggested that lean tended to have better outcomes for employees in the Nordic countries and in those cases where the lean initiative was combined with an ergonomic or work environment intervention. The measurements of physical workload in the process industry showed that the exposures were low across the study period. Ratings of neck and upper extremity pain were relatively high across the years, but did not increase significantly.The results from the manufacturing company showed that employees could sustain important work resources including favorable psychosocial working conditions: Good social support, low stress levels, and a good self-rated health were sustained while role conflicts decreased, and justice and respect increased significantly. There was a trend toward gradually increased work content through job enlargment with increased elements of more qualified tasks, and more employees were cross-trained. The work standardization, however, meant that some work processes were simplified and that employees’ influence over the daily work seemed to have decreased, while there were still opportunities for them to influence what would be included in the work assignment, and employee influence through improvement practices increased. Both case studies indicated that the participatory leadership approach in combination with a value-creating leadership that focus on health and employee development, contributed to making the lean initiative socially sustainable. In conclusion, lean can affect work characteristics and employees’ working conditions in different ways depending on how, and in what type of work, it is implemented. Previous studies on lean in industry have mostly shown that lean tends to increase workload and reduce control over daily work. This thesis, however, provides examples showing that it is possible to have low levels of physical exposures in a lean process industry and that it is possible to sustain important psychosocial work resources.The work practices seemed to be shaped in an interplay between organizational context, type of job, managerial practices, lean practices employed, and employees’ involvement. Knowledge abouthow work is shaped is important for those who want to proactively contribute to a work design that supports the development of resourceful jobs. Findings in this thesis point to the need to actively monitor and care how lean affects working conditions in order to support resourceful jobs.This thesis shows that it is possible to make lean initiatives in manufacturing companies more socially sustainable. Overall, findings from this thesis indicate that important and interdependent components that can contribute to socially sustainable lean initiatives involve having a conscious focus on work environment management and health, in combination with a value-creating leadership that actively support important work resources and involves employees in a conscious manner.
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| 7. |
- Larsen, Louise B.
(författare)
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Factors related to musculoskeletal disorders in Swedish police
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Police working in active duty are subject to occupation-specific exposures in the workplace which could place them at an increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. These exposures include the requirement to wear a duty belt and body armour as well as sitting for long periods in fleet vehicles. It is well recognised that the development of musculoskeletal disorders is multifactorial and that both physical and psychosocial workplace factors must be considered when addressing this issue.Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to increase knowledge related to musculoskeletal disorders in Swedish police by exploring the prevalence of pain and its relationship to physical and psychosocial factors in the work environment.Methods: Studies included in this thesis were conducted using different quantitative methods. Studies I and II were based on data from a self-administered online survey, distributed to all police officers working in active duty. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to document the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and the effects of exposure variables (physical and psychosocial) and covariates on multi-site pain. Study III was conducted using a three-dimensional gait analysis system incorporating two force plates to explore the effect of different load carriage systems on kinematic and kinetic variables. Study IV included the same three conditions as in Study III but investigated sitting postures and comfort. A pressure mat was utilised to determine contact pressure and contact area while sitting in and driving police vehicles while a survey was used to measure experienced discomfort related to the vehicle seat. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to investigate differences between load carriage conditions in Studies III and IV.Results: The results of this thesis revealed that the most frequently reported musculoskeletal disorder among Swedish police working in active duty was lower back pain (43.2%) and that multi-site musculoskeletal pain (41.3%) was twice as prevalent as single-site pain (19.7 The physical workplace factor with the greatest association to multi-site musculoskeletal pain was found for individuals reporting discomfort experienced from wearing duty belts (OR 5.42 (95% CI 4.56 – 6.43)). The psychosocial workplace factor with the greatest association to multi-site musculoskeletal pain was found for individuals reporting high-strain jobs (OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.51 – 2.24)). Wearing body armour, or body armour combined with a load-bearing vest, resulted in less rotation of the trunk when compared to not wearing any equipment. Wearing a thigh holster and load-bearing vest allowed for a greater range of rotation in the right hip compared to the standard load-bearing condition, which incorporated a belt-mounted hip holster. Kinetics of the ankle joints were greater for both load carriage conditions compared to the control condition. Discomfort ratings revealed a clear preference for the alternate load-carriage condition. The lower back was found to be the body region with most experienced discomfort (30.5; IQR 11 - 42 mm). Pressure data demonstrated that wearing a thigh holster and load-bearing vest resulted in less pressure in the lower back when compared to the standard load carriage condition. At the same time, contact pressure in the upper back increased followed by a decrease in contact area.Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain is a considerable problem among Swedish police with lower back pain being the most frequently reported pain site. Multi-site musculoskeletal pain was found to be more common than single-site pain and both physical and psychosocial factors were associated to multi-site musculoskeletal pain. Of the exposures studied in this thesis, duty belts and high strain jobs were found to have the greatest association to musculoskeletal pain. The use of load-bearing vest and thigh holster were found to affect levels of discomfort, especially while driving. Also, range of motion in the trunk and right hip was affected by wearing mandatory equipment.
