| 51. |
- Zuev, Sergey, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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Does the death postponement phenomenon really exist?
- 2020
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Ingår i: SMTDA 2020 - Proceedings.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is a common belief that people close to death from natural causes can postpone their imminent death if they see a strong reason to survive a bit longer. This is known as the Postponement hypothesis: that a meaningful occasion can act as a motivator to prolong life for a short amount of time. A few studies have already addressed this hypothesis but their conclusions are contradictory. To check the postponement hypothesis, we analysed almost 249 thousand cases in the dataset for South African people who died in the year 2015. We took a person’s birthday as the meaningful occasion and analyse the death rate around this date using statistical models offered by survival analysis. If the hypothesis is true, it can be expected that the mortality rate should be lower a period just before the birthday and, perhaps, higher shortly afterwards. The results of our analysis show that no postponement of death can be seen for the examined dataset. In fact, to the contrary, the data suggest that the mortality rate is higher both before and after the birthday. Speculations as to why this is the case might be a higher risk associated with the stress of expectations for the birthday as well as an earlier start of celebrations with associated departure from the recommended regime.
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| 52. |
- Hagenbjörk-Gustafsson, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Determinants of personal exposure to some carcinogenic substances and nitrogen dioxide among the general population in five Swedish cities
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1559-0631 .- 1559-064X. ; 24:4, s. 437-443
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental levels of airborne carcinogenic and related substances are comparatively better known than individual exposure and its determinants. We report on a personal monitoring program involving five Swedish urban populations. The aim of the program was to investigate personal exposure to benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The measurements were performed among 40 inhabitants during seven consecutive days, in one urban area each year, during 2000-2008. The estimated population exposure levels were 1.95 mu g/m(3) for benzene, 0.56 mu g/m(3) for 1,3-butadiene, 19.4 mu g/m(3) for formaldehyde, and 14.1,mu g/m(3) for NO2. Statistical analysis using a mixed-effects model revealed that time spent in traffic and time outdoors contributed to benzene and 1,3- butadiene exposure. For benzene, refueling a car was an additional determinant influencing the exposure level. Smoking or environmental tobacco smoke were significant determinants of exposure to NO2, benzene, and 1, 3-butadiene. Those with a gas stove had higher NO2 exposure. Living in a single-family house increased the exposure to formaldehyde significantly. In a variance component model, the between-subject variance dominated for 1,3-butadiene and formaldehyde, whereas the between-city variance dominated for NO2. For benzene, the between-subject and between-cities variances were similar.
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| 53. |
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| 54. |
- Johansson Hanse, Jan, 1954, et al.
(författare)
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Musculoskeletal Symptoms, Ergonomic Aspects and Psychosocial Factors in Two Different Truck Assembly Concepts
- 1993
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Ingår i: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. - 1872-8219 .- 0169-8141. ; 12:1-2, s. 35-48
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The project was carried out as a multidisciplinary correlational study of two truck-axle assembly systems (System A and B). System A (the old system) could be characterized as an unpaced line assembly system, whereas the change to the new system, System B, involved a parallelized system with longer job cycle time. The study included all permanent assembly workers in the two systems (System A 17 workers, System B 28 workers). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the two systems with respect to ergonomic factors, psychosocial factors and self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms. The job cycles were studied by means of video observation. Each subject answered a questionnaire regarding musculoskeletal symptoms and physical and psychosocial environment. The assemblers in System B were more satisfied with the physical work environment (e.g. noise, air), but less satisfied with the psychosocial environment, and the period prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was not lower, compared with the assemblers in System A. Video observation techniques showed that deep forward flexion was less common, but that the work was more hand intense in System B. In System B, neck/shoulder symptoms were associated principally with physical work (load) variables, whereas low back symptoms were associated with psychosocial variables.
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| 55. |
- 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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| 56. |
- Lindegård, Agneta, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived exertion, comfort and working technique in professional computer users and associations with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms.
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. - London : BioMed Central. - 1471-2474. ; 13, s. 38-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether perceived exertion, perceived comfort and working technique is associated with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms among professional computer users. METHODS: At baseline a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 853 participants from 46 different work sites (382 men and 471 women) who, at baseline, had been free from neck and upper extremity symptoms during the preceding month. Work-related exposures, individual factors, and symptoms from the neck and upper extremities were assessed. Observations of working technique were performed by ergonomists using an ergonomic checklist. Incidence data were collected by means of 10 monthly questionnaires, asking for information on the occurrence of neck, shoulder and arm/hand symptoms. Perceived exertion was rated on a modified Borg RPE scale ranging from 0 (very, very light) to 14 (very, very strenuous). Perceived comfort was rated on a 9-point scale ranging from -4 (very, very poor) to +4 (very, very good) in relation to the chair, computer screen, keyboard, and computer mouse. RESULTS: The median follow up time was 10.3 months. The incidence of symptoms from the neck, shoulders and arm/hands were 50, 24 and 34 cases per 100 person years, respectively.Higher perceived exertion in the neck, shoulder or arm/hands was associated with an increased risk of developing symptoms in the corresponding body region. Moreover, a dose-response relationship between the level of exertion and the risk of developing symptoms was recorded for all three regions. There was an association between low comfort and an increased risk for neck symptoms, but not for shoulder and arm/hand symptoms, although a trend towards such an association (not statistically significant) could be seen. Working technique was, in this study, not associated with the risk of developing symptoms in any of the investigated body regions. CONCLUSION: There was a strong association between high perceived exertion and the development of neck, shoulder, and arm/hand symptoms. Moreover, there was an association between poor perceived comfort and neck pain. Surveillance of computer users may include perceived exertion and comfort to target individuals at risk for neck and upper extremity symptoms.
