Work - Volume 73, issue s1

Authors: Laberge, Marie | Beaupré, Andréane | Messing, Karen | Riel, Jessica | Caroly, Sandrine

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) is an international federation of associations created in 1959, whose mission is to extend the scope of ergonomics research and intervention to all spheres of society in order to improve human well-being. OBJECTIVE: This article presents an overview of the main research papers that were presented at the 21st Triennial IEA 2021 Conference. METHOD: A total of 23 talks, from nine countries, were presented over four sessions. These papers were summarized based on reading the abstracts and taking notes at the time of the oral presentation. RESULTS: The …themes of these sessions were: 1) Knowledge Transfer, Gender and Ergonomics 2) Approaching Ergonomic Interventions with a Sex/Gender Lens: Designing Training for Ergonomists 3) Ergonomic Studies of Atypical Work and Vulnerable Population Through a Sex/Gender Lens: Toward Better Understanding of Context and Risks, for Better Prevention and 4) Gender and Occupational Risks (Part 1: Exposure and Risk Perception; Part 2: Strategies to Manage Risk). CONCLUSION: Ergonomists are beginning to understand that they have the qualifications and legitimacy to play a role in reducing workplace health inequities and helping to make workplaces inclusive and rich of all the workers’ diversity. The four sessions of the Gender and Ergonomics TC have moved ergonomics practice a step closer to that goal. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, knowledge transfer, sex/gender-based analysis

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211126

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S127-S139, 2022

Authors: Delgoulet, Catherine | Santos, Marta

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Ergonomic Work Analysis and Training (EWAT) network celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. OBJECTIVE: THE EWAT focuses mainly on how activity analysis in real work can contribute to the training situations. Over the years, two lines of thought evolved: i) training in ergonomic work analysis, and ii) the use of the work analysis for the improvement or design of training interventions. Both share a common theoretical and methodological background based on three pillars: the focus on real work, the adoption of a systemic and participatory approach, and the intentional emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach. …METHODS: The design of training courses that are adequate both for workers and for supervisors who are concerned with the development of the worker’s skills and health at work is challenged by major changes at work. Such challenges were the driving force behind the discussion within this network at the IEA 2021 congress. RESULTS: The authors who contributed to this congress maintain the network’s characterizing principles. At the same time, they introduce research updates and new intervention methodologies. In addition, the authors have been called upon to provide novel answers to the issues of organizational transformation and digitalization of work and training. CONCLUSION: The permanence of this network involves leveraging its 30 years of collective expert experience to continue to respond to present and emerging challenges, concerning work and training sustainability. The network’s research contributes to growing evidence about how training can impact on healthier workplaces where individual and group development is improved. Show more

Keywords: Activity, description, transformation, design, evaluation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211267

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S141-S152, 2022

Authors: Thatcher, Andrew | Bolis, Ivan | Sigahi, Tiago Fonseca Albuquerque Cavalcanti | García-Acosta, Gabriel | Lange-Morales, Karen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sustainability is a highly important theme worldwide and currently is being tackled by almost all disciplines. Indeed, the future of humanity is dependent on the actions taken now and in the immediate future. The Ergonomics and Human Factors (E/HF) community has not been indifferent to this issue, and one of the concrete actions adopted by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) was the establishment of the “Human Factors for Sustainable Development” (HFSD) Technical Committee. OBJECTIVE: To identify future paths of action, this paper recognizes the trajectory of the HFSD Technical Committee, summarizes the contributions presented at IEA2021, the …International Congress on Ergonomics held virtually in Vancouver in 2021, and reflects on key aspects that should be boosted by the Technical Committee. METHODS: This is a qualitative interpretative study that reflects on the contributions of members of the HFSD community working on E/HF for sustainability. RESULTS: Central topics and opportunities in E/HF and sustainability include complexity of systems, behaviors, and work; energy use and consumption; co-design, interconnectivity, territories, and the relationships with stakeholders. CONCLUSION: Although the contributions have been growing, there is still a lot of work needed, both theoretically and practically. Themes to be discussed include the concepts of sustainability and work. Considering the centrality of human beings (i.e., decision making for achieving the different dimensions of sustainability), the authors identify a set of values as core principles for leading the discussion. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, human factors, values, sustainable development, IEA2021, beyond future of work, ergonomics and human factors towards sustainability, IEA technical committee

