Esta tese aborda o trabalho de cirurgiões de um hospital de Porto Alegre, RS, durante procedimentos eletivos de pequeno, médio e grande porte, visando o estudo das possíveis relações entre as demandas física e mental e a idade e a experiência do cirurgião. Inicialmente, foi feito um mapeamento de constrangimentos ergonômicos relacionados ao trabalho cirúrgico e, num segundo momento: i) o nível de demanda física imposta aos cirurgiões eletivos por meio de uma técnica de avaliação de posturas (REBA – Rapid Entire Body Assessment) (HIGNETT & McATAMNEY, 2000), da Freqüência Cardíaca (FC), da Pressão Arterial (PA) (sistólica e diastólica) e do nível de hormonal (Noradrenalina) e; ii) o nível de demanda mental envolvida no trabalho por meio do nível hormonal (cortisol, Adenocorticotrófico – ACTH e Adrenalina e, também, por meio da FC e PA). De maneira geral, ficou evidente que, independentemente do tipo de cirurgia, há a presença de carga física de pouca intensidade e de carga mental de média intensidade entre os cirurgiões. Os resultados apontaram, também, que os cirurgiões mais jovens (menos experientes) apresentam mais esforço mental do que físico, principalmente nas cirurgias de grande porte, e os mais experientes têm mais esforço físico nas cirurgias de pequeno porte e menos esforço mental, em comparação aos mais jovens (menos experientes), nas cirurgias de grande porte. / This research has as its main objective to evaluate the relationships between both physical and mental workloads and age and experience related to surgeon’s work. The data collection was conducted at a hospital in Porto Alegre, State of RS, during elective surgeries of low, moderate and high levels of complexity. At first, a survey of ergonomics constraints related to surgical work was carried out. The objected were: i) to investigate the physical demand level by means of posture assessment technique (REBA – Rapid Entire Body Assessment) (HIGNETT & McATAMNEY, 2000), Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP) (systolic and dyastolic) and cathecolamines (Noradrenaline); ii) to investigate the mental demand level through assessment of hormonal levels (cortisol, adenocorticotrophic - ACTH and cathecolamines – adrenaline) as well as HR and BP. The results indicated low physical workload and moderate mental workload amongst surgeons. It was found that the workload (physical and mental) was not dependent on the type of surgery performed. Also, the results suggested that the youngest surgeons (novice) have more mental effort than physical effort, mostly in surgeries of high complexity level, as opposed to the oldest surgeons (seniors) who have more physical effort during surgeries in low level of complexity and low mental effort in surgeries in high level of complexity.

Esta tese aborda o trabalho de cirurgiões de um hospital de Porto Alegre, RS, durante procedimentos eletivos de pequeno, médio e grande porte, visando o estudo das possíveis relações entre as demandas física e mental e a idade e a experiência do cirurgião. Inicialmente, foi feito um mapeamento de constrangimentos ergonômicos relacionados ao trabalho cirúrgico e, num segundo momento: i) o nível de demanda física imposta aos cirurgiões eletivos por meio de uma técnica de avaliação de posturas (REBA – Rapid Entire Body Assessment) (HIGNETT & McATAMNEY, 2000), da Freqüência Cardíaca (FC), da Pressão Arterial (PA) (sistólica e diastólica) e do nível de hormonal (Noradrenalina) e; ii) o nível de demanda mental envolvida no trabalho por meio do nível hormonal (cortisol, Adenocorticotrófico – ACTH e Adrenalina e, também, por meio da FC e PA). De maneira geral, ficou evidente que, independentemente do tipo de cirurgia, há a presença de carga física de pouca intensidade e de carga mental de média intensidade entre os cirurgiões. Os resultados apontaram, também, que os cirurgiões mais jovens (menos experientes) apresentam mais esforço mental do que físico, principalmente nas cirurgias de grande porte, e os mais experientes têm mais esforço físico nas cirurgias de pequeno porte e menos esforço mental, em comparação aos mais jovens (menos experientes), nas cirurgias de grande porte. / This research has as its main objective to evaluate the relationships between both physical and mental workloads and age and experience related to surgeon’s work. The data collection was conducted at a hospital in Porto Alegre, State of RS, during elective surgeries of low, moderate and high levels of complexity. At first, a survey of ergonomics constraints related to surgical work was carried out. The objected were: i) to investigate the physical demand level by means of posture