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Work conditions and accidents in three industries
Abstracts
forms are to do with measurement, classification and goals. These difficulties and ways of dealing with them are discussed.
To provide readers of Applied Ergonomics with a selection of current ergonomics literature likely to be of direct practical value, abstracts are published selected from the collection held at the Ergonomics Information Analysis Centre. These abstracts are classified in a similar manner to the main articles in the journal; for easy reference, the code number at the head of each abstract (eg I. 1.21 ) consists of the volume number, part or issue number and a sequential abstract number. The published abstracts are only a selection of the Centre's material and readers concerned with specific areas are invited to contact the Centre for further information. Those readers unable to obtain copies of the original articles abstracted here through their usual sources, such as company librarian, may obtain photocopies from the Centre. Details of this service are available from The Ergonomics Information Analysis Centre, Department of Engineering Production, University of Birmingham, P O B o x 3 6 3 , Birmingham 15. Tel. 021 472 1301.
General 14.1.1 (82570)
Bryant, J.E., and Cline, J.L. An analytical approach to accident control. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York, 1 2 - 1 6 October 1981, Edited by Robert C. Sugarman, 1981, pp 6 6 6 - 6 7 0 . An analytical approach to accident control is presented and said to be applicable to many types of production operations, particularly those involving delicate and easily damaged end-item hardware. Elements of the analytical approach are defining project goals and priorities, identifying acceptable levels of risk, conducting accident modes and effects analyses, synthesising hazards and hazard areas, and making objective decisions based upon quantitative data. Techniques for analysing hazard areas in production operations are included.
14.1.2 (82577)
Etherton, J.R., Trump, T.R., and Jensen, R,C. The determination of effective injury controls for metalcutting lathe operators. Scandinavian Journal of
Work, Environment and Health, 1981,7. Supplement 4, 1 1 5 - 1 1 9 .
Operators of metalworking lathes are one of the largest manufacturing machine worker populations in the United States. Machines (other than vehicular) account for over 10% of occupational injuries each year. An estimated 3400 operators of metalworking lathes suffer lost-time injuries annually in the USA. Some of these are fatal. Therefore an investigation was undertaken to determine methods for reducing
70
Applied Ergonomics
injuries to lathe operators. Three methods were used: (i) review of injury reports, (ii) human factors analysis, and (iii) fault-tree procedures. The investigation followed the manmachine systems approach of looking for injury-producing dysfunctions between the lathe and the lathe operator. The major sources of injury were found to be chips and workholding devices. Secondary tasks were found to be more hazardous than is generally recognised. The use of three methods for approaching the problem was found to be useful in that injury controls were identified which are likely to be adopted because of their potential for improving safety without adversely affecting productivity. 14.1.3 (82578)
Feeney, R.J., and Galer, M.D. Ergonomics research and the disabled. Ergonomics, 1981, 2 4 . 1 1 , 8 2 1 - 8 3 0 . What has ergonomics done to improve the design of products, buildings and environments for handicapped people? The ergonomist, by assisting in the fitting of disabled people to tasks, products and environments designed for people who are not disabled, has made contributions in two main ways. This has been done in the first instance by the adaptation of existing facilities and the development of special aids. This is, however, a short-term solution to solve problems that exist now. The ergonomist has also done much to assist in the reduction of handicap for disabled people in the future by taking the capabilities and capacities of disabled people into account when developing new facilities. The major difficulties which the ergonomist faces in using and applying ergonomics to find generalisable solutions to the problems presented by disability in all its many varied
March 1983
14.1.4 (82583)
Hasselquist, R.J. Increasing manufacturing productivity using human factors principles. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York, 12-- 16 October 1981, Edited by Robert C. Sugarman, 1981, pp 2 0 4 - 2 0 6 . Justifying the premium cost of applying human factors principles in the manufacturing workplace has been a major problem. The traditional, objective, cause-and-effect analyses are not applicable due to the lack of data. IBM Boulder developed an alternative - a subjective method of cost justification. Measurement of actual data has verified paybacks of the premium cost due to human factor considerations of less than one year. This paper discussed design highlights from having applied human factors principles to one manufacturing line. 14.1.5 (82594)
Saari, J., Tech, D., and Lahtela, J. Work conditions and accidents in three industries. Scandinavian Journal
of Work, Environment and Health, 1981, 7. Supplement 4, 9 7 - 1 0 5 . Four studies conducted in the light metal, electrotechnical and printing industries are described. The purpose was to determine the applicability of the systems approach to occupational accidents. The data consisted of 291 accidents and 701 controls. The stable characteristics of the workers or the environments were not good predictors of accidents. The clearest differences between the accidents and the controls involved the worker's situational experience, the frequency of task occurrence, the familiarity of the tasks, and the mobility of dangers. The complexity of the information exchange between man and his environment, as well as the perceptibility of environmental dangers, contributed to the occurrence of accidents.
Visual processes in man 14.1.6 (82607)
Sturgis, S.P., and Osgood, D.J. Measuring the quality of drivers' night vision. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York,
forms are to do with measurement, classification and goals. These difficulties and ways of dealing with them are discussed.
