Showing 74 results for Ergonomics
Abdollah Vahedi, Iman Dianat,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: The challenges that have been raised today, such as changes in population structure, diverse workforce, mass production, and automation of production, indicate the need to review production systems. Classical ergonomic solutions are no longer suitable for carrying heavy loads and repetitive activities. By supporting workers to reduce physical and mental stress, human-centered assistant applications (HCAAs) should solve this problem. The technical problems of the exoskeleton have been investigated in many scientific studies, but its effect on the human user has not been paid much attention to. So, this study reviews the studies that have examined industrial exoskeletons from the ergonomic point of view
Methods: Papers concerning exoskeleton in ergonomic studies are reviewed using Scopus and PubMed databases. The selected papers were published in the reviewed journals from 2014 to 2021. Books, conference papers, and reports are not included in this study. In the present study, only official scientific journals in English are reviewed, and the references obtained from the search are screened by the title and abstract. The full text of the papers is checked if the abstract does not contain enough information. Those papers that met the inclusion criteria are listed in this review.
Results: Studies on ergonomic industrial exoskeletons account for a small share of studies on industrial exoskeletons. From 2012 to the time of conducting this study, 96 studies were found on industrial exoskeletons, of which 10.41% design or evaluate industrial exoskeletons from an ergonomic point of view. This is very small compared to the studies on exoskeleton conducted since 2012 and only about 0.4% of the studies.
Conclusion: The reviewed studies emphasize the facilitation of the successful use of exoskeletons in occupational structures by considering at least three dimensions (physical requirements, task performance, and usability), all of which can contribute to determining the potential efficiency of exoskeletons in the work environment. Due to the potential of this technology, more studies should be conducted in the future to cover some of the identified challenges and compare the exoskeleton design methods under more diverse and more realistic situations.
Solmaz Tabe Afshar, Sahar Toofan, Arash Saghafi Asl,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Undoubtfuly, people spend a significant portion of their time in workplaces. Many factors affect the health and well-being of employees. The present study aimed to identify the architectural problems of the environment by examining the symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome and ranking the parameters influenced by five physical factors (thermal comfort, noise, lighting, layout-ergonomics and decoration).
Methods: The present descriptive-analytical research was carried out in the summer of 2021. The statistical population included 52 employees of Urmia Engineering Organization Building which is based on Morgan's table and a sample size consisting 46 people was randomly selected. The required data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and Friedman test.
Results: Considering the average ranks, symptoms of fatigue (4.47), muscle pain (5.47), headache (5.87), high stress (6.14) and poor concentration (7.45), along with some defined parameters for each of the factors, including overcrowding and lack of speech privacy (78.12%), the noise of people's conversation (62.93%), improper workplace temperature in winter (58.59%) and summer (49.91%), inappropriate placement of uses and allocation of inadequate space for people and equipment (49.91%) played the most significant role.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the inefficient design of the environment and non-observance of ergonomic principles as a result of unprincipled renovations regardless of the nature of the work and its requirements, inappropriate placement of uses, the non-standard distribution of employees in an inflexible environment, lack of speech privacy and crowding were identified as the most important causes of the symptoms.
Ramin Rafeie, Mohammad Eftekhari Yazdi, Koorosh Nakhaee, Siamak Khorramymehr,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Investigating the effective factors in controlling and increasing stability due to weakening of the balance parts of the body in the elderly with osteoporosis, in order to prevent falling is of particular importance, so in this study, the effect of anti-slip flooring in the stimulation of the somatosensory part of the sole of the foot to improve postural stability and gait balance has been evaluated in the elderly with osteoporosis.
Methods: 22 elderlies participated (11 elderly women with severe osteoporosis,11 healthy elderly women) in this study in two static and dynamic condition on three different surfaces including sponge non-slippery flooring (FL), PVC patterned non-slippery flooring (SF) and control surface (CO). In the static part, each participant was standing on the force plate for 30 seconds with eyes open and eyes closed. The values of the length, sway and average velocity of the anterior-posterior and internal-external center of pressure of the foot were measured. In the dynamic part, each participant walked at a selected speed on different surfaces and the values of the normalized step and stride length, step width, step and stride time, and average step and stride velocity were measured.