assessment technique (REBA – Rapid Entire Body Assessment) (HIGNETT & McATAMNEY, 2000), Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP) (systolic and dyastolic) and cathecolamines (Noradrenaline); ii) to investigate the mental demand level through assessment of hormonal levels (cortisol, adenocorticotrophic - ACTH and cathecolamines – adrenaline) as well as HR and BP. The results indicated low physical workload and moderate mental workload amongst surgeons. It was found that the workload (physical and mental) was not dependent on the type of surgery performed. Also, the results suggested that the youngest surgeons (novice) have more mental effort than physical effort, mostly in surgeries of high complexity level, as opposed to the oldest surgeons (seniors) who have more physical effort during surgeries in low level of complexity and low mental effort in surgeries in high level of complexity.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:53:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CyntiaMGL_DISSERT.pdf: 5124160 bytes, checksum: 5e100956adeec8571891b078093b51f4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-26 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / This Masters degree dissertation presents a research that aims at analyzing the activities regarding within a hotel managers work in Natal/RN - Brazil, This Masters degree dissertation presents the research that aims at analyzing the activities regarding the hotel managers work in Natal / RN - Brazil, performing diagnosis of their activities and relating the aspects that impact the quality and productivity of hotel services and managers occupational health. This research is characterized as a case study with a qualitative approach, taking the method of Ergonomic Work Analysis which is the analysis of the managers work activity as a reference to the focus; and combining the use of observational and interactional methods. Ergonomics and macroergonomics are used in this study not only to understand the physical, cognitive and organizational constraints of the manager s duties, but also to characterize the work organizational architecture and design of that hotel. High workload, accumulation of tasks and diversion of functions performed by managers were noticed, increasing thereby the physical and psychological suffering for them. It was found that the activity of managers is characterized by the ambivalence of power, limited autonomy, cooperation, interdependence between managers and the fear of incompetence. It was also noticed that managers devote more time to the day job (37%), another time to sleep (30%), while only 33% of the rest of the day are meant for activities like taking care of health, family, social life and study. Although there are few studies addressing the health and safety of hotel managers, this research revealed that 84% of the surveyed hotel managers complain of musculoskeletal pain which 50% are obese and are 100% sedentary. It was also observed that managers adopt unsuitable postures for carrying out the work activities that contribute to becoming injured or work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the near future. Ergonomic measures were recommended as an investment in the skills and the training of managers, encouraging cooperative work, appropriateness of workload, limiting overtime, preserving the enjoyment of breaks during work and weekly holidays, changing the layout of the work sector , usage of communication technology to prevent displacement, compensatory physical activities, furniture adaptation, among others / A presente Disserta??o de Mestrado apresenta uma pesquisa que tem como objetivo analisar as atividades de trabalho dos gerentes de um hotel na cidade de Natal/RN - Brasil, realizando um diagn?stico de suas atividades e relacionando os aspectos que impactam a qualidade e a produtividade dos servi?os hoteleiros e a sa?de ocupacional dos gerentes. Esta pesquisa caracteriza-se como estudo de caso com abordagem qualitativa, tomando como refer?ncia o m?todo da An?lise Ergon?mica do Trabalho, que tem a an?lise da atividade de trabalho dos gerentes como foco e combina a aplica??o de m?todos observacionais e interacionais. A Ergonomia e a Macroergonomia s?o utilizadas neste estudo para compreender os contrantes f?sicos, cognitivos e organizacionais das atividades dos gerentes e caracterizar a arquitetura organizacional e o projeto de trabalho do referido hotel. Constatou-se uma alta carga de trabalho, ac?mulo e do desvio de fun??es exercidas pelos gerentes, aumentando, dessa forma, o desgaste f?sico e ps?quico sofrido por eles. Identificou-se que a atividade