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| 8. |
- Pagard, Sophie
(författare)
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Promoting Work-Life Balance in Flexible Work
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Flexible work arrangements (FWAs), which allows employees to decide when, where, and how to perform the work, is more prevalent than ever in modern working life. However, research about how FWAs can be organized to promote work-life balance (WLB) is sparse. The overall aim of this thesis was to develop, implement, and evaluate a workplace intervention among office-based employees with FWAs. More specifically, the aims wereto: 1) identify demands and resources related to WLB; 2) in co-creation with the investigated organization, identify suggestions for improvements to guide the development of a workplace intervention; and 3) implement and evaluate the effect of an intervention, addressing some of the identified suggestions on proximal (i.e., work strategies, use of work-related information and communication technology (ICT), productivity, and expectations of availability) and distal outcomes (i.e., WLB and interference between work and private life).Methods: Paper I was a cross-sectional study based on a comprehensive questionnaire that examined occupational factors and their associations with WLB. Paper II comprised focus group interviews to collect suggestions for improvements in FWAs at an organizational, work group and individual level. Therefore, while paper I and II informed the design of the intervention, papers III and IV comprised its implementation and evaluation. Paper III examined effects on proximal outcomes and paper IV on distal outcomes.Results: Identified resources related to employees’ WLB in FWAs were boundary management, information about how to organize work, and relation-oriented leadership. Identified demands were over-commitment to work, quantitative job demands, and expectations of availability. Perceived flexibility was a resource for WLB, which interacted with several demands and buffering their negative associations with WLB. Suggestions from the focus groups related to organizational (e.g., common guidelines for FWAs), workgroup (e.g., clarify expectations of availability) and individual-level improvements (e.g., determine own availability), which supported the development and implementation of an intervention addressing work strategies and culture in FWAs. Participants were satisfied with the intervention and reported changes in work strategies. No intervention effects were found on other proximal or distal outcomes.Conclusions: We identified both demands and resources related to employees’ WLB in FWAs. Employees suggested intervention activities mainly focusing on changing work strategies, both as individuals and as a workgroup. The intervention was effective in changing work strategies, but not in improving other proximal and distal outcomes.
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| 9. |
- Barkstedt, Vanda, et al.
(författare)
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Sophämtares fysiska och psykosociala arbetsbelastning
- 2016
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Arbetet som sophämtare inkluderar manuell hantering som hämtning och hantering av hushållsavfall i kärl och säckar. Det finns tidigare studier som visat att arbetet kan vara tungt med en hög helkroppsbelastning. Tungt arbete förknippas ofta med besvär i rörelseorganen. Psykologiska påfrestningar i arbetet kan också bidra till besvärsuppkomst.Biltrafikens arbetsgivarförbund och Svenska Transportarbetareförbundet tog gemensamt initiativ till det här projektet ”Sophämtarnas arbetsmiljö - allas ansvar”. Projektet har utförts av Transportfackens Yrkes- och Arbetsmiljönämnd (TYA) i samarbete med Karolinska Institutet (KI) och Centrum för belastningsskadeforskning (CBF) vid Högskolan i Gävle. I den här delen av projektet var syftet att kartlägga branschens förekomst av arbetsrelaterade besvär och undersöka den fysiska och psykosociala arbetsbelastningen hos sophämtare vid arbete med insamling av hushållsavfall.Samtliga Sveriges sophämtare som arbetar med insamling av hushållsavfall, knappt 2000, erbjöds att fylla i ett omfattande frågeformulär avseende arbete och hälsa. Sextiosex procent svarade. Inom projektetet genomfördes också heldagsmätningar av puls och arbetsställningar för rygg och armar på 56 sophämtare som arbetade med baklastande sopbil. På 12 sophämtare som arbetade med sidlastande sopbil genomfördes dessutom mätningar av muskelbelastning i skulder- och underarmsmuskulatur under en hel arbetsdag. I samband med heldagsmätningarna observerades sophämtarnas arbete av en observatör från en efterföljande bil, eller via en personburen videokamera. För att få fram ytterligare information om belastning på skuldror, rygg och knän genomfördes även biomekaniska fältexperiment där sophämtare fick utföra typiska arbetssituationer samtidigt som förekommande skjut- och drag-krafter registrerades.Enligt enkätundersökningen ansåg 17 procent av sophämtarna att deras fysiska arbetsförmåga var låg, vilket är samma procentandel som tidigare har registrerats hos flygplanslastare, men något bättre än vad man brukar se bland män med kort utbildningstid.Det var vanligare med kroppsliga besvär bland sophämtare än generellt i befolkningen. Andelen med besvär för olika kroppsdelar som skuldror (60 procent), ländrygg (62 procent), nacke (49 procent), händer/handleder (44 procent), motsvarade situationen för flygplanslastare; det fanns dock en skillnad för knän, där 52 procent av sophämtarna hade besvär mot 44 procent av flyglastarna.Sophämtarnas psykosociala arbetsbelastning liknade i stort den hos flygplanslastare, och motsvarar generellt förhållandena i den arbetande befolkningen. I genomsnitt rapporterar sophämtarna även samma upplevda stöd ifrån ledningen som andra yrkesgrupper, men sophämtare på arbetsställen med särskilt lågt stöd ifrån ledningen rapporterade fler olyckstillfällen, hade högre förekomst av kroppsliga besvär och lägre arbetsförmåga än sophämtare på arbetsställen med högt stöd. Mycket talande var att