FAST ERGO_X – A tool for ergonomic auditing and work-related musculoskeletal disorders prevention

Issue title: Ergonomics

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nunes, Isabel L.

Affiliations: Universidade Nova Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica e Industrial; and Centro de Tecnologia e Sistemas, UNINOVA; Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. Tel.: +351 212 948 567; E-mail: imn@fct.unl.pt

Abstract: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive and strenuous working conditions continue to represent one of the biggest occupational problems in companies. Despite the variety of efforts to control them, including engineering design changes, organizational modifications and working methods training programs, work-related musculoskeletal disorders account for a huge amount of human suffering and economic costs to companies and to healthcare systems. This paper presents an ergonomic analysis tool, FAST ERGO_X, designed to support ergonomic auditing activities related with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This tool can be used to analyze workplaces regarding potential ergonomic risk factors. The FAST ERGO_X is a fuzzy expert system designed to help the identification, assessment and control of the risk factors present in the work system, due to lack of adequate ergonomics. Based on objective and subjective data, the system evaluates the risk factors that can lead to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and presents the findings resulting from such evaluation. The system also presents recommendations to eliminate or at least reduce the risk factors present in the work situation under analysis.

Keywords: Ergonomic workstation analysis, prevention of ergonomic risk factors, expert systems, fuzzy logics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0912

Journal: Work, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 133-148, 2009