| 1. |
- Hansson, Ida, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Handling and comfort evaluation of extra seat belt concepts for rear seat passengers
- 2014
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Pre-crash car manoeuvres may contribute to head injuries to restrained children in frontal impacts. Evasive steering manoeuvres can cause the shoulder belt to slide off the shoulder resulting in excessive forward head excursion. This can allow the head to get in contact with the seat back in front of them.The overall aim of this project was to evaluate different restraint concepts that can maintain the rear-seated occupant well restrained during evasive manoeuvres prior to frontal collisions. Two extra seat belt concepts, named CrissCross (CC) and BackPack (BP), for the rear seat of a passenger car were developed and installed in a Volvo V60. In the project aspects such as handling and comfort were studied, as well as user acceptance and attitude towards the two extra seat belt concepts. To fulfil the goals of the project three different studies were performed; the Guessability study, the Attitude study and the Comfort study. The studies were carried out with children, youths and adults as test subjects. The guessability study was a field study where 100 persons testing handling of the extra seat belt when seeing it for the first time. In the attitude study, 5 focus groups were conducted to explore the user’s attitude to and acceptance of extra seat belts. Moreover, in the comfort study 32 and 14 test subjects respectively evaluated use aspects such as comfort and user experience during one-hour and three-hour car rides respectively. Subjective data, colleted through interviews and questionnaires, were analysed. The data provided comprehensive information as well as understanding of how the user experienced the extra seat belts in a realistic usage situation and also their attitudes towards the extra seat belts and which factors that affect the acceptance of the product. Generally the test subjects showed a positive attitude towards the extra seat belts. Both children and adults appreciated the increased feeling of safety and after having tried both concepts in the comfort study 90 % (for CC) and 70 % (for BP) respectively said that they felt safer travelling with these belt concepts than without. Comfort was considered an important factor in both the attitude and the comfort study. Body shape and size affected the seat belt fit to a great extent and the fit of the extra seat belts affected the comfort experience for most test subjects, both initially and over time. Comfort together with the feeling of safety was pointed out as having greatest impact on preferred concept.In the attitude study 86 % of the participants preferred CC after having tried both concepts for a couple of minutes. After having tried the concepts for one hour each in the comfort study, 56% of the participants preferred CC. This result strongly indicates that the comfort experience of the extra seat belt changes over time. Those who liked CC best appreciated its symmetry, comfort and the feeling of safety. Some test subjects found CC unpleasant to wear because the belts tended to slip close to the neck, described as a strangling feeling. The test subjects who preferred BP thought it was simpler to handle and that it did not cause the same strangling feeling as CC did. Negative characteristics with BP were that it felt asymmetric to use and not as safe as CC. To conclude, this project provided a first evaluation on how people experience extra seat belts in the rear seat of a car, and which factors that affects attitudes towards it. The studies show that besides reliance in the safety of the product, comfort, information about benefits, launching approach and habit of using the product are important factors when it comes to gain acceptance. The project result contains much valuable knowledge that can benefit further development and introduction of new seat belt concepts in cars.
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| 2. |
- Mattsson, Sandra, 1984, et al.
(author)
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Managing production complexity by empowering workers: six cases
- 2014
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In: Procedia CIRP. - : Elsevier BV. - 2212-8271. ; 17, s. 212-217
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To manage high product variety many companies empower their operators. Reaching the benefits of that is connected tosuccessfully distributing role allotments and work tasks in the complex context. The characteristic of empowerment is studied in six cases where the focus is work tasks and power to affect the company. Results indicate that the workers are, in general,responsible for more than 30% of the tasks connected to the production but that they do not always have the power to make decisions that influence the organization directly. This could increase the companies’ attractiveness as a future employer and itscompetitiveness.
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| 3. |
- Osvalder, Anna-Lisa, 1961, et al.
(author)
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Adult’s and Children’s Attitudes towards Extra Seat Belts in the Rear Seats
- 2017
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In: Conference proceedings International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury, IRCOBI. - 2235-3151. ; 2017-September:RC-17-52, s. 341-352
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is an increased risk of the shoulder belt slipping off in certain crash configurations, resulting in sub-optimal protection. An extra seat belt would improve the restraint system. The objective of this study was to identify children’s and adult’s attitudes toward extra seat belts added to the three-point belt in the rear seat of a passenger car. Five focus groups were conducted with 11 Swedish children (8-10 years), and 18 adults. Two concepts were studied, the Backpack with an extra belt over the inboard shoulder, and the Criss-Cross with an extra belt across the torso. The results showed that seat belt usage was not questioned. The three-point belt was experienced as very safe, and extra seat belts were considered to further increase safety. Both concepts were accepted, but Criss-Cross was preferred due to greater perceived safety and comfort. Discomfort occurred in both concepts due to chafing at the neck, extra pressure on the upper body, and reduced ability to move. In conclusion, extra seat belts were in line with children’s current attitudes toward car safety, while adults were more hesitant. Increased understanding of user attitudes provides input to future restraint system design, resulting in attractive systems with improved restraint function.