många fler, 27 procent skattade låg psykisk arbetsförmåga av dem på arbetsställen med generellt lågt upplevt stöd från ledningen jämfört med 8 procent av dem på arbetsställen med högt stöd.Det var vanligare med olycksfallstillbud bland de som angav ett ständigt högt arbetstempo, vilka återfanns både bland de som svarade att de, 64 procent av sophämtarna, som fick och bland de som inte fick gå hem tidigare om de var klara med dagens uppgifter.Fyrtiofyra procent av sophämtarna svarade att de en eller flera gånger hade råkat ut för olycksfall som lett till sjukskrivning. Halkolyckor var klart vanligast. Bland de som rapporterade ett ständigt högt arbetstempo var det vanligare med olyckor.De 41 kvinnor som ingick i enkätstudien rapporterade generellt högre upplevd fysisk och psykosocial belastning, samt sämre hälsa och arbetsförmåga än sina manliga kollegor.Heldagsmätningarna visade att baklastarnas genomsnittliga arbetstid utanför depån var drygt 6½ timma, varav 43 procent utgjordes av bilkörning. Pulsmätningarna visade, liksom enkäterna, att hämtning från flerbostadhus var mera belastande än hämtning i villaområden och på landsbygden. Pulsen var stundtals hög, men i genomsnitt var den för de flesta sophämtare acceptabel enligt internationella rekommendationer.De biomekaniska analyserna visade att krafterna vid dragning av sopkärl ibland var höga, speciellt på snöunderlag, men de föreföll inte att innebära några tydliga risker för ländryggen enligt amerikanska rekommendationer för acceptabla nivåer. Det finns dock forskning som indikerar att upprepad exponering för höga dragkrafter kan innebära risk för skulderbesvär. Att hoppa eller att gå framlänges ned från styrhytt var förknippat med knäbesvär, och kan enligt de biomekaniska analyserna även ge höga ländryggsbelastningar.Mot bakgrund av dessa resultat kan några rekommendationer/frågeställningar i syfte att förbättra arbetsmiljön vara följande:Kan man öka stödet från ledningen? Ledarskaps- och arbetsmiljöutbildning för första linjens chefer? Strategi vid chefsrekrytering?Kan man påverka sophämtarna att inte arbeta i ett ”onödigt” högt tempo, om det egentligen inte är bråttom?Kan man se till att det finns tid (eller om det redan finns tid, att få sophämtarna att använda denna tid) att arbeta i ett rimligt tempo, och kanske hjälpas åt vid hantering av mycket tunga kärl?Kan man få alla att ta sig ner från hytten på "rätt sätt"? Kan man i större utsträckning använda sopbilar med låga insteg?
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Forsman, Mikael, Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Participative development of packages in the food industry–evaluation of ergonomics and productivity by objective measurements
- 2012
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Ingår i: Work. - : IOS Press. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 4141 Suppl 1, s. 1751-1755
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationalizations generally have a negative effect on health and known risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. These effects may be reduced by paying attention to modifiers as worker participation and a resonant management style. In this study a participatory approach was used in the food industry in order to improve ergonomics and productivity. The food industry shows a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, and repetitive manual work occurs extensively. Prototypes of new packaging solutions were developed in three cases, and compared in a simulated production to the existing production system through direct measurements of working postures and muscle activity, ratings of physical load, and general productivity data. Measured and rated ergonomic exposures showed that workload was significantly lower for the prototypes, in all three cases. In two cases, the number of handling operations included in the packaging operations were greatly reduced with the prototype package, as were production costs. The impact on disorders of the obtained load reductions is difficult to assess, but we believe that in "critical" situations like this, even small improvements may have an effect. This study shows that workloads during manual handling of packages as well as production costs can be reduced by applying participative development of packages.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Hallman, David, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak in Sweden: effects on 24-h time-use in office workers
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer. - 1471-2458. ; 21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered national recommendations encouraging people to work from home (WFH), but the possible impact of WFH on physical behaviors is unknown. This study aimed to determine the extent to which the 24-h allocation of time to different physical behaviors changes between days working at the office (WAO) and days WFH in office workers during the pandemic.Methods: Data were collected on 27 office workers with full-time employment at a Swedish municipal division during the COVID-19 outbreak in May–July 2020. A thigh-worn accelerometer (Axivity) was used to assess physical behavior (sedentary, stand, move) during seven consecutive days. A diary was used to identify periods of work, leisure and sleep. 24-h compositions of sedentary, standing and moving behaviors during work and non-work time were examined using Compositional data analysis (CoDA), and differences between days WAO and days WFH were determined using repeated measures ANOVA.Results: Days WFH were associated with more time spent sleeping relative to awake, and the effect size was large (F = 7.4; p = 0.01; ηp2 = 0.22). The increase (34 min) in sleep time during WFH occurred at the expense of a reduction in work and leisure time by 26 min and 7 min, respectively. Sedentary, standing and moving behaviors did not change markedly during days WFH compared to days WAO.Conclusion: Days working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden were associated with longer duration of sleep than days working at the office. This behavioral change may be beneficial to health.
