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The fourth industrial revolution tempts manufacturing companies to transform into smart factories, which in turn affects the human work. We examine this complexity from the perspective of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) by analysing the organisational capabilities needed when seeking and selecting new technology solutions, and designing and implementing them into local application. This qualitative study focuses on manufacturing companies that have pioneered adopting high technologies in their processes. Empirical material was collected from 15 Finnish manufacturing companies of different sizes. Particular attention is paid to how HF/E are present when companies (1) sense new opportunities for technological development of their production, (2) seise these opportunities through design actions, and (3) shift the solutions into use. Analyses revealed that companies, regardless of their size and the technology being implemented, do not fully understand the fundamentals and value of HF/E, resulting in technology and production-oriented solutions in which human skills and capabilities are often neglected. A novel road map is proposed for integrating HF/E expertise and knowledge when seeking, selecting, and utilising new production technologies. This study increases understanding of the role of HF/E when adopting new technologies in manufacturing. The road map improves possibilities for fact-based decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental instrumentation with hand-held devices is associated with discomfort, fatigue and musculoskeletal diseases or repetitive stress injuries. The goal of this in vivo study was to determine the effect of an ergonomic handle sheath on muscle work, comfort and fatigue associated with (a) piezoelectric scaling by hygienists with and without musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and (b) dental cavity preparation by healthy dentists using a dental micromotor. Materials and Methods: Two groups of ten hygienists each tested the piezoelectric scaler. Hygienists in Group 1 had no MSDs, while those in Group 2 had been diagnosed with MSDs. Additionally, ten dentists with no MSDs used a dental micromotor to prepare four standardized cavities. Time-based work in four muscles, comfort and fatigue were recorded in the presence and absence of an add-on soft, insulating handle sheath. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance model with Tukeys post-hoc test. Results: Comfort, fatigue and muscle work were significantly better for both devices when the sheath was used. While hygienists with MSDs used more muscle work to complete the set scaling task, and the sheath-related reduction in work was somewhat greater, these MSD-related differences did not quite reach significance. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study show that the ergonomic performance of an ultrasonic scaler and a dental micromotor may be improved by the use of an ergonomic handle sheath.

We have previously shown evidence that some individuals seem to consistently minimize low back loads when lifting. while others do not. However, it is unknown why. Individual differences in ability to perceive relevant sensory information may explain differences in minimization of low back loads during lifting, consistent with considering load reduction in one's movement objective in an optimal feedback control theory framework. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether individuals' ability to perceive proprioceptive information (both force- and posture-senses) at the low back was associated with peak low back loads when performing generic or occupation-specific lifts. Seventy-two participants were recruited to perform 10 barbell (generic) and backboard (occupation-specific) lifts, while whole-body kinematics and ground reaction forces were collected. Peak low back compression and anteroposterior shear forces normalized to body mass were calculated as dependent variables. Both posture matching ability and force matching ability at the heavier force targets were associated with lower means and variability of peak low-back loads in both lift types, albeit with small effect sizes (R² 5.17). These findings support the utility of an optimal feedback control theory framework to explore factors explaining interindividual differences in low back loads during lifting. Further, this evidence suggests improving proprioceptive ability may be a useful strategy in lift training programs designed for workplace injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product service system (PSS) is an effective approach to achieve win–win situation between service providers and consumers, and the design of PSS is the first step of its application. However, on the one hand, PSS is relatively an abstract concept, and what exactly should be considered when designing a PSS still require further exploration; on the other hand, the fast development of information and web technologies bring both opportunities and challenges for PSS design. For example, how to efficiently design the smart & connected products that support remote monitoring and control of service operation, how to build the dynamic service activity flow model that can be intuitively and visually read by human engineers and also can be conveniently deployed on computers, and how to realise edge–cloud collaboration between service providers and consumers. In this regard, a service requirement-oriented four-step generic PSS design method is established, including service mode selection and structured service order generation → smart & connected service product configuration → dynamic event-state knowledge graph-based service activity flow and service resource network configuration → industrial internet-based edge–cloud collaborative service delivering. Finally, a real design case of carbon block grinding and polishing PSS is used for verification. ABBREVIATIONS: AS: assembly service; C: controlling targets or objectives; I: input; M: enabling methods or mechanisms; MRO: maintenance, repair, and operation; MS: maintenance service; O: output; OEE: overall equipment effectiveness; PSS: product service system; PV: processing volume; RxEy-Sz: the relation from Event y to the State z of Service activity x; RxSz-Ey: the relation from the State z of Service activity x to Event y; StateAiCurrent: the current state of Service activity i; StateAiFuturek: the kth possible future state of Service activity i; StateAiHistoryj: the jth historical state of service activity i; StateEy: the state of Event y; Tq: the qth time point in the time line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), discomfort, fatigue, pain, and other acute and chronic work-related injuries are common among dental clinicians. Hand instruments constitute a primary risk factor for these conditions. The overall goal of this study was to compare in dental hygienists with healthy hands, and in those with MSDs, the effect of three different handle designs on instrumentation-related muscle work, comfort, fatigue, and quality of tactile feedback. (2) Methods: Clinicians tested three periodontal curettes: one with a novel adaptive silicone handle, another with a rigid resin handle, and the third with a rigid silicone handle. Ten hygienists-five with MSDs and five without-each scaled three typodonts using the three different curettes. Statistical analysis was performed using a General Linear Model (GLIM) and Tukeys post hoc test, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was implemented. (3) Results: On average, mean comfort and fatigue across all instruments were significantly worse in testers with MSDs, who also expended significantly more work to complete the same task. In all testers, a novel adaptive handle design was associated with significantly reduced total muscle work and post-instrumentation fatigue, as well as better comfort than conventional rigid handle designs. (4) Conclusions: An adaptive curette handle design demonstrated significantly better ergonomic outcomes than conventional rigid curette handle designs. Hygienists with MSDs expend significantly more muscle work during dental instrumentation.

Due to working in static positions and use of repetitive movements over long periods of time, dermatologists are at increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal injury. Historically, studies on procedural ergonomics have focused on dermatologic surgery, however, laser procedures can also have a significant cumulative effect on physician posture. Here, we aim to highlight ergonomic challenges specific to dermatologic laser procedures and suggest areas of improvement in operating room organization, patient positioning, physician mechanics, and instrumentation. For the operating room, it is beneficial to store several devices in the same room, have central placement of electrical outlets, and to position the devices on the same side of the bed as the laser operator. When considering patient positioning, a Trendelenburg bed position can be helpful for vascular lesions on the head, and frequent repositioning of the patient can prevent uncomfortable bending of the operator and laser arm for circumferential lesions. Physicians should maintain a working position with a neutral spine and wrist position, moving the patient and bed as needed to reduce muscle tension. Lastly, laser instrumentation in the future could be improved upon with lightweight consoles and hand pieces, long multi-articulated device arms, and lightweight laser goggles with adjustable head straps. With the use of organizational, ergonomic positioning, and teamwork strategies, we can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury for our laser operators.

