Today's challenge for workforce management lies in providing a healthy, safe and productive working culture where people are valued, empowered and respected. Workforce diversity is becoming an essential aspect of the global workforce, and ageing is the most prominent and significant factor in this regard. Diversity brings many opportunities and challenges, as workers with different backgrounds, cultures, working attitudes, behaviours and age work together, and in future, the key to organizational effectiveness and sustainability will heavily depend on developing and sustaining inclusive work environments where people with their differences can co-exist safely and productively. Manufacturing organizations expect the highest levels of productivity and quality, but unfortunately the manufacturing system design process does not take into account human variability issues caused by age, skill, experience, attitude towards work etc. This thesis focuses on proposing an inclusive design methodology to address the design needs of a broader range of the population. However, the promotion and implementation of an inclusive design method is challenging due to the lack of relevant data and lack of relevant tools and methods to help designers. This research aims to support the inclusive design process by providing relevant data and developing new design methodologies. The inclusive design methodology suggested in this thesis is a three step approach for achieving a safe and sustainable work environment for workers, with special concern for older workers. The methodology is based on the provision of relevant human capabilities data, the capture and analysis of difference in human behaviour and the use of this knowledge in a digital human modelling tool. The research is focused on manual assembly through a case study in the furniture manufacturing industry and joint mobility data from a wide-ranging population has been analysed and the task performing strategies and behaviours of workers with different levels of skills have been recorded and analysed. It has been shown that joint mobility significantly decreases with age and disability and that skilful workers are likely to adopt safer and more productive working strategies. A digital human modelling based inclusive design strategy was found to be useful in addressing the design needs of older workers performing manufacturing assembly activities. This strategy validates the concept of using human capabilities data for assessing the level of acceptability of any adopted strategy for older workers, and suggests that the strategies adopted by skilful workers are more likely to be equally acceptable for older and younger workers keeping in view differences in their joint mobility. The overall purpose of this thesis is to present a road map towards the promotion and implementation of the inclusive design method for addressing workforce challenges and in future the same strategies might be implemented within a variety of other industrial applications. The proposed three step inclusive design methodology and getting a reasonable understanding of human variability issues along with the use of human capabilities data (joint mobility in this case) in a human modelling system for design assessment at a pre-design stage can be considered as the major contributions of this research.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:51:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4147.pdf: 728882 bytes, checksum: 501f2df9df5e7c02b3591084cada4d3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-26 / In recent years, in Brazil, companies have shown a growing interest in developing actions to address ergonomic problems in working conditions related to health and productivity. This interest is due in part to the compliance requirements of working conditions to the legislation of the Ministry of Labor and Employment. To adapt working conditions to the legal conditions recommended the need arises to measure the conditioning factors of work activities, and consequently increases the demand for use of instruments to assess the ergonomic risks. The study aims to determine the contribution of risk assessment tools in the analysis of ergonomic conditions of work activity in steps of Ergonomic Work Analysis and use of these instruments in Brazil, by consulting firms and research institutions and extension in the area ergonomics in an attempt to establish the relationship between the objectives and content of the instruments and methods of analysis used in practice. The survey was conducted through a literature review, to determine the instruments and through a questionnaire, seeking, knowing the tools most used by Brazilian organizations to ergonomics. In the questionnaire some questions were addressed in order to know the work of organizations of ergonomics in Brazil: issues relating to training for professionals working with ergonomics, the main intervention activities and steps that develop, the factors related to the job consider during the intervention, the methodologies we use as reference and the instruments they use to ergonomic risk assessments. According to the systematic