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| 14. |
- Heiden, Marina, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Mismatch between actual and preferred extent of telework: cross-sectional and prospective associations with well-being and burnout
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer. - 1471-2458. ; 23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This study aimed to determine whether telework mismatch, i.e., lack of fit between actual and preferred extent of telework, is cross-sectionally and prospectively associated with well-being and burnout.Methods: A questionnaire was sent to employees in a Swedish manufacturing company in November 2020 (baseline) and September 2021 (follow-up). It contained questions about well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index) and burnout (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III), as well as the preferred extent of telework and extent of telework performed. Telework mismatch was calculated as the difference between the actual and preferred extent of telework. Change in mismatch over time was categorized as 1) less mismatch at follow-up than at baseline, 2) more mismatch at follow-up, and 3) identical levels of mismatch at baseline and follow-up. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance were used to determine the effects of mismatch and change in mismatch over time on baseline ratings and changes in ratings of well-being and burnout. All analyses were performed with and without adjustment for age, sex, marital status, children, type of employment, commuting time and extent of telework performed.Results: The response rate was 39% at baseline (n=928, 67% men, mean(SD) age: 45(11) years) and 60% at follow-up (n=556, 64% men, mean(SD) age: 46(11) years). A cross-sectional association was found between telework mismatch and well-being, showing that employees who teleworked more than they would like reported worse well-being than those who teleworked less than they would like. No statistically significant association was found between telework mismatch and burnout. The ability of telework mismatch at baseline to predict changes in well-being or burnout over 10 months was small and non-significant. No association was found between change in telework mismatch over the 10-month period and corresponding changes in well-being or burnout.Conclusion: Our results suggest that telework should be thoughtfully practiced in companies/organizations to avoid negative consequences for employees who already telework more than they prefer. Studies are needed to determine how long-term changes in match between preferred and actual extent of telework is associated with employee well-being, including how the association is modified by the nature of the job and the work environment.
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| 15. |
- Heiden, Marina, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Productivity, Well-Being and Work-Family Conflict in Mandatory Telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- 2021
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association Conference 2021.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- SUMMATIVE STATEMENT Results from an ongoing questionnaire study on telework during the COVID-19 pandemic show that mandatory telework (as opposed to voluntary), but not the extent of telework, is associated with poor well-being and more family-to-work conflict.KEYWORDS: Corona, survey, telecommutingPROBLEM STATEMENT Most of what is known today about attitudes and preferences regarding telework is based on studies where telework is an available option in certain occupational groups (Allen, et al., 2015). During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many organizations have implemented telework to an unprecedented extent, with employees being required or strongly recommended to work from home, in order to reduce the spread of the virus and protect people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. This means that more employees are now teleworking, and for long periods of time, not by choice, but by necessity. Some of these employees have previous experience of telework, and some have not.When telework is not voluntary, recommendations for how to arrange telework based on previous findings may not apply. Studies of consequences of telework, and whether they differ between voluntary and mandatory telework, may contribute to a better understanding of how recommendations should look, and how they should be implemented.RESEARCH OBJECTIVE/QUESTION The aim of this study is to determine the association between telework practice (i.e., extent of telework, previous experience of telework, and whether telework is mandatory or voluntary) and self-reported productivity, well-being and work-family conflict.METHODOLOGY In an ongoing survey among employees in private and public organizations, an electronic questionnaire was distributed between June and December 2020 to 2859 employees, of which 1157 responded. The questionnaire addressed the extent of telework performed now, whether it was mandatory or voluntary, previous experience of telework, productivity (Haapakangas, et al., 2018), well-being (Winther Topp, et al., 2015), and work-family conflict (Carlson, et al., 2000). It also included questions about satisfaction with IT tools/support and number of work hours per week (actual hours as well as hours according to the employment contract).The questionnaire data have been analyzed using linear regression to determine the association between the extent of telework (in hours/week) and the outcomes productivity, well-being and work-family conflict (i.e., work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict). In the regression models, previous experience of telework (≥ 1 year) and whether telework was mandatory were also included as predictors. The analyses were performed with and without adjustment for satisfaction with IT tools/support and actual working hours relative to working hours according to the employment contract.RESULTSThe results showed that the extent of telework had a marginal effect on all outcomes. Employees who had teleworked for less than 1 year reported less work-to-family and family-to-work conflict than employees who had more than 1 year of telework experience. Whether telework was mandatory appeared to have no association with productivity ratings, but mandatory telework was associated with poorer well-being and more family-to-work conflict.When the regression models were adjusted for satisfaction with IT tools/support and actual working hours relative to working hours according to the employment contract, associations between telework practice and outcomes remained largely the same. Satisfaction with IT tools/support had a large effect on productivity, well-being and work-to-family conflict. Working longer hours (i.e., working more hours than according to the employment contract) was associated with increased productivity but also more work-to-family conflict. DISCUSSIONThe association between mandatory telework, poor well-being and more family-to-work conflict could possibly be explained by reduced autonomy at work. When it is not possible to decide when to telework and which work tasks to perform during telework, telework may not offer the opportunities to achieve better work-life balance that voluntary telework does. Reasonably, this effect would be stronger among more experienced teleworkers.CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the extent of telework performed during the COVID-19 pandemic does not affect self-rated productivity, well-being and work-family conflict. Mandatory telework, however, was associated with poor well-being and more family-to-work conflict, compared to voluntary telework. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe study was conducted within the research program Flexible Work: Opportunity and Challenge funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (reg. no. 2019-01257) and AFA Insurance (reg. no. 200244). REFERENCESAllen, T.D., Golden, T.D., & Shockley, K.M. (2015). How effective is telecommuting? Assessing the status of our scientific findings. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 16(2), 40–68.Carlson, D.S., Kacmar, K.M., & Williams, L.J. (2000). Construction and initial validation of a multidimensional measure of work–family conflict. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 56, 249-276.Haapakangas, A., Hallman, D.M., Mathiassen, S.E., & Jahncke, H. (2018). Self-rated productivity and employee well-being in activity-based offices: The role of environmental perceptions and workspace use. Building and Environment, 145, 115-124.Winther Topp, C., Dinesen Østergaard, S., Søndergaard, S., & Bech, P. (2015). The WHO-5 Well-Being Index: a systematic review of the literature. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 84(3), 167-176.