dos gerentes ? marcada por ambival?ncias de poder, restrita autonomia, coopera??o, interdepend?ncia entre as ger?ncias e medo da incompet?ncia. Percebeu-se, tamb?m, que os gerentes dedicam o maior tempo do dia ao trabalho (37%), outro tempo ao sono (30%), restando apenas 33% do restante do dia para as atividades destinadas ? alimenta??o, aos cuidados com a sa?de, fam?lia, estudo e vida social. Apesar de existirem poucos estudos abordando a sa?de e a seguran?a de gerentes de hot?is, esta pesquisa revelou que 84% dos gerentes do hotel pesquisado queixam-se de dores musculoesquel?ticas que 50% s?o obesos e que 100% s?o sedent?rios. Observou-se ainda que os gerentes adotam posturas corporais inadequadas durante a realiza??o das atividades de trabalho que contribuem para que ocorram les?es ou dist?rbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho, em um futuro pr?ximo. Foram recomendadas medidas ergon?micas como investimento na qualifica??o e treinamento dos gerentes, est?mulo ao trabalho cooperativo, adequa??o da carga de trabalho, limita??o de horas-extras, preserva??o do gozo das pausas durante o trabalho e da folga semanal, mudan?a do layout do setor de trabalho, utiliza??o de tecnologia de comunica??o para evitar deslocamentos, atividades f?sicas compensat?rias, adequa??o do mobili?rio entre outras

Esta pesquisa trata de uma análise do trabalho de dez eletricistas que atuam em espaços confinados de redes subterrâneas de distribuição de energia, na Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica, Porto Alegre, RS. Foi identificada a demanda ergonômica dos eletricistas, com base em um método participativo (Análise Macroergonômica do Trabalho) de levantamento e avaliação dos dados, que gerou insumos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho e segurança e, conseqüente, promoção de prevenção de acidentes. A pesquisa revelou que os eletricistas consideram como aspectos mais positivos do trabalho os relacionamentos entre chefia, supervisores e colegas. Em contrapartida, apontam problemas críticos de diversas naturezas: biomecânico/posto, organização do trabalho, ambiental e relacionados à empresa. Também foram identificados níveis elevados de demandas físicas e mentais do trabalho, concluindo-se que o medo, evidenciado no discurso dos eletricistas, é referente ao trabalho com eletricidade e não ao trabalho em espaços confinados. Além disso, a pesquisa apontou cinco procedimentos, considerados como padrões mínimos, para a realização de trabalhos seguros em espaços confinados: reconhecimento, monitoramento da atmosfera, ventilação, treinamento e resgate.Apesar dos eletricistas não terem ciência da existência destes procedimentos, os mesmos foram citados, direta ou indiretamente nas entrevistas, como aspectos relevantes ao trabalho, sendo atribuído a maioria deles um baixo nível de satisfação. Com isso, conclui-se que a implantação de um programa de permissão de entrada em espaços confinados, além de promover a segurança neste ambientes tem relação direta com a satisfação dos trabalhadores. / The focus of this dissertation is the work analysis of ten electricians who act in confined space at underground power lines at the Estate Electricity Company in Porto Alegre, RS. It was identified the electricians’ ergonomic demand items. The research was carried out according to the participatory methods of survey and assessment of data, to improvement of safety and work conditions and, therefore, to prevent accidents. The research disclosed that the electricians have the relationship with their superiors, supervisors, and workmates as the most positive aspect of the job. On the other hand, they point out critical problems from different causes: biomechanical, task organization, environmental, and the ones related to the company. Overload regarding physical and mental work demand has been identified, proving that the fear, evident in the professionals’ speech is about the electricity, and not related to confined underground spaces. Besides, the research also displayed five procedures regarded as minimal standards to execute safe work in confined spaces: recognition, testing and monitoring atmosphere, ventilation, training and rescue. Despite the little knowledge electricians have on this criteria, some points of it were reported, some in an indirect way, during the interviews as relevant aspects to the work, being attributed to most of them a low level of satisfaction. Therefore, it comes to the conclusion that the implantation of a Permit-Requires Space Program, besides promoting accidents prevention in these spaces, has a direct relationship with the workers’ satisfaction.