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| 4. |
- Osvalder, Anna-Lisa, 1961, et al.
(author)
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Children's and Adults' Comfort Experience of Extra Seat Belts When Riding in the Rear Seat of a Passenger Car
- 2015
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In: Traffic Injury Prevention. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1538-957X .- 1538-9588. ; 16, s. 46-51
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective:The objective of this study was to explore passengers' comfort experience of extra seat belts during on-road driving in the rear seat of a passenger car and to investigate how the use of extra belts affects children's and adults' attitudes to the product.Methods:Two different seat belt systems were tested, criss-cross (CC) and backpack (BP), consisting of the standard 3-point belt together with an additional 2-point belt. In total, 32 participants (15 children aged 6-10, 6 youths aged 11-15, and 11 adults aged 20-79, who differed considerably in size, shape, and proportions) traveled for one hour with each system, including city traffic and highway driving. Four video cameras monitored the test subject during the drive. Subjective data regarding emotions and perceived discomfort were collected in questionnaires every 20 min. A semistructured interview was held afterwards.Results:All participant groups accepted the new products and especially the increased feeling of safety (P
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| 5. |
- Osvalder, Anna-Lisa, 1961, et al.
(author)
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Children's attitudes towards comfort and safety of an extra seatbelt during car travelling
- 2014
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In: 46th Annual Nordic Ergonomics Society (NES), Aug 17-20, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The objective of this study was to identify and analyse children’s attitudes regarding comfort and safety of extra seatbelts in the car rear seat. Together with the existing three- point belt the extra seatbelt holds the child in a more upright and forward facing position, which is the desired sitting position for optimal protection. Focus groups were used to identify attitudes of 11 Swedish children between 8-10 years. First attitudes towards the standard three-point seat belt were discussed then two different extra seat belt concepts were introduced verbally with pictures. Finally the two concepts were tested in the rear seat of a car.The results showed that the children were much aware of car safety issues but also influenced by their parents’ attitudes regarding safety. They said the seat belt is good since it provides a feeling of safety and protection, even though it sometimes makes it uncomfortable to travel. The children reacted positively on the extra seat belts and considered them as nicer, simpler, more comfortable and cooler to use than solely the three- point belt. They also wished to have extra seat belts in their own car due to increased safety. However they were also much annoyed by discomfort. For some children the extra seat belt caused chafing to the neck or unpleasant pressure on their upper body. They also felt trapped because it reduced the possibility to move freely.To conclude the children showed high acceptance of extra seat belts based on their first impression, much due to that their parents want them to be safe. However, after testing the concepts for only a couple of minutes, some concerns arose regarding comfort and handling aspects. The children believed that if the extra seat belt would cause discomfort or be troublesome to handle, it would result in decreased usage.
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| 6. |
- Osvalder, Anna-Lisa, 1961, et al.
(author)
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Older Children’s Sitting Postures, Behaviour and Comfort Experience during Ride – A Comparison between an Integrated Booster Cushion and a High-Back Booster
- 2013
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In: Proceedings 2013 IRCOBI Conference, 11-13 September, Gothenburg, Sweden. - 2235-3151. ; , s. 882-885
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sitting postures and comfort experience were analysed from six children aged 7-9 (131-145 cm) seated on an Integrated Booster Cushion (IBC) and a high-back Booster (hbB) during 1 hour on-road drives respectively. Data was collected from video recordings, questionnaires and interviews. When seated on the IBC the most frequent posture was with the entire back and shoulders against the backrest and the head upright. On the hbB, the shoulders were seldom against the backrest. The most frequent lateral sitting posture for both boosters was upright with the seat belt in contact with the neck or mid-shoulder. Moderate and extreme forward and lateral postures occurred occasionally. A positive attitude was found towards the IBC due to possibilities to move freely, the soft seat cushion and the absence of torso supports, but the short seat cushion created some inconvenience. The hbB was perceived hard, created a locked-in feeling and felt unpleasant due to movements when changing postures. The combination of objective and subjective measures provided valuable information regarding children’s sitting behaviour. It is obvious that children do not always sit as in crash tests. Their activities and perceived discomfort influenced the selection of sitting posture and seat belt positions.
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| 7. |
- Ytreberg, Erik, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Metal and PAH loads from ships and boats, relative other sources, in the Baltic Sea
- 2022
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In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. - : Elsevier BV. - 0025-326X .- 1879-3363. ; 182
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Baltic Sea is a sensitive environment that is affected by chemical pollution derived from multiple natural and anthropogenic sources. The overall aim of this study was to estimate the load of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from shipping and leisure boating, relative other sources, to the Baltic Sea and to identify possible measures that could lead to major reductions in the loads of hazardous substances from maritime shipping and leisure boating. The use of copper-based antifouling paints, and operation of scrubbers in open loop mode, were the two most dominant identified sources of hazardous substances to the Baltic Sea. Open loop scrubbers accounted for 8.5 % of the total input of anthracene to the sea. More than a third of the total load of copper can be reduced if copper-free antifouling paints or other biocide-free antifouling strategies are used on ships and leisure boats.
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