Assessment of Physical Workload of Choker Setter in Tree-length Extraction Operation by Cable Yarder

The risk of a needle stick or sharps injury in the operating room (OR) is high due to conditions such as minimal physical protective measures, frequent transfer of sharps, and reliance on human attention and skill for injury avoidance. An ergonomic process improvement project was initiated at a large metro teaching hospital to identify ergonomic risk factors for these OR injuries. To maximize the engagement of the front- end users, an ergonomic process improvement (EPI) team was developed, consisting of representatives from participating OR teams, an employee health nurse and two ergonomists. Surveys, observations, and interviews were conducted to quantify injury risk for the OR teams, evaluate barriers to best practice adherence, and identify opportunities for targeted interventions. Risk mapping was completed for the surgeons, surgical techs and OR nurses identifying double gloving and safe passing zone as areas in need of improvement. Through observation and interviews, researchers identified physical factors relating to musculoskeletal pain and cognitive factors leading to distractions as safety risk concerns. The overall success of the EPI was the engagement of the OR teams and surgeons in the process of identifying risk factors and potential opportunities for ergonomic solutions related to cognitive workload, physical workload, teamwork, and work design for injury prevention. The risk factors identified will provide the basis for developing targeted, effective interventions for eliminating injuries from needles and sharps within the OR.

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Modeling the effect of skidded timber bunches on forest soil compaction

The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation Applications Methodology Technology ◽

10.1177/1548512920978700 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 154851292097870

Author(s):

Igor Grigorev ◽

Olga Kunickaya ◽

Albert Burgonutdinov ◽

Olga Burmistrova ◽

Varvara Druzyanova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Calculated Data ◽

Forest Products ◽

Permafrost Soil ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Limit Values ◽

Cryolithic Zone ◽

Tree Length ◽

Solid Soil ◽

Increasing Demand ◽

Compaction Processes

An increasing demand for forest products incites a large number of log transportation operations, which may lead to negative consequences for the soil and the ecosystem as a whole. This paper presents a mathematical model to estimate the soil deformation and compaction processes under the influence of individual components of the skidding system, such as the forwarder, limbs, butts, and tops of tree-lengths in high latitudes, permafrost soil, and forests of the cryolithic zone. The effectiveness of the proposed model was evaluated according to experimental results. Comparative analysis showed that the calculated data differ from the experimental data by no more than 10%. The deformation of the soil by the bunch of tree-length logs occurs due to shearing processes. It has been established that the initial vertical stress exceeds the radial stress by 30–40%. The result of estimating the dependency of the shelterbelt width on the number of tree-length logs showed that the limit values for logs amount to 4–6 units for the mild, medium, and solid soil categories. The obtained results and the developed model will allow for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the technological impact on the soil during the projecting of maps for logging operations.

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Effects of riparian forest thinning by two types of mechanical harvest on stream fish and habitat in northern Minnesota

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-157 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 247-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Nathaniel A. Hemstad ◽

Eric C. Merten ◽

Raymond M. Newman

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Stream Habitat ◽

North Central ◽

Fine Sediments ◽

Repeated Measures Analysis ◽

Stream System ◽

Tree Length ◽

Wide Scale

The response of fish communities and stream habitat to four riparian harvest treatments was studied in north-central Minnesota to determine if riparian harvest with two different harvest systems degrades stream systems. Treatments included control (no harvest), riparian control, cut-to-length riparian thin, and tree length riparian thin. Fish and habitat data were collected from 50 m reaches above, within, and downstream of each treatment 1 year preharvest (1997) and 3 years postharvest (1998–2000). Repeated measures analysis revealed few effects due to treatment; however, there was a 6%–10% significant reduction in canopy cover. Percent fine sediments increased significantly (15%) system-wide following forest harvest and persisted through 2000. This increase in fine sediments was correlated with a decrease in fish biotic integrity (r = –0.31). Habitat and fish variables were influenced more by year-to-year variation than by harvest treatment, suggesting that factors operating at a broader basin-wide scale may influence fish and habitat or mask any site-level harvest effects in this low-gradient stream system. Residual riparian basal areas ≥12.3m2/ha along reaches ≤200 m in length may be adequate to protect fish and habitat in these low-gradient streams, but basin-wide effects of harvest deserve more scrutiny.

