| 1. |
- Lind, Carl Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Development and evaluation of RAMP II - a practitioner’s tool for assessing musculoskeletal disorder risk factors in industrial manual handling
- 2020
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In: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 63:4, s. 477-504
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RAMP II is an observation-based tool developed for assessing a wide range of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors related to industrial manual handling. RAMP II, which is part of the RAMP tool, is based on research studies and expert judgments. The assessment relies mainly on direct or video observations of the work being assessed, but additionally on measured push/pull forces and weights of handled objects, and on perceived workload and discomfort. Over 80 practitioners participated in the development of the tool. According to the evaluations, 73% of the assessment items evaluated had acceptable reliability, and the majority of the potential end-users reported that RAMP II is usable for assessing risks and as a decision base. It is concluded that this study provides support that RAMP II is usable for risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors in industrial manual handling. Practitioner summary: RAMP II is an observation-based assessment tool for screening and assessing major musculoskeletal exposures in industrial manual handling jobs. Over 80 practitioners participated in the development of the tool. This study provides support that RAMP II is usable for risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors in industrial manual handling. Abbreviations: CTS: carpal tunnel syndrome; HARM: the Hand Arm Risk Assessment method; IMP: intramuscular pressure; κw: linearly weighted kappa; LBD: lower back disorders; LBP: lower back pain; MAWL: maximum acceptable weight of lift; MHO: manual handling operations; MSD: musculoskeletal disorder; MNSD: neck-shoulder disorder; NSP: neck-shoulder pain; OCRA: the Occupational Repetitive Action methods; OHS: occupational health and safety; PABAK: prevalence and bias adjusted kappa; p0: proportion of agreement; RAMP: Risk Assessment and Management tool for manual handling Proactively; ROM: range of motion; RPL: risk and priority level; RSI: the Revised Strain Index; RULA: the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment; SWEA: Swedish Work Environment Authority; UEMSDs: upper-extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders; WMSD: work-related musculoskeletal disorder; WRMSD: work-related musculoskeletal disorder; workday8h: eight hours workday.
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| 2. |
- Forsman, Mikael, Professor, et al.
(author)
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Systematic risk management with RAMP for riskassessment and adapted changes - an implementation study
- 2022
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In: NES2022 WORK WELL Conference Proceedings Research. ; , s. 156-157
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RAMP (Risk Assessment and Management tool for manual handling – Proactively), is arisk management tool focusing on manual handling work. Since 2017 RAMP has beenspread to over 105 countries. More than other methods, RAMP supports the entire riskmanagement process. RAMP is based on risk factors documented in scientific literature,and it has been evaluated regarding usability and reliability. It is now used for MSDrisk management in many organisations. The feedback from RAMP users is positive,and there are indications of reductions in sick absence.The purpose of the ongoing project is to investigate a selection of effects thatimplementation entails and to examine the implementation of RAMP from a leadershipand system perspective. Specific questions are: What happens when a companyimplements RAMP? Are the risk factors reduced? What affects the change? Whatstrategies do companies use when implementing RAMP? Are the effects of whichstrategies companies apply when implementing affected? What are the facilitators andbarriers to the implementation of this risk management method?The project is carried out as an implementation study based on mixed methods incollaboration between researchers and four production companies and two FHV actors.The effects and implementation of RAMP will be evaluated by comparing risk levels,qualitative interviews, document analyses, questionnaires and structured observationsof work processes. For changes in risk factors, RAMP risk assessments, which includeobservations and objectivemeasurements of push-pull forces, carried out at baseline andat follow-up will be compared. If possible, in addition to the above data collection, thecompany's own data on sick leave, productivity and quality (eg quality deficiency data)will be included and monitored over time.Implementations and effects of RAMP will be summarized in so-called logicalmodels. These models will identify inputs (e.g. time and resources set aside forimplementation), activities (e.g. training and measures implemented), intermediate(short-term) outcomes (e.g. the extent to which RAMP is used in the systematic workenvironment work and in the entire process for risk management, how much of the highrisks have been reduced, what type of measures have been taken and how the riskawareness has developed among employees), long-term outcomes (e.g. employees'perception of the workload, perceived health and perceived problems), and possiblylong-term outcomes (e.g. changes in sick absence, quality and productivity as well assharing good examples within the organisation).157At this point in the project, the questionnaire has been designed, companies havebeen contacted, and data collection at the first company, that now has assigned animplementation strategy, is about to start.The project is expected to show what effects on the work environment (possibly alsohealth, quality and productivity) that systematic application of the RAMP method canhave, aswell aswhich of the studied factors affect the implementation and to what extentthey do so. The results are expected to lead to new knowledge in the area of systematicrisk management and implementation strategies.
