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The bikeshare program in Taipei City and New Taipei City, called U-bike, was launched in August 2012 and has more than 7500 bicycles operating out of 769 stations. Research has suggested that bicycle helmet use is a means of reducing morbidity and mortality among bike users. Helmets, however, are not available for rent when a U-bike is rented. The current research conducted an observational study to examine the prevalence of helmet non-use by users of the bikeshare program, electric bicycles, racing bicycles, and personal bicycles in Taipei City and New Taipei City. Trained observers using compact video cameras collected helmet non-use data during various times of the day and on different days of the week. Observers collected data on cyclist attributes, bicycle types, and helmet use at several selected locations within Taipei City and New Taipei City. U-bike users were found to be the least likely to wear helmets. Other noteworthy findings include that violations such as phone use, red-light violations, and travelling at ≥25 km/h were associated with riding without a helmet. Male users of racing bikes tended not to wear helmets, while female users of other bicycle types were less likely to use a helmet. Carrying passengers by users of electric bikes and personal bikes was a determinant of helmet non-use. This paper concludes with a discussion and recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study analyzed 312 caught-in-between fatalities caused by machinery and vehicles. A comprehensive and mutually exclusive coding scheme was developed to analyze and code each caught-in-between fatality in terms of age, gender, experience of the victim, type of industry, source of injury, and causes for these accidents. Boolean algebra analysis was applied on these 312 caught-in-between fatalities to derive minimal cut set (MCS) causes associated with each source of injury. Eventually, contributing factors and common accident patterns associated with (1) special process machinery including textile, printing, packaging machinery, (2) metal, woodworking, and special material machinery, (3) conveyor, (4) vehicle, (5) crane, (6) construction machinery, and (7) elevator can be divided into three major groups through Boolean algebra and MCS analysis. The MCS causes associated with conveyor share the same primary causes as those of the special process machinery including textile, printing, packaging and metal, woodworking, and special material machinery. These fatalities can be eliminated by focusing on the prevention measures associated with lack of safeguards, working on a running machine or process, unintentional activation, unsafe posture or position, unsafe clothing, and defective safeguards. Other precise and effective intervention can be developed based on the identified groups of accident causes associated with each source of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one experienced drivers were recruited for the evaluation of sounds of four functions (horn, indicator, door open warning, and parking sensor) made by 11 car brand names. Each participant was required to evaluate all of the above sound signals by a pair-comparison test. After the comparison test, each participant was shown his/her pair-comparison result and was asked to comment on their preference and appropriateness of a sound. The physical properties and interview data were compared and summarized to propose design recommendations. Our results indicate that complex tones and a fundamental frequency around 450 Hz were most preferred for horns while for indicators the preferred sounds had a higher dominant frequency [corrected].To reduce monotony, the indicators with double clicks and an OFF time interval of between 330 and 400 ms between two clicks were most preferred. Regarding door warning sounds, the waveform starting with a higher intensity then fading towards zero intensity is most preferred while for parking sensors, sounds beginning with a longer OFF time (about 500 ms) and having 3 or 4 distinctive tempo variations were most preferred. The relationship between pleasurability and pitch, loudness, and the tempo of sound signals basically followed an inverted-U function. Sound designers should avoid using very extreme parameter values when generating sound for a given function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study analyzed the root causes of 22 helicopter accidents/incidents that took place between 1998 and 2019. Each root cause was coded using three commonly used classification models in aviation HFACS, ATSB, and IATA to identify recurring factors for better targeting of future prevention strategies. The frequency analysis revealed that not following procedure (22 observations), training inadequate or unavailable (17), inadequate regulatory oversight (17), inadequate procedure guidance (16), company management absent or deficient (10) and incorrect manuals/charts/checklists (9) were the most frequent contributing factors. Since none of the existing models could summarize the root causes of 22 occurrences effectively, a scenario-based human-machine-environment-procedure (HMEP) classification scheme was proposed to use organizational influences, people management, technical failure, procedure and document, and environment as the first-layer subcategories. The HMEP scheme was additionally applied to the analysis and coding of 4 helicopter accidents in the USA published by the NTSB. The HMEP scheme revealed that NTSB had identified a significantly greater number of root causes in the manufacturer design, manufacturing & documentation. Overall, HMEP can be used to guide the data collection during accident investigation and subsequently to aggregate aviation accidents to derive recurring factors and compare accident patterns in an efficient manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study applied a fault tree analysis to represent the causal relationships among events and causes that contributed to fatal falls in the construction industry. Four hundred and eleven work-related fatalities in the Taiwanese construction industry were analyzed in terms of age, gender, experience, falling site, falling height, company size, and the causes for each fatality. Given that most fatal accidents involve multiple events, the current study coded up to a maximum of three causes for each fall fatality. After the Boolean algebra and minimal cut set analyses, accident causes associated with each falling site can be presented as a fault tree to provide an overview of the basic causes, which could trigger fall fatalities in the construction industry. Graphical icons were designed for each falling site along with the associated accident causes to illustrate the fault tree in a graphical manner. A graphical fault tree can improve inter-disciplinary discussion of risk management and the communication of accident causation to first line supervisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current research classified 82 vehicle icons into seven