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211121

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S153-S167, 2022

Authors: Khanwalkar, Prajakta | Dabir, Nivedita

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about change in the work environment, increasing remote and hybrid mode of work, presenting a compelling need to study visual ergonomics in this new work environment. OBJECTIVE: To assess computer vision symptoms and visual ergonomics in remote and hybrid work settings during the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on eye to screen relationship. METHODS: The computer-vision symptom scale (CVSS17) questionnaire and questions about human factors and ergonomics were included in the survey conducted in September 2021. Sixty-six working professionals (mean age 37 years±5), working from home (n  = 44) …or in hybrid mode (n  = 22) were included in the study. Cramer’s V was used for the correlation coefficient between two categorical variables for assessing eye health in changing work environments. RESULTS: Compared to our previous study, the correlation between computer vision syndrome (CVS) symptoms is markedly higher. The population working in hybrid mode experienced eye heaviness with strain to see well (V = 0.6872, p  = 0.002) and dryness in the eyes (V = 0.5912, p  = 0.0179). The population working from home who are bothered by surrounding lights also report dryness in the eyes (V = 0.3846, p  = 0.0005). Screen use hours are higher in work from home situations (43% work more than 9 hrs) than those in hybrid mode of work (4% work more than 9 hrs). CONCLUSION: A definite increase in CVS in most of the population working remotely or in hybrid environments is established through this study. User-friendly strategies for raising awareness of applied visual ergonomics can prevent rampant onset of CVS in the working population. Show more

Keywords: Computer vision syndrome, visual ergonomics, human factors, hybrid work, human computer interaction

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211130

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S169-S176, 2022

Authors: dos Santos, Eduardo Ferro | de Carvalho, Paulo Victor Rodrigues | Gomes, José Orlando

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the online sales industry experienced record-breaking growth. The number of businesses that decided to enter the e-commerce market for the first time was enormous. At the height of the quarantine, Brazil was registering a new virtual store every minute. This was an unanticipated and unplanned expansion. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify existing challenges in human interactions with e-commerce, such as the difficulties faced during the pandemic and improvements to ensure growth of, and confidence in, this type of business. METHODS: An exploratory study of e-commerce data and an online survey …using the snowball non-probabilistic method were developed to research the growth of, and issues in, Brazilian users’ interaction with e-commerce, comparing findings before and after the pandemic restrictions. RESULTS: Some businesses were not prepared, and the lack of experience among workers contributed to businesses not delivering on their promises. The acceleration of e-commerce demonstrates the need to guarantee that Brazil can effectively use e-commerce to capitalize on digital supply chain opportunities and enhance their role in its economic expansion, while remaining human-centered. CONCLUSIONS: For users’ needs to be met, companies and online workers must understand people’s needs and behaviors in order to provide excellent service. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19, e-commerce, consumer behavior, quality in services, Brazil

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211136

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S177-S187, 2022

Authors: Marins, Camila P. | Leite, Priscila B. C. | Mercado, Marina P. | Garotti, Luciano V. | Duarte, Francisco J.C.M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Ergonomics is increasingly gaining ground in projects in the energy sector, as well as in the continuous process industry, although the discipline is still framing its space in this milieu. This issue emerges from the designers’ lack of familiarity with ergonomics work, especially in engineering design projects, combined with the usual expectations of organizations regarding the participation of ergonomists and the deliverables they ought to develop throughout the project. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to report the participation of a team of ergonomists in an oil platform basic design, discussing ergonomics structuring as an emerging design discipline. …METHODS: This qualitative study used participant observation as a methodology approach aligned with the theoretical framework of Activity Ergonomics (AE). The data collection occurred between October 2018 and June 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. RESULTS: The results show the challenges faced by the ergonomics team and strategies adopted in order to create technical specifications (TS), which will determine the work conditions in the future platforms. An evolution in relation to the practice of Ergonomics during this project can be pointed out, even though part of its scope of action remains to be better understood among the design team. CONCLUSION: Considering oil platform project contexts, this work highlights how ergonomics can help integrate the different rationalities that compose the design process. Show more

Keywords: Design process, offshore, ergonomic work analysis, oil and gas, continuous process

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211137

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S189-S198, 2022

Authors: Leite, Priscila B.C. | Mercado, Marina P. | Marins, Camila P. | Tinoco, Fernanda P. | Duarte, Francisco J.C.M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Ergonomics in design is intended to close the gap between what is designed and the real work. This study discusses the creation of technical ergonomics requirements for the basic design stage of workshops on offshore platforms. OBJECTIVE: This paper intends to show how the ergonomics discipline contributes to integrating knowledge on the real work of the maintenance crew with the design. METHODS: This case study uses procedures, data collection, and analysis guided by the Ergonomics of the Activity’s (EA) theoretical framework, focused on design projects. RESULTS: The results show how ergonomics contributed to …a better understanding of maintenance work, as well as how this knowledge was integrated into the project design. This occurred both through the construction of a new layout and equipment list, and through the development of technical specifications. These products enable greater operational efficiency, reductions in the costs of alterations in the next stages of the project, and improvement in working conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This work points to the need for new studies on platform maintenance work, in addition to studies that deepen the debate on consolidating ergonomics practice in design projects. Show more

