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Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III
ABSTRACTS stimuli. The large-small comparisons of both experiments reduce the concern that employing a large traffic sign will delay the perception of a second contiguous sign. Moreover, the one-two comparisons of both experiments imply that employing two contiguous signs will not delay the perception of a sign, despite widespread evidence that a nearby object will delay the perception of a target object. 23.5.32 (125859) Mallem, M, Chavand, F and Colle, E 'Computer-assisted visual perception in teleoperated robotics' Robotica Vol 10 No 2 (1992) pp 93-103 (29 refs) Due to the complexity of teleoperation tasks, human operators figure in the teleoperator perception-decisioncontrol loop. The operator needs an interactive system to handle the huge flow of data between himself and the teleoperator. The scene represented by the robot and its environment is viewed by one or more cameras. However, the video image may be degraded in extreme environments (underwater, space, etc) or simply inadequate (2-D image). In this paper the authors describe the visual perception aids based on the scene, and more specifically how these are generated by the method put forward. The system developed at the LRE superimposes a 3-D synthetic image on to the video picture, and animates the scene in real time on the basis of sensor information feedback. The graphic image can be generated from models, if the objects are known, otherwise interactively, with the cooperation of the operator if the objects are completely unknown. Experiments show that these graphic aids improve the operator's performance in task execution.
Workplace and equipment design 23.5.33 (125875) Ahlin, J and Westlander, G Offices and office work - two aspects of the office working environment - a cross-disciplinary study (Kontorslokaler och kontorsarbete - tva perspektiv pa kontoret som arbetsplats) (in Swedish) National Institute of Occupational Health (Arbetsmiljoinstitutet), Solna, Sweden, Arbete och Halsa 1991:6 (1991) 83 pp (60 refs) This study attempts to unite two aspects of the office working environment, namely working conditions and the disposition of the premises. Working conditions and premises as illuminated by occupational health research and office interior design research provide the background to this cross-disciplinary 354
presentation. A brief historical overview looks at development of office design primarily from a Swedish viewpoint in order to provide a deeper appreciation of the actual models applied. This is followed by an empirical investigation that embraces eight workplaces studied during 1987-89. The results are presented in the form of a combined analysis and begin with a description of extant models, the occurrence of complaints coupled to office design, and to the increased use of computers in the office. For the purpose of illuminating the importance of office design and working conditions for the occupational health of employees, the study considers the occurrence of complaints related to both factors. The results indicate that a complex pattern of complaints is uniformly common, which validates the conclusion that where stationary working conditions and daily tasks before a computer terminal occur, there is an especial need for preventive measures to be taken. The physical environment with regard to terminal work plays a decisive role.
on the projected shadows method was submitted to ISO. The ISO test method has been applied to 15 different hydraulic excavators. At the same time, INRS (National Institute of Research and Safety) worked out a novel approach based on photography of the visual field and applied it to the 15 hydraulic excavators in the same conditions. The purpose of this study is to compare the results and disadvantages of the two approaches for controlling applicability of the ISO standard draft to hydraulic excavators. There is no correlation between the two techniques at all concerning front visibility, which indicates that the ISO draft is deficient. It only analyses one circular line rather than the full surface, which should be the more valid approach.
23.5.34 (126203) Yoshida, H and Ogawa, K 'Workplace assessment guideline checking your workplace' in Karwowski, W and Yates, J W (eds) Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III Taylor & Francis, London (1991) pp 23-30 (11 refs)
The relations between muscular activity, irregular hand motions and job demands in the diamond polishing industry, were the aim of an ergonomics study conducted at the TechniconIsrael Institute of Technology. The study includes an original methodology for the evaluation of working procedures. A biomechanical evaluation of the upper body and a detailed analysis of major upper extremity motions have been performed. Data were obtained on the basis of posture over time measures which allows for considerations of ergonomics improvements to the existing polishing process.