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| 16. |
- Holtermann, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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A practical guidance for assessments of sedentary behavior at work: A PEROSH initiative
- 2017
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 63, s. 41-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sedentary behavior is defined as sitting or lying with low energy expenditure. Humans in industrialized societies spend an increasing amount of time in sedentary behaviors every day. This has been associated with detrimental health outcomes. Despite a growing interest in the health effects of sedentary behavior at work, associations remain unclear, plausibly due to poor and diverse methods for assessing sedentary behavior. Thus, good practice guidance for researchers and practitioners on how to assess occupational sedentary behavior are needed. The aim of this paper is to provide a practical guidance for practitioners and researchers on how to assess occupational sedentary behavior. Ambulatory systems for use in field applications (wearables) are a promising approach for sedentary behavior assessment. Many different small-size consumer wearables, with long battery life and high data storage capacity are commercially available today. However, no stand-alone commercial system is able to assess sedentary behavior in accordance with its definition. The present paper offers decision support for practitioners and researchers in selecting wearables and data collection strategies for their purpose of study on sedentary behavior. Valid and reliable assessment of occupational sedentary behavior is currently not easy. Several aspects need to be considered in the decision process on how to assess sedentary behavior. There is a need for development of a cheap and easily useable wearable for assessment of occupational sedentary behavior by researchers and practitioners
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| 17. |
- Jackson, Jennie
(författare)
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Bias and Precision in Biomechanical Exposure Assessment : Making the Most of our Methods
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Insufficient exposure assessment is a suggested contributing factor to the current lack of clearly characterised relationships between occupational biomechanical risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders. Minimal attention has been paid to the potential bias of measurement tools from expected true values (i.e. accuracy) or between measurement tools, and empirical data on the magnitudes of variance contributed by methodological factors for measurement tool precision are lacking.Aim: The aim of this thesis was to quantify aspects of bias and precision in three commonly employed biomechanical risk factor assessment tools - inclinometry, observation, and electromyography (EMG) - and provide recommendations guiding their use. Methods: Upper arm elevation angles (UAEAs) were assessed using inclinometers (INC) and by computer-based posture-matching observation, and bias relative to true angles was calculated. Calibration models were developed for INC data, and their efficacy in correcting measurement bias was evaluated. The total variance of trapezius and erector spinae (ES) EMG recordings during cyclic occupational work was partitioned into biological and methodological sources, including the variance uniquely attributable to sub-maximal normalisation. Using algorithms to estimate the precision of a group mean, the efficacy of different trapezius EMG study designs was evaluated. Using precision criteria, the efficacy of different normalisation methods was assessed for ES EMG recordings.Results and Discussion: Inclinometer measured UAEAs were biased from true angles, with increasing bias at higher angles. In contrast, computer based posture-matching observations were not biased from true angles. Calibration models proved effective at minimizing INC data bias. The dispersion of estimates between- and within- observers at any given set angle underlined the importance of repeated observations when estimating UAEAs. For EMG, a unique but relatively small component of the total variance was attributable to the methodological process of normalisation. Performing three repeats of the trapezius EMG normalisation task proved optimal at minimizing variance for one-day EMG studies, while two repeats sufficed for multi-day EMG studies. A prone normalisation task proved superior for maximizing normalised lumbar ES EMG precision.Conclusion: Key aspects of measurement tool accuracy, bias between tools, and tool precision were quantified, and recommendations were made to guide future research study design.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Januario, Leticia, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
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Are resident handlings in eldercare wards associated with musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence among the workers? A prospective study based on onsite observations
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : NOROSH. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 47:8, s. 609-618
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives We aimed to identify eldercare wards with different types of resident handling characteristics (‘phenotypes’) and determine the prospective association between these characteristics and musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence among workers during a one-year follow-up.Methods Our study was based on the DOSES cohort, including 467 workers at 103 eldercare wards. At baseline, resident handlings were assessed using onsite observations. Workers’ self-reported musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence were assessed during the following year using text messages. Observations of the frequency of handlings per shift, use of assistive devices, assistance from others, and barriers (interruptions and impediments) were estimated for each worker, aggregated at ward level, and entered into a latent profile analysis, identifying ward phenotypes. We then used generalized estimating equations to determine associations between ward phenotypes, musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence.Results We identified four ward phenotypes: ‘turbulent’ (many handlings with devices and assistance, many barriers), ‘strained’ (many handlings without devices or assistance, some barriers), ‘unpressured’ (few handlings, yet without devices or assistance, few barriers) and ‘balanced’ (some handlings with devices and assistance, some barriers). Compared to workers in balanced wards, workers in turbulent wards had more days with neck-shoulder and low-back pain (LBP); and those working in strained wards had more days with LBP and higher pain intensities.Conclusion We found that ward phenotypes based on resident handling characteristics were predictive of musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence over one year. This shows that organizational factors related to resident handling are important determinants of musculoskeletal health among eldercare workers.