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| 3. |
- Mazaheri, Ava, 1992-
(author)
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Beyond the Force: Redefining load exposure assessments of nutrunners for improved power tool ergonomics
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Reaction force exposure from handheld tightening tools (also known as nutrunners) constitutes an acknowledged contributor to musculoskeletal disorders among assembly operators, and are today not regulated by explicit limits. The research presented in this thesis aimed at contributing to the development of recommended exposure limits for, and assessments of, reaction loads from handheld right-angle and pistol-grip tightening tools.In order to address the thesis objectives, four research studies were conducted. A literature review was conducted to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge within the topic area. Knowledge gaps were identified by mapping available publications and based on those suggesting directions for further research. Thereafter, two psychophysically based experimental studies were conducted where acceptability limits related to load exposure from handheld tightening tools were derived for right-angle and pistol-grip tightening tools. Finally, an automotive manufacturer’s approach to evaluating and managing the use of handheld tightening tools was outlined by means of an interview study.As found through the literature review, four of the forty included publications had stated exposure limits (general recommendations) or acceptability limits (load acceptance as assessed by study participants) for reaction load exposure from handheld tightening tools. However, some of the reported limits did not consider relevant physical parameters, and some did not comply with modern power tool technologies. Based on this, it was suggested that researchers should emphasize physical quantities relevant to the reaction load such as impulse, express exposure limits in terms of reaction load relevant parameters (and not only the tightening torque), and further study modern power tool technologies.The experimental studies resulted in acceptability limits for right-angle and pistol-grip tightening tools expressed as screw-joint tightening torque (i.e. a task-related factor), where acceptable tightening torque limits were higher for the inertia-controlled tightening program compared to the continuous drive tightening program, in both studies. In addition, corresponding acceptable reaction load levels (i.e. the exposure) were derived, indicating load levels resulting from the tool use that the study participants assessed as acceptable for an 8-hour workday. It should be noted that the experimental times on which the acceptability limits are based were limited, and that the acceptability limits therefore should not be prescribed to full workdays.From the interview study, three main topic categories were identified based on the interviewees’ responses: ‘A holistic approach’, ‘Information and knowledge availability’ and ‘Negotiating criteria’. Within the studied automotive organization, a comprehensive approach to ergonomics assessments is incorporate, where both objective and subjective evaluations form the basis for addressing physically demanding tool use situations. Further, it was found that there are different instances where the employees lack sufficient knowledge related to the tools, and which can influence the employment of handheld tightening tools. In addition, it was found that criteria such as safety and quality could in some situations compete with ergonomics efforts. In conclusion, the findings from this thesis can contribute to the development of recommended exposure limits and evaluation methods for reaction load exposure from handheld tightening tools. Policymakers could utilize the insights presented in this thesis to form general guidelines directed at power tool manufacturers as well as tool using organizations. Through standardized guidelines, reaction loads from handheld tightening tools, which is one of the contributors to MSDs within assembly work, can be managed and reduced.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Mazaheri, Ava, et al.