Results: PVC non-slippery flooring (SF) and control surface (CO) reduced all postural stability and gait variables (P < 0.05) in osteoporosis and healthy elderly than soft Sponge Surface (SF). Moreover, all postural stability variable and spatial and temporal gait parameters were significantly more in the osteoporosis elderly than in healthy elderlies (P < 0.05). Moreover, anterior-posterior mean velocity in open-eyed state significantly reduced in both elderly groups than close-eyed state (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Stiff and patterned surfaces are more effective than soft spongy surfaces in stimulating the somatosensory part of the foot sole to improve stability in both osteoporotic and healthy elderly groups. The results of this study may be helpful to understand the characteristics of the elderly while walking and standing on non-slippery flooring in different environments and the ergonomic design of the environment in order to reduce slips and falls and as a result possible fracture in the elderly with severe osteoporosis. In addition, observation of instability between the elderly with osteoporosis and healthy suggests the need for further investigation and the use of auxiliary exercises to correct and improve stability.
Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Alireza Mortezapour, Khadijeh Najafighobadi, Hamid Saeednia, Saeedeh Mosaferchi,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: The importance of surgery and its high workload are not hidden from anyone. So far, various studies have been conducted with the NASA-TLX instrument and other commonly used instruments to measure surgeons’ workload. The present study seeks to investigate the relationship between the mental workload of surgeons and their productivity through the validation of specialized tools for this job in Iranian culture.
Methods: After checking the validity and reliability of "SURG-TLX" and productivity tools, they were utilized among 60 surgeons to investigate the relationship between their workload and productivity (WHO-HPQ tool). Content validity indices, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to analyse the results.
Results: Both tools had good validity and reliability in Iranian culture. The results of the relationship between mental workload subscales with different dimensions of productivity showed that some dimensions of mental workload including mental needs (correlation coefficient -0.65 and significance level 0.02), physical needs (correlation coefficient -0.54 and significance level 0.04) and time requirements (correlation coefficient -0.44 and significance level 0.02) had a reverse and significant relationship with the overall productivity score. Despite the reverse relationship between the other dimensions of mental workload and the overall productivity score in surgeons, this relationship was not statistically significant. The results indicated a reverse and significant relationship between some of the mental workload and some of the productivity subscales.
Conclusion: In addition to the possibility of using these tools in the future studies in Iran, due to the direct relationship between workload and productivity in surgeons, measures can be taken to maintain the workload at a standard level and prevent the reduction of their productivity.
Mahsa Niknezhad, Ali Faraji,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Healthy air is free of any pollutants, including odors, harmful gasses, dust and viruses, especially corona. This healthy air is provided by a purifier device. One of the problems of metropolises is the lack of healthy air, which is one of the most important human needs. The aim of this study was to design a new home air purifier with interactive and ergonomic features.
Methods: The purpose and nature of this research are applied and qualitative-descriptive, respectively. A survey method is used to collect data. The most important tool in the field study is verbal-visual (researcher-made questionnaire) and has benefited from the analysis of relevant experts, Delphi group. Its design method was the so-called Design up (Tarrahi Nameh in Persian) where it is based on the interaction design and user-centered approach and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to evaluate the different stages of the project.
Results: The achievement of this research is a new home air purifier with interactive and ergonomic features with Nik mark. On the one hand, it is easy to use and accelerates the purification operation with a larger area than the existing devices through different filters, and on the other hand, it is easy to assemble, economical and optimally designed. It has automatic and manual adjustment of fan speed and remote control, it has the ability to be used standing and wall-mounted, and it is environmentally friendly.
Conclusion: Eventually this design offered effectiveness, efficiency, safety/comfortability, utility, learnability and memorability as elements of usability. It also demonstrates features such as visibility, feedback, constraints, adaptability and affordance as the goals of interaction design. Finally, this design conducted a satisfactory user experience.
Hamed Yarmohammadi, Mahdi Jahangiri, Moslem Alimohammadlou, Fateme Rahmati,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Planning and scientific policy making is required for the investigation of scientific productions. Scientific productions are published through universities and research centers in the form of articles and research journals. Scientometric approaches are a tool to assess the performance of journals in different fields. The aim of the present study was to investigate the activity of ergonomics journal.
Methods: The current research was a practical objective with the descriptive data collection method, which was conducted with a scientometric approach. The research population consists of all the articles published in ergonomics journal during the years 1392 to 1401. Publish or Perish, Vosviewer and Excel software were used to collect and analyze data.
Results: A total of 296 articles from 724 authors have been published in Ergonomics journal during a 10-year period. The most articles published belonged to Hamadan, Shiraz, Tehran and Shahid Beheshti universities of medical sciences. The most effective authors in this journal were Rashid Heydari Moghadam (with 21 articles), Majid Motamedzadeh (with 20 articles), and Alireza Chubineh (with 15 articles). The most frequently used keywords were skeletal and muscular disorders with a frequency of 39, ergonomics 37 and anthropometrics 15.
