| 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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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- 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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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- 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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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- 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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| 19. |
- 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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| 20. |
- 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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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- 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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| 23. |
- 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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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Engström, Tomas, 1950, et al.
(författare)
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Musculoskeletal symptoms due to technical preconditions in long cycle time work in an automobile assembly plant - a study of prevalence and relation to psychosocial factors and physical exposure
- 1999
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870. ; 30, s. 443-453
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic conditions in a parallelized flow, long cycle time, assembly system. The evaluation focused on physical exposure, psychosocial factors and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. A random sample of 67 assembly operators was included in a cross-sectional study mainly based on questionnaires. Hand/wrist symptoms were common and related to work exposure with hand-held powered tools. In general, the self-reported physical exposure showed only a few significant associations with musculoskeletal symptoms. This may in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions generally being good, with a relatively low duration of combined extreme work postures. Significant associations were found between the psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal symptoms.
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| 26. |
- Kadefors, Roland, 1939, et al.
(författare)
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Ergonomics in Parallelized Car Assembly: A Case Study with References Also to Productivity Aspects
- 1996
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 27:2, s. 101 - 110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This publication was gaining data at the very early phase of the Volvo Uddevalla plant projection process (it required a extensive time to complete and to finally publish). (That is, long before the authors became engaged in an extensive research programme financed by the National Institute for Working Life in Solna) (Cooperative for Optimisation of industrial production systems regarding Productivity and Ergonomics COPE). It deals with e.g. efficiency aspects and ergonomics of this (very) plant and the more embryonic aspects of the so-called tilting devices are evaluated in this publication (a controversial equipment at the early period of time). As was developed by the Volvo personnels and the authors (ergonomic aspects was an accepted way for us to gain access to this plant, to deal with the assembly system design process was from the beginning not accepted (since this was a work task assigned only to the Volvo professionals). But this situation changed after some years (development of the assembly work instructions were a also an accepted work task for us scientist) (see other publications registered in Chalmers Public Library).
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