knowledge and accumulated in the literature on the use of tools to verify specific aspects of man's relationship with their work environment, it was observed that most concentrate their goals in the evaluation of factors related to the physical dimensions of the work. The research results allow us to conclude that the instruments are not sufficient to analyze the work during an ergonomic intervention. Thus, the formation of analysts with their different views and / Nos últimos anos, no Brasil, as empresas têm demonstrado um crescente interesse em desenvolver ações ergonômicas a fim de enfrentar problemas nas condições de trabalho relacionados à saúde e produtividade. Esse interesse se deve, em parte, às exigências de conformidade das condições de trabalho à legislação do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego. Para adequar as condições de trabalho às condições legais recomendadas, surge a necessidade de mensurar os fatores condicionantes das atividades de trabalho, aumentando, consequentemente, a demanda por utilização de instrumentos para avaliar os riscos ergonômicos. O presente estudo tem como objetivo verificar a contribuição de instrumentos de avaliação de riscos ergonômicos na análise dos condicionantes da atividade de trabalho nas etapas da Análise Ergonômica do Trabalho e a utilização desses instrumentos no Brasil, por empresas de consultoria e instituições de pesquisa e extensão na área de ergonomia, na tentativa de estabelecer a relação entre os objetivos e conteúdos dos instrumentos e os métodos de análise utilizados na prática. A pesquisa foi realizada por meio de levantamento bibliográfico, visando conhecer os instrumentos, e por meio de questionário, buscando conhecer os instrumentos mais utilizados por organizações brasileiras de ergonomia. No questionário aplicado, algumas questões foram abordadas com o objetivo de conhecer o trabalho das organizações de ergonomia no Brasil: questões relacionadas à formação dos profissionais que trabalham com ergonomia, as principais atividades de intervenção e as etapas que as desenvolvem, fatores relacionados ao trabalho considerados durante a intervenção, as metodologias utilizadas como referência e os instrumentos utilizados para avaliações de risco ergonômico. De acordo com o conhecimento sistematizado e acumulado na literatura sobre a utilização de instrumentos para verificar aspectos específicos da relação do homem com seu ambiente de trabalho, observou-se que a grande maioria concentra seus objetivos na avaliação de fatores referentes às dimensões físicas do trabalho. Os resultados encontrados na pesquisa permitem concluir que os instrumentos não são suficientes para analisar o trabalho durante uma intervenção ergonômica. Desse modo, a formação dos analistas com seus diferentes pontos de vista e as respectivas bases conceituais de formação são os elementos que darão conta da realização do trabalho.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a comparação entre o protocolo de Couto e o protocolo Strain Index, de Moore e Garg, para Análise Ergonômica do Trabalho, em dois postos de tornearia do setor de usinagem de uma indústria de médio porte, do setor metalúrgico. Para tanto, realizou-se uma fundamentação teórica, para apresentação dos métodos, cujos protocolos não são equivalentes (embora sejam aplicados como tal). Foi uma pesquisa aplicada, cujos resultados foram submetidos à análise quantitativa, buscando verificar os mecanismos de lesão a que estão sujeitos os operadores de tornos, neste caso específico, de uma indústria metalúrgica que possui dois postos de tornearia, sendo um para peças maiores que necessitam do uso de dispositivos de içamento e o outro posto dedicado a peças menores, capazes de serem manuseadas pelo operador. Concluiu-se que a relação entre o trabalho e a saúde requer a implantação e implementação, por parte das organizações e de políticas de prevenção, construindo uma cultura organizacional, em que seja propícia a realização da missão da organização com a garantia da qualidade de vida e realização das pessoas. / This study aimed to study the comparison between the protocol and the protocol Couto Strain Index, Moore and Garg, for ergonomic work analysis in two positions in the industry turning the machining of a medium-sized industry, metallurgical industry. To this end, we carried out a theoretical basis for presentation of methods, protocols are not equivalent (although they are applied as such). It was an applied research, whose results were submitted to quantitative analysis, in order to understand the mechanisms of injury that are subject to the operators of lathes in this particular case, a metal industry, which has two turning stations, one for larger parts that need the use of lifting devices and other station dedicated to smaller parts, capable of being handled by the operator. It was concluded that the relationship between work and health requires the establishment and implementation by organizations and prevention policies, building an organizational culture that is conducive to achieving the mission of the organization with the guarantee of quality of life and fulfillment of people.

