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Back injuries among nursing personnel related to exposure
occurring in the posture with a difference in level of 1.0 m between milker and cow. In this posture, only 15% of the maximum muscle strength was used to counteract the load moments. Because the load during machine milking is relatively static, the recorded muscle activity is considered to be sufficiently high to partially occlude circulation to the muscle and therefore may result in muscle fatigue and pain.
personnel management and are often accepted by line management. They have been a focus of attention of occupational psychologists who have put a great deal of effort into the development of methodologies prescribing ideal practice of selection methods and testing. The extent to which such m e t h o d s are applied successfully in the process industries is the focus of the present paper. 22.2.47 (119269)
22.2.45 (120009)
Cutler, K., and Rowe, C.
Begemann-Meijer, M.J.T., Bulthuis, B.M., and Binkhorst, R.A.
Scanning in the supermarket: for better or worse? A case study in introducing electronic p o i n t o f sale. Behaviour & Inform Technol, 1990, 9.2, 1 5 7 - 1 6 9 , 6 refs.
The influence of different bricklaying conditions on the physical workload of bricklayers (De Invloed van Verschillende Metselcondities op de Fysiologlsche Belasting van de Metselaar). (In Dutch.) Ti/dschrift voor Sociale Gezondheidszorg, 1989, 6 7 . 3 , 1 0 5 108, 6 refs. Based on the results of an analysis of the physiological workload of bricklayers, it seemed necessary to reduce this load during bricklaying. Ten healthy male subjects (age 29 + 4 years) with more than three years' experience in bricklaying, were measured in a laboratory situation under the following five conditions: normal bricklaying, bricklaying with mortar and stones on an elevation of 300 or 500 mm, and bricklaying at a 10 to 20% accelerated or slackened pace. A work analysis was conducted, heart frequency was measured telemetrically and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) was measured using the Douglasbag method. After each bricklaying condition, the bricklayer filled in a questionnaire. During bricklaying with mortar and stones on an elevation of 300 or 500 mm and during bricklaying at a slackened tempo, the VO2 was lower (p < 0"05) than during normal bricklaying. During the condition with an elevation of 300 mm, the VO2 was lower (p < 0-05) than during bricklaying at a slackened pace. Both from the VO 2 measurements and from the results of the questionnaire it can be concluded that working with mortar and stones on a 300 mm elevation was less fatiguing than normal bricklaying. 22.2.46 (119240) Astley, J., Shepherd, A., and Whitfield, D. A review of UK and international knowledge and practice in the selection of process control operators. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 1 6 1 - 1 6 7 , 2 refs. Personal selection methods, including psychometric testing, constitute an important aspect of
EPOS systems are being hailed by supermarket executives as 'a great technological breakthrough' for companies, customers and store employees alike, but the article (based on a 12-month study of a supermarket branch undergoing an EPOS installation) suggests that while each may gain in certain respects, the benefits from scanning overwhelmingly accrue to the company, and that in some instances these may actually be to the disadvantage of other parties. Through a discussion of checkout operations, staffing, de-skilling and price changes, the article argues there are few gains for the customer and employee; while outcomes such as system breakdowns or inaccurate stocktakes are to everyone's disadvantage. As EPOS applicatioris move on to EFTPOS and Teleshopping, the likelihood is that these factors, which often involve behavioural considerations, will again receive insufficient attention compared with the technology itself.
problems entailed by work analysis. Observation for a five-year period of these variables in the central office of a bank shows that the development of new technologies did n o t induce any important modification with regard to all members, but rather a modification of the staff structure (more executives and fewer clerks). It is observed that an increase in formal qualifications is more important among the people participating directly in the design, realisation and maintenance o f new technologies than among users; but other factors may explain this increase. In conclusion, it seems that evaluating the level and the evolution of qualifications is in practice more easily done by analysing the indicators external to the task than by systematic work analysis in the field concerned.
Health and safety 22.2.49 (119313) Jensen, R.C. Back injuries among nursing personnel related to exposure. Appl Oceupat and Environment Hygiene, 1990, 5.1, 3 8 - 4 5 , 56 refs.