Considering ergonomics at the design phase can lead to assembly lines that protect and improve workers' health and well-being. However, this may reduce efficiency and productivity. Evaluating the potential benefits of incorporating ergonomics into line design versus the additional costs associated with the number of extra stations required or increased idle time, as well as exploring other ergonomic design alternatives, is critical for decision-makers. An assembly line balancing problem considering time, space and ergonomics, is used to evaluate the impact of ergonomic considerations. A model for maximising line efficiency is proposed and linearised for solution by the solver CPLEX. The mixed-integer linear model is compared to an alternative linearisation approach in which a decision variable is parameterised and then iteratively solved. An example and a case study are used to observe the competitiveness of both solution methods, where the iterative approach is shown to be superior for real size problems. The results show that ergonomic evaluation in line design leads to safer but less productive lines, which in turn increases the number of workstations and costs. Specifically, limiting ergonomic risk to a moderate level for the engine assembly line examined in this study, means maximum daily drop of 27 engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveWomen represent an increasing proportion of the otolaryngology workforce. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) are a little-studied yet important impediment to career completion. Scant attention has been directed to study the impact of pregnancy on surgeon posture and ergonomics. We piloted the use of a pregnancy simulation suit (Empathy Belly) to assess the risk of ergonomic compromise when performing open septorhinoplasty.Study designSurgical simulation.SettingSingle session, training simulation lab at academic medical center.MethodsMedical students and surgical residents performed the initial steps of a rhinoplasty procedure without and with a pregnancy simulation suit and were filmed with an artificial intelligence-based video analysis app from Kinetica Labs that calculates joint angles and categorizes the ergonomic risk factors. Still images from videos were taken and analyzed using validated posture-based analysis rubrics. Participants were asked to complete a qualitative questionnaire after the session.ResultsTwelve medical students and surgical residents participated in the study. Posture-based analysis indicated increased ergonomics risk factors among trainees when performing a rhinoplasty while wearing the pregnancy suit. Video analysis indicated trends of worsening back angle and shoulder postures. Trainees reported experiencing pain in the neck, suprapubic area, and lower back. They acknowledged the importance of ergonomics in otolaryngology and desired further education about workplace injury risk mitigation.ConclusionPregnancy impacts the ergonomics of performing septorhinoplasty and further investigation is required into interventions to reduce risk of WRMSDs.

Human factors engineering (HFE) in the medical device industry is a well-established practice, a result of progressive international standards and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance over the last [...]

Industry 4.0 was presented more than a decade ago as the fourth industrial revolution, aiming to significantly raise the level of sophistication of interconnected technologies and thus increase manufacturing industries' profits. However, because the technology-driven narrow focus of Industry 4.0 on performance and profit fails to explain how to increase prosperity for all the stakeholders involved, the European Commission has introduced the concept of Industry 5.0. This vision overcomes the weaknesses of Industry 4.0 by paying explicit attention to outcomes for humans in the system and establishing an environment to create human-centric, resilient, and sustainable systems. Considering these developments, this position paper and editorial introducing the special issue of the International Journal of Production Research elaborates on the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 through 10 papers focusing on the human-centric pillar of Industry 5.0 and its impacts on production and logistics system design and management. This work presents guidance for a more systemic approach needed in future research: to include empirically grounded works and data-driven multimethod approaches that consider diversity in system operators and human factors demands holistically in order to incorporate ethical implications missing from Industry 4.0 – in the pursuit of Industry 5.0 systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing systems are socio-technical systems, with explicit interactions between humans and technologies in shared workspaces. These shared workspaces could also be called hybrid collaborative manufacturing systems, which involve workers as well as technological equipment and combine the benefits of human workers and new Industry 4.0 technologies, such systems are particularly useful in a context requiring flexibility and adaptability. Furthermore, the new Industry 5.0 approach has the objective to shift toward more human-centric and resilient manufacturing systems. The key problems to solve in the design of collaborative manufacturing systems are the combinatorial assembly line balancing problem and the equipment selection problem. An efficient and sustainable line requires a cost-effective choice of equipment while improving the ergonomics and the safety of workers. Both decisions of balancing workload and the assignment of equipment impact the ergonomics of a collaborative system and present conflicting criteria. To this end, we propose a multi-objective approach, the objectives are the optimisation of the investment costs and the ergonomics with a fatigue and recovery criterion. We propose to linearise the fatigue and recovery to formulate a new Mixed Integer Linear Programming formulation. We developed an exact multi-objective solving algorithm based on the ϵ-constraint to obtain the trade-off between these objectives. We conducted numerical experiments with different instances from the literature with promising results for instances with up to 45 operations. Finally, we discuss insightful managerial conclusions and future research perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increased use of collaborative robots, a new production model of the human-robot collaborative hybrid assembly cell (HRCHAC) is becoming a new trend in customised production. Collaborative assembly between workers and robots in assembly cells can significantly increase productivity and improve the well-being of workers once the distribution of tasks and resources is optimised. This paper proposes a new integrated task allocation model to better utilise human-robot collaboration to increase productivity and improve worker well-being. The developed model enables the skills of both workers and robots to be fully utilised while ensuring economic efficiency and the effective protection of workers' physiological and psychological health. First, the product assembly process is decomposed into several assembly tasks, and the characteristics of each task are analysed. Second, a bi-objective mixed-integer planning model is developed with the objectives of minimising unit product assembly time and maximising total task matching. The ergonomics-related objectives are considered in terms of both the physiological and psychological fatigue of the worker, and relevant constraints are established. An improved NSGA-II algorithm is developed to determine the final task allocation scheme. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a real industrial case to verify the effectiveness of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In manual assembly systems, workers' differences in terms of skills, level of expertise and perceived physical effort largely affect the assembly line balancing and system performance. Traditional long-term strategic decisions may not respond to workforce changes and needs, resulting in frequent requests for line rebalancing. In this study, we propose a methodological framework and an easy-to-use Assembly Line Worker Assignment and Rebalancing Problem with different options: workers' assignment considering their performance variability, integration of worker dependent physical exertion constraints and possibility to use trainers to assist inexperienced workers. A bi-objective linear programming model is proposed aiming to minimise the cycle time and the number of reassigned tasks to respect the initial design while integrating new workers with different characteristics. The ϵ -constraint approach is used to build Pareto frontiers for this bi-objective problem. This approach is applied to three real cases. The obtained results show that the developed model can be successfully used in manufacturing companies to help the production managers to deal with workforce turnover and skills heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal ergonomics are essential to improving clinical performance and longevity among urologists, as poor ergonomics can contribute to work-related injury and physician burnout. While a majority of urologists experience muscular injury throughout their career, women and trainees are disproportionately affected. These disparities are exacerbated by the lack of formal ergonomics education within urologic training programs. This review provides an overview of practical approaches to optimize ergonomics across working environments for urologists and trainees. We highlight intraoperative techniques and novel devices which have been shown to reduce work-related injury, and we identify knowledge gaps to guide future areas of ergonomic research.