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- Andersson, Karin, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Work environment, Lean and Agriculture
- 2014
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In: PROCEEDINGS: 11th International Symposium on Human Factors in Organisational Design and Management & 46th Annual Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference. - : IEA Press. - 9788793130135 ; , s. 661-666
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lean has become the predominant management concept in industry, but its effect on the work environment is debated. Lean has now reached farms and garden nurseries. This paper aims to identify consequences for the physical and psychosocial work environment when Lean was applied in micro-businesses in the agricultural sector. Observations, a questionnaire and interviews were used as methods. It was concluded that the psychosocial work environment became more structured and less stressful. The physical work environment was partly improved by less transportation on the farm. However, consideration of the physical work environment was insufficient.
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- Hemphälä, Hillevi, et al.
(author)
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A method for assessing risks within visual ergonomics
- 2014
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In: 11th International Symposium on Human Factors in Organisational Design and Management & 46th Annual Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference. - Santa Monica, CA, USA : The IEA PRESS. - 9788793130135 ; , s. 111-112
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 1. IntroductionInsufficient visual ability can lead to strained work load for employees and can contribute to eyestrain and musculoskeletal discomfort, “the eye leads the body” (Anshel, 2005). An optimal visual environment provides physical conditions for work in the best possible way. Visually demanding work, such as computer work, is associated with eye discomfort, headaches and muscle pains in mainly the neck and shoulders (Rosenfield, 2011). For computer workers in North America studies show that 75-90 % of the workers reported subjective symptoms from the eyes (Anshel, 2005). The causality between eyestrain and musculoskeletal discomfort is not fully understood, but studies have shown that straining the eyes increases the musculoskeletal activity in neck and shoulders (trapezius), and a link between visually demanding work, eye problems, headache and/or muscle problems have been found (Aarås et al., 2001; Richter et al., 2008; Zetterlund et al., 2009; Zetterberg et al., 2013). A study of call-center workers in Sweden showed that 21% of workers have both eyes and neck problems (Wiholm et al., 2007). Ergonomic problems also exist for professions where computer work is not dominant. Surgeons and other surgical personnel, with subjective eye discomfort, reported twice the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders when compared with staff without eye symptoms (Hemphälä et al., 2011). In an intervention study among postmen the eyestrain and musculoskeletal discomfort decreased after visual ergonomic interventions including customized eyeglasses and optimal lighting conditions (Hemphälä et al., 2012). Apart from health and well-being being affected by a poor visual ergonomic work environment, the quality and productivity are also involved (Eklund, 2009).Lighting is an important factor; both the lighting quantity (strength) and quality (e.g. light distribution, direction, glare and contrast). Too low illumination makes it difficult to see clearly and may thus lower performance, high illuminance can cause glare and lead to increased eye fatigue and decreased productivity (IESNA, 2011).2. MethodsThere are several factors to consider when developing a method for visual ergonomics risk assessment of subjective symptoms and discomfort of the eyes (Colon et al. 1999; Børsting et al., 2008, Knave et al., 1985). There are also checklists used in eye exams or medical appointments (Sheedy and Shaw-McMinn, 2002; Wilson & Corlett, 2005). These will be used as basis in the presents the project intended to develop a risk assessment instrument for visual ergonomics.3. ResultsA preliminary version of a risk analysis method for Visual Ergonomics has been developed and will be presented, with a focus on discussing with the audience which factors should primarily be included. The factors included so far in the method are the objective measurements such as illuminance, luminance contrast, uniformity values, expert assessment of the risk for glare; indirect measurements such as subjective ratings of the visual ability, eyestrain and musculoskeletal discomfort. The goal is to develop a practical time efficient method that is easy to use. With such a tool, actions needed to reduce the visual load among the workers, the companies and the society’s negative consequences induced by work-related eyestrain and musculoskeletal discomfort can hopefully be identified.
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- Srinivasan, Divya, et al.
(author)
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Motor variability traits among individuals performing repetitive precision work
- 2014
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In: Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Human Factors in Organizational Design and Management (ODAM), and 46th Annual Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference (NES). - Santa Monica, CA : The IEA Press. - 9788793130135 ; , s. 987-989
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Motor variability (MV) refers to the intrinsic variability naturally present in the motor control system. Occurring even in the simplest movements, it is usually manifested as a difference in joint movements, joint coordination and/or muscle activities between successive repeats of a task which are identical in performance. Contrary to the traditional view that MV is detrimental to performance, it is now widely accepted that MV may actually have an important functional role in skill acquisition, and that skilled performance may, actually, be associated with increased MV. Further, MV is related to pain and fatigue, and may play a decisive role in rehabilitation (reviewed in Srinivasan & Mathiassen 2012). Hypothetically, individuals with a larger MV would be better protected against overuse injuries, and recover faster after disorders affecting motor performance. However, whether the extent of MV is, indeed, a consistent individual trait across different tasks is not known. The purpose of this study was to let individuals perform a laboratory-based simulation of repetitive upper-extremity precision work and determine:(i) Whether it is possible to systematically classify individuals according to the size of their MV in repetitive work;(ii) Whether classification of individuals in one working condition on one day persists even when some work-factors are slightly changed, and between different days when they perform the same work.Repetitive pipetting with a cycle time of 2.8s was performed in the laboratory by a group of 14 healthy female subjects, aged 20-45 years, right-handed and experienced in pipetting, on 3 different days under identical protocol and experimental conditions. Work factors such as work-pace, precision and cognitive load (on top of the pipetting work) were manipulated within each day. Kinematic data were obtained using electromagnetic motion capture systems (FASTRAK).MV in shoulder elevation, elbow flexion and shoulder-elbow coordination were operationalized using cycle-to-cycle standard deviations of motor parameters such as peak velocities, time lag of peak velocities, phase angle and inter-segmental phase angle. The resulting traits in individuals and the consistency of those traits across tasks and days will be presented.