This investigation was undertaken to examine the consistency of epidemiologic studies relating to back pain among nursing personnel and exposure to frequent stressful patient handling. A comprehensive literature review resulted in the identification of six studies that included data on both patient handling frequency and back pain prevalence. Data from each study were extracted to provide comparable information for an exposure variable and a health outcome variable. Exposure was characterised as a twocategory variable: less-frequent and more-frequent patient handling. The 22.2.48 (119273) health outcome variable was prevaLaupretre, J. lence of a back problem according to Methodological problems related to the the definition used in the particular assessment o f the impact of new techstudy. Despite differences in specific nologies on e m p l o y m e n t and qualificriteria for characterising exposure and cation in the banking sector: case study. defining health outcome, all of the Appl Psychol: An Int Rev, 1990, 39.2, studies were consistent in finding larger 1 5 5 - 1 6 7 , 0 refs. prevalence rates among those nursing This article addresses methodological personnel who more frequently performed physically stressful patient problems related to the measurement handling. Overall, the prevalence rate of the impact of new technologies on of those who more frequently handled the employment and qualifications patients was about 3"7 times that of within an organisation. First, the the nursing personnel who infrequently following three variables are defined: handled patients. The practical impli'new technologies' (essentially EDP and cation of these results is that industrial word processing), and different usages hygienists serving health care employees of ' e m p l o y m e n t ' and ' c o m p e t e n c y ' (a may find it useful to characterise person's competency, competency required by a j o b , formal qualifications). exposure in terms of patient handling Then, general obstacles to the assessfrequency and use this information to ment of the evolution of variables in determine which groups of nursing an organisation are tackled, including staff should receive priority for backorganisational complexity, qualitative injury prevention efforts. Several ideas characteristics of information, and the are offered for expanding the back-
Applied Ergonomics
April 1991
135
injury prevention programmes of hospitals and nursing homes. 22.2.50 (119372)
Lortie, M. Reintegration of back-injured workers: ergonomic perspectives. In: F. Poirier (Ed). Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Human Factors Assoc of Canada, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 1989, pp 9 5 - 1 0 7 , 26 refs. This chapter is a critical review from an ergonomics standpoint of what is known about the re-integration of workers with back conditions. Indeed, an adequate ergonomics solution or response requires accurate data. Thus, as current knowledge about the integration of back-injured workers is relatively limited, the major goal in ergonomics is to identify what it might be useful to know and determine how to address the problem. 22.2.51 (120086)
Milerad, E., and Ekenvall, L. Symptoms of the neck and upper extremities in dentists. Scand J Work, Environment & Health, 1990, 16.2, 1 2 9 - 1 3 4 , 22 refs. Symptoms of the neck, shoulders, arms and hands of 99 dentists and a reference group of 100 pharmacists were studied by means of a telephone interview. 44% of the dentists and 26% of the pharmacists reported symptoms of the neck (relative risk (RR) 2-1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4-3-1). Symptoms of the shoulder were reported by 51% of the dentists and 23% of the pharmacists (RR 2.2, 95% CI 1'5-3-3). Musculoskeletal symptoms in the forearm were present almost exclusively in the dentists (12 versus 1%). Numbness and paresthesia were more common among the dentists than among the referents (RR 4-2, 95% CI 2-3-7"7). Unilateral Raynaud's phenomenon in the dominant hand occurred in six dentists and one pharmacist. The high frequency of symptoms from the neck, shoulders and upper extremities of the dentists was probably related to the difficult work positions with cervical flexion and rotation, abducted arms, and repetitive precision-demanding handgrips. 22.2.52 (119318)
Carter, N., and Menckel, E. Group routines for improving accident prevention activities and accident statistics. In t J Indus t Ergonomics, 1990, 5.2, 1 2 5 - 1 3 2 , 20 refs. Previous research conducted by the authors (Menckel and Carter, 1985) showed that a combination of
136
two group routines, an accident investigation group and a review group, led to improved accident prevention activities and accident statistics at one company during the three years following their implementation. The investigation group assisted foremen in their accident investigations. The review group regularly discussed accidents which had occurred since the previous meeting and was responsible for checking on the implementation of accident prevention measures. In this study, the accident investigation group routine was tested at two companies and the review group routine at two additional companies. Improvements in prevention activities were noted. All four companies reported decreases in number of accidents as compared with the preceding year and reductions in accident severity were noted at companies using the review group routine. The group routines evaluated here were begun with minimal instruction and assistance and each was positively received by foremen and personnel involved. The findings suggest that the group routines could be of benefit to other companies.
22.2.53 (119344)
Pemberton, I., Pethick, A.J., Hempsall, N., and Wood, J. The design of an emergency communications system for sheltered housing. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 2 2 8 - 2 3 3 , 0 refs. The occupants and wardens of sheltered housing schemes have different but mutually interdependent communications needs. These are often unfavourably expressed in the design of emergency communications systems as the technology employed can constrain the design of the system, its components and their interfaces. The user needs were identified at an early stage during a very rapid development of an entirely new product. The design team utilised these to create a system specification and interface characteristics which would meet the anticipated demands, both of users and of the marketplace into which the system was to be sold. A high level of functional and aesthetic quality was incorporated into the final product. The new design has greatly increased the company's sales in this important market area.