Conclusion: According to the results, the number of citations of articles in this journal was at a low level. Therefore, it is suggested to increase the amount of international participation in order to index the journal in international citation databases and increase the citation rate of articles and the visibility of the journal.
Mohammad Reza Omidi, Nabi Omidi, Hadi Meftahi, Maryam Panahi,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Considering the role of human resources in every organization, it is very important to address issues that lead to the reduction of occupational injuries in the workplace, it is clear that preventing the occurrence of job burnout in improving people's mental health. It plays an important role. One of the topics that can be useful in reducing job burnout is the application of ergonomic knowledge and compliance with safety principles, which is the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of workplace ergonomic principles on job burnout with the moderating role of safety culture.
Methods: The current research is descriptive survey research, the statistical population of this research is all the employees of Ilam Petrochemical Company, which was obtained by using the Cochran formula, and the sample size is equal to 310 people; The main tools for collecting information in this research include demographic profile questionnaires, ergonomic principles, job burnout, and safety culture. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the professors using face and content validity methods, and the reliability was also confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In this research, structural equations based on path analysis in SMART PLS software were used to analyze and test research hypotheses.
Results: The impact of ergonomic principles on the burnout of Ilam Petrochemical employees is negative and significant with coefficients (T = 12.26, R2 = -0.42), and the cultural impact of safety on burnout is also negative and significant with coefficients
(T = 14.07, R2 = -0.32). is, the test of the main hypothesis shows that safety culture moderates the effect of ergonomic principles on job burnout and causes more reduction of job burnout.
Conclusion: Compliance with the principles of ergonomics in the work environment and the existence of a safety culture in Ilam Petrochemical will reduce job burnout.
Fereshteh Hosseini, Mehrnaz Haghighi, Seifollah Gharib,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Effectiveness assessment of multifaceted long-term ergonomics interventions in an automotive company Introduction: Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders requires evaluation and improvement of work situations using ergonomic posture assessment methods. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of multifaceted and long-term ergonomic interventions in a developing automobile manufacturing company using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method.
Methods: A long-term multifaceted intervention study was conducted on 70 office employees of an automotive engineering service company in three stages from 2016 to 2022. Interventions were carried out according to the scores obtained in the sub-areas of the ROSA method including chair, mouse and keyboard, telephone, and monitor. The interventions included technical-engineering and educational interventions. Finally, descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.
Results: The average score of ROSA in 2016 was 5.9 with a standard deviation of 0.66, while the average score of ROSA in 2022 was 3.85 with a standard deviation of 1.19. There was a statistically significant difference between the final score of ROSA in 2016 and 2022 (P < 0.001). Statistical tests showed that only the technical-engineering intervention had a significant effect on the ROSA final score.
Conclusion: The results of the present study have shown a favorable reduction in the final risk level of the physical condition of the employees during work due to the improvement of the physical condition as a result of the technical-engineering intervention along with the educational intervention in accordance with the components of the ROSA method.
Dariush Azimi, Hossein Ghamari Givi, Ali Rezaeisharif, Ali Sheykholeslami,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: School counselors are responsible for addressing academic, personal/social, and career development needs through the design, implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of a comprehensive school counseling program that results in improved student achievement. Therefore The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention based on the empowerment model on the job performance of school counselors.
Methods: The method of the current research was a mixed sequential exploratory type. For this purpose, a semi-experimental method with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group was used to check the effectiveness of the training package. The statistical population of the research included all the school counselors working in the first secondary school of Ardabil city (areas 1 and 2) in the academic year 2021-2022, among them based on the cut-off point of the school counselor occupational performance scale (score 86) and taking into account the entry criteria For the research, 30 people were selected as a sample by random sampling method and according to the results of the pre-test, they were randomly replaced in two experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). The members of the experimental group received the desired educational content in one introductory session and 11 sessions of 120 minutes, while the members of the control group did not receive any intervention. The follow-up test was also done after 3 months. The obtained data were analyzed using spss software and multivariate analysis of covariance test.
Results: The results showed that the intervention based on empowerment has a positive and significant effect on the job performance components of school counselors. This means that school counselors as a result of participating in training sessions based on the empowerment model, in the dimensions of knowledge (F = 0.20 and P = 0.001), skills (F = 0.69 and P = 0.001) and attitude and behavior (F=0.47 and P=0.001) had a positive and significant performance.
