Search

The objective of the European “machinery” directive (EC/2006/42 directive) is the free movement of products in the 27 member states of the European Union, provided that they comply with the minimum health and safety requirements for the users of these machines. All equipment imported into Europe must meet these requirements.

Work-related musculoskeletal diseases despite decades of efforts, represent a leading workplace risk. The NIOSH modified lifting equation, available in various forms and platform, can be used to assess the risk from manual material handling. While assessing just a few lifts per shift or homogeneous lifting situations is relatively simple; however, in a mixed, high-frequency lifting situation, the risk assessment involves significant data collection and requires complex data processing. In this paper, we present the MATLAB processing of manual handling data retrieved from a production program through an assembly line job as an example. We show the transfer functions for each risk factor and the importance of accurate input data and evaluate their impact on the ultimate risk.

In recent decades, risk management practices and methodologies in many other areas have evolved, and a merge has begun. In this article, we first introduce a risk concept and then interpret the specifics of occupational safety risk management. Risk assessment is not only a primary tool or modern management systems but, like in occupational health and safety, it is an obligation. The distinctive feature of the occupation health and safety risk assessment is that the protected value is the health of the worker, and the employer’s activities cause the hazards making it the problem owner. At OSH risk assessment, the various scenarios appear in the wording of the hazards and exclude intentional harm. Meeting minimum health and safety requirements and compliance with limit values means often characterize safe conditions. The occupational safety risk set is usually fragmented, typically consisting of several assessment areas that include procedures for monitoring changes.

The Composite Ergonomic Risk Assessment (CERA) is a well-known and popular tool in Hungary for estimating work-related musculoskeletal risks. CERA applies the requirements of the EN 1005 standard series and implements and practical solutions like discomfort mapping. The original paper-pencil version is available in Hungarian, English and Russian, and shortened versions are available for different jobs, e.g. office work, waste sorting and also motion-capture-based versions emerged. This paper describes the further development of this specific tool.

Invited International Ergonomics Association (IEA) Federated Society and Network Presidents will participate in this symposium and present their respective Global Ergonomics Month (GEM) activities, initiatives, and awareness efforts among local communities, industries, government agencies, and schools. IEA acknowledges these outstanding efforts and strongly supports these local and national initiatives. Together, these world-wide initiatives help to promote the science, application and the profession of Ergonomics and Human Factors. Audience engagement to discuss what GEM activities could be further promoted, along with considering possible joint worldwide activities and initiatives in celebration of the upcoming IEA 60th anniversary.

The objective of the European Month of Ergonomics (EME) of the Federation of Europe-an Ergonomics Societies (FEES) is to promote the ergonomics profession in Europe. The first theme “Know your ergonomics” gave an introduction in 2009. The following EMEs became specific, and the topics are dedicated to the actual campaigns of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The EME goal is not only to relay the EU-OSHA message but to highlight the role of the ergonomics profession, to show how an ergonomist can contribute to a healthier and safer workplace, to improve performance and increase workers’ satisfaction.

Despite the continuous efforts the burden of work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (wMSDs) hasn’t been eliminated. Ergonomics risk assessment tools had been often developed on causes of different occupational diseases related to different body parts, and implemented in various forms ranging from paper-pencil worksheets to immersed virtual reality simulations.

In our interrelated world with global market the responsibility and hence the potential to improve machinery safety lays on several actors including designers, manufacturers, end users and regulatory, standardization, representative, lobby organizations. On one hand according to the “free movement of goods” concept machinery safety is regulated like the safety of other products, including involvement of notified bodies, conformity assessment and international standards with mandatory requirements. On the other hand the provision of a safe and healthy workplace is a well respected value therefore national regulations are there on the use of tools including machinery in workplaces by workers. In both area the basic concept of safety is the management of risk, but the two approaches differ due to the differences in the quantity and diversity of machinery handled and due to the knowledge on target group and on the use. Although there several ways to link design and usage including e.g. standardization, acquisition, user-oriented design, the risk of machinery at the workplaces is not eliminated and workplace accidents with machinery still occur. This paper shows how risk assessment at workplaces and risk assessment in machinery safety should be connected, how knowledge of workers can be utilized in the design and how in general usability methodology evolved in software ergonomics can be applied in machinery design to improve workplace safety.