22.2.54 (120072)
Ackermans, B.H.J. The automatic audiometry of employees in a metal manufacturing company (Geautomatiseerde Ver-
Applied Ergonomics April 1991
werking van Audiometrische Gegevens van Werknemers in een Metaalconstructiebedrijf). (In Dutch.) Tijdschrift voor Sociale Gezondheidszorg, 1989, 67.2, 6 7 - 7 0 , 8 refs. A hearing conservation programme carried out in a metal manufacturing c o m p a n y has been developed by the 'Mens en Geluid' Group of the NIPGTNO at Leiden in co-operation with the BGD Gouda e.O. This hearing conservation programme consisted of noise level measurement and measuring exposure by dosirnetry, education for hearing protector usage, recording of data about employees, examination by otoscope, audiometric testing and drawing up a report of the results. With the help of a computerised program all data have been integrated. Hearing loss of groups of employees was calculated, by age, department, level of noise exposure, and combinations of these. It can be demonstrated that half of the 67 examined employees have a noise induced hearing loss of 20 decibels or more. Part of this hearing loss must be attributed to noise exposure in a previous job. A relation can also be found between hearing loss and age c.q. duration of noise exposure. According to the author, making management aware of the hearing loss of different groups of employees increases willingness to reduce noise.
22.2.55 (120113)
Wilson, I. The effectiveness of exit signs in smoke. Lighting in Australia, 1990, 10.1, 1 4 - 1 9 , 8 refs. This paper refers to the work of the Standards Australia Committee on Emergency Lighting in Buildings (LG/7) in establishing requirements for exit signs as part of the development of the development of the Australian Standard for Emergency Evacuation Lighting in Buildings (AS2293), first published in 1979. It describes a series of appraisals which were conducted to assess the effectiveness of exit signs in the presence of smoke, particularly signs of the externally illuminated type i e, a surface type sign lit by an adjacent (normal/emergency) luminaire.
22.2.56 (119350)
Abeysekera, J.D.A., and Shahnavaz, H. A d a p t a t i o n to discomfort in personal protective devices: An example with safety helmets. Ergonomics, 1990, 33.2, 1 3 7 - 1 4 5 , 7 refs. Discomfort in the use of personal protective devices (PPD) has been one of the chief causes of their non-use. A field trial using industrial helmets was carried out to ascertain whether by
personnel management and are often accepted by line management. They have been a focus of attention of occupational psychologists who have put a great deal of effort into the development of methodologies prescribing ideal practice of selection methods and testing. The extent to which such m e t h o d s are applied successfully in the process industries is the focus of the present paper. 22.2.47 (119269)
22.2.45 (120009)
Cutler, K., and Rowe, C.
Begemann-Meijer, M.J.T., Bulthuis, B.M., and Binkhorst, R.A.
Scanning in the supermarket: for better or worse? A case study in introducing electronic p o i n t o f sale. Behaviour & Inform Technol, 1990, 9.2, 1 5 7 - 1 6 9 , 6 refs.
The influence of different bricklaying conditions on the physical workload of bricklayers (De Invloed van Verschillende Metselcondities op de Fysiologlsche Belasting van de Metselaar). (In Dutch.) Ti/dschrift voor Sociale Gezondheidszorg, 1989, 6 7 . 3 , 1 0 5 108, 6 refs. Based on the results of an analysis of the physiological workload of bricklayers, it seemed necessary to reduce this load during bricklaying. Ten healthy male subjects (age 29 + 4 years) with more than three years' experience in bricklaying, were measured in a laboratory situation under the following five conditions: normal bricklaying, bricklaying with mortar and stones on an elevation of 300 or 500 mm, and bricklaying at a 10 to 20% accelerated or slackened pace. A work analysis was conducted, heart frequency was measured telemetrically and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) was measured using the Douglasbag method. After each bricklaying condition, the bricklayer filled in a questionnaire. During bricklaying with mortar and stones on an elevation of 300 or 500 mm and during bricklaying at a slackened tempo, the VO2 was lower (p < 0"05) than during normal bricklaying. During the condition with an elevation of 300 mm, the VO2 was lower (p < 0-05) than during bricklaying at a slackened pace. Both from the VO 2 measurements and from the results of the questionnaire it can be concluded that working with mortar and stones on a 300 mm elevation was less fatiguing than normal bricklaying. 22.2.46 (119240) Astley, J., Shepherd, A., and Whitfield, D. A review of UK and international knowledge and practice in the selection of process control operators. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 1 6 1 - 1 6 7 , 2 refs. Personal selection methods, including psychometric testing, constitute an important aspect of
EPOS systems are being hailed by supermarket executives as 'a great technological breakthrough' for companies, customers and store employees alike, but the article (based on a 12-month study of a supermarket branch undergoing an EPOS installation) suggests that while each may gain in certain respects, the benefits from scanning overwhelmingly accrue to the company, and that in some instances these may actually be to the disadvantage of other parties. Through a discussion of checkout operations, staffing, de-skilling and price changes, the article argues there are few gains for the customer and employee; while outcomes such as system breakdowns or inaccurate stocktakes are to everyone's disadvantage. As EPOS applicatioris move on to EFTPOS and Teleshopping, the likelihood is that these factors, which often involve behavioural considerations, will again receive insufficient attention compared with the technology itself.
