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The application of ergonomics to oilwell drilling rigs
the ergonomics needs and manufacturing constraints. 21.4.5 (117283)
Shahnavaz, H. Ergonomics: An emerging concept in industrially developing countries. In t J Indust Ergonomics, 1989, 4(2), 9 1 100, 11 refs. Industrialisation via technology transfer is seen as the main development strategy by many developing countries (DC). The assumption that importation of advanced technology on its own, without adapting it to the environmental, physical, mental and sociocultural needs of the workforce in the recipient country, would bring technical changes for the benefit of the majority of people has proved to be unrealistic. The failure to appreciate the characteristics and preferences of human operators has often frustrated technical development, alienated the work force and achieved little to improve the living and working conditions of the local people. Ergonomics is a useful tool for evaluating the choice of technology and its implementation and can contribute to the safe and productive transfer of technology. However, the area is fairly new or even unknown in many DC. They need asssitance to acquire and apply the knowledge to their own need and capacity. It must also be emphasised that the available b o d y of knowledge (e g, standards, recommendations, procedures, etc) concerning working conditions, occupational health and safety, which has been developed largely in industrialised countries (IC), often cannot be applied directly to DC, because of significant differences which exist in all aspects of the work system between IC and DC. Since many factors influencing the nature, extent and diversity o f problems are specific to each DC (e g, climate, people, method of work, facilities, infrastructures of technology, finance, etc) it is necessary to incorporate research into industrial development programmes.
21.4.6 (117286)
Wardell, R.W. The application of ergonomics to oilwell drilling figs. In: Proc Human Factors Assoc of Canada 22nd Ann Conf, Toronto, Ontario, 2 6 - 2 9 Nov 1989. Human Factors Assoc of Canada, Mississauga, Ontario, 1989, pp 1 3 5 139, 14 refs. An exploratory assessment of the ergonomics of oilwell drilling rigs was conducted to identify the needs and potential for ergonomic improvement and suggest directions for
future rig design. Ergonomics methods, guidelines and data were used to review jobs, tasks, equipment characteristics and usage environment, mental workload, force exertion, physiological workload, and unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Three conventional rigs were studied, as well as a slant rig with mechanical pipe handling. A scenario analysis of 134 safety incidents was conducted concurrently with the ergonomics review. Many conditions on the rigs were contrary to general ergonomics principles and guidelines, and some tasks were at the limits of human capabilities. These conditions are likely to increase safety risk and to contribute to problems in staffing, productivity and performance. Significant improvements can be made at the detail level and at minimum cost in some areas. Improvement in other areas requires basic conceptual changes in rig systems and architecture. To realise their potential, new rig concepts must be carefully and systematically designed, and ergonomics should be considered throughout their design.
Human characteristics 21.4.7 (117245) Cuomo, D.L., and Sharit, J. Human performance in computeraided architectural design. In: Designing and using h u m a n - c o m p u t e r interfaces and knowledge-based systems, Salvendy, G., and Smith, M.J. (Eds). Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1989, pp 2 4 1 249, 12 refs. The tremendous growth in the area of h u m a n - c o m p u t e r interaction has, in some cases, resulted in the implementation of technologies at a pace well ahead o f the development for assessing human performance on tasks employing these technologies. An example of such a technology is computer-aided design. The cognitive processes underlying human design behaviour require that performance measures be developed that adequately reflect these processes. Ultimately, the development and implementation of such a performance methodology could help us to establish the degree to which the computer technology supports or constrains human design activities. In this paper the authors discuss an approach that was taken toward meeting these objectives. In particular, the application area of architectural design is examined. 21.4.8 (117326)
Baddeley, A., and Bernsen, N.O. (Eds). Cognitive psychology. Research directions in cognitive science: European perspectives, Vol 1. Lawrence
Erlbaum Associates, Hove, East Sussex, 1989, 154 pp. The present volume on cognitive psychology is one in a series of five presenting the findings o f a joint European study in cognitive science 1 9 7 8 - 8 8 . The study was organised and funded as a collaborative network by the research unit F A S T (Forecast and Assessment in Science and Technology) of the Commission of the European Communities and comprised about 35 scientists from the core disciplines of cognitive science. The research disciplines respresented in the network were: cognitive psychology, logic and linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, h u m a n - c o m p u t e r interaction, and artificial intelligence. 21.4.9 (116557)
Bereiter, S.R., and Miller, S.M. Troubleshooting and human factors in automated manufacturing systems. Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge, New Jersey, USA, 1989, 310 pp, 59 refs. This b o o k is an empirical study of troubleshooting and human factors in automated manufacturing systems. Troubleshooting - the process of locating and diagnosing a fault in a system - is often difficult for the maintenance specialist in a computercontrolled manufacturing system. Underlying this difficulty is the fact that manufacturing systems are getting more complex. Difficulties encountered by expert troubleshooters as they acquire and use information to diagnose faults are identified. Suggestions are provided for ways to design computercontrolled manufacturing systems, and in particular process control technology, to alleviate these difficulties. The b o o k investigates how manufacturing systems can be designed and, in particular, the process control technology needed to make troubleshooting easier for the maintenance specialist. The approach employed is to understand how maintenance specialists acquire and use information during troubleshooting and the type of difficulty they encounter in doing this. 21.4.10 (117360)
Rasmussen, J., and Vicente, K.J. Coping with human errors through system design: Implications for ecological interface design. In t J ManMachine Studies, 1989, 31(5), 5 1 7 534, 22 refs. Research during recent years has revealed that human errors are not stochastic events which can be removed through improved training programmes or optimal interface design. Rather, errors tend to reflect either systematic interference between various models,
Applied Ergonomics
December 1990
337
Shahnavaz, H. Ergonomics: An emerging concept in industrially developing countries. In t J Indust Ergonomics, 1989, 4(2), 9 1 100, 11 refs. Industrialisation via technology transfer is seen as the main development strategy by many developing countries (DC). The assumption that importation of advanced technology on its own, without adapting it to the environmental, physical, mental and sociocultural needs of the workforce in the recipient country, would bring technical changes for the benefit of the majority of people has proved to be unrealistic. The failure to appreciate the characteristics and preferences of human operators has often frustrated technical development, alienated the work force and achieved little to improve the living and working conditions of the local people. Ergonomics is a useful tool for evaluating the choice of technology and its implementation and can contribute to the safe and productive transfer of technology. However, the area is fairly new or even unknown in many DC. They need asssitance to acquire and apply the knowledge to their own need and capacity. It must also be emphasised that the available b o d y of knowledge (e g, standards, recommendations, procedures, etc) concerning working conditions, occupational health and safety, which has been developed largely in industrialised countries (IC), often cannot be applied directly to DC, because of significant differences which exist in all aspects of the work system between IC and DC. Since many factors influencing the nature, extent and diversity o f problems are specific to each DC (e g, climate, people, method of work, facilities, infrastructures of technology, finance, etc) it is necessary to incorporate research into industrial development programmes.