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether one particular automated external defibrillator (AED) is superior to another in use by a layperson such that there is a clinically relevant difference from first contact with the device to the time of shock delivery (TimeToShock (TTS)). Causes for interaction problems and delays were analyzed. The study was conducted as a randomized, two-arm manikin study using the AED training devices "Lifepak CR-T AED Trainer" (Medtronic Physio-Control) and "AED Trainer 3" (Philips Medical Systems). In each study arm, the participants used one of the AEDs in a simulated resuscitation. The interaction was recorded by a mobile eye tracker. The TTS was compared with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The study was conducted with 28 participants inexperienced in AED use. A significant difference (p < 0.05) in TTS was measured at 32.5 s median between the two devices (61 s (IQR: 58 s–76 s, range: 51 s–115 s) for the AED Trainer 3 and 93.5 s (IQR: 91 s–103 s, Range: 80 s–129 s) for the Lifepak CR-T AED Trainer). Causes of delays and interaction problems included differences in the use of voice instruction (length, pauses, and terminology), iconography on the device and electrodes, and device opening mechanisms. The measured clinically relevant difference can be attributed to the usability of the interaction elements, which differ significantly between the devices. Besides specific design elements, the extent of user guidance provided by the AEDs is crucial for efficient and error-free interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among nursing professionals and require effective management strategies. Implementing targeted training programs for nurses is a vital approach to reduce these problems. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate problem‐based learning (PBL) effectiveness in reducing work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) among nurses. Methods: Fifty Iranian nurses participated in this interventional study. Some data were collected by a demographic/occupational questionnaire and a Persian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (P‐NMQ). Some other was gathered by Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and PBL method. Results: The prevalence of WMSs during the last 12 months in the subjects was related to the lower back (76%), wrists/hands (70%), neck (64%), and knee (64%), respectively. The results showed that the prevalence of WMSs decreased significantly only in the subjects' elbow region in the postintervention (p = 0.031). Although the prevalence decreased in the postintervention stage in other regions, this decrease was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the implementation of PBL could reduce the WMSs prevalence and the level of nurses' exposure to risk factors for MSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolving landscape of modern manufacturing is affected by a confluence of social challenges arising from demographic shifts and erratic market demands. The emergence of Industry 5.0 revolutionized practices, with a keen focus on harnessing the potential of the Internet of Things to digitize the workforce embracing a human-centric approach. In this research, an original digital architecture integrates sensors into manufacturing environments to evaluate the well-being of assembly operators. The core objective is to capture human-process interactions, empowering production managers to optimize assembly environments from the ergonomic perspective. Three key enabling technologies are employed: radio frequency identification smart gloves, motion capture cameras, and superficial electromyography sensors. This physical layer detects and analyzes assembly tasks, operator movements, and muscular activities. Computational algorithms mine these data streams to assess the Ergonomic Assembly Worksheet, automatically. In detail, the investigated sections of this ergonomic index are basic postures, action forces, and manual material handling. Furthermore, a supplementary set of Key Risk Indicators supports production managers in evaluating the physical resilience of the assembly systems. These operator-specific metrics provide strategic information to trigger workstation redesign, task rebalancing, and other corrective actions for enhancing the safety of whichever human-centric assembly process. Finally, an experimental campaign in a controlled industrial environment tests the architecture's effectiveness and potential to reduce the risks and enhance workforce health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hand functionality, defined as the ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, is crucial for emergency service nurses as it directly affects their ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as administering medication, operating equipment, and providing patient care. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of an 8‐h work shift on hand functionality and perceived exertion among emergency service nurses. Method: Employing a cross‐sectional design, the study measured manual dexterity, handgrip, and pinch strength, and perceived exertion using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), Nine‐Hole Peg Test (9‐HPT), Handgrip Strength Test, Pinch Strength Test, and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale. Data were collected from 34 emergency service nurses both before and after their shifts. Results: The present findings indicated significant postshift declines in manual dexterity as evidenced by the MMDT and 9‐HPT, with the former demonstrating a large effect size and the latter a small effect size. No significant changes were observed in handgrip and pinch strength. Notably, Borg RPE scores increased significantly postshift, indicating substantial perceived fatigue with a nearly perfect effect size. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between increased physical exertion and changes in hand dexterity and strength, underscoring the physical demands placed on nurses during typical work shifts. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for healthcare institutions to reassess work schedules and ergonomic practices to mitigate fatigue and preserve nurses' hand functionality, thereby enhancing patient care and nurse well‐being. The study calls for further research to explore more comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing the occupational strain on emergency service nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telework performed under appropriate support can promote better health conditions among employees. As telework may be associated with an increased ergonomic risk related to the workstation, companies must be able to assess working conditions at home and offer similar structure to those of face-to-face work. Objective: This study aimed to compare ergonomic and psychosocial risks and the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems and common mental disorders during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic according to work modality. Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out with 659 employees between 2021 and 2022. The data were collected via web with self-administered questionnaires. The Wilcoxon and repeated-measure analysis of variance tests were used. Results: The participants who started teleworking during the pandemic showed significant improvements in their workstations and worsening of the risks associated with rest breaks after returning to face-to-face work. Employees in telework presented a significant reduction in the intensity of musculoskeletal complaints in the last 7 days compared to those who returned to face-to-face work. Conclusions: Although there was a reduction in the ergonomic risk after returning to face-to-face work, telework was related to better working and health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe handbike configurations and the prevalence of experienced sitting and riding-related problems among recreational handcyclists training for a mountain time trial (HandbikeBattle). In this cross-sectional study, 150 participants of the HandbikeBattle, who used an arm-power (recumbent) handbike, filled out a questionnaire (on comfort, stability and power generation) while handbike characteristics were measured. Crank width was variable among handcyclists and was wider than the shoulder width (median crank/shoulder width ratio: 1.19). About 60% of the participants found sitting in the handbike never fatiguing or painful and 74–76% indicated to sit stable in the handbike when sitting or when generating power. About 80% of the participants thought that their pedal position was optimal. Although the overall scores regarding sitting position and riding settings were high (both questions median: 8.0 on 1.0–10.0 scale), 50% and 31% of the participants, respectively, believed that their sitting position and riding settings could be improved. In addition, 10% of the participants thought that the configuration could lead to an injury and had an injury at the time of filling out the questionnaire. It can be concluded that although the majority of the participants seemed to be satisfied with their handbike configurations a large variety in handbike configurations was seen. There is a need for the development of evidence-based guidelines for handbike fitting in the future. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: A large variety in handbike configurations is seen in recreationally-active handcyclists. Although the majority of the recreationally-active handcyclists seemed to be satisfied with their handbike configurations, 31–50% of them thought that their handbike configuration could be improved. Evidence-based guidelines for handbike fitting should be developed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of virtual reality (VR) technology in replicating real-life environments for the adoption of appropriate human postures and forces. Despite the widespread implementation of VR in various applications, there is a lack of research evaluating the accuracy of human postures and sensory aspects in the VR environment compared to real-life scenarios. A total of twenty-two student participants were recruited for this study, which involved a common lifting task. Two specific poses were identified as having potentially excessive forces exerted on the lower back. By comparing the angles of seven anatomical joints in both the real environment and the VR environment at each pose, we observed that depth perception may influence posture adoption in the VR setting. Moreover, the presence of a physical load applied to both hands significantly influenced the postures adopted by participants compared to those in the VR environment. These deviations in postures directly led to significant differences in predicted spinal forces exerted on the lower back, which in turn could result in inaccurate assessments of injury risks and the design of injury prevention programs. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the accuracy of VR technology as a substitute for real-life environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exoskeletons possess a high potential for assisting the human workforce while eliminating or reducing the risk of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). However, their usage in agricultural work, where there is a plethora of reported WMSD cases, seems limited. Since agricultural tasks are complex and performed in harsh environments, developing novel exoskeleton-based solutions could be challenging. However, commercial exoskeletons are already being used in various other industries, such as logistics, military, medicine, and manufacturing. Thus, it is expected that those existing exoskeleton solutions could be applied to agricultural tasks. Nevertheless, prior to implementation, assessing the feasibility, efficacy, and necessary modifications for these exoskeletons is imperative to supporting agricultural activities prone to WMSDs. In this review, prevalent exoskeletons documented in scientific literature are identified, and their potential relevance to agricultural tasks with elevated WMSD risks is evaluated. The review further highlights and deliberates on exoskeletons that could be applicable in an agricultural context. This comprehensive examination serves as a foundational step towards the conceptualization and development of exoskeleton-based approaches tailored explicitly for agricultural tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual handling is a major risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders and one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years globally, necessitating multifaceted risk reduction measures. One potential intervention for manual handling tasks is work technique training assisted by augmented feedback on biomechanical exposures. However, there is a research gap regarding its effectiveness specifically for manual handling tasks in both real work environments and controlled settings, as well as its ability to induce retained reductions in biomechanical exposure. The gap was investigated using a rapid review comprising a literature search using two databases and 11 reviews/overviews to identify studies from the past 20 years, up to studies published by 1 June 2024. Sixteen studies were identified, with 14 of them being of high or moderate methodological quality and were included. Three studies were conducted in real work environments and eleven in controlled settings. Most studies (n = 9) used auditory feedback, followed by vibration feedback (n = 6). In real work environments, the evidence for the effectiveness of sensor-based augmented feedback in reducing biomechanical exposure during administration was considered to be inconsistent and very limited directly after administration. For longer periods after administration, ranging from one week to more than six months, there is currently no evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the feedback. In controlled settings, there was strong evidence for its effectiveness during and immediately after administration, and limited evidence for effectiveness up to six months post-administration when considering the tasks included in the training. Future research needs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the interference of climate warming and human engineering activities, the degradation of permafrost causes the frequent occurrence of geological disasters such as uneven foundation settlement and landslides, which brings great challenges to the construction and operational safety of road projects. In this paper, the spatial and temporal evolution of surface deformations along the Beihei Highway was investigated by combining the SBAS-InSAR technique and the surface frost number model after considering the vegetation factor with multi-source remote sensing observation data. After comprehensively considering factors such as climate change, permafrost degradation, anthropogenic disturbance, and vegetation disturbance, the surface uneven settlement and landslide processes were analyzed in conjunction with site surveys and ground data. The results show that the average deformation rate is approximately −16 mm/a over the 22 km section of the study area. The rate of surface deformation on the pavement is related to topography, and the rate of surface subsidence on the pavement is more pronounced in areas with high topographic relief and a sunny aspect. Permafrost along the roads in the study area showed an insignificant degradation trend, and at landslides with large surface deformation, permafrost showed a significant degradation trend. Meteorological monitoring data indicate that the annual minimum mean temperature in the study area is increasing rapidly at a rate of 1.266 °C/10a during the last 40 years. The occurrence of landslides is associated with precipitation and freeze–thaw cycles. There are interactions between permafrost degradation, landslides, and vegetation degradation, and permafrost and vegetation are important influences on uneven surface settlement. Focusing on the spatial and temporal evolution process of surface deformation in the permafrost zone can help to deeply understand the mechanism of climate change impact on road hazards in the permafrost zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many efforts from multiple academic and industrial disciplines have studied the notion of context. The systems engineering and human systems integration fields, however, lack a generalized definition and characterization of context, in particular the operational context of complex sociotechnical systems. This paper reviews context definitions and builds a generalized definition of the operational context of complex sociotechnical systems. The objective is then to identify and extract context properties which are often implicit in the literature and do not necessarily appear in the definitions. However, eliciting them is helpful for understanding