problems entailed by work analysis. Observation for a five-year period of these variables in the central office of a bank shows that the development of new technologies did n o t induce any important modification with regard to all members, but rather a modification of the staff structure (more executives and fewer clerks). It is observed that an increase in formal qualifications is more important among the people participating directly in the design, realisation and maintenance o f new technologies than among users; but other factors may explain this increase. In conclusion, it seems that evaluating the level and the evolution of qualifications is in practice more easily done by analysing the indicators external to the task than by systematic work analysis in the field concerned.
Health and safety 22.2.49 (119313) Jensen, R.C. Back injuries among nursing personnel related to exposure. Appl Oceupat and Environment Hygiene, 1990, 5.1, 3 8 - 4 5 , 56 refs.
This investigation was undertaken to examine the consistency of epidemiologic studies relating to back pain among nursing personnel and exposure to frequent stressful patient handling. A comprehensive literature review resulted in the identification of six studies that included data on both patient handling frequency and back pain prevalence. Data from each study were extracted to provide comparable information for an exposure variable and a health outcome variable. Exposure was characterised as a twocategory variable: less-frequent and more-frequent patient handling. The 22.2.48 (119273) health outcome variable was prevaLaupretre, J. lence of a back problem according to Methodological problems related to the the definition used in the particular assessment o f the impact of new techstudy. Despite differences in specific nologies on e m p l o y m e n t and qualificriteria for characterising exposure and cation in the banking sector: case study. defining health outcome, all of the Appl Psychol: An Int Rev, 1990, 39.2, studies were consistent in finding larger 1 5 5 - 1 6 7 , 0 refs. prevalence rates among those nursing This article addresses methodological personnel who more frequently performed physically stressful patient problems related to the measurement handling. Overall, the prevalence rate of the impact of new technologies on of those who more frequently handled the employment and qualifications patients was about 3"7 times that of within an organisation. First, the the nursing personnel who infrequently following three variables are defined: handled patients. The practical impli'new technologies' (essentially EDP and cation of these results is that industrial word processing), and different usages hygienists serving health care employees of ' e m p l o y m e n t ' and ' c o m p e t e n c y ' (a may find it useful to characterise person's competency, competency required by a j o b , formal qualifications). exposure in terms of patient handling Then, general obstacles to the assessfrequency and use this information to ment of the evolution of variables in determine which groups of nursing an organisation are tackled, including staff should receive priority for backorganisational complexity, qualitative injury prevention efforts. Several ideas characteristics of information, and the are offered for expanding the back-
Applied Ergonomics
April 1991
135
injury prevention programmes of hospitals and nursing homes. 22.2.50 (119372)
Lortie, M. Reintegration of back-injured workers: ergonomic perspectives. In: F. Poirier (Ed). Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Human Factors Assoc of Canada, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 1989, pp 9 5 - 1 0 7 , 26 refs. This chapter is a critical review from an ergonomics standpoint of what is known about the re-integration of workers with back conditions. Indeed, an adequate ergonomics solution or response requires accurate data. Thus, as current knowledge about the integration of back-injured workers is relatively limited, the major goal in ergonomics is to identify what it might be useful to know and determine how to address the problem. 22.2.51 (120086)
Milerad, E., and Ekenvall, L. Symptoms of the neck and upper extremities in dentists. Scand J Work, Environment & Health, 1990, 16.2, 1 2 9 - 1 3 4 , 22 refs. Symptoms of the neck, shoulders, arms and hands of 99 dentists and a reference group of 100 pharmacists were studied by means of a telephone interview. 44% of the dentists and 26% of the pharmacists reported symptoms of the neck (relative risk (RR) 2-1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4-3-1). Symptoms of the shoulder were reported by 51% of the dentists and 23% of the pharmacists (RR 2.2, 95% CI 1'5-3-3). Musculoskeletal symptoms in the forearm were present almost exclusively in the dentists (12 versus 1%). Numbness and paresthesia were more common among the dentists than among the referents (RR 4-2, 95% CI 2-3-7"7). Unilateral Raynaud's phenomenon in the dominant hand occurred in six dentists and one pharmacist. The high frequency of symptoms from the neck, shoulders and upper extremities of the dentists was probably related to the difficult work positions with cervical flexion and rotation, abducted arms, and repetitive precision-demanding handgrips. 22.2.52 (119318)