Conclusion: Teaching the content related to the empowerment model is an effective way to improve the performance of school counselors.
Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Armin Lahouri, Ataalah Barati, Hadi Miri,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: In today's advanced world, musculoskeletal problems are among the most serious problems. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between ergonomics and postural abnormalities in manufacturing workers.
Methods: The statistical population of this research consists of 210 male employees working in two production units. Among this population, 134 cases were included in the study according to Morgan's table and based on the inclusion criteria. The pain in different parts of the body was assessed by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) was utilized to evaluate workplace ergonomics, and the body posture was evaluated by the New York Posture Rating. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 26). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to investigate the normality of data distribution. Moreover, a linear regression statistical test was utilized to assess the relationship between research variables. The significance level was set at <0.05.
Results: The obtained results pointed to a significant and negative relationship between the ergonomics score and the physical condition assessment (P=0.00; R=0.60). In addition, the results highlighted the presence of skeletal-muscular disorders in different parts of the body, with the highest prevalence in the back (53.73%).
Conclusion: According to the high and negative correlation of the variables, it was found that unfavorable ergonomic conditions can lead to poor physical condition and numerous musculoskeletal consequences.
Hamed Yarmohammadi, Mehdi Jahangiri, Elham Arab Mokhtari,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: A significant indicators of progress and development is the publication of books within any scientific domain. Ergonomics, a critical field associated with human and occupational health, contributes to enhancing productivity and the health level of employees. The present study aims to investigate the state of production and publication of ergonomics books in Iran.
Methods: The current study employed a descriptive approach and content analysis with a bibliometric perspective. The research population encompaased all ergonomics books registered on the National Library website. To access relevant books, searches were conducted without temporal limitations using keywords such as ergonomics, human factors engineering, and other related terms. The collected data were then entered into a pre-designed form in Excel software and, in the final stage, were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: In total, 313 book titles in the field of ergonomics have been published between the years 1989 to 2023, indicating an increasing trend in the publication of books in this area. The highest frequency was for authored books, accounting for 78.27 percent of the publications. Mohammad Amin Mououdi, Majid Motamedzadeh, and Alireza Choobineh were the most active authors in this field. The subject areas of ergonomics principles and application, occupational ergonomics, and human factors engineering had the highest frequency. Fanavaran publications held the highest rank among all publishers. In total, 38 book titles reached multiple editions.
Conclusion: The results of the current study signify an upward trend in book publication within the field of ergonomics in Iran. However, there is a need for more attention from authors in some specializations of this science, including occupational biomechanics, urban ergonomics, ergonomics in domestic settings, and ergonomics for children. Additionally, there is a notable lack of focus on the publication of electronic books in this scientific field. Therefore, to give more consideration to the advantages of electronic books and consider their publication.
Seyeydeh Hasti Sadati, Mehdi Asghari, Maedeh Moradi Farahani,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (4-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Awkward posture is a primary cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the dental profession due to the nature of dental activities. This study aimed to examine both observational and device-assisted posture assessment methods used to study dental professionals as well as the reported prevalence of MSDs among them.
Methods: A search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for studies performed from 2000 to 2021 using specified keywords. In total, 31 out of the 541 articles found in the initial search were finally included in this study after the exclusion of ineligible articles, duplicates, conference presentations, systematic reviews, and letters to the editor.
Results: Based on the findings, the neck (58%), back and waist (54.9%), and shoulder and hand (29%) areas had the highest reported pain and disorder. Several posture evaluation methods, namely Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (19.4%), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (19.4%), Electromyography (EMG, 13.8%), and Quick Exposure Check (QEC, 8.3%), were the most frequently used methods among all 17 methods employed in the studies.
Conclusion: Among the observational methods, the QEC method was the most practical one as it considered the experiences of dentists and various dimensions of dental tasks. Moreover, the EMG method was the most suitable device-assisted method for the assessment of posture in dentists. The use of questionnaires in conjunction with evaluation methods appears to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of posture assessment.
Abdollah Vahedi, Iman Dianat,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (4-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Despite the increasing trend of automation and mechanization in the industry, many workers are exposed to high physical workloads, repetitive motions, and unusual body postures. In this regard, assistive technology (AT) is a relatively new and practical solution. This study was conducted to design an assistive arm according to ergonomic principles and investigate its effect on the electrical activity of shoulder muscles.