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| 20. |
- Januario, Leticia, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
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Did the COVID-19 pandemic influence inequality in self-reported work environment conditions based on gender and place of birth? A study of a Swedish commercial laundromat
- 2024
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We evaluated differences in work environment conditions and health by gender and place of birth in a commercial laundromat prior to (baseline) and at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (follow-up). Using survey data, including dimensions from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, from forty-one workers, we assessed work environment conditions and health at baseline, follow-up and in change scores between baseline and follow-up. At baseline, men and women reported similar scores, while foreign-born (FB) workers reported better work environment conditions than Swedish-born (SB) workers. During the pandemic, conditions generally declined for all workers, but FB reported smaller declines than SB. A consistent inequality hierarchy across the 4 groups was not clear at baseline, follow-up or in change scores between time points. The study suggests potential cultural differences may exist in how work environment conditions are experienced. This should be considered in future studies and when managing future crises
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Januario, Leticia, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
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Ward-level leadership quality and prospective low-back pain of eldercare workers – do resident handlings mediate the association?
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 96, s. 1049-1059
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: We investigated the extent to which ward-level leadership quality was associated with prospective low-back pain among eldercare workers, and how this association was mediated by observed resident handlings.Methods: 530 Danish eldercare workers, employed in 121 wards, distributed across 20 nursing homes were evaluated. At baseline, leadership quality was measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, and resident handlings [handlings per shift, handlings not using assistive devices, handlings done alone, interruptions to handlings, impediments to handlings] were assessed using observations. Frequency and intensity of low-back pain was assessed monthly during the following year. All variables were averaged for each ward. We used ordinary least squares regressions to examine direct effects of leadership on low-back pain and indirect effects through handlings, using PROCESS-macro for SPSS. Results: After adjustments for low-back pain at baseline, type of ward, staff ratio (i.e., number of workers divided by number of residents) and proportion of devices not in place, leadership quality showed no effect on prospective low-back pain frequency (β=0.01 [-0.05:0.07]) and a small beneficial effect on pain intensity (β=-0.02 [-0.04:0.00]). Resident handlings did not mediate the association between leadership quality and frequency or intensity of low-back pain. Conclusions: Good leadership quality was associated with a small decrease in prospective low-back pain intensity, but resident handlings did not seem to play a mediating role, although better ward-level leadership quality contributed to fewer workplace-observed resident handlings without assistance. Potentially, organizational factors such as type of ward and staff ratio, may have a greater influence on handlings and low-back pain than leadership quality per se among eldercare workers.
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| 23. |
- Liv, Per, 1979-
(författare)
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Efficient strategies for collecting posture data using observation and direct measurement
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Relationships between occupational physical exposures and risks of contracting musculoskeletal disorders are still not well understood; exposure-response relationships are scarce in the musculoskeletal epidemiology literature, and many epidemiological studies, including intervention studies, fail to reach conclusive results. Insufficient exposure assessment has been pointed out as a possible explanation for this deficiency. One important aspect of assessing exposure is the selected measurement strategy; this includes issues related to the necessary number of data required to give sufficient information, and to allocation of measurement efforts, both over time and between subjects in order to achieve precise and accurate exposure estimates. These issues have been discussed mainly in the occupational hygiene literature considering chemical exposures, while the corresponding literature on biomechanical exposure is sparse. The overall aim of the present thesis was to increase knowledge on the relationship between data collection design and the resulting precision and accuracy of biomechanical exposure assessments, represented in this thesis by upper arm postures during work, data which have been shown to be relevant to disorder risk.Four papers are included in the thesis. In papers I and II, non-parametric bootstrapping was used to investigate the statistical efficiency of different strategies for distributing upper arm elevation measurements between and within working days into different numbers of measurement periods of differing durations. Paper I compared the different measurement strategies with respect to the eventual precision of estimated mean exposure level. The results showed that it was more efficient to use a higher number of shorter measurement periods spread across a working day than to use a smaller number for longer uninterrupted measurement periods, in particular if the total sample covered only a small part of the working day. Paper II evaluated sampling strategies for the purpose of determining posture variance components with respect to the accuracy and precision of the eventual variance component estimators. The paper showed that variance component estimators may be both biased and imprecise when based on sampling from small parts of working days, and that errors were larger with continuous sampling periods. The results suggest that larger posture samples than are conventionally used in ergonomics research and practice may be needed to achieve trustworthy estimates of variance components.Papers III and IV focused on method development. Paper III examined procedures for estimating statistical power when testing for a group difference in postures assessed by observation. Power determination was based either on a traditional analytical power analysis or on parametric bootstrapping, both of which accounted for methodological variance introduced by the observers to the exposure data. The study showed that repeated observations of the same video recordings may be an efficient way of increasing the power in an observation-based study, and that observations can be distributed between several observers without loss in power, provided that all observers contribute data to both of the compared groups, and that the statistical analysis model acknowledges observer variability. Paper IV discussed calibration of an inferior exposure assessment method against a superior “golden standard” method, with a particular emphasis on calibration of observed posture data against postures determined by inclinometry. The paper developed equations for bias correction of results obtained using the inferior instrument through calibration, as well as for determining the additional uncertainty of the eventual exposure value introduced through calibration.In conclusion, the results of the present thesis emphasize the importance of carefully selecting a measurement strategy on the basis of statistically well informed decisions. It is common in the literature that postural exposure is assessed from one continuous measurement collected over only a small part of a working day. In paper I, this was shown to be highly inefficient compared to spreading out the corresponding sample time across the entire working day, and the inefficiency was also obvious when assessing variance components, as shown in paper II. The thesis also shows how a well thought-out strategy for observation-based exposure assessment can reduce the effects of measurement error, both for random methodological variance (paper III) and systematic observation errors (bias) (paper IV).