Carter, N., and Menckel, E. Group routines for improving accident prevention activities and accident statistics. In t J Indus t Ergonomics, 1990, 5.2, 1 2 5 - 1 3 2 , 20 refs. Previous research conducted by the authors (Menckel and Carter, 1985) showed that a combination of
136
two group routines, an accident investigation group and a review group, led to improved accident prevention activities and accident statistics at one company during the three years following their implementation. The investigation group assisted foremen in their accident investigations. The review group regularly discussed accidents which had occurred since the previous meeting and was responsible for checking on the implementation of accident prevention measures. In this study, the accident investigation group routine was tested at two companies and the review group routine at two additional companies. Improvements in prevention activities were noted. All four companies reported decreases in number of accidents as compared with the preceding year and reductions in accident severity were noted at companies using the review group routine. The group routines evaluated here were begun with minimal instruction and assistance and each was positively received by foremen and personnel involved. The findings suggest that the group routines could be of benefit to other companies.
22.2.53 (119344)
Pemberton, I., Pethick, A.J., Hempsall, N., and Wood, J. The design of an emergency communications system for sheltered housing. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 2 2 8 - 2 3 3 , 0 refs. The occupants and wardens of sheltered housing schemes have different but mutually interdependent communications needs. These are often unfavourably expressed in the design of emergency communications systems as the technology employed can constrain the design of the system, its components and their interfaces. The user needs were identified at an early stage during a very rapid development of an entirely new product. The design team utilised these to create a system specification and interface characteristics which would meet the anticipated demands, both of users and of the marketplace into which the system was to be sold. A high level of functional and aesthetic quality was incorporated into the final product. The new design has greatly increased the company's sales in this important market area.
22.2.54 (120072)
Ackermans, B.H.J. The automatic audiometry of employees in a metal manufacturing company (Geautomatiseerde Ver-
Applied Ergonomics April 1991
werking van Audiometrische Gegevens van Werknemers in een Metaalconstructiebedrijf). (In Dutch.) Tijdschrift voor Sociale Gezondheidszorg, 1989, 67.2, 6 7 - 7 0 , 8 refs. A hearing conservation programme carried out in a metal manufacturing c o m p a n y has been developed by the 'Mens en Geluid' Group of the NIPGTNO at Leiden in co-operation with the BGD Gouda e.O. This hearing conservation programme consisted of noise level measurement and measuring exposure by dosirnetry, education for hearing protector usage, recording of data about employees, examination by otoscope, audiometric testing and drawing up a report of the results. With the help of a computerised program all data have been integrated. Hearing loss of groups of employees was calculated, by age, department, level of noise exposure, and combinations of these. It can be demonstrated that half of the 67 examined employees have a noise induced hearing loss of 20 decibels or more. Part of this hearing loss must be attributed to noise exposure in a previous job. A relation can also be found between hearing loss and age c.q. duration of noise exposure. According to the author, making management aware of the hearing loss of different groups of employees increases willingness to reduce noise.
22.2.55 (120113)
Wilson, I. The effectiveness of exit signs in smoke. Lighting in Australia, 1990, 10.1, 1 4 - 1 9 , 8 refs. This paper refers to the work of the Standards Australia Committee on Emergency Lighting in Buildings (LG/7) in establishing requirements for exit signs as part of the development of the development of the Australian Standard for Emergency Evacuation Lighting in Buildings (AS2293), first published in 1979. It describes a series of appraisals which were conducted to assess the effectiveness of exit signs in the presence of smoke, particularly signs of the externally illuminated type i e, a surface type sign lit by an adjacent (normal/emergency) luminaire.
22.2.56 (119350)
Abeysekera, J.D.A., and Shahnavaz, H. A d a p t a t i o n to discomfort in personal protective devices: An example with safety helmets. Ergonomics, 1990, 33.2, 1 3 7 - 1 4 5 , 7 refs. Discomfort in the use of personal protective devices (PPD) has been one of the chief causes of their non-use. A field trial using industrial helmets was carried out to ascertain whether by