A workplace assessment guideline is developed to allow workers to assess their workplaces. This guideline consists of five sections and an evaluation sheet. The sections address work site, work posture, noise, lighting and thermal environment. Two experiments are conducted: a laboratory trial and a field trial. The laboratory trial indicates that the guideline is effective in developing improvements based on individual environment ratings. The field trial confirms that the guideline would be useful for checking various kinds of workplace. 23.5.35 (125882) Hella, F, Tisserand, M, Schouller, J F and Englert, M ' A new method for checking the driving visibility on hydraulic excavators' Int J lnd Ergon Vol 8 No 2 (1991) pp 135-145 (16 refs) A survey carried out by the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie (French National Insurance Fund) on serious and fatal accidents in which earthmoving machines were implicated showed that one third of these accidents were due to insufficient driving visibility. A draft standard to define visual constraint at the operator's position based
23.5.36 (126194) Gilad, I and Messer, E 'Analysis and redesign of a work station in the diamond polishing industry' in Karwowski, W and Yates, J W (eds) Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III Taylor & Francis, London (1991) pp 31-38 (0 refs)
23.5.37 (125884) Lee, C H, Hosni, Y A, Guthrie, L L, Barth, T and Hill, C 'Design and evaluation of a workseat for overhead tasks' in Karwowski, W and Yates, J W (eds) Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III Taylor & Francis, London (1991) pp 555-562 (4 refs) Workers in some industries such as the aerospace industry are frequently required to work in awkward overhead positions resulting in physiological and biomechanical stress to the workers as well as degraded worker performance. General ergonomic guidelines can be used to provide the workers with more comfortable work positions which will improve the productivity and safety of the workers. This paper presents the design and evaluation of an ergonomically designed workseat which considers ergonomics factors dealing with whole
Applied E r g o n o m i c s
Workplace and equipment design 23.5.33 (125875) Ahlin, J and Westlander, G Offices and office work - two aspects of the office working environment - a cross-disciplinary study (Kontorslokaler och kontorsarbete - tva perspektiv pa kontoret som arbetsplats) (in Swedish) National Institute of Occupational Health (Arbetsmiljoinstitutet), Solna, Sweden, Arbete och Halsa 1991:6 (1991) 83 pp (60 refs) This study attempts to unite two aspects of the office working environment, namely working conditions and the disposition of the premises. Working conditions and premises as illuminated by occupational health research and office interior design research provide the background to this cross-disciplinary 354
presentation. A brief historical overview looks at development of office design primarily from a Swedish viewpoint in order to provide a deeper appreciation of the actual models applied. This is followed by an empirical investigation that embraces eight workplaces studied during 1987-89. The results are presented in the form of a combined analysis and begin with a description of extant models, the occurrence of complaints coupled to office design, and to the increased use of computers in the office. For the purpose of illuminating the importance of office design and working conditions for the occupational health of employees, the study considers the occurrence of complaints related to both factors. The results indicate that a complex pattern of complaints is uniformly common, which validates the conclusion that where stationary working conditions and daily tasks before a computer terminal occur, there is an especial need for preventive measures to be taken. The physical environment with regard to terminal work plays a decisive role.
on the projected shadows method was submitted to ISO. The ISO test method has been applied to 15 different hydraulic excavators. At the same time, INRS (National Institute of Research and Safety) worked out a novel approach based on photography of the visual field and applied it to the 15 hydraulic excavators in the same conditions. The purpose of this study is to compare the results and disadvantages of the two approaches for controlling applicability of the ISO standard draft to hydraulic excavators. There is no correlation between the two techniques at all concerning front visibility, which indicates that the ISO draft is deficient. It only analyses one circular line rather than the full surface, which should be the more valid approach.
23.5.34 (126203) Yoshida, H and Ogawa, K 'Workplace assessment guideline checking your workplace' in Karwowski, W and Yates, J W (eds) Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III Taylor & Francis, London (1991) pp 23-30 (11 refs)
The relations between muscular activity, irregular hand motions and job demands in the diamond polishing industry, were the aim of an ergonomics study conducted at the TechniconIsrael Institute of Technology. The study includes an original methodology for the evaluation of working procedures. A biomechanical evaluation of the upper body and a detailed analysis of major upper extremity motions have been performed. Data were obtained on the basis of posture over time measures which allows for considerations of ergonomics improvements to the existing polishing process.
A workplace assessment guideline is developed to allow workers to assess their workplaces. This guideline consists of five sections and an evaluation sheet. The sections address work site, work posture, noise, lighting and thermal environment. Two experiments are conducted: a laboratory trial and a field trial. The laboratory trial indicates that the guideline is effective in developing improvements based on individual environment ratings. The field trial confirms that the guideline would be useful for checking various kinds of workplace. 23.5.35 (125882) Hella, F, Tisserand, M, Schouller, J F and Englert, M ' A new method for checking the driving visibility on hydraulic excavators' Int J lnd Ergon Vol 8 No 2 (1991) pp 135-145 (16 refs) A survey carried out by the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie (French National Insurance Fund) on serious and fatal accidents in which earthmoving machines were implicated showed that one third of these accidents were due to insufficient driving visibility. A draft standard to define visual constraint at the operator's position based
23.5.36 (126194) Gilad, I and Messer, E 'Analysis and redesign of a work station in the diamond polishing industry' in Karwowski, W and Yates, J W (eds) Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III Taylor & Francis, London (1991) pp 31-38 (0 refs)
23.5.37 (125884) Lee, C H, Hosni, Y A, Guthrie, L L, Barth, T and Hill, C 'Design and evaluation of a workseat for overhead tasks' in Karwowski, W and Yates, J W (eds) Advances in industrial ergonomics and safety III Taylor & Francis, London (1991) pp 555-562 (4 refs) Workers in some industries such as the aerospace industry are frequently required to work in awkward overhead positions resulting in physiological and biomechanical stress to the workers as well as degraded worker performance. General ergonomic guidelines can be used to provide the workers with more comfortable work positions which will improve the productivity and safety of the workers. This paper presents the design and evaluation of an ergonomically designed workseat which considers ergonomics factors dealing with whole
Applied E r g o n o m i c s