CONTENTS:

Articles:

PROTECTION OF HUMAN IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

A Heart Rate Evaluation Approach to Determine Cost-Effectiveness an Ergonomics Intervention Gregory Z. Bedny, Waldemar Karwowski, Mark H. Seglin, 121-133       Validation of Methods for Determination of Metabolic Rate in the Edholm Scale and ISO 8996 Lina Giedraityte, Ingvar Holmér, Désirée Gavhed, 135-148       Integrated Estimation of the Effect of Physical Factors on Human Functional State During Mental Work German A. Suvorov, Ralemma F. Afanasieva, Nataliya S. Mikhailova, Migran A. Babayan, Alexander F. Bobrov, Sergey N. Sokolov, 149-161       Fundamentals of the Model Behind the COSMOS Methodology Used for Team Assessment in Simulator Training Lajos Izsó, 163-178

PROTECTION OF HUMAN AT THE WORKSTATION

Assessment of the Musculoskeletal Load of the Trapezius and Deltoid Muscles During Hand Activity Danuta Roman-Liu, Tomasz Tokarski, Joanna Kamińska, 179-193       A Prescriptive Exercise Program for Health Maintenance Akiko Yamashita, Mitsuyuki Kawakami, Yoshimasa Inagaki, Takao Ohkubo, 195-209       Heavy Mining Vehicle Controls and Skidding Accidents Christopher Hubbard, Syed Abid Naqvi, Mike Capra, 211-221       A Method of Ergonomic Workplace Evaluation for Assessing Occupational Risks at Workplaces Wiesław Grzybowski, 223-237

Announcement:
IEA/JOSE Best Paper Award      

A Heart Rate Evaluation Approach to Determine Cost-Effectiveness an Ergonomics Intervention
Gregory Z. Bedny, Waldemar Karwowski, Mark H. Seglin

This paper describes a hear-rate methodology to determine the cost-effectiveness of an ergonomics intervention to reduce workload and improve working conditions. This is a practical approach as opposed to the energy expenditure technique that is difficult to implement in natural settings. This was a laboratory study using a large excavator cabin with devices to simulate excavation operations. Mean heart rate was used to calculate the required rest time during a shift with or without air-conditioning. The criterion for evaluation was differences in required rest time during a shift under these 2 conditions. The simplicity and objectivity of this approach invites use to solve the problem of the economic evaluation of ergonomics interventions.

Validation of Methods for Determination of Metabolic Rate in the Edholm Scale and ISO 8996
Lina Giedraityte, Ingvar Holmér, Désirée Gavhed

The aim of this study was to validate the Edholm scale (Edholm, 1966) and the ISO 8996 standard (International Organization for Standardization [ISO], 1990) by comparing the metabolic rates estimated for both methods with the actual measured metabolic rate (M_Meas) in 6 manual material handling tasks simulated under laboratory conditions. The metabolic rate was calculated from oxygen consumption VO₂(19 participants) according to Standard No. ISO 8996 (ISO, 1990). Additionally, the participants estimated perceived exertion using the Borg scale. The metabolic rates derived from the Edholm scale (M_Edh) overestimated 5 of 6 activities by 34-50% (α = .05). The metabolic rates derived from ISO 8996 (M_ISO) overestimated all activities by 7-38% (α = .05).

Integrated Estimation of the Effect of Physical Factors on Human Functional State During Mental Work
German A. Suvorov, Ralemma F. Afanasieva, Nataliya S. Mikhailova, Migran A.
Babayan, Alexander F. Bobrov, Sergey N. Sokolov

The purpose of this study was to develop a model for an integrated estimation of the functional state of the human organism (FSHO) and an integral estimation of physical factors (PF) for hygienic rating. Tests were performed twice with 3 men in 0.7-clo clothing during 4-hr mental work with 9 combinations of 4 PF: wideband noise (55–83 dB(A)), whole-body vibration (6 Hz, az = 0.2–1.8 ms^-2), air temperature (18–30^oC), and illumination (1, 3, 5 lx). Thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and psychophysiological reactions and temporary threshold of hearing (TTS₂) shifts were studied. For the integral estimation of PF influence on FSHO the model F(y₁, y₂, … y_m) = f(x₁, x₂, … x_n) was used, relating both FSHO and PF sets.
The most important physiological parameters in creating FSHO are defined and the contribution of individual parameters of FSHO and PF is found.