what context is made of, how it relates to complex sociotechnical systems comprising human and non‐human agents, and how an early understanding of the operational context can prove valuable to designing efficient and robust systems. Our analysis is followed by an example of how our definition and derived properties apply to the case study of the design of a remote and virtual air traffic control center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation industry involves various ergonomic injuries caused by activities exceeding workers' capabilities. Although the construction industry has been thoroughly studied regarding work--related injuries, hazardous activities, and effective ergonomic solutions, there is a lack of such research in the transportation sector. However, injuries, risky activities, and effectiveness of solutions may be different in transportation activities due to different work duration, intensity, and frequency. Thus, this research intends to explore the common work-related injuries, hazardous transportation activities, and the effectiveness of ergonomic solutions for transportation maintenance workers. This thorough examination incorporated historical injury records, online surveys, in-person site observations, and field experiments. Specifically, a preliminary list was first created based on transportation workers' historical injury data, including common injured worker positions, injury types, activities causing most injures, and potential risk factors. An online survey was then designed to identify work-related injuries and activities. Following observations, field experiments involved 29 transportation maintenance workers. Back injuries emerged as the most prevalent when engaging in lifting and pushing/pulling tasks. Using a back exoskeleton can eliminate physical fatigue risks when lifting weights of 50 pounds or more. In addition, lifting lighter loads (31.5 pounds) can significantly reduce the risk of injuries. RELEVANCE TO HUMAN FACTORS/ERGONOMICS THEORY: Prevalent work-related injuries, hazardous activities, and effective ergonomic solutions have been thoroughly researched in the construction domain. However, with the injury and fatality statistics of the transportation industry, there is a lack of studies investigating what injuries are prevalent, what activities are risky, and what solutions could be effective in the transportation industry. To the best of author's knowledge, this paper is the first research presenting a new framework exploring prevalent work-related injuries, hazardous activities, and ergonomic solutions' effectiveness in the domain of transportation maintenance work through the analysis of historical data, online survey data, onsite observations, and field experiment. Theoretically, this paper fills the lack of research about identification of ergonomic injuries and risky activities in the transportation industry, and contributes to the development of ergonomically effective process, practice, and technique for improved health and safety in the transportation maintenance work. Practically, the research team worked with a state Department of Transportation to help the transportation-related workers, managers, and organizations better realize the risky activities and understand how to prevent the risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entering an era where humans and synthetic agents are supposed to collaborate and cooperate, adequate models of human intent are crucial for coordinated teamwork. Unfortunately, although there is a need for such models, the concept of intent is ambiguous and approaches to model intent from a human-centric perspective are scarce. Building upon theoretical and methodological foundations, this study aims to address these gaps by presenting a conceptualisation of intent alongside an approach. Specifically, leveraging the six levels of cognitive control outlined in the Joint Control Framework, a provisional model of human intent alongside a defined and operationalised concept is presented. Building on these foundations, a novel approach is proposed. Utilising seven scenario-based interviews, the value of these contributions is demonstrated through an example case in the context of Manned-Unmanned Teaming. It is concluded that intent should be understood as a multi-faceted concept shaped by situated constraints, where intent is formed through a commitment to choices by context-situation and means-end reasoning. It is also concluded that the approach is useful, particularly since it can glean insights from choices considered and committed, both being essential in the design of synthetic teammates' capability to adapt to their human partner's agency. Relevance To human factors/ergonomics theory: With theoretical and methodological foundations, a provisional model of human intent is accompanied by a definition and operationalisation of intent to enhance understanding of this often ambiguous concept. Building upon these foundations, this paper introduces and demonstrates an approach for modelling situated intent from a human-centric perspective. These contributions deepen the understanding of human intent, particularly in the context of designing and developing systems that can effectively account for and adapt to human agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision making in nuclear emergency response involves significant uncertainty, time pressure, and high stakes. The stress and ambiguity can result in the use of heuristic decision making strategies, which may sometimes result in poor decision outcomes. As complex information systems are often used in emergency operations, this research aims at examining linkages between design choices in computer displays and cognitive biases. This paper reports a literature review covering a set of themes that include framing effects, facilitating balanced perspectives of information, automation transparency, and the role of meta-information in conveying significance. The review provides evidence from the literature showing the importance of display design in mitigating the emergence of cognitive biases in decision making tasks. The review resulted in 11 guidelines for the design of computer displays in safety-critical applications, and directions are provided for future research. A theme that connects many of these guidelines is that providing the big picture can mitigate many types of biases, which often should encompass self-reflection and calibration of appropriate confidence levels. It can be concluded that over time, the potential for biasing users can be interwoven within computer displays if debiasing is not taken into consideration early in the design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: During the advent of laparoscopy, surgeons directly explored the abdominal cavity with a telescope-like device through a small incision. Since then, numerous technological advances have transformed minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Yet, in our wireless world, various devices crowd the surgical field, with long wires and light sources posing fall and fire risks. The primary objective of this study was to analyze the first reported human use of a novel wireless laparoscopy system or WLS (ArthroFree™, Lazurite®, Cleveland, Ohio). Methods: The utility and convenience of the WLS was assessed via two avenues: (1) by analyzing surgical outcomes from first human use and (2) by surveying healthcare professionals regarding its quality and utility. Results: Eighteen patients (mean age 44.2, 83.3% female, mean BMI 33.4) underwent operations with the WLS. Operations included gynecologic and general surgical procedures. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and no conversions to traditional laparoscopy or laparotomy. Mean operating time was 71.94 ± 20.41 min, and estimated blood loss was minimal. Survey results revealed varied individual experiences. Strengths included adequate illumination, improved ergonomics, and simplicity of setup and ease of operation. One respondent criticized the image resolution. Feedback indicated an overall positive impact, and 67% of respondents supported inclusion of the device at their facility. Moreover, its deployment in resource-limited settings abroad has demonstrated its efficacy in global surgery, indicating its potential in various healthcare environments. Conclusions: This is the first reported human use of a novel WLS. Clinical results supported efficiency and safety of the technology. The successful deployment of the WLS in diverse surgical environments, including resource-limited settings, highlights its potential as a universally adaptable tool in global surgery. This report represents a strong first step toward a wireless operating room with the promise of redefining surgical standards as well as bridging gaps in surgical care worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical specialists experience significant musculoskeletal strain as a consequence of their profession, a domain within the healthcare system often recognized for the pronounced impact of such issues. The aim of this study is to calculate the risk of presenting musculoskeletal injuries in surgeons after surgical practice. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out using an online form (12/2021–03/2022) aimed at members of the Spanish Association of Surgeons. Demographic variables on physical and professional activity were recorded, as well as musculoskeletal pain (MSP) associated with surgical activity. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to identify risk factors associated with the development of MSP based on personalized surgical activity. To achieve this, a risk algorithm was computed and an online machine learning calculator was created to predict them. Physiotherapeutic recommendations were generated to address and alleviate each MSP. Results: A total of 651 surgeons (112 trainees, 539 specialists). 90.6% reported MSP related to surgical practice, 60% needed any therapeutic measure and 11.7% required a medical leave. In the long term, MSP was most common in the cervical and lumbar regions (52.4, 58.5%, respectively). Statistically significant risk factors (OR CI 95%) were for trunk pain, long interventions without breaks (3.02, 1.65–5.54). Obesity, indicated by BMI, to lumbar pain (4.36, 1.84–12.1), while an inappropriate laparoscopic screen location was associated with cervical and trunk pain (1.95, 1.28–2.98 and 2.16, 1.37–3.44, respectively). A predictive model and an online calculator were developed to assess MSP risk. Furthermore, a need for enhanced ergonomics training was identified by 89.6% of surgeons. Conclusions: The prevalence of MSP among surgeons is a prevalent but often overlooked health concern. Implementing a risk calculator could enable tailored prevention strategies, addressing modifiable factors like ergonomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin cancer is a primary health concern in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Existing research mainly stems from North America, Europe, and Australia, with limited data from Latin America. Methods: This 56‐year (1967–2023) retrospective cohort study explores skin cancer incidence in Mexican RTRs. Our objective was to assess the long‐term incidence of malignant cutaneous neoplasms in Mexican RTRs. Results: Over 56 years, 1642 RTRs (58% male) were studied. Median follow‐up was 8.4 years; median age at transplantation was 32.6 years. Skin cancer incidence was 6.6% (95% CI: 5.5–7.9), with an incidence density rate of 6.5 (95% CI: 5.4–7.9) per 1000 person‐years and a median latency of 9.8 years. Incidence increased with longer transplantation‐related immunosuppression (TRI), with a relative risk for >30 years of TRI of 4.8 (95% CI: 2.6–9.1) for any skin cancer and 7.5 (95% CI: 3.8–14.6) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SCC was the most common malignancy (76.1%), followed by basal cell carcinomas (BCC), with a 3.6:1 ratio. Metastatic SCC occurred in 6.5% of skin cancer patients, with a skin cancer‐related mortality rate of 2.7%. Limitations of the study include its single‐center and retrospective design and unassessed factors such as human papillomavirus infection and sun exposure. Conclusions: Our study provides unique insights into the epidemiology of skin cancer among Mexican RTRs. It constitutes the largest cohort of skin cancer cases among RTRs in Mexico and, to our knowledge, in Latin America. Despite the lack of recognition of a high skin cancer incidence in non‐White RTRs, our 6.6% incidence underscores the need to enhance surveillance programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are effective therapy for patients with end‐stage heart failure. Current VAD controllers offer improved interactivity, yet limitations of the visual, tactile, and auditory interface persist that impact patient experience and quality of life (QoL). This study explores how VAD controllers can be redesigned using a human‐centered design approach to enhance the emotional and functional experience of the device for patients. Methods: VAD patients (n = 21), caregivers (n = 4) and healthcare practitioners (n = 24) were interviewed to uncover design opportunities. From this, a series of realistic scenarios to design for emerged. A "design by analogy" method took inspiration from existing consumer products to ideate new functionality for the VAD wearable system, creating concepts for a controller interface and paired wearable device. An additional 15 patients and 2 caregivers were engaged to explore current VAD controller experiences and evaluate the future‐state concepts. Results: This research validated the need for increased automation and emergency functionality in VAD controllers, including remote monitoring of data, accurate communication of battery status, and automated medical alerts for critical device alarms. "Manage my health," "Feeling normal," "Social belonging," "Feeling safe," and "Sense of control" emerged as key patient concerns to be met by future VAD controller designs. Conclusions: The study demonstrated an innovative and relevant approach to improve usability of future VAD peripherals. By considering both emotional and functional perspectives in the design of lifesaving medical devices such as VADs, device manufacturers can uncover new opportunities to improve patient QoL through improved user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Aim: This study aims to describe the transition-in-care work process for sepsis survivors going from hospitals to home health care (HHC) and identify facilitators and barriers to enable practice change and safe care transitions using a human factors and systems engineering approach. Background: Despite high readmission risk for sepsis survivors, the transition-in-care work process from hospitals to HHC has not been described. Methods: We analyzed semi-structured needs assessment interviews with 24 stakeholders involved in transitioning sepsis survivors from two hospitals and one affiliated HHC agency participating in the parent implementation science study, I-TRANSFER. The qualitative data analysis was guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework to describe the work process and identify work system elements. Results: We identified 31 tasks characterized as decision making, patient education, communication, information, documentation, and scheduling tasks. Technological and organizational facilitators lacked in HHC compared to the hospitals. Person and organization elements in HHC had the most barriers but few facilitators. Additionally, we identified specific task barriers that could hinder sepsis information transfer from hospitals to HHC. Conclusion: This study explored the complex transition-in-care work processes for sepsis survivors going from hospitals to HHC. We identified barriers, facilitators, and critical areas for improvement to enable implementation and ensure safe care transitions. A key finding was the sepsis information transfer deficit, highlighting a critical issue for future study. Application: We recommend using the SEIPS framework to explore complex healthcare work processes before the implementation of evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye-controlled human-computer interaction (ECHCI) attracts attention for its human-centered, natural and direct operation characteristics. The most common ECHCI trigger motion is "gazing," which causes Midas Touch problems, lowering usability and operation experience. This paper innovatively proposed using motion combinations based on blinking as the trigger of interactive objects (IOs). Trigger motions and IO design parameters were explored on the platform consisting of Tobii eye-tracker and computer vision kits. In the motion experiment, it was concluded 2-blinks could bring a low task load and high success rate of 95%. In the IO size experiment, the larger the IO diameter, the shorter the users' response time and the higher users' interaction success rate, and 55.5 mm was the optimal setting. Based on this, it was found a larger spacing could bring higher operation efficiency, and 33.3 mm was taken as the recommended value. Based on the conclusion above, an eye-controlled multimedia player prototype was built for usability evaluation, which showed an equally high efficiency compared to mouse-controlled HCI. The findings in this paper overcame Midas Touch issues and avoided the interference of unavoidable involuntary blinking, which brought a significant increase in system robustness and has a wide range of potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ergonomics have significant implications for the surgical workforce that performs at the interface between human-operated equipment and patient anatomy to achieve clinical results. This systematic review evaluated the literature discussing ergonomics in plastic surgery to explore current knowledge, evaluate trends, and