To provide readers of Applied Ergonomics with a selection of current ergonomics literature likely to be of direct practical value, abstracts are published selected from the collection held at the Ergonomics Information Analysis Centre. These abstracts are classified in a similar manner to the main articles in the journal; for easy reference, the code number at the head of each abstract (eg I. 1.21 ) consists of the volume number, part or issue number and a sequential abstract number. The published abstracts are only a selection of the Centre's material and readers concerned with specific areas are invited to contact the Centre for further information. Those readers unable to obtain copies of the original articles abstracted here through their usual sources, such as company librarian, may obtain photocopies from the Centre. Details of this service are available from The Ergonomics Information Analysis Centre, Department of Engineering Production, University of Birmingham, P O B o x 3 6 3 , Birmingham 15. Tel. 021 472 1301.
General 14.1.1 (82570)
Bryant, J.E., and Cline, J.L. An analytical approach to accident control. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York, 1 2 - 1 6 October 1981, Edited by Robert C. Sugarman, 1981, pp 6 6 6 - 6 7 0 . An analytical approach to accident control is presented and said to be applicable to many types of production operations, particularly those involving delicate and easily damaged end-item hardware. Elements of the analytical approach are defining project goals and priorities, identifying acceptable levels of risk, conducting accident modes and effects analyses, synthesising hazards and hazard areas, and making objective decisions based upon quantitative data. Techniques for analysing hazard areas in production operations are included.
14.1.2 (82577)
Etherton, J.R., Trump, T.R., and Jensen, R,C. The determination of effective injury controls for metalcutting lathe operators. Scandinavian Journal of
Work, Environment and Health, 1981,7. Supplement 4, 1 1 5 - 1 1 9 .
Operators of metalworking lathes are one of the largest manufacturing machine worker populations in the United States. Machines (other than vehicular) account for over 10% of occupational injuries each year. An estimated 3400 operators of metalworking lathes suffer lost-time injuries annually in the USA. Some of these are fatal. Therefore an investigation was undertaken to determine methods for reducing
70
Applied Ergonomics
injuries to lathe operators. Three methods were used: (i) review of injury reports, (ii) human factors analysis, and (iii) fault-tree procedures. The investigation followed the manmachine systems approach of looking for injury-producing dysfunctions between the lathe and the lathe operator. The major sources of injury were found to be chips and workholding devices. Secondary tasks were found to be more hazardous than is generally recognised. The use of three methods for approaching the problem was found to be useful in that injury controls were identified which are likely to be adopted because of their potential for improving safety without adversely affecting productivity. 14.1.3 (82578)
Feeney, R.J., and Galer, M.D. Ergonomics research and the disabled. Ergonomics, 1981, 2 4 . 1 1 , 8 2 1 - 8 3 0 . What has ergonomics done to improve the design of products, buildings and environments for handicapped people? The ergonomist, by assisting in the fitting of disabled people to tasks, products and environments designed for people who are not disabled, has made contributions in two main ways. This has been done in the first instance by the adaptation of existing facilities and the development of special aids. This is, however, a short-term solution to solve problems that exist now. The ergonomist has also done much to assist in the reduction of handicap for disabled people in the future by taking the capabilities and capacities of disabled people into account when developing new facilities. The major difficulties which the ergonomist faces in using and applying ergonomics to find generalisable solutions to the problems presented by disability in all its many varied
March 1983
14.1.4 (82583)
Hasselquist, R.J. Increasing manufacturing productivity using human factors principles. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York, 12-- 16 October 1981, Edited by Robert C. Sugarman, 1981, pp 2 0 4 - 2 0 6 . Justifying the premium cost of applying human factors principles in the manufacturing workplace has been a major problem. The traditional, objective, cause-and-effect analyses are not applicable due to the lack of data. IBM Boulder developed an alternative - a subjective method of cost justification. Measurement of actual data has verified paybacks of the premium cost due to human factor considerations of less than one year. This paper discussed design highlights from having applied human factors principles to one manufacturing line. 14.1.5 (82594)
Saari, J., Tech, D., and Lahtela, J. Work conditions and accidents in three industries. Scandinavian Journal
of Work, Environment and Health, 1981, 7. Supplement 4, 9 7 - 1 0 5 . Four studies conducted in the light metal, electrotechnical and printing industries are described. The purpose was to determine the applicability of the systems approach to occupational accidents. The data consisted of 291 accidents and 701 controls. The stable characteristics of the workers or the environments were not good predictors of accidents. The clearest differences between the accidents and the controls involved the worker's situational experience, the frequency of task occurrence, the familiarity of the tasks, and the mobility of dangers. The complexity of the information exchange between man and his environment, as well as the perceptibility of environmental dangers, contributed to the occurrence of accidents.
Visual processes in man 14.1.6 (82607)
Sturgis, S.P., and Osgood, D.J. Measuring the quality of drivers' night vision. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 25th Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York,