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- Winkel, Jörgen, 1946, et al.
(author)
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Factors facilitating and inhibiting Value Stream Mapping processes at hospital units in three Nordic countries - A Nordic Multicenter study
- 2014
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In: O. Broberg, N. Fallentin, P. Hasle, P.L. Jensen, A. Kabel, M.E. Larsen, T.Weller (Editors). 11th International Symposium on Human Factors in Organisational Design and Management 46th Annual Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference. - 9788793130135
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- 1.Conceptual framework and Purpose In healthcare Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a common Lean tool used to improve the efficiency of patient flows by identifying and minimizing waste (Keyte & Locher, 2004). It is a participatory tool, i.e. those affected by this type of rationalization are performing the analyses and subsequently suggesting appropriate interventions. Participation has been shown to be crucial to obtain ownership of the suggested interventions and thereby increase impact. VSM has been shown to be a powerful rationalization tool. However, the resulting interventions may imply physical work intensification and impaired psychosocial work environment. Due to this, Lean is often perceived as a “threat” by employees at hospitals (Härenstam et al 2000, personal communications). Physical and psychosocial working conditions should therefore be taken into account in the rationalization process to obtain sustainable solutions, i.e. solutions that allow for competitive performance and acceptable work environment in a long term perspective. On this background we have complemented the VSM tool by an ergonomic module assisting the users to consider also physical and psychosocial implications of the suggested interventions. This ErgoVSM tool is now evaluated in a Nordic Multicenter Study including Denmark, Iceland and Sweden (Winkel et al, 2012). The aim of this paper is to present observations that may indicate facilitating and inhibiting factors for the VSM process. 2.Methods Seven wards have used the ErgoVSM and seven the traditional VSM. Information was obtained by screening key hospital documents and interviewing participants in the VSM processes. 3.Results In Sweden one out of three wards using VSM decided not to fulfil the VSM process. On Iceland the only ward using VSM also decided not to fulfil their VSM process. The hospitals of the investigated wards using VSM in Sweden and Iceland had a strong primary focus on financial balance of the business according to key documents. Decisions on when and which value stream to analyse were made by management with little/no dialog with the employees. Work environment issues were not discussed as part of this. In addition, Iceland had a short experience of Lean, mainly based on support from McKinsey, an American global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKinsey_%26_Company). Thus, they had no attention to the wellbeing to the employees and their work environment when introducing Lean. In general, the Icelandic Lean coaches had problems motivating the employees. However, they perceived a facilitated VSM process at the investigated ErgoVSM ward. Due to this, the main Lean coach decided to include work environment aspects in the VSM processes performed at other wards not part of the present Multicenter Study. Positive effects on those VSM processes were reported back to the researchers. In Denmark all three wards using VSM fulfilled their VSM process. This hospital had a long Lean experience. The main Lean coach reported process problems during their 3 initial years when using a top-down approach. Before the present project was initiated they had turned to a bottom-up initiation of the VSM processes. The Lean coach also expressed that work environment issues might be articulated as part of the VSM process. All seven wards using ErgoVSM in the 3 countries fulfilled the process. 4.Conclusion When using the Lean tool “Value Stream Mapping” it seems to be important not only to focus on efficiency but also on issues that are perceived important for the well-being of the individual employee. 5.Financial support The Nordic Council of Ministers and national grants. 6.References Härenstam A, Bejerot E, Johansson K, Leijon O, Schéele P. “Mager och god” eller ”Lean and mean”? Samband mellan organisationsförändringar och arbetsförhållanden. In: Barllöf K (Ed.) Smärtgränsen? En antologi om hälsokonsekvenser I magra organisationer. Rådet för arbetslivsforskning, pp 2000 Keyte, B., Locher, D., 2004. The Complete Lean Enterprise. Value Stream Mapping for Administrative and Office Processes. Productivity Press, New York. Winkel J, Birgisdóttir B D, Dudas K, Edwards K, Gunnarsdóttir S, Jarebrant C, Johansson Hanse J (2012). A Nordic work environment complement to Value Stream Mapping (VSM) for sustainable patient flows at hospitals – A NOVO Multicenter study. 6th NOVO Symposium: Sustainable Health Care: Continuous Improvement of Processes and Systems. Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden. November 15-16, 2012, pp 58-59. ISBN: 978-91-637-2380-3
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