(author)
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Reaction force exposure for tightening tool users : A psychophysical based experimental study of electric right-angle nutrunners
- 2022
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In: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 103
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Reaction forces from nutrunner tools constitute a risk of developing MSDs. However, recommendations for sustainable reaction force levels are lacking. The aim of this study was to inform recommendations regarding reaction load exposures from right-angle nutrunners. Through a psychophysics approach, experienced assembly workers subjectively assessed reaction loads when using a nutrunner in six combinations of tool tightening strategy, work-pace and screw-joint stiffness. Electromyography, tool and joint parameters were measured. Regardless of tightening strategy, joint stiffness and work-pace combinations, no large differences in acceptable tightening torque, peak reaction force, and handle displacement were observed. However, acceptable jerk and impulse differed substantially between the TurboTight (R) (high-acceleration) and QuickStep (R) (conventional) tightening strategies. Although the TurboTight (R) strategy overall showed reduced peak muscular activities compared to the QuickStep (R), the participant-rated acceptable torque levels were similar, plausibly due to TurboTights' high jerk levels. Jerk and impulse are hypothesized to influence the perception of reaction loads.
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| 6. |
- Rose, Linda, 1963-, et al.
(author)
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The RAMP 2.0 project : Towards an enhanced MSD risk management tool
- 2022
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In: Proceedings of the 51st NES Conference. ; , s. 155-
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2017 RAMP (Risk Assessment and Management tool for manual handling – Proactively), a risk management tool focusing on manual handling work, was launched with the objective to contribute to reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). RAMP has since then been spread to over 105 countries and is used as the standard method for MSD risk management in several organisations. Different usability, reliability and validity aspects of RAMP have been evaluated as being good. To enhance RAMP’s application range and to further increase its usability, the RAMP 2.0 project started in 2018. Results from this ongoing project have been reported at several conferences, e.g. IEA 2021.The objective of this conference-contribution is to provide an overview of the results of the project this far, whereas the objectives of the project are to: i) expand RAMP’s application range to include hand-intensive work, ii) in addition to the existing Excel-based version, provide RAMP in a system version, and iii) enable practitioners to use RAMP results in forming key performance indicators, KPIs, as a means to follow the results of systematic work environment progress at an organisation, and to provide managers with relevant data for informed decision making.The project is carried out with a participatory, iterative methodology. It is led by re-searchers at KTH, and carried out in a collaboration between researchers and practitioners from over a dozen organisations. Methods used include needs analyses, literature studies and iterative development of the three parts, where workshops with different types of experts are regarded as crucial.The results this far for each one of the three parts are: i) Enhanced application range. Based on a needs analysis among the participating organisations, the first version of RAMP’s “Hand model” has been developed. An evaluation study of this model in planned for the spring 2022 where usability and reliability are in focus; ii) Also a version of the RAMP system version has been developed, as well as iii) methods for forming KPIs, i.e. both KPIs formed by using only RAMP results data and KPIs formed by combining RAMP results and company data, as for example quality and sick-leave data.By the inclusion of hand intensive work in RAMP’s application range, a large part of commonly performed work tasks can be assessed and managed. However, limitations of the tool’s application range is discussed, as well as how adequate input data can and determined.
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| 7. |
- Stenberg Gleisner, Anna Klara, et al.
(author)
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Towards Innovative Bathroom Solutions for All - A Needs Analysis
- 2021
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In: 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021. - Cham : Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. ; , s. 376-383
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To be able to age in place, the home environment often needs to accommodate users’ needs throughout their life span. Bathrooms are an especially demanding space for the user, but also for those supporting the user, for example nursing assistants, in their daily life. This study investigated factors of importance for creating well-functioning bathrooms – for both nursing assistants and users, identifying needs concerning access to assistive devices for these groups. Semi-structured interviews were carried out. In total 13 nursing assistants, occupational therapists and users participated in the interviews. The overall results emphasize the importance of space, assistive devices and to be able to customize the bathroom to accommodate the user’s needs throughout their life span. These factors are of importance in order to enable independency and safety for the user in the bathroom, and at the same time, enable a safe work environment for those supporting the user. The results help us to understand the complexity of this problem and the results can be used in the work of reducing injury risks and create sustainable work environments.
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