identify prime gaps for future study. A systematic search strategy was developed by a licensed librarian and plastic surgeon to query all manuscripts evaluating ergonomics in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts, evaluated full texts, and extracted data. Forty-six studies were ultimately included. The number of published studies increased significantly over time when evaluated by year (ρ = 0.660, p < 0.001), with 17 (36.9%) written since 2020. Studies more commonly discussed musculoskeletal pain/disorders (n = 23) compared to surgical instrumentation or technology (n = 18, p = 0.390), operative posture (n = 14, p = 0.041), surgical technique (n = 6, p = 0.002), peri-surgical practices (n = 5, p < 0.001), and surgeon physiology (n = 3, p < 0.001). Among the 19 studies, including interventions, approaches more frequently involved novel instrumentation or technology (n = 14, 73.4%) compared to peri-surgical practices (n = 3, 6.5%, p < 0.001) or operative posture (n = 2, 4.3%, p < 0.001). Ergonomics in plastic surgery has gained significant interest over time, with recent years representing a large proportion of published literature. Although most studies discuss musculoskeletal pain, the proportion of studies addressing posture and surgical practices are comparatively underrepresented, suggesting an opportunity for future intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ergonomic considerations can be unintentionally neglected and underutilized in the modern diagnostic radiology practice. • Repetitive stress injuries affecting multiple musculoskeletal systems can negatively impact the practice of diagnostic radiology, and can contribute to reduced productivity and reduced career longevity. • Suboptimal workplace reading station ergonomics can also negatively impact the oculo-neural axis and can contribute to digital eye strain and migraines, among other entities. • By taking into consideration a combination of multiple ergonomic tools and implementing certain behavioral modifications, diagnostic radiologists can mitigate the risks of musculoskeletal injuries, digital eye strain, and other afflictions attributed to prolonged PACS reading station use. The average post-pandemic modern radiology practice is experiencing an ever-increasing workload volume with overall relatively similar staffing levels, regardless of practice setting. This has resulted in an increased workload demand for the average diagnostic radiologist, which in many cases translates to longer working hours. It is now more important than ever to be cognizant of various work-related injuries, including repetitive-stress injuries and vision-related ailments as examples, in relation to the working conditions of the radiologist. This article will discuss commonly occurring conditions and ergonomic considerations that the radiologist can employ to reduce the risk of work-related injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining was considered as a dangerous job which has now turned into much safer employment with the development of automation and communication techniques in mines. In mining, the equipment, tools, and techniques have changed significantly and continue to transform. This review work explores numerous such emerging problems and opportunities in different mining circumstances. The occupational safety and health management methods, as well as risk control technology allied with the mining industry, includes day‐to‐day management of operations, identification and assessment of risks, premature warning and active risk monitoring, etc. The research work in the safe and sustainable environment reveals that the major accidents occur due to natural calamity, human error, the control of which would ensure a sustainable and safe working environment for miners to a considerable extent. The present study proposed a smart and sustainable framework for a safe and clean environment for emerging safety and ergonomics issues through automated mining concept. The proposed framework has been developed by reviewing the previous research work related to mine safety, mine hazard, health, ergonomic issues, and mine automation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During projects to build roads in China's mountainous areas, which are often characterized by the poor stability of rocky slopes, cases of deformation damage occur frequently. Because of the wide distribution of rocky landslides in the smooth layer, the unavoidable perturbation caused by engineering construction and the seriousness of landslide disasters, the destruction of this type of landslide and the research into prevention of the mechanism cannot be ignored. On 6 February 2023, a rock slide occurred in Yaoping village, Hubei Province, China. Using field investigations, Google satellite images, unmanned aerial vehicle photography, indoor testing and numerical simulations, we analysed the geological situation, deformation characteristics, damage process and triggering mechanism. The results show that the Yaoping landslide is a typical downward plane-sliding rock slide induced by the excavation of a highway. When strain softening occurs, the shear strength and friction coefficient of the slip zone soil are significantly reduced. Excavation caused the factor of safety of the slope to decrease substantially, with a maximum decrease rate of 60.7%. Excavation is considered to be the extrinsic factor that triggered the occurrence of the Yaoping landslide, while the reduction of landslide resistance caused by strain softening of the soil in the slip zone is the intrinsic direct factor that led to the occurrence of this type of landslide. The Yaoping landslide has obvious traction landslide characteristics. The landslide from deformation to destruction has four stages: creep at the leading edge of the landslide; traction deformation in the middle and back of the landslide; slip belt softening; and integral sliding. The prevention and control of this type of landslide requires a larger scope and depth of investigation, in order to identify in advance the possible soft surface in the rock layer, to speculate on the possible formation of landslide destruction mode, and to determine the support scheme and scope according to the geological conditions of the slopes on both sides of the highway. The slip zone soil of the Yaoping landslide was used to obtain the strength index of slip zone soil, which provides data support for the overall deformation characterization of the landslide. The results can provide a reference for the risk management and prevention of rock slides caused by human engineering activities during the excavation of roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of construction engineering, the cracking of concrete structures is a common engineering problem, which has a great impact on the overall stability and service life of the engineered structure. During structural repair, crack detection is the most critical step. Automatic detection significantly reduces the engineering cost and human factor error compared with manual detection. However, due to the changeable environment of the project site and different image specifications, using a single algorithm makes it difficult to balance high efficiency and high accuracy. In this study, we designed a combined recognition method including the region growth algorithm and machine learning regression that can achieve a tradeoff between accuracy and efficiency. Firstly, the regression method learns the image features of the dataset and the specific region growth threshold, and the regression function is trained by using the open-source dataset to determine the region growth threshold using the characteristics of the images included in the tests. The region growth algorithm is used to expand the threshold from the seed points of the image to obtain the crack recognition results. The results show that this method improves the accuracy of SSIM by 7% compared with the traditional region growth algorithm, and does not significantly increase the computational cost, with an increase of 0.78 s per photo process. Compared with the deep learning method, the recognition accuracy of SSIM is decreased by 5.96%, but it takes less resources and has high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among agricultural workers, increasing the risk of work-related diseases due to manual labor, repetitive tasks, and prolonged postures. This study evaluates the association between physical behaviors during work and non-work, measured objectively, and musculoskeletal pain in the neck, upper back, and lower back in viticulture workers. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 75 viticulturists of both sexes aged 18 years or older. An accelerometer measured physical behaviors (lying down, sitting, standing, moving, walking, and sleeping) during work and non-work periods. Pain intensity was quantified using a 0–10 scale and categorized as "Low" and "High" pain intensity. Binary logistic regression tested the association between pain and time spent on physical behaviors. Results indicated a high prevalence of pain: 46.7% cervical, 52% upper back, and 60% lower back. Standing was the most common behavior during work, while lying and sitting were predominant during non-work. An increased sleeping time was associated with a decreased probability of experiencing high-intensity neck pain. Increased time spent lying down during non-work hours was associated with an increased probability of experiencing high-intensity upper back pain. No physical behavior was associated with high-intensity lower back pain. In conclusion, sedentary behaviors worsen upper back pain, and sleep reduces neck pain in viticulture workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents statistical shape models of the four fingers of the hand, with an emphasis on anatomic analysis of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. A multi-body statistical shape modelling pipeline was implemented on an exemplar training dataset of computed tomography (CT) scans of 10 right hands (5F:5M, 27–37 years, free from disease or injury) imaged at 0.3 mm resolution, segmented, meshed and aligned. Model generated included pose neutralisation to remove joint angle variation during imaging. Repositioning was successful; no joint flexion variation was observed in the resulting model. The first principal component (PC) of morphological variation represented phalanx size in all fingers. Subsequent PCs showed variation in position along the palmar-dorsal axis, and bone breadth: length ratio. Finally, the models were interrogated to provide gross measures of bone lengths and joint spaces. These models have been published for open use to support wider community efforts in hand biomechanical analysis, providing bony anatomy descriptions whilst preserving the security of the underlying imaging data and privacy of the participants. The model describes a small, homogeneous population, and assumptions cannot be made about how it represents individuals outside the training dataset. However, it supplements anthropometric datasets with additional shape information, and may be useful for investigating factors such as joint morphology and design of hand-interfacing devices and products. The model has been shared as an open-source repository (https://github.com/abel-research/OpenHands), and we encourage the community to use and contribute to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pitting is the preparation of a tree planting position. In South Africa, various contractors and grower companies have gradually adopted pitting machines over the past decade, to overcome the challenges of manual pitting, such as low productivity, poor ergonomics, and inconsistent pit quality. Even though most forestry stakeholders understand productivity requirements (e.g. pits/shift) from pitting machines, they are often unaware of productivity differences associated with different operators and work conditions. This study aimed to compare the operational productivity and pit quality achieved by different pitting machine operators under different site conditions. The experiment was conducted in two sub-compartments, with two different post-harvest slash treatments: broadcast burning or mulching (and pre-marking). Then, four operators were tasked to dig pits using the same equipment. Operator productivity was assessed by analyzing time study data, while pit quality was estimated by determining pit depth and diameter. The results indicated that Operator 4 performed significantly better on mulched sites (543 pits/PMH) than on burned sites (430 pits/PMH), while Operator 2 was the least productive with 261 and 253 pits/PMH in mulched and burned sites, respectively. The overall average productivity was 120 pits/PMH higher on mulched sites than on burned sites. Although work quality did not correlate with productivity, there were differences between operators on the mulched site. The proportion of good pits varied, but site preparation technique did not significantly affect pit quality. We conclude that operator experience significantly impacts productivity and that marking the pitting spots is important to ensure that the required number of pits per hectare is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to develop a novel design method to make personalized masks for the effective prevention of pandemic respiratory infectious disease. Design/methodology/approach: The changes in facial shape during speaking were analyzed using a three-dimensional (3D) scanning technique. In total, 13 anthropometric items were measured, and mask patterns were generated using a parametric pattern design method. Three sizing methods were proposed to reflect not only static but also dynamic body dimensions on the mask patterns. Findings: A significant increase or decrease was observed in 10 out of 13 measurement items. Based on this, four items were selected to be used in the mask pattern design. The nose and cheek areas of a mask were fixed to protect the respiratory tract against viruses. The lower jaw area was deformed to improve the fit. Social implications: This study is expected to provide fundamental data to understand the changes in facial shape during movement. In addition, it is expected that the development of individualized personal protective equipment with movement adaptability will facilitate an effective response to various pandemic respiratory diseases. Originality/value: In order to develop a personal protective equipment (PPE) that has a good fit and can protect against pandemic respiratory infectious diseases, morphological analysis was attempted using 3D facial data. It would be possible to design various products and equipment to be worn on the face by using the method proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Professional driving requires long hours of work, uncomfortable seats, negotiating rough terrain and highways, and possibly minor repairs and other auxiliary transportation duties. Heavy vehicle drivers driving vehicles such as trucks, bulldozers, etc. due to such working structures are more prone to various musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and pain, which is of great concern. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, it is planned to investigate possible ergonomic risk factors such as age, weight, driving exposure, seat suspension systems, lifting heavy weights causing MSDs in drivers of various heavy vehicles. The results of the study are expected to help drivers reduce the risk of MSDs. METHODS: For the present study, the Nordic questionnaire on musculoskeletal disorders was modified and standardized and was administered to the 48 heavy vehicle drivers randomly selected to collect the data. RESULTS: The analysis divulged that over the past 12 months, lower back pain (LBP) emerged as the most dominant pain experienced by 56% of drivers, followed by knee pain (KP) (43%) and neck pain (NP) (39%) respectively. The prevalence of shoulder pain (SP) was observed to be much lower than in previous literature. The logistic regression model further revealed that increasing age, poor suspension system and poor body posture were significantly associated with lower back pain. Additionally, a poor suspension system and lifting heavy weights had significant effect on the drivers' knee pain. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated the evident necessity for ergonomic consideration in vehicle designing and ergonomic training for heavy vehicle drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The dimensional seat design process should consider both the users' tasks and their physical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To use an approach for the design and evaluation of seat dimensions based on the anthropometric characteristics of the Iranian population and the requirements of tractor operators. METHODS: Some existing equations relating the seat dimensions to anthropometric characteristics were modified according to logical justifications and international standards. A new mathematical-statistical method was used to extract the equations estimating the constant seat dimensions based on the theoretical maximizing of the accommodation level. In addition, an Overall Seat Accommodation Score (OSAS) was developed to represent the mean of seat dimensions accommodation level and dimensional accommodation equality, simultaneously. RESULTS: The dimensional seat design can be affected under different conditions of adjustability, esthetic, and space limitations. However, it was shown that it is possible to improve the design of tractor seats without any significant increase in the final cost and complexity. CONCLUSION: A new approach was used for tractor seats for a sample of Iranian operators and can be used for the design and evaluation of tractor seats for other target populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]