Keywords: Basic design, workshop, oil and gas, petroleum, ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211141

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S199-S209, 2022

Authors: de Lima, Anderson Nogueira | Alonso, Carolina Maria Do Carmo | Duarte, Francisco José de Castro Moura

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The treatment of bad actors consists of analyzing the most triggered alarms at a plant, seeking to make modifications that provide workers with more efficient and safer operational conditions. The consideration of plant operators’ practical knowledge in these proposed changes is both an opportunity and a challenge, as specific conditions are required. OBJECTIVE: To present and discuss how an alarm management report (AMR) could support the treatment of bad actors by promoting structured debates on real work situations and its contribution in improving the solutions proposed by alarm management committees (AMCs). METHODS: Data from nine …AMC meetings were gathered and parsed using qualitative content analysis to classify the kind of information that the AMC used to justify the proposed changes and how these changes were decided. RESULTS: More than 60% of the changes were justified by information provided by the AMRs, indicating broad application and adoption. However, our findings suggest that the structured debates addressed variability and emerging strategies and may consider entire subsystems instead of single alarms. CONCLUSION: The use of structured debates is feasible for the treatment of bad actors and is an appropriate option that includes operating experience feedback for alarm optimization in industrial facilities. Show more

Keywords: Alarm management, oil industry, human factors, bad actors, operating experience feedback

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211139

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S211-S222, 2022

Authors: Galey, Louis | Albert, Marion | Brossard, Mathilde | Noël-Suberville, Catherine | Garrigou, Alain

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Industry 4.0 generates risks renewing stakes for design projects integrating work activities, as can be done in activity centred ergonomics and participatory ergonomics. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to show the contribution of using typical situations to define requirements for Industry 4.0 design projects from a case study supporting a design project for a plant of the future assembling additive metal manufacturing processes (SLM type) in aeronautics. METHOD: The method is based on construction of the approach, the identification of typical exposure or action situations (through video and measurement) on four different company sites, three collective …confrontation interviews (using typical situations) similar to reflexive and constructive simulations, and the setting of requirements. RESULTS: Results highlights specific exposure situations during the work, which the collective confrontation interviews made it possible to understand, enabling to collectively debate organisational, technical or social determinants, in order to define requirements from the point of view of the work, within the framework of the design project. CONCLUSION: Discussion of exposure situation allows an initial framework to discuss way to implement the work differently as a first step to transform the current situations during the design process. The observation of the possible use of requirements in project management can then be carried out. This exploratory work makes it possible to observe the contribution of the use of typical exposure situations as a complement to typical action situations in order to specify exposure situations and identify transformation perspectives. Show more

Keywords: Participatory ergonomics, typical exposure situation, metal additive manufacturing, ergotoxicology, nanoparticle

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211131

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S223-S234, 2022

Authors: Silva, Daniel | Cunha, Liliana

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The division of labour between workers and machines is the motto for the current debate on the future of work, as the number of tasks that can potentially be automated increases. Despite receiving significant interest, to date, this debate has focused on forecasts that estimate the potential for machine substitution and thus overshadow the activity perspective. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to address the frontiers between human operators and automation in a Portuguese industrial district and to understand how the embodied know-how of expert workers is used when they face the requirements of automated machines. METHODS: …A qualitative approach to ergonomic analysis was employed in two cork companies, including exploratory interviews with managerial staff; work activity observations (combining observations with video recordings); collective interviews with the workers; and collective meetings to validate our results and conclusions. RESULTS: The workers revealed operating modes related to sensory aspects to face the cork-related variability and the limits of automated machines. The human-machine configurations call for the experience of the senses, at the material-corporeal level, and for the preservation of reference points of the activity, mostly in the operation of seeing the cork stoppers. CONCLUSIONS: The competent act of seeing the cork stoppers, as an operational expertise layer, enriches the theoretical allocation of tasks between workers and machines. Future challenges for activity-centred ergonomics and work psychology fields are identified, drawing attention to the sustainable development of work, i.e., work activities where people may learn from experience and remain healthy within automated work environments. Show more

Keywords: Human-machine, embodied know-how, activity-centred ergonomics, work psychology, cork industry

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211132

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. s1, pp. S235-S251, 2022