Methods: This research was fundamental in its approach, using an experimental intervention method. The investigated samples included students studying in the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health in 2021, of which 12 participated in the study, half of whom were female and half were male. A prototype of a passive assistive arm was first designed. The electrical activity of muscles was then evaluated at two work heights and two tasks in a simulated workstation with and without the use of an assist arm. The data were analyzed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS26 software.
Results: The designed assistive arm reduced the electrical activity of the muscles in the tested heights and tasks, and among the six investigated muscles, the activity of the trapezius and anterior deltoid muscles decreased the most.
Conclusion: According to the results, the designed assistive arm reduces the electrical activity of the shoulder muscles and differentially affects different tasks and work heights. The results generally indicate that the use of an assistive arm can be an effective intervention for overhead tasks.
Houshang Shahnavaz, Mohammad Sadegh Sohrabi,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (4-2024)
Abstract
Drawing from the author's knowledge, experience, and evidence gathered during years of professional activity in Iran, the article offers twenty-two important "lessons learned" concerning the initiation, design, and implementation of ergonomics intervention programs in industries and companies in developing countries, with a focus on Iran. Briefly, a short report of four ergonomics projects implemented in Iran is provided, and then policy suggestions are expressed in the form of lessons. These lessons are derived from the author's practical projects as an ergonomics manager and offer key points to increase the success of ergonomics projects and to expand and sustain ergonomics in industries and companies.
Reza Ziyari, Parvin Afshar, Mahsan Afshar,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (4-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: It was expected the healthcare system would help to provide better services by taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the expansion of information and communication technology. In some cases, the efforts of service providers or users to increase their interests have resulted in the commercialization of health at the cost of effectiveness and personal well-being. The present study aimed to identify and analyze the impact of digital components of social media on the commercialization of health with the aim of improving ergonomics at macro and cognitive levels.
Methods: This applied research was conducted based on a descriptive cross-sectional design. The statistical population included 300 professors of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, out of whom 169 cases were selected by simple random method. The components were determined by the descriptive method. The questions were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis in SPSS software. The ranking of the components was performed using Friedman's method, and the final model was then presented.
Results: The digital components of social media in the commercialization of health include five parts(the health system, medicine, patient, insurance, and healthcare personnel) and 30 sub-components.
Conclusion: The digital components related to the health system have the most marked impact on the commercialization of health, highlighting the need to pay attention to the development of social media regulations in the health sector. Common strategies include controlling data availability, building coalitions among health stakeholders with compliance monitoring, using social responsibility laws for digital companies, and promoting self-regulation among stakeholders.
Raha Seidi, Mahnaz Saremi, Azam Malekighahfarokhi, Mahshid Namdari,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: User engagement with digital technologies refers to the sense of belonging and individual satisfaction. Visual aesthetics, characterized by simplicity and diversity, plays a crucial role in the design of products and online sales strategies. This study investigates the relationship between visual aesthetics and user engagement with in a selected social network.
Methods: This correlational descriptive-analytical study examines the attractiveness of two pages with similar educational content but differing visual aesthetics criteria on one of the social networks. The first page (Researcher-made page) exhibits higher standards of attractiveness compared to the second page (Basic page). Data were collected through online questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The study involved 116 participants, of whom 91 (78.4%) were female, with an average age of 26.8 ± 2.54 years. The majority of participants held a bachelor's degree (57.8%). The average visual aesthetics scores for the content pages (Researcher-made page) and (Basic page) were 95/92 and 84/9, respectively, indicating that Researcher-made page had greater visual appeal. Furthermore, the user engagement scores for Researcher-made page and Basic page were 107/9 and 100/02, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between visual appeal and user engagement on both pages (P<0.001), while no significant relationship was observed between gender or education level and these metrics (P>0.05).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the visual aesthetics of virtual content pages has a significant impact on user engagement. These findings underscore the importance of adhering to attractiveness criteria in content design, which can be beneficial for content creators, managers, and business owners.
Narges Eshaghi, Narmin Hassanzadeh-Rangi, Yahya Khosravi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Scientometrics is a research field that examines and analyzes scientific trends and patterns in various scientific journals. This study aims to analyze the content of articles published in the Journal of Applied Ergonomics in the last ten years and determine the distribution pattern of the articles according to the themes extracted.
Methods: Using the method of directed content analysis, the number of 2,148 articles published in the last 10 years were extracted from the "Journal of Applied Ergonomics" website and categorized according to the topic, the nationality of the authors, and the year of publication. For the topic categories of articles, the existing categories of published articles and the topic tree schema of the article submission website of selected international journals were used. EXCEL 2021 software was used for data preparation and analysis.