21.4.6 (117286)
Wardell, R.W. The application of ergonomics to oilwell drilling figs. In: Proc Human Factors Assoc of Canada 22nd Ann Conf, Toronto, Ontario, 2 6 - 2 9 Nov 1989. Human Factors Assoc of Canada, Mississauga, Ontario, 1989, pp 1 3 5 139, 14 refs. An exploratory assessment of the ergonomics of oilwell drilling rigs was conducted to identify the needs and potential for ergonomic improvement and suggest directions for
future rig design. Ergonomics methods, guidelines and data were used to review jobs, tasks, equipment characteristics and usage environment, mental workload, force exertion, physiological workload, and unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Three conventional rigs were studied, as well as a slant rig with mechanical pipe handling. A scenario analysis of 134 safety incidents was conducted concurrently with the ergonomics review. Many conditions on the rigs were contrary to general ergonomics principles and guidelines, and some tasks were at the limits of human capabilities. These conditions are likely to increase safety risk and to contribute to problems in staffing, productivity and performance. Significant improvements can be made at the detail level and at minimum cost in some areas. Improvement in other areas requires basic conceptual changes in rig systems and architecture. To realise their potential, new rig concepts must be carefully and systematically designed, and ergonomics should be considered throughout their design.
Human characteristics 21.4.7 (117245) Cuomo, D.L., and Sharit, J. Human performance in computeraided architectural design. In: Designing and using h u m a n - c o m p u t e r interfaces and knowledge-based systems, Salvendy, G., and Smith, M.J. (Eds). Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1989, pp 2 4 1 249, 12 refs. The tremendous growth in the area of h u m a n - c o m p u t e r interaction has, in some cases, resulted in the implementation of technologies at a pace well ahead o f the development for assessing human performance on tasks employing these technologies. An example of such a technology is computer-aided design. The cognitive processes underlying human design behaviour require that performance measures be developed that adequately reflect these processes. Ultimately, the development and implementation of such a performance methodology could help us to establish the degree to which the computer technology supports or constrains human design activities. In this paper the authors discuss an approach that was taken toward meeting these objectives. In particular, the application area of architectural design is examined. 21.4.8 (117326)
Baddeley, A., and Bernsen, N.O. (Eds). Cognitive psychology. Research directions in cognitive science: European perspectives, Vol 1. Lawrence
Erlbaum Associates, Hove, East Sussex, 1989, 154 pp. The present volume on cognitive psychology is one in a series of five presenting the findings o f a joint European study in cognitive science 1 9 7 8 - 8 8 . The study was organised and funded as a collaborative network by the research unit F A S T (Forecast and Assessment in Science and Technology) of the Commission of the European Communities and comprised about 35 scientists from the core disciplines of cognitive science. The research disciplines respresented in the network were: cognitive psychology, logic and linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, h u m a n - c o m p u t e r interaction, and artificial intelligence. 21.4.9 (116557)
Bereiter, S.R., and Miller, S.M. Troubleshooting and human factors in automated manufacturing systems. Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge, New Jersey, USA, 1989, 310 pp, 59 refs. This b o o k is an empirical study of troubleshooting and human factors in automated manufacturing systems. Troubleshooting - the process of locating and diagnosing a fault in a system - is often difficult for the maintenance specialist in a computercontrolled manufacturing system. Underlying this difficulty is the fact that manufacturing systems are getting more complex. Difficulties encountered by expert troubleshooters as they acquire and use information to diagnose faults are identified. Suggestions are provided for ways to design computercontrolled manufacturing systems, and in particular process control technology, to alleviate these difficulties. The b o o k investigates how manufacturing systems can be designed and, in particular, the process control technology needed to make troubleshooting easier for the maintenance specialist. The approach employed is to understand how maintenance specialists acquire and use information during troubleshooting and the type of difficulty they encounter in doing this. 21.4.10 (117360)
Rasmussen, J., and Vicente, K.J. Coping with human errors through system design: Implications for ecological interface design. In t J ManMachine Studies, 1989, 31(5), 5 1 7 534, 22 refs. Research during recent years has revealed that human errors are not stochastic events which can be removed through improved training programmes or optimal interface design. Rather, errors tend to reflect either systematic interference between various models,
Applied Ergonomics
December 1990
337