In 2018 IKEA Industry, the largest producer of wood-based furniture for IKEA customers presented their sustainability strategy for Financial Year 2025. In Health & Safety, they want to minimize ergonomic risks at their factories. To be able to understand what risks the factories contain, the first step is a common ergonomic risk assessment methodology. Because of a lack of knowledge in ergonomics at IKEA Industry, the responsibility was laid on this master thesis project. This project has with the help of interviews, surveys and observations found what needs the factories have in ergonomic risk assessment. A literature review also found things that the factories should have but haven´t asked for. Using benchmarking, several common methods used on the market has been summarized and analyzed by the requirements. Three methods, KIM, RAMP and HARM were chosen to be tested by the factories. In a user test, it was clear that KIM was easiest to use. HARM was eliminated because of the lack of evaluating lifting and pushing movements. To choose between KIM and RAMP they were evaluated in terms of the requirements. The results showed that KIM was the best method for IKEA Industry factories. At some places RAMP had good assessment methods. In order to not ignore these, they have been implemented into KIM to make it suit the factories even better. The result ended up in a document called Global standard of ergonomic risk assessment. The method is divided into three different methods depending on if you have lifting/ carrying work, pushing work or repetitive work. The results are then summarized in a chart that shows what needs to be investigated. This project has also with the help of the literature and the analysis of the factory, decided which roles that will participate in the assessment. The suggestions are manager, ergonomist and a production co-worker. With the help of this method, the factories will be able to understand what ergonomic risks they have. They will only need to evaluate the work tasks with the help of this method and will then be presented all high, medium or low ergonomic risks in the factories to minimize these before FY2025. / 2018 presenterade IKEA Industry, världens största möbeltillverkare, deras hållbarhetsstrategi inför finansiella året 2025. Inom Hälsa & säkerhet vill dem minska sina ergonomiska risker på fabrikerna. För att förstå vilka risker som finns har dem kommit fram till att skapa en bedömningsmetod som är gemensam bland fabrikerna. Då företaget har en brist i kunskap inom ergonomi har företaget valt att lägga över ansvaret på detta exjobb. Detta projekt har med hjälp av intervjuer, enkäter och observationer kommit fram till vad för behov fabrikerna har vad gäller ergonomisk riskbedömning. Med litteratur har även andra behov hittats som anses behövs men fabrikerna har inte insett behovet. För att hitta metoder har det genomförts en benchmarking där flera av de mest vanliga och erkända ergonomiska riskbedömningsmetoder har sammanfattats. Dessa metoder har sedan analyserats med hjälp av behoven och KIM, RAMP och HARM blev utvalda. Dessa har sedan testats av fabrikerna med hjälp av ett användartest. Resultatet visade på att KIM var enklast att användas. HARM valdes även bort på grund av dess brist i bedömning av lyft och drag. För att kunna välja vilken metod som passar IKEA Industry bäst bedömdes KIM och RAMP med avseende på de olika krav som sattes upp. Här visade det sig att KIM var den mest lämpade metoden för IKEA Industry. Då KIM ibland hade brister i bedömningen som RAMP var bättre på valdes det att lägga in vissa delar från RAMP för att komplettera KIM. Resultatet blev ett dokument vid namn ”Global standard inom ergonomisk riskbedömning”. Metoden är uppdelad i tre olika metoder beroende på om lyftarbete, drag/skjutande arbete eller repetitivt arbete skall bedömas. Resultaten är sedan sammanfattade i en tabell som visar vilka områden som behövs undersökas. Projektet har även med hjälp av teori och analys av fabrikerna kommit fram till vilka roller som skall deltaga i ett bedömningsarbete. Förslaget blev slutligen, ansvarig chef, ergonom och en produktionsarbetare. Med hjälp av denna metod skall fabrikerna kunna förstå vad för risker dem har i fabrikerna. Dem kommer endast behöva använda dokumentet, utvärdera och sedan få information om alla höga, medium och låga risker för att minimera dessa innan FY2025.

Muzikantų kaulų ir raumenų sistemos sutrikimus gali lemti biomechaniniai, aplinkos, psichosocialiniai ir asmeninės rizikos faktoriai, su kuriais susiduriama profesinėje aplinkoje. Šie sutrikimai tarp muzikantų yra vadinami sutrikimai, susiję su grojimu (SSG). / The disorders of the musicians’ musculoskeletal system may be determined by the biomechanical, environmental, psychosocial and personal risk factors, which are encountered in the professional environment. These disorders are called playing-related disorders (PRD) among the musicians.

