OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate the connections between voice ergonomic risk factors found in classrooms and voice-related problems in teachers. METHODS Voice ergonomic assessment was performed in 39 classrooms in 14 elementary schools by means of a Voice Ergonomic Assessment in Work Environment--Handbook and Checklist. The voice ergonomic risk factors assessed included wor...

Today our cultural events are dominated by visual information based on sight and sound, but hardly at all on the combined senses of touch and sound. Visually impaired users, lacking sight are not often able to engage in cultural events. Compensated audio-description or talking books are standard products that visually impaired people can buy to imagine feature film stories or decide what is hap...

A holistic review of ergonomic history shows that science remains important for general occupational health and safety (OSH), the broad society, culture, politics and the design of everyday things. Science provides an unconventional and multifaceted viewpoint exploring ergonomics from a social, corporate and OSH perspective. Ergonomic solutions from this mindset may redefine the science, and it...

The growing number of musculoskeletal disorders in industry could be addressed by the use of collaborative robots, which allow the joint manipulation of objects by both a robot and a person. However the efficiency of a collaborative robot regarding the reduction of musculoskeletal disorders risks is highly task-dependent. Yet, even when designing dedicated systems, the ergonomic benefit provide...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise, ergonomic modification, and a combination of training exercise and ergonomic modification on the scores of pain in office workers with neck, shoulders, and lower back pain. METHODS Participants (N=142) in this randomized controlled trial were office workers aged 20-50 years old with neck, shoulders, and lower back pain. They were randomly a...

PROBLEM Few methods exist for comprehensively examining the costs and benefits of ergonomic interventions applicable to a variety of economic sectors and settings. METHODS An instrument for data collection and data analysis at the facility level is presented. In this net-cost model intervention costs are defined by equipment and labor costs for the interventions as well as the avoided costs o...

Today, the musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most frequent health problems related directly to working conditions and they occur in nurses who get little or no training in the safety and ergonomic principle of patients' care. This study is aimed to evaluate interaction between the nurses’ awareness of ergonomic principles and workplace conditions with work-related injuries in two Iranian...

The objective of this research was to study and identify ergonomic deficiencies in computer workstation design in typical offices. Physical measurements and a questionnaire were used to study 40 workstations. Major ergonomic deficiencies were found in physical design and layout of the workstations, employee postures, work practices, and training. The consequences in terms of user health and oth...