Production System ErgonomicsNew Risk Factors?
Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders are well known from a series of international reviews. Briefly, these were documented as forceful exertions, awkward postures, static postures, repetition, vibration, and cold. The early focus on reducing high loads and reducing poor postures created jobs that superficially appeared low risk.
Further experience revealed that “light” jobs such as cashiers exhibited high local loading and musculoskeletal disorders. Other experience showed that jobs that exhibited lack of variety created more problems than varied jobs. In other words, a good workstation was not enough. An increase in knowledge of pathophysiology of WMSD and further epidemiological study reinforced the realization that the pattern of exposure (time) was also critical in designing jobs of high ergonomic quality to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.More details of these time related risk factors can be see in this table
In the face of modern trends in industry, we believe that time aspects of work will be of increased importance in the future. We expect musculoskeletal disorders caused by time-related risk factors to increase, both in absolute terms and as compared to disorders due to extreme postures and forces.
Ergonomics vs Engineering?
We argue that the goals of improving mechanical exposures through the manipulation of extreme postures and forces can be pursued using a range of evaluation and design tools, and further that the goals and actions of engineering and ergonomics agree about improving these exposures. An example of how ergonomics and production engineering can be married can be seen in the folllowing paper:
Silvia A. Pascual, Mardy B. Frazer, Richard Wells, and Donald Cole, Mechanical Exposure and Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk at the Production System Level, accepted in Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing, Dec 2006Where time is concerned however, the design and evaluation tools are less good and there may not be agreement between the goals and actions of engineers and ergonomists.We emphasise the need for engineers and ergonomists to harmonise goals, actions and tools related to time aspects of work, in order to design sustainable production systems of high productivity and high ergonomic quality.
Wells, R., S-E. Mathiassen, L. Medbo, J. Winkel. Time - a key issue for musculoskeletal health and manufacturing accepted in Applied Ergonomics, December 2006.
Wells, R., Mathiassen, S-E, Medbo, L., and Winkel, J., Time as a key issue for enhanced cooperation between engineering and ergonomics, in: Proceedings of the 4th Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders Conference (PREMUS), Oct 2001, Amsterdam, pp 238
Mathiassen SE, Wells RP, Winkel, J., Forsman, M. Tools for integrated engineering and ergonomic assessment of time aspects in industrial production, in: Caldenfors, D. Eklund, J and Kililoog, L. (eds) Proceedings of the 34th Nordic Ergonomics Society, Kolmården, Sweden October, 2002, 579-584.
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Copyright © 2005 Richard Wells,
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