Workplace safety, particularly in manual handling tasks, is a critical concern that hasbeen increasingly addressed using advanced risk assessment tools. However, pre-senting the complex results of these assessments in an easily digestible format re-mains a challenge. This thesis focused on designing and developing a user-friendlyweb application to visualise risk assessment data effectively. Grounded in a robusttheoretical framework that combines user experience principles, and data visualisa-tion techniques. The study employed an iterative, user-centric design process to de-velop the web application. Multiple visualisation methods, such as pie charts for vis-ualising risk distribution, bar chart, and line chart for time-based analysis, were eval-uated for their effectiveness through usability testing. The application's primary con-tribution lies in its efficient data visualisation techniques, aimed at simplifying com-plex datasets into actionable insights. This work lays the groundwork enabling futuredevelopment by pinpointing areas for improvement like enhanced interactivity andaccessibility. / Belastningsergonomiska risker i arbetsmiljön, särskilt i uppgifter som involverarmanuell hantering, är en kritisk fråga som alltmer har adresserats med hjälp av avan-cerade riskhanteringsverktyg. Men att presentera de komplexa resultaten av dessabedömningar i ett lättillgängligt format kvarstår som en utmaning. Denna avhand-ling fokuserade på att designa och utveckla en användarvänlig webbapplikation föratt effektivt visualisera riskbedömningsdata. Studien bygger på en robust teoretiskram och kombinerar principer för användarupplevelse med datavisualiseringstekni-ker. Webbapplikationen har utvecklats med hjälp av en iterativ och användarcentre-rad designprocess. Flera visualiseringsmetoder, såsom cirkeldiagram för att visuali-sera riskfördelning, stapeldiagram och linjediagram för tidsbaserad analys, utvärde-rades för deras effektivitet genom användningstester och utvärderingsformulär. Ap-plikationens primära bidrag ligger i dess effektiva datavisualiseringstekniker, somsyftar till att förenkla komplex information till handlingsbara insikter. Detta arbetelägger grunden och möjliggör framtida utveckling genom att peka ut områden förförbättring, som förbättrad interaktivitet och tillgänglighet.

This thesis focuses on the development of a lifting device for roof mounted tents at the requestof Thule with the focus on improving the ergonomics during installation and removal of roofmounted tents on vehicles, while also enabling the process for one to two users. The work isstructured according to the Double Diamond model and uses established product developmentmethods to ensure a systematic process.The preliminary study consists of an analysis of ergonomic risk factors during heavy liftingusing the Swedish Work Environment Agency's (Arbetsmiljöverket) assessment template andRapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). These tools were used to evaluate current users ownsolutions for lifting roof mounted tents.After screening and selecting developed concepts, an existing plasterboard lift was modified tocreate a prototype. Modeling work was carried out in SolidWorks, where various componentsand modifications were visualized and tested before being integrated into the plasterboard lift.The final prototype integrates functions that enable tilt and lifting of the roof tent, whichreduces the need for manual lifting and thus the risk of physical damage because of overloadsas well as minimizing needed storage space.The prototype was tested and evaluated where the results showed an improvement inergonomics and ease of use during lifting, facilitating movement of roof mounted tents betweenvehicles and storage while being able to be stored together with the tent with minimal impacton space requirements.Lastly, the work suggests further strength tests and investigation of better suited lift functionsfor future development to improve safety and lifting device efficiency. / Detta examensarbete fokuserar på utvecklingen av en lyftanordning för taktält på begäran avThule med huvudfokus att förbättra ergonomin vid på- och avmontering av taktält på fordonoch förenkla momentet för en till två personer. En framtagen lösning ska även bidra till minskadbränsle- och energiförbrukning för fordonet då det ska vara enklare och mer inspirerande attmontera av taktältet från fordonet när det inte är planerat att användas.Arbetet är strukturerat enligt Double Diamond-modellen och använder etableradeproduktutvecklingsmetoder för att säkerställa en systematisk process.Förstudien består av analys av ergonomiska riskmoment vid tunga lyft med hjälp avarbetsmiljöverkets bedömningsmall och Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Dessa verktyganvändes för att utvärdera nuvarande användares egna lösningar för lyft av taktält. Eftersållning och val av framtagna koncept modifierades en befintlig gipsskivlyft för att skapa enprototyp. Modelleringsarbete utfördes i SolidWorks, där olika komponenter och modifieringarvisualiserades och testades innan de integrerades i gipsskivlyften. Den slutliga prototypenintegrerar funktioner som möjliggör ”tilt” och lyft av taktält vilket minskar behov av manuellalyft och därmed risken för fysiska skador som konsekvens av överbelastningar.Prototypen testades och utvärderades där resultaten visade en förbättring av ergonomi ochanvändarvänlighet under lyft av taktält, underlättar förflyttning av taktält mellan fordon ochförvaring samtidigt som den kunde förvaras tillsammans med taktält med minimal påverkanpå krav av utrymme.Sammanfattningsvis föreslår arbetet ytterligare hållfasthetstester och undersökning av bättrelämpade hissfunktioner för framtida utveckling för att förbättra säkerheten ochlyftanordningens effektivitet.