Fundamentals of the Model Behind the COSMOS Methodology Used for Team Assessment in Simulator Training
Lajos Izsó

Team working is the basic way of working in the control rooms of hazardous technologies and therefore its quality is a safety-relevant issue. In addition to the technological competence it is also crucial for the crews to have the necessary communicational skills. During simulator training these skills can only be improved if the simulator use is embedded in an appropriate setting. To support this skill acquisition a computer-supported methodology called COSMOS (COmputer Supported Method for Operators' Self-assessment) has been developed. With its
help more effective communication and more complete shared mental models can be fostered. This paper is a report on the psychological fundamentals and the mathematical model of the COSMOS methodology.

Assessment of the Musculoskeletal Load of the Trapezius and Deltoid Muscles During Hand Activity
Danuta Roman-Liu, Tomasz Tokarski, Joanna Kamińska

The purpose of the study was to analyse the influence of the precision of a task on tension and fatigue of the trapezius and deltoid muscles. Ten young men took part in experiments. Different levels of force and different frequencies of pressing a button defined the precision of the task. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used. Muscle tension and fatigue were reflected by 2 parameters of the EMG signal: the Root Mean Square amplitude related to the maximum value and changes in the Median Power Frequency. The results showed that hand activities influence the descending part of the trapezius muscle and do not influence the deltoid muscle, and that the precision of work can influence the examined muscles of the arm
and shoulder even during work in which only the hand is involved in a performed task.

A Prescriptive Exercise Program for Health Maintenance
Akiko Yamashita, Mitsuyuki Kawakami, Yoshimasa Inagaki, Takao Ohkubo

The aim of this study was to design a prescriptive exercise program for people of various age and fitness basing on the popular in Japan Radio Physical Fitness Exercise, a program based on an experimental approach. The evaluation indices used in the experiment were heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption, and electrical activity of the rectus femoris, latissimus dorsi, and trapezius muscles, which measured during various motion elements of the program performed at various rate. The results of this study enable to calculate equations for predicting HR during exercise from relative metabolic rate (RMR). The data on HR, RMR, and myoelectric potential presented in this study may be a basis for designing individual exercise programs for elderly people.

Heavy Mining Vehicle Controls and Skidding Accidents
Christopher Hubbard, Syed Abid Naqvi, Mike Capra, 211-221

This paper examines various control locations in heavy mining vehicles. Three trucks have been tested on a skid pad in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions. The skid lengths were measured after each trial. The primary focus of the study was the positioning of various controls and their relevance to various skid lengths. Some additional measures such as NASA-TLX scales were also used to make subjective evaluations. The results are presented in this paper. The findings clearly indicate the relevance of control locations to actual skid lengths. The poorly located controls resulted in greater skid lengths. This is an important finding as skid lengths are related to greater reaction times in a skidding situation and hence greater risk of accidents on relevant trucks. Such accidents can incur large repair bills for damaged equipment whereas more importantly, jeopardizing the life and safety of heavy mining vehicle drivers.

A Method of Ergonomic Workplace Evaluation for Assessing Occupational Risks at Workplaces
Wiesław Grzybowski

The paper discusses new trends in developing and implementing methods of workplace analysis. It presents a sample method of ergonomic workplace evaluation developed at the Poznań University of Technology. The method is a response to the industrial sector's demand
for tools supporting occupational risk assessment. The authors also present opportunities and benefits of applying the method in occupational safety management systems, which have gained increasing popularity in recent years.