| 1. |
- 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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| 2. |
- 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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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- 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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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- 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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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- 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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| 10. |
- 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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