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| 24. |
- Lunde, Lars-Kristian, et al.
(författare)
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Musculoskeletal health and work ability in physically demanding occupations : study protocol for a prospective field study on construction and health care workers
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Musculoskeletal disorders have a profound impact on individual health, sickness absence and early retirement, particularly in physically demanding occupations. Demographics are changing in the developed countries, towards increasing proportions of senior workers. These senior workers may have particular difficulties coping with physically demanding occupations while maintaining good health. Previous studies investigating the relationship between physical work demands and musculoskeletal disorders are mainly based on self-reported exposures and lack a prospective design. The aim of this paper is to describe the background and methods and discuss challenges for a field study examining physical demands in construction and health care work and their prospective associations with musculoskeletal disorders, work ability and sickness absence.Methods and design: This protocol describes a prospective cohort study on 1200 construction and health care workers. Participants will answer a baseline questionnaire concerning musculoskeletal complaints, general health, psychosocial and organizational factors at work, work demands, work ability and physical activity during leisure. A shorter questionnaire will be answered every 6 months for a total of two years, together with continuous sickness absence monitoring during this period. Analysis will prospectively consider associations between self-reported physical demands and musculoskeletal disorders, work ability and sickness absence. To obtain objective data on physical exposures, technical measurements will be collected from two subgroups of N = 300 (Group A) and N = 160 (Group B) during work and leisure. Both group A and B will be given a physical health examination, be tested for physical capacity and physical activity will be measured for four days. Additionally, muscle activity, ground reaction force, body positions and physical activity will be examined during one workday for Group B. Analysis of associations between objectively measured exposure data and the outcomes described above will be done separately for these subpopulations.Discussion: The field study will at baseline produce objectively measured data on physical demands in the construction and health care occupations. In combination with clinical measurements and questionnaire data during follow-up, this will provide a solid foundation to prospectively investigate relationships between physical demands at work and development of musculoskeletal disorders, work ability and sickness absence.
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
- Schiefer, Christoph, et al.
(författare)
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PEPPA - Exchange Platform for Measurements of Occupational Physical Activity and Physical Workload
- 2022
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021 : Methods and Approaches - Methods and Approaches. - Cham : Springer International Publishing. - 2367-3389 .- 2367-3370. - 9783030746131 ; 223 LNNS, s. 175-182, s. 175-182
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Technical measurements allow an objective assessment of MSD risk factors at work. There is a need for common standards regarding data collection and processing, as well as an exchange platform storing measurement data of occupational physical activity and workload for further analysis. Several research institutes started a feasibility study to work on developing standards for assessment of risk factors and implement them in an exchange platform prototype. The first prototype already demonstrates a technical feasibility. Coordination and structure of the contents, as well as estimates of costs and efforts needed for further development need more examination in order to arrive at a final platform with good feasibility.
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| 29. |
- Svensson, Sven, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between telework experience and psychosocial working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional analysis among white-collar workers in Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : WoltersKluwer. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 65:2, s. e74-e82
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To determine to what extent pre-COVID-19 experience of telework was associated with perceived psychosocial working conditions (PWC; job demands, social support and influence at work) during the COVID-19 pandemic among white-collar workers in Sweden, and to determine to what extent the association depends on demographic factors, organizational tenure, and amount of computer use.Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data from 603 white-collar workers were collected October-December 2020 in an industrial company.Results: In general, telework experience was not significantly associated with PWC. Women who began teleworking due to COVID-19 reported more job demands than women not teleworking. For those who began teleworking due to COVID-19, managerial support increased with age.Conclusion: In general, telework experience was not associated with PWC, but telework due to COVID-19 may have influenced PWC differently depending on gender and age.
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| 30. |
- Takala, Esa-Pekka, et al.