Esta dissertação foi idealizada a partir da busca de elementos que permitissem a introdução de melhorias duradouras e de maior porte nas organizações através da ergonomia. Os principais objetivos foram, primeiro, analisar os benefícios do desenvolvimento de ações ergonômicas em um nível mais elevado da organização e mais próximo àqueles que a gerenciam. Posteriormente, descrever e analisar os benefícios da presença de trabalhadores com um alto grau de emancipação em uma intervenção ergonômica. Como referencial teórico partimos da introdução da temática da ergonomia do trabalho, passando pela questão da emancipação no trabalho, e enfim pelo assunto da participação do trabalhador sob a ótica das teorias organizacionais. Um projeto de pesquisa ação numa instituição pública da área da saúde se constituiu um meio útil para o levantamento dos dados, obtidos sobretudo através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e da participação efetiva do pesquisador nos processos de implantação dos dispositivos de melhoria. Em uma primeira parte foi avaliado e analisado o trajeto das ações ergonômicas desenvolvidas na instituição em estudo, enquanto na segunda parte dos resultados foi analisado o grau de envolvimento dos trabalhadores no processo de melhoria na organização em um nível mais abrangente da instituição. Este trabalho permitiu concluir que um papel proativo dos sujeitos visando uma efetiva transformação do trabalho pode propiciar resultados positivos e duradouros em intervenções ergonômicas, assim como é fundamental para a construção de um processo de emancipação dos trabalhadores (em vários níveis da organização). Fortemente relacionada à conclusão anterior é a confirmação de que quanto mais elevamos a discussão e quanto maior o apoio em níveis elevados de decisão sobre a ergonomia na hierarquia organizacional, maior é o sucesso na implementação de políticas de melhoria. / The aim of this dissertation was to look for elements that allow organizations to introduce important and lasting improvements through ergonomics. Two main strategic goals have been pursued during this work. The first aim analyzes the benefits of ergonomics developed on high levels of organization, closer to managers. The second, instead, investigates the importance of a presence of workers with an high degree of emancipation within ergonomic approaches. From a theoretical point of view, the starting point consists of the introduction, in the working system, of ergonomic themes, worker emancipation and worker participation (analyzed within organization theories). The practical results have been achieved through an action research project applied to a public care organization. The outcomes were achieved mainly through the adoption of semi-structured interviews and the participation of the researcher during the processes of improvement implementation. First of all, the course of ergonomic actions developed in the institution under study have been evaluated and examined. Then the research focused on the degree of employee involvement in this process of improvement in a larger scale. This study revealed that a proactive role carried out by people looking for an effective transformation of the work provides positive and lasting results within an ergonomic intervention. At the same time this is fundamental to build a process of emancipation of workers in the different levels of organization. Therefore, on the basis of this conclusion, the more ergonomics is applied to higher levels of discussions and decisions in the organization hierarchy, the greater the success in implementing improvement policies is.