categories (image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, arbitrary, abbreviation, word, and combined) for their matching accuracy, matching sequence, and matching time. These data can be compared and used as a framework for future icon development. Forty participants, all with a university degree, took part in this experiment. Half of the participants had intensive driving experience, while the other half never driven a car. The results indicated that on average, word icons had a significantly greater matching accuracy than the other icon formats; ranging from 4.7 to 20.8% difference. Regarding the matching sequence, participants matched image-related icons before other icon formats. Arbitrary and combined icons took significantly longer to match than other icon formats by 1.4–6.2 s. Based on the high matching accuracy (86.3%) and high ratings on subjective design features, word format can be used for functions describable using simple English for users with English reading ability. Confusion matrices showed that 63.2% of the misunderstandings were caused by similarity in format or function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The current study reanalyzed 250 electrical fatalities in the construction industry from 1996 to 2002 into seven patterns based on source of electricity (power line, energized equipment, improperly installed or damaged equipment), direct contact or indirect contact through some source of injury (boom vehicle, metal bar or pipe, and other conductive material). Each fatality was coded in terms of age, company size, experience, performing tasks, source of injury, accident cause and hazard pattern. The Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was applied to the coded data of the fatal electrocution to find a subset of predictors that might derive meaningful classifications or accident scenarios. A series of flow diagrams was constructed based on CHAID result to illustrate the flow of electricity traveling from electrical source to human body. Each of the flow diagrams can be directly linked with feasible prevention strategies by cutting the flow of electricity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study derived seven descriptors from the pixel matrices of both the uppercase and lowercase forms of the 26 letters in the English alphabet in the regular and italic versions of the most commonly used font, Times New Roman. A factor analysis of the seven descriptors showed that a two-factor solution of letter width and height explained 76.6% of the variance. Legibility threshold of the 26 letters in the regular and italic Times Roman font and in two-case forms were collected to specify effects of letter width and height. 20 university students, 10 women and 10 men, with a mean age of 24.1 yr. (SD= 1.6) participated. They identified letters displayed initially on a PC screen at a minimum font size and enlarged gradually until the participant correctly recognized the letter. Analysis showed letters of greater width or height were more legible than those of smaller width or height. Given an oblique effect, letters in the italic Times Roman font had significantly greater width but were less legible than those in the regular font. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential ergonomic hazards for 27 disabled call center agents engaged in computer-telephone interactive tasks were evaluated for possible associations between the task behaviors and work-related disorders. Data included task description, 300 samples of performance, a questionnaire on workstation design, body-part discomfort rating, perceived stress, potential job stressors, and direct measurement of environmental factors. Analysis indicated agents were frequently exposed to prolonged static sitting and repetitive movements, together with unsupported back and flexed neck, causing musculoskeletal discomforts. Visual fatigue (85.2% of agents), discomfort of ears (66.7%), and musculoskeletal discomforts (59.3%) were the most pronounced and prevalent complaints after prolonged working. 17 of 27 agents described job pressure as high or very high, and dealing with difficult customers and trying to fulfill the customers' needs within the time standard were main stressors. Further work on surrounding noise, earphone use, possible hearing loss of experienced agents, training programs, feasible solutions for visual fatigue, musculoskeletal symptoms, and psychosocial stress should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 2000, the accident rate for escalator riding was about 0.815 accidents per million passenger trips through Taipei Metro Rapid Transit (MRT) heavy capacity stations. In order to reduce the probability and severity of escalator riding accidents and enhance the safety of passengers, the Drury and Brill model [Drury, C.G., Brill, M., 1983. Human factors in consumer product accident investigation. Hum. Factors 25 (3), 329–342] for in-depth investigation was adopted to analyze the 194 escalator riding accidents in terms of victim, task, product and environment. Prevention measures have been developed based on the major causes of accidents and other related contributing factors. The results from the analysis indicated that the majority of the escalator riding accidents was caused by passengers’ carrying out other tasks (38 cases, including carrying luggage 24 cases, looking after accompany persons 9 cases, and 5 others), loss of balance (26 cases, 13.4%), not holding the handrail (20 cases, 10.3%), unhealthy passengers (18 cases, 9.3%), followed by people struck by other passenger (16 cases, 8.2%). For female passengers aged 15–64 years, their rushing for trains accidents could have been prevented by wearing safer footwear or by appropriate signing being provided indicating the location and traveling direction of escalators. Female passengers aged 65 years and above whose accidents were caused by loss of balance, should be encouraged to take the elevator instead. To prevent entrapment injuries, following a stricter design code can be most effective. Further in-depth accident investigation is suggested to cover the activity of the victim prior to the accident, any involved product, the location of the accident on the escalator, any medical treatment, what went wrong, opinion of the respondent on the causes of the accident, and personal characteristics of the passengers. Also, management must trade off productivity and safety appropriately to prevent “Organizational Accidents”. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Contributing factors to 621 occupational fatal falls have been identified with respect to the victim''s individual factors, the fall site, company size, and cause of fall. Individual factors included age, gender, experience, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Accident scenarios were derived from accident reports. Significant linkages were found between causes for the falls and accident events. Falls from scaffold staging were associated with a lack of complying scaffolds and bodily action. Falls through existing floor openings were associated with unguarded openings, inappropriate protections, or the removal of protections. Falls from building girders or other structural steel were associated with bodily actions and improper use of PPE. Falls from roof edges were associated with bodily actions and being pulled down by a hoist, object or tool. Falls through roof surfaces were associated with lack of complying scaffolds. Falls from ladders were associated with overexertion and unusual control and the use of unsafe ladders and tools. Falls down stairs or steps were associated with unguarded openings. Falls while jumping to a lower floor and falls through existing roof openings were associated with poor work practices. Primary and secondary prevention measures can be used to prevent falls or to mitigate the consequences of falls and are suggested for each type of accident. Primary prevention measures would include fixed barriers, such as handrails, guardrails, surface opening protections (hole coverings), crawling boards/planks, and strong roofing materials. Secondary protection measures would include travel restraint systems (safety belt), fall arrest systems (safety harness), and fall containment systems (safety nets). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This research reanalyzed 1230 work-related single fatalities from the years 1989, 1990, and 1992 with a model free approach. Each single fatality was analyzed in terms of the victim''s age, gender, industry, and the accident type. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated to compare the SMR among various demographic groups and to cross validate the results obtained from our previous work using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was used to divide the working population into segments based on whether the worker was a victim in any fatality. Predictor variables mainly focus on the demographic variables including the victim''s age, gender and industry. But different from our previous finding [Safety Science 27 (1997) 1] of an insignificant gender effect, gender was found to be the second critical factor and it was nested under the most critical variable, type of industry. Age is the least critical variable and it is nested under the gender effect. Five different interactive patterns were identified correlating the age, gender, and industries of the victims. A comparison among ANOVA, SMR and CHAID proved that CHAID outperforms other methods for it not only reveals the complex and hierarchical interactive patterns but also prioritizes the importance of the predictor variables. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A dynamic visual information processing task was designed to investigate time-based and intensity-based factors on an operator's information processing load as measured by reaction time, pupil diameter, and eye movement parameters. The time-based factor was manipulated by the target rate and scanning rate while the intensity-based factor was manipulated by the difference between a simple reaction task and a physical matching (choice reaction) task. Nine participants tracked the scanning line at two different scanning rates and were required to respond to two designated targets presented singly at two different temporal frequencies. The results indicated that task difficulty (the intensity-based factor) had a significant effect on the reaction time. Target rate and scanning rate were integrated as one time-based factor in terms of three sweeping angles. The time-based factor was found to have a significant effect on the fixation time, saccade amplitude, fixation frequency, eye movement speed, reaction time and hit rate. No interaction effect was found between time-based and intensity-based factors. The time pressure (defined by the time required divided by the time available) based on a model human processor was positively related to scanning rate, target rate and task difficulty. It was found to be the most objective and reliable if time required can be reliably predicted based on a predictive model approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As inspection moves from unaided human skills to human-computer hybrid tasks, there is a need for models of the human and the computer which have common parameters. With appropriate models, functions can be allocated to produce optimal designs, and assistance provided to the human inspector via job aids and training. A model was developed of the human in a two-component compound inspection task consisting of search and decision. Optimizing this model showed that the choice of optimal values of parameters in the two submodels was independent. Ten subjects were tested on a two-component inspection task, using components which had earlier been validated separately. Subjects showed some aspects of optimum behaviour, for example sub-model independence, stopping the search after an integral number of scans, and varying their decision criteria to respond to the probability and cost structure. However, in this more complex task, subjects often reverted to simpler decision rules, for example always stopping the search after one scan or accepting (or rejecting) all potential defects detected. The implication for hybrid automation systems is that humans will need help such as job aids or training if they are to perform optimally when given both search and decision tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to develop a new model to describe and predict a computerized task. AutoCAD was utilized as the experimental tool to collect operating procedure and time data at a keystroke level for a computer aided design (CAD) task. Six undergraduate students participated in the experiment. They were required to complete one simple and one complex engineering drawing. A model which characterized the task performance by software commands and predicted task execution time using keystroke-level model operators was proposed and applied to the analysis of the dialogue data. This task parameter model adopted software commands, e.g. LINE, OFFSET in AutoCAD, to describe the function of a task unit and used up to five parameters to indicate the number of keystrokes, chosen function for a command and ways of starting and ending a command. Each task unit in the task parameter model can be replaced by a number of primitive operators as in the keystroke level model to predict the task execution time. The observed task execution times of all task units were found to be highly correlated with the task execution times predicted by the keystroke level model. Therefore, the task parameter model was proved to be a usable analytical tool for evaluating the human-computer interface (HCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study experiment which aimed at accuracy of the eye for targeting of nine different positions and two sizes. Methodology used in the study; Indication that analysis showed the target position had a strong effect on the vertical shift; Effects of the target; Indepth look at the results of the study.