(författare)
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Systematic evaluation of observational methods assessing biomechanical exposures at work
- 2010
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; National Research Centre for the  . - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 36:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify published observational methods assessing biomechanical exposures in occupational settings and evaluate them with reference to the needs of different users.Methods: We searched scientific databases and the internet for material from 1965 to September 2008. Methods were included if they were primarily based on the systematic observation of work, the observation target was the human body, and the method was clearly described in the literature. A systematic evaluation procedure was developed to assess concurrent and predictive validity, repeatability, and aspects related to utility. At least two evaluators independently carried out this evaluation.Results: We identified 30 eligible observational methods. Of these, 19 had been compared with some other method(s), varying from expert evaluation to data obtained from video recordings or through the use of technical instruments. Generally, the observations showed moderate-to-good agreement with the corresponding assessments made from video recordings; agreement was the best for large-scale body postures and work actions. Postures of wrist and hand as well as trunk rotation seemed to be more difficult to observe correctly. Intra- and inter-observer repeatability were reported for 7 and 17 methods, respectively, and were judged mostly to be moderate or good.Conclusions: With training, observers can reach consistent results on clearly visible body postures and work activities. Many observational tools exist, but none evaluated in this study appeared to be generally superior. When selecting a method, users should define their needs and assess how results will influence decision-making
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
- Veiersted, Kaj Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of time patterns of activity and rest in full-shift recordings of trapezius muscle activity - Effects of the data processing procedure
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-5711 .- 1050-6411. ; 23:3, s. 540-547
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this paper was to compare the effects of different data reduction procedures on the values of variables characterizing the time pattern of trapezius muscle activity during full work shifts. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the right and left upper trapezius muscles were obtained from 40 young subjects in different occupations, mainly electricians, hairdressers and students. The target EMG variables were gap frequency, muscle rest, and the number and duration of episodes with sustained muscle activity (from 0.13 s to 30 min as minimum duration). These variables were derived from the EMG recordings using different Root Mean Square (RMS) windows (from 0.13 to 6.38 s), and discrimination levels between "activity" and "rest" (0.5%, 1% and 2% of maximal EMG). The results give basis for practical suggestions for EMG analyses of full work shifts. For most variables, a discrimination level of 0.5% EMG(max) showed to be preferable. The time proportion of muscle rest and sustained muscle activity should, in general, be preferred over the corresponding frequency measures. Sustained muscle activity should be calculated using a RMS window between 1 and 3 s, and preferably be stated in terms of variables describing time proportions of activity. Uninterrupted activity episodes longer than 10 min proved not to be a useful variable due to limited occurrence in many work shifts. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
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| 35. |
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| 36. |
- Wahlström, Jens, et al.
(författare)
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Full-Shift Trunk and Upper Arm Postures and Movements Among Aircraft Baggage Handlers
- 2016
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Ingår i: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 60:8, s. 977-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The present study assessed full-shift trunk and upper arm postural exposure amplitudes, frequencies, and durations among Swedish airport baggage handlers and aimed to determine whether exposures differ between workers at the ramp (loading and unloading aircraft) and baggage sorting areas.METHODS: Trunk and upper arm postures were measured using inclinometers during three full work shifts on each of 27 male baggage handlers working at a large Swedish airport. Sixteen of the baggage handlers worked on the ramp and 11 in the sorting area. Variables summarizing postures and movements were calculated, and mean values and variance components between subjects and within subject (between days) were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood algorithms in a one-way random effect model.RESULTS: In total, data from 79 full shifts (651h) were collected with a mean recording time of 495min per shift (range 319-632). On average, baggage handlers worked with the right and left arm elevated >60° for 6.4% and 6.3% of the total workday, respectively. The 90th percentile trunk forward projection (FP) was 34.1°, and the 50th percentile trunk movement velocity was 8° s(-1). For most trunk (FP) and upper arm exposure variables, between-subject variability was considerable, suggesting that the flight baggage handlers were not a homogeneously exposed group. A notable between-days variability pointed to the contents of the job differing on different days. Peak exposures (>90°) were higher for ramp workers than for sorting area workers (trunk 0.6% ramp versus 0.3% sorting; right arm 1.3% ramp versus 0.7% sorting).CONCLUSIONS: Trunk and upper arm postures and movements among flight baggage handlers measured by inclinometry were similar to those found in other jobs comprising manual material handling, known to be associated with increased risks for musculoskeletal disorders. The results showed that full-shift trunk (FP) and, to some extent, peak arm exposures were higher for ramp workers compared with sorting workers.
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| 37. |
- Wahlström, Jens, et al.
(författare)
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Upper arm postures and movements in female hairdressers across four full working days
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press. - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 54:5, s. 584-594
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To describe upper arm postures and movements among female hairdressers, including the variability between hairdressers, between days within hairdresser, and between tasks, as a basis for understanding the characteristics of exposures in the job, considering possible sources of variation and recovery, and discussing appropriate exposure assessment strategies.Methods: Data on upper arm postures were collected using inclinometers during four working days the same week from 28 female hairdressers working in 13 salons. Twenty of the hairdressers noted customer on and off times in a diary, to allow separate analyses of customer tasks (CT) and auxiliary non-customer tasks (AT), including breaks. For a number of posture and movement variables, mean values and variance components between subjects (BS) and within subjects between days (BD) were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood algorithms in one-way random effect models.Results: For the 20 hairdressers with diaries, CT accounted for 279 min (58%) (SDBS = 39 min and SDBD = 85 min) of the working day and AT and breaks for 207 min (42%) (SDBS = 46 min and SDBD = 88 min). The hairdressers worked with the right arm elevated >60° for 6.8% of the whole job (SDBS = 2.8% and SDBD = 2.0%). On average, the hairdressers worked with the right arm elevated >60° for 9.0% of the time during CT, compared to 3.7% during AT, resulting in a contrast between tasks of 0.35.Conclusions: Hairdressers may be at risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and shoulders due to a considerable occurrence of highly elevated arms, especially during CT. On the other hand, we do not find reasons to classify hairdressing as a job with too little variation. Posture variability between days within hairdressers was in the same order of magnitude as that between hairdressers, suggesting that ‘typical’ workdays do not exist. The exposure contrast between CT and AT for variables describing elevated arm postures indicates that for these variables a simple task-based approach for estimating job exposure could be successful.
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