Esta pesquisa trata de uma análise do trabalho de dez eletricistas que atuam em espaços confinados de redes subterrâneas de distribuição de energia, na Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica, Porto Alegre, RS. Foi identificada a demanda ergonômica dos eletricistas, com base em um método participativo (Análise Macroergonômica do Trabalho) de levantamento e avaliação dos dados, que gerou insumos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho e segurança e, conseqüente, promoção de prevenção de acidentes. A pesquisa revelou que os eletricistas consideram como aspectos mais positivos do trabalho os relacionamentos entre chefia, supervisores e colegas. Em contrapartida, apontam problemas críticos de diversas naturezas: biomecânico/posto, organização do trabalho, ambiental e relacionados à empresa. Também foram identificados níveis elevados de demandas físicas e mentais do trabalho, concluindo-se que o medo, evidenciado no discurso dos eletricistas, é referente ao trabalho com eletricidade e não ao trabalho em espaços confinados. Além disso, a pesquisa apontou cinco procedimentos, considerados como padrões mínimos, para a realização de trabalhos seguros em espaços confinados: reconhecimento, monitoramento da atmosfera, ventilação, treinamento e resgate.Apesar dos eletricistas não terem ciência da existência destes procedimentos, os mesmos foram citados, direta ou indiretamente nas entrevistas, como aspectos relevantes ao trabalho, sendo atribuído a maioria deles um baixo nível de satisfação. Com isso, conclui-se que a implantação de um programa de permissão de entrada em espaços confinados, além de promover a segurança neste ambientes tem relação direta com a satisfação dos trabalhadores. / The focus of this dissertation is the work analysis of ten electricians who act in confined space at underground power lines at the Estate Electricity Company in Porto Alegre, RS. It was identified the electricians’ ergonomic demand items. The research was carried out according to the participatory methods of survey and assessment of data, to improvement of safety and work conditions and, therefore, to prevent accidents. The research disclosed that the electricians have the relationship with their superiors, supervisors, and workmates as the most positive aspect of the job. On the other hand, they point out critical problems from different causes: biomechanical, task organization, environmental, and the ones related to the company. Overload regarding physical and mental work demand has been identified, proving that the fear, evident in the professionals’ speech is about the electricity, and not related to confined underground spaces. Besides, the research also displayed five procedures regarded as minimal standards to execute safe work in confined spaces: recognition, testing and monitoring atmosphere, ventilation, training and rescue. Despite the little knowledge electricians have on this criteria, some points of it were reported, some in an indirect way, during the interviews as relevant aspects to the work, being attributed to most of them a low level of satisfaction. Therefore, it comes to the conclusion that the implantation of a Permit-Requires Space Program, besides promoting accidents prevention in these spaces, has a direct relationship with the workers’ satisfaction.

Abstract Product development (PD) has an important role as a key competitive factor in business environments. The capacity of designers and other stakeholders to perceive and process product related information is burdened by the increasing complexity of products and the high demands of working life. Therefore, companies need new human-centred perspectives and methods of balancing and enhancing their overall PD processes in order to develop successful products. The main motive for this research arises from the fact that ergonomics design research has been scarce from the process-oriented and systemic methods perspective. It has mainly focused on the methods, such as those needed in user interface design, and the usability and safety testing of products. The purpose of this dissertation is to consider the PD work system from the macroergonomics perspective. Macroergonomics is a top-down sociotechnical systems approach that is concerned with the analysis, design and evaluation of work systems. Nowadays, the individual user context is the dominating source of product requirements, but the designers’ work system has significant influence on its outcome as well. As an open work system, PD covers the use and design contexts of a product, not only at the individual, but also at the social and system levels. In this dissertation, the use and design contexts of products are examined through six individual studies, which were carried out during a demanding PD project of a new simulation game. In this design process, from the initial state to the goal state, macroergonomics was used as the main theoretical guideline. In many companies, PD processes are considered and developed mainly from the project management or technological points of view. However, because of the increasing complexity and systemic nature of products, PD organisations, too, will have to become more participatory, more networked and more systems oriented. As the main findings, this dissertation indicates that the macroergonomic approach can enrich the PD process and its outcomes by emphasising the balance between the technical and social subsystems of PD work system. The emerging complexity of products must be controlled from the entire PD work system, not the individual context of use only. The research introduces a new PD work system model that includes both the design and use contexts of products and demonstrates their analogical sociotechnical structures. The value of this dissertation for the industry is that companies can overcome certain emerging challenges of PD by applying the introduced macroergonomic principles. The findings of the research may encompass the re-designing of the current PD process in a company. Instead of shutting their eyes to the complexity of the surrounding world, companies should consider it as the macroergonomic PD work system and be more aware about the overall product requirements.