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Corrigendum to ‘Effect of standing desk use on cognitive performance and physical workload while engaged with high cognitive demand tasks’ [Appl. Ergon. 92 (2021) 103306]

Applied Ergonomics ◽

10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103422 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 103422

Author(s):

Sang Hyeon Kang ◽

Juhyeong Lee ◽

Sangeun Jin

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Demand ◽

Physical Workload ◽

High Cognitive Demand

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Distractions in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory: impact for cardiologists and patient safety

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2020-001260 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. e001260

Author(s):

Kalaivani Mahadevan ◽

Elena Cowan ◽

Navneet Kalsi ◽

Helena Bolam ◽

Richard Arnett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Cardiac Catheterisation ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Effort Level ◽

Task Load ◽

Cardiac Procedures ◽

Primary Operator ◽

Operating Theatres ◽

St Elevation ◽

And Performance

ObjectiveTo understand human factors (HF) contributing to disturbances during invasive cardiac procedures, including frequency and nature of distractions, and assessment of operator workload.MethodsSingle centre prospective observational evaluation of 194 cardiac procedures in three adult cardiac catheterisation laboratories over 6 weeks. A proforma including frequency, nature, magnitude and level of procedural risk at the time of each distraction/interruption was completed for each case. The primary operator completed a National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) task load questionnaire rating mental/physical effort, level of frustration, time-urgency, and overall effort and performance.Results264 distractions occurred in 106 (55%) out of 194 procedures observed; 80% were not relevant to the case being undertaken; 14% were urgent including discussions of potential ST-elevation myocardial infarction requiring emergency angioplasty. In procedures where distractions were observed, frequency per case ranged from 1 to 16 (mean 2.5, SD ±2.2); 43 were documented during high-risk stages of the procedure. Operator rating of NASA task load parameters demonstrated higher levels of mental and physical workload and effort during cases in which distractions occurred.ConclusionsIn this first description of HF in adult cardiac catheter laboratories, we found that fewer than half of all procedures were completed without interruption/distraction. The majority were unnecessary and without relation to the case or list. We propose the introduction of a ‘sterile cockpit’ environment within catheter laboratories, as adapted from aviation and used in surgical operating theatres, to minimise non-emergent interruptions and disturbances, to improve operator conditions and overall patient safety.

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Reducing MSDs and physical workload of manual-harvesting peasan

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/686/1/012005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 686 (1) ◽

pp. 012005

Author(s):

N Sa’diyah ◽

M Maksum ◽

G T Mulyati

Keyword(s):

Physical Workload

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Physical workload and increased frequency of musculoskeletal pain: a cohort study of employed men and women with baseline occasional pain

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-107094 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-107094

Author(s):

Kathryn Badarin ◽

Tomas Hemmingsson ◽

Lena Hillert ◽

Katarina Kjellberg

Keyword(s):

Survey Data ◽

Musculoskeletal Pain ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Job Exposure Matrix ◽

Men And Women ◽

Strenuous Work ◽

High Level

ObjectivesMusculoskeletal pain (MSP) is prevalent among the workforce. This study investigates the long-term association between physical workload (PWL) and increased frequency of MSP among male and female employees with pre-existing occasional MSP.MethodsThis study uses the Stockholm Public Health cohort survey data from the baseline 2006. The sample includes 5715 employees with baseline occasional MSP (no more than a few days per month). Eight PWL exposures and overall PWL were estimated using a job-exposure matrix (JEM). The JEM was assigned to occupational titles from a national register in 2006. Follow-up survey data on frequent MSP (a few or more times a week) were collected from 2010. Logistic regressions produced sex-specific ORs with 95% CIs and were adjusted for education, health conditions, psychological distress, smoking, BMI, leisure-time physical activity and decision authority.ResultsAssociations were observed between several aspects of heavy PWL and frequent MSP for men (eg, OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.20, among those in the highest exposure quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile for heavy lifting) and women (eg, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.29, among those in the highest exposure quartile compared with those in the the lowest quartile for physically strenuous work). Small changes were observed in the OR after adjustment, but most of the ORs for PWL exposures among the men were no longer statistically significantly increased.ConclusionA high level of exposure to heavy PWL was associated with increased frequency of MSP 4 years later for men and women with baseline occasional pain.

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