Presents information on a study used to investigate visual sensitivity and bias in humans, in inspecting irregular objects. Details on the participants used in the study; Method in which the study was conducted; Analysis of the results; Discussion of the study.

Presents information on an experiment that examines the speed-accuracy of eye movements between two targets in relation to size and distance as predicted by Fitts' Law. Details on the subjects used in the experiment; Method in which the experiment was conducted; Analysis of the data collected; Discussion of Fitts' Law.

• Frequency distribution of root cause for passenger vehicle recalls. • Classification schemes for defective components and defect types. • Significant associations between defective components and defect types. • Functional Block Diagram of Airbag System. • Failure Mode Effect and Analysis (FMEA) of Airbag. This study analysed 345 passenger vehicle recalls that were reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The root cause analysis was applied to analyse each recall event in order to derive the cause of the recall, i.e., the defect type. Classification schemes were developed to organize the defective components and defect type into useful categories. The defect types were classified into manufacturing defects, design flaws, and mislabelling. Each of the above categories was expanded into smaller subcategories and items. Following the root cause analysis, the functional block diagram, and failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) were applied to translate defective recall cases into FMEA tabular statements. Cramer's V and Phi coefficient analyses were applied to identify significant associations between defective components and defect types to prevent the future recurrence of recalls and improve vehicle quality. This study demonstrated that root cause and FMEA, based on an orthogonal classification scheme, can be applied to derive feasible solutions for reducing vehicle safety recalls, and such analysis can be generalized to other products or manufacturing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study illustrates the icon design process for 20 functions for a smart living room and smart bathroom of a commercial smart building control system. For each function name, seven icon formats (image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, arbitrary, word, abbreviation, and combined) were developed by 30 graduate students and compared with a preference ranking test by another 13 executive MBA students. The results indicated that the combined, image-related, concept-related, semi-abstract, word, and abbreviation each had nine, four, three, two, one and one function names ranked as the most preferred format, respectively. Since all the design formats except the arbitrary format were ranked as the most preferred at least once, it is worthwhile to generate seven icon formats for a given function and chose the most preferred based on the ranking test result. The participatory design and ranking test evaluation approach can be applied for the design and evaluation of visual icons in other application contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article examines the changes in skin temperature (finger, hand, forearm), manual performance (hand dexterity and strength), and forearm surface electromyograph (EMG) through 40-min, 11 °C water cooling followed by 15-min, 34 °C water rewarming; additionally, it explores the relationship between dexterity and the factors of skin temperature, EMG, and ambient condition.Background: Hand exposure in cold conditions is unavoidable and significantly affects manual performance.Method: Two tasks requiring gross and fine dexterity were designed, namely, nut loosening and pin insertion, respectively. The nested-factorial design includes factors of gender, participant (nested within gender), immersion duration, muscle type (for EMG), and location (for skin temperature). The responses are changes in dexterity, skin temperature, normalized amplitude of EMG, and grip strength. Finally, factor analysis and stepwise regression are used to explore factors affecting hand and finger dexterity.Results: Dexterity, EMG, and skin temperature fell with prolonged cooling, but the EMG of the flexor digitorum superficialis remained almost unchanged during the nut loosening task. All responses but the forearm skin temperature recovered to the baseline level at the end of rewarming. The three factors extracted by factor analysis are termed skin temperature, ambient condition, and EMG. They explain approximately two thirds of the variation of the linear models for both dexterities, and the factor of skin temperature is the most influential.Conclusion: Sustained cooling and warming significantly decreases and increases finger, hand, and forearm skin temperature. Dexterity, strength, and EMG are positively correlated to skin temperature. Therefore, keeping the finger, hand, and forearm warm is important to maintaining hand performance.Application: The findings could be help- ful to building safety guidelines for working in cold environments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]