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| 57. |
- Maclachlan, Laura, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring perception of vibrations from rail: : An interview study
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1660-4601. ; 14:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rail transport is an environmentally responsible approach and traffic is expected to increase in the coming decades. Little is known about the implications for quality of life of populations living close to railways. This study explores the way in which vibrations from rail are perceived and described by these populations. The study took place in the Västra Götaland and Värmland regions of Sweden. A qualitative study approach was undertaken using semi-structured interviews within a framework of predetermined questions in participants’ homes. A 26.3% response rate was achieved and 17 participants were interviewed. The experience of vibrations was described in tangible terms through different senses. Important emerging themes included habituation to and acceptance of vibrations, worry about property damage, worry about family members and general safety. Participants did not reflect on health effects, however, chronic exposure to vibrations through multimodal senses in individual living environments may reduce the possibility for restoration in the home. Lack of empowerment to reduce exposure to vibrations was important. This may alter individual coping strategies, as taking actions to avoid the stressor is not possible. The adoption of other strategies, such as avoidance, may negatively affect an individual’s ability to cope with the stressor and their health.
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| 58. |
- Neumann, W. Patrick, et al.
(författare)
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Innovation and employee injury risk in automotive disassembly operations
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Production Research. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0020-7543 .- 1366-588X. ; 56:9, s. 3188-3203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Engineering innovations in car disassembly systems are studied for affects on system operators’ risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI). Objective instrumented measures of injury risk factors with synchronized video-based task analyses were used to examine changes in operators’ RSI risk during two cases of engineering innovation: 1) a shift in industrial model from traditional extracting saleable parts to line-based full material recovery, and 2) the prospective effects of a simulated “Lean” inspired process improvement in the line system.Both cases of innovation showed significantly increased movement speeds and reduced muscular recovery opportunities, implying increased RSI risk. This case study reveals a mechanism by which innovation may increase RSI risks for operators. Managers responsible for engineering innovation should ensure their teams have the tools and mandate necessary to control injury hazards as part of the development and design process. These cases suggest how failure to manage RSI hazards in the innovation process may allow increases of injury risks that can compromise operational performance. This “innovation pitfall” has implications for operator health and organizational sustainability. Alternative pathways are discussed.
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| 59. |
- Pettersson, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Noise and hand-arm vibration exposure in relation to the risk of hearing loss
- 2012
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Ingår i: Noise & Health. - : Medknow. - 1463-1741 .- 1998-4030. ; 14:59, s. 159-165
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to examine the possible association of combined exposure of noise and hand-arm vibration (HAV) and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Workers in a heavy engineering industry were part of a dynamic cohort. Of these workers, 189 had HAV exposure, and their age and hearing status were recorded in the same year and were, therefore, included in the analysis. Data on HAV duration and acceleration was gathered through questionnaires, observations, and measurements. All available audiograms were categorized into normal and hearing loss. The first exposure variable included the lifetime HAV exposure. The lifetime HAV exposure was multiplied by the acceleration of HAV for the second and third exposure variable. Logistic regression using the Generalized Estimation Equations method was chosen to analyze the data to account for the repeated measurements. The analysis was performed with both continuous exposure variables and with exposure variables grouped into exposure quartiles with hearing loss as an outcome and age as a covariate. With continuous exposure variables, the odds ratio (OR) with a 95 confidence interval (CI) for hearing loss was equal to or greater than one for all exposure variables. When the exposure variables were grouped into quartiles, the OR with a 95 CI was greater than one at the third and fourth quartile. The results show that working with vibrating machines in an environment with noise exposure increases the risk of hearing loss, supporting an association between exposure to noise and HAV, and the noise-induced hearing loss.
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| 60. |
- Pettersson, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Risk of Hearing Loss Among Workers with Vibration-Induced White Fingers
- 2014
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Ingår i: American Journal of Industrial Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0271-3586 .- 1097-0274. ; 57:12, s. 1311-1318
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundWe examined the risk of hearing loss for workers who use hand-held vibrating tools with vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) compared to workers without VWF. MethodsData on 184 participants from a 21-year cohort were gathered with questionnaires and measurements. The effects on hearing status of VWF, hand-arm vibration exposure, smoking habits, age and two-way interactions of these independent variables were examined with binary logistic regression. Analyses were made for the right hand and ear as well as for the hand with VWF and the ear with worse categorized hearing status. ResultsWorkers with VWF in their right hand had an increased risk of hearing loss (odds ratio 2.2-2.3) in the right ear. Workers with VWF in any hand did not have any increased risk of hearing loss in the ear with worse hearing status. ConclusionsThis study supports the hypothesis that VWF increases the risk of hearing loss among workers who use hand-held vibrating tools in a noisy environment. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:1311-1318, 2014. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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