Results: Among the twenty-two extracted topics, three main topics, including "Physio-psychological Status and Occupational Factors," "Human-machine interaction, Human-computer interaction", and "Ergonomic product and service design" elucidated approximately 50% of the variance in published articles in this reputable journal under study. Among these, there was a particular emphasis on the topic of "Physio-psychological status and occupational factors." The subjects of "Physio-psychological status and occupational factors," "Human-machine interaction," and "Human-computer interaction" have had an upward trend in recent years. Moreover, authors from the United States of America, with 25.84% frequency, have contributed the most to the publication of articles in this Journal.
Conclusion: The thematic framework and distribution patterns extracted in this study can contribute to the educational and research planning in the field of professional health for universities, research centers, and relevant organizations. These findings can guide strategic decisions and support targeted efforts to advance ergonomic practices and the dissemination of knowledge within the field.
Fatemeh Alibeygian, Hamidreza Mokarami, Reza Kazemi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: The current qualitative study aimed to understand the factors affecting the optimal performance of bus drivers using the macro ergonomics approach and the work systems model. This topic is important as it addresses significant gaps in the existing literature regarding the ergonomic and systemic factors influencing driver performance.
Methods: In this study, 13 in-depth interviews were conducted with bus drivers. A qualitative content analysis of the data was performed using MAXQDA2020 software after data collection. Codes were extracted based on nine categories of factors affecting performance related to the five components of the work system: organizational, individual, environmental, task, and technology.
Results: The analysis revealed that employees reported low performance mainly due to organizational structural problems and managerial characteristics. These findings highlight the critical role of organizational factors in driver performance.
Conclusion: The results indicate that ergonomic interventions targeting organizational structural issues and managerial practices could significantly improve the performance and satisfaction of bus drivers. The insights gained from this research can inform practical interventions to improve the working conditions and overall performance of this occupational group. These findings contribute to the field by providing a direction for enhancing the work system to better support driver performance.
Roghayeh Esmaili, Ali Askari, Mohsen Poursadeghian,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Various factors, including a lack of attention to the adaptation of educational spaces, can significantly impact the quality of education. Consequently, this study aims to comprehensively review and analyze all research conducted on school ergonomics in Iran.
Methods: A bilingual search was conducted in this study utilizing Persian keywords such as "Student," "Elementary, middle or high school," and "Physical, environmental, and general ergonomics," along with their Latin equivalents. This search was performed across databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, covering the period from the inception of research in Iran until 2024. Subsequently, articles relevant to the topic were collected and examined according to the established criteria.
Results: Among the identified articles, only 30 were recognized as relevant to the study's objectives, focusing on physical, environmental, and general ergonomics. A comparison of these studies revealed an upward trend in musculoskeletal disorders, with many of these issues linked to ergonomic problems in schools, including the mismatch between students' body dimensions and the desks and chairs used, as well as improper carrying of school bags.
Conclusion: The poor ergonomic conditions in Iranian schools have led to an increase in musculoskeletal disorders among students. It is vital to evaluate these schools based on ergonomic standards and implement necessary enhancements. Furthermore, it is important to raise students' awareness about proper task performance and appropriate backpack usage.
Mahdi Ganji, Milad Karimi, Behnoush Bahari,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Objectives: Nowadays, using digital displays in vehicles has become very common. Therefore, the reflection display screen issue as a virtual image on the vehicle's side windows at night is a controversial item in the ergonomics position of the designed display. Given the high importance of visual tasks, it is necessary to consider ergonomics considerations during vehicle design to achieve an optimal display position.
Methods: In the current study, by identifying the factors affecting the placement of the central display inside the vehicle and assigning level values for them, using the design of experiment statistical method with the full factorial approach, 243 runs were obtained from the combination of the identified factors using MINITAB (version 18) software. By implementing all the extracted runs, the amount of reflection from the central display on the side windows was subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: Significantly effective factors (including their interactions) on the response of the reflection of the virtual image on the critical vision zone and the total reflection on the driver's right and left side windows were identified. In addition, the amount/direction of the factors' effect on the responses was analyzed using a linear regression model.
Conclusion: During the interior design process of the vehicle and display packaging, the factors identified in this study can be used as a control tool to reduce or eliminate the concern of the amount of display reflection on the side windows to prevent driver's ergonomics problems during nighttime driving.