Construction worker safety is normally a construction activity in the United States, even though there is an emerging body of literature discussing the positive effects of considering safety earlier in the construction lifecycle.  This literature has discussed the fragmentation in terms of safety attitudes between owners and designers and those carrying out the construction of a project.  Quantitatively identifying the specific areas that the differences exist in terms of safety attitudes between common roles on a construction project could be a step toward reducing the fragmentation that currently exists in the work system and promoting safety to be more of a consideration earlier in the project lifecycle.  One common technique for measuring safety attitudes is the use of safety climate survey instruments, but in the construction industry these have historically focused on just construction personnel.  This research will discuss the development of a survey instrument to measure differences in safety attitudes between typical members of the entire construction project work system in order to identify specific areas that gaps exist.  Phase I of the research include the development of an instrument using Mohammed\'s (2002) survey as a base, validation of the measurement model using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and using applied nonparametric statistics to analyze the data and identify significant differences.  These results will be used in Phase II to develop a training tool to educate relevant project personnel on differences that were identified in Phase I, and to determine the best mediums for conveying this type of information. / Ph. D.

This research was concerned with the collection of empirical data necessary to estimate the effects of decision support tools on the performance of distributed groups. Data was collected in a controlled experimental environment that simulated a geographically-dispersed meeting through the use of videoconferencing and group communication support (GCSS) technology. Results of the use of a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) on group process and outcome variables were mixed. As predicted by the literature the use of a GDSS by distributed groups improved overall group consensus, decision accuracy, and decision effectiveness. The use of a GDSS also increased perceived process structure. Contrary to previous studies, the use of a GDSS increased decision time, and decreased overall satisfaction with the group process. No significant effects were found for perceived consensus, cooperation, amount of information exchange, or confidence in the decision. A strong correlation was found between decision quality and decision time. An even stronger correlation was found between perceived structure of the process and satisfaction with the process. The lack of feedback about the process and its outcomes could explain the lack of a GDSS effect on perceptions of consensus, cooperation, and confidence in the decision. Perception of subjective measures of the process may depend on the presence of the appropriate types of feedback. The results suggest that an increase in structure without a perceived improvement in decision quality (confidence in the decision) tends to reduce group satisfaction. A richer taxonomy for Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) systems is proposed whereby three orthogonal dimensions of group support are defined. These three dimensions of group support are: Communication support, decision support, and presence support. This new taxonomy suggests a number of research directions aimed at the empirical identification of contextual and design factors relevant to distributed group performance and decision making performance in general. / Master of Science

A study was conducted to determine the preferences for the design of distributed meeting rooms used for video enhanced electronic meeting systems (VEMS). Although there is a significant body of literature in the group communication domain, the research in this multidisciplinary area has paid minimal attention to users' environmental preferences in the design of a meeting space. A basic science approach through three studies was used to explore the variables that defined the design of a distributed meeting space from the user's perspective. Twenty-five inexperienced college-enrolled participants and twenty-five experienced Naval professionals used foam-core pieces to create a design of their ideal distributed meeting space. Thirty-seven variables were used to categorize qualitative attributes of the designs. Three types of designs emerged from the sample population: v-shaped, conference (u-shaped or oval), and theater (auditorium) style. A nonexperimental design was used to measure the impact of the heuristics on the users' physical design of their distributed meeting spaces. Post-meeting evaluation results were promising and indicated that the heuristics were usable and that participating in the design could have a positive impact on user's subjective rating of their meeting experience. Overall, inexperienced users did not believe that the heuristics were necessary to determine the best room design for their team's needs. In the third study, six experts conducted an expert evaluation of a distributed meeting room site. Most experts were not able to identify context-specific design issues such as camera angle and lighting with the static information that they were provided. The experts subjective ratings indicated that the heuristics were usable and were useful for room designers. The overall findings indicated that experience level had a significant impact on user's perception of important equipment in a distributed meeting room. Naïve users were more concerned with visual communication and assigned more importance to public displays (p=.035). Experienced users were more concerned with audio communication and assigned more importance to microphone control (p=.024). In addition, general findings from this research include a new methodology for generating participatory ergonomic tools. / Ph. D.