1. |
- Larsen, Louise B., et al.
(author)
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Duty belt or load-bearing vest? Discomfort and pressure distribution for police driving standard fleet vehicles
- 2019
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In: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 80, s. 146-151
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Police working in active duty have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, with lower back pain being the most frequently reported. As a part of uniform regulations, Swedish police are mandated to wear body armour and duty belts at all times during work. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different load carriage designs on invehicle sitting pressure and self-rated discomfort among police. Results showed less discomfort when wearing the alternate load carriage system incorporating a load-bearing vest and thigh holster compared to the standard load carriage system consisting of a duty belt. Pressures in the lower back were reduced when wearing the load-bearing vest whereas pressures in the upper back region increased. Relocating appointments away from the waist has the potential to improve sitting positions and the ergonomic situation for police when driving fleet vehicles.
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2. |
- Adamsson, Mathias, et al.
(author)
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Seasonal variation in bright daylight exposure, mood and behavior among a group of office workers in Sweden
- 2018
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In: Journal of Circadian Rhythms. - : Ubiquity Press. - 1740-3391. ; 16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of the study was to investigate seasonal variation in mood and behavior among a group of office workers in Sweden (56°N). Thirty subjects participated in this longitudinal study. The subjects kept a weekly log that included questionnaires for ratings of psychological wellbeing and daily sleep-activity diaries where they also noted time spent outdoors. The lighting conditions in the offices were subjectively evaluated during one day, five times over the year. There was a seasonal variation in positive affect and in sleep-activity behavior. Across the year, there was a large variation in the total time spent outdoors in daylight. The subjects reported seasonal variation concerning the pleasantness, variation and strength of the light in the offices and regarding the visibility in the rooms. Finally, the subjects spent most of their time indoors, relying on artificial lighting, which demonstrates the importance of the lighting quality in indoor environments.
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3. |
- Aries, Myriam, et al.
(author)
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The relationship of light exposure to sleep outcomes among office workers. Part 1 : Working in the office versus at home before and during the COVID-pandemic
- 2024
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In: Lighting Research and Technology. - : Sage Publications. - 1477-1535 .- 1477-0938. ; 56:2, s. 113-125
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relationship between everyday light exposure and sleep was studied for office workers. The study was conducted during the upswing of the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling a comparison between Office and Home Workdays. Fifteen full-time office employees were monitored for a period of 4–6 weeks. They wore a light-tracking device on their clothes and had a sleep tracker at home. Compared to an Office Workday, light exposure was lower in the afternoon and total sleep time was almost 5 minutes longer on a Home Workday. Sleep efficiency was the same on both workday types. A higher median illuminance level in the afternoon was significantly related to later sleep onset on an Office Workday. Higher median illuminance levels in the morning were related to earlier awakening. Counter to expectations, higher light levels in the evening were also related to earlier awakening. Everyday light exposure matters for sleep quality but may affect circadian functioning differently than the often more extreme light interventions employed in laboratory experiments. Moreover, differences in outcomes between Office and Home Workdays signal the need for further investigation to provide supportive light levels during workhours.
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4. |
- Beute, F., et al.
(author)
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The relationship of light exposure to sleep outcomes among office workers. Part 2 : Comparison of days with and without social constraints
- 2024
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In: Lighting Research and Technology. - : Sage Publications. - 1477-1535 .- 1477-0938. ; 56:2, s. 126-135
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Social constraints posed by work schedules influence sleep duration and timing. Everyday light exposure can help (or hinder) sleep outcomes. This study investigated the differences in the relationship between light exposure and sleep outcomes on days with and without social constraints using ambulatory assessment for 4–6 weeks for 15 office employees. The effects of light on sleep were investigated for both clock time and wake time (related to individual sleep times). Participants were exposed to more light during the morning and afternoon on workdays, and sleep times were later on days without social constraints. The relationship between light exposure and sleep was more pronounced, or sometimes even only present, for days without social constraints. In addition, no differences were found between clock time and wake time, which underlines the complexity of the relationship between everyday light exposure and sleep. Despite increased light exposure during workdays, the effects of light on sleep were more pronounced on days without social constraints. It may signal that office workers need a more substantial circadian stimulus (i.e. higher light exposure) for light to influence sleep outcomes on days with social constraints.
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5. |
- Rolander, Bo, et al.
(author)
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Measurements and observations of movements at work for warehouse forklift truck operators
- 2021
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In: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. - : Taylor and Francis Ltd.. - 1080-3548 .- 2376-9130.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Inclinometry and video analyses can provide objective measures of physical workloads. The study aim was to measure and observe arm, back and head postures and movements among forklift truck operators (FLTOs) during a working day, analyzing differences between types of forklift trucks and to assess reported workload and health. Twenty-five male FLTOs in a high-level warehouse were randomly included. The data collected comprised technical measurements, video analyses of postures and movements, and a questionnaire measuring health, pain and workload. On average, the FLTOs rotated their head more than 45°, in total, 232 times/h. Video analysis revealed that FLTOs periodically drive the forklift truck sideways with the head rotated in the direction of travel, and in periods look upwards, in which the head is highly rotated and extended. Inclinometry and observations during the working day has the potential to be a valuable part of risk assessment promoting occupational safety and health.
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6. |
- Sithravel, RatnaKala, et al.
(author)
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Morning boost on individuals’ psychophysiological wellbeing indicators with supportive, dynamic lighting in windowless open-plan workplace in Malaysia
- 2018
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 13:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Workplace architectural lighting conditions that are biologically dim during the day are causing healthy individuals to experience light-induced health and performance-related problems. Dynamic lighting was reported beneficial in supporting individuals’ psychological behavior and physiological responses during work period in Europe. It has yet to be investigated in workplaces with minimal/no natural daylight contribution in tropical Malaysia. Hence, an exploratory experimental study was initiated in an experimental windowless open-plan workplace in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang. The aim was to identify dynamic lighting configurations that were more supportive of a morning boosting effect than the control constant lighting, to support dayshift individuals’ psychophysiological wellbeing indicators during the peak morning work period. The immediate impact of a 2-hour morning exposure to overhead white LED (6500 K) with different horizontal illuminance levels and oscillations (lighting patterns) were investigated on physiological indicator limited to urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, and psychological indicators for alertness, mood, visual comfort, cognitive and visual task performance. Not all of the investigated dynamic lighting configurations were supportive of a morning boost. Only configurations 500increased to750 and 500increased to1000 lx therapeutically supported most of the indicators. Both these configurations suppressed urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, and improved alertness, cognitive performance, positive affect, and visual comfort better than ‘visit 1: 500constant500’ lx (control). The increasing oscillation was observed more beneficial for the morning boost in tropical Malaysia, which is in reverse to that specified in the human rhythmic dynamic lighting protocol developed by researchers from the Netherlands for application during winter. The findings from this study present the feasibility of dynamic architectural lighting acting as an environmental therapeutic solution in supporting the individuals’ psychophysiological wellbeing indicators in windowless open-plan workplace in tropical Malaysia. Further investigations on the two prospective configurations are recommended to determine the better supportive one for the morning boosting effect in Malaysia.
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