Ergonomic Risk Factors in Ground Handling Operations to Improve Corporate Performance

Ground handling operations can be accepted as the heart of safe flight, beginning from the ground to the air. In ground handling activities where there is tight time pressure, human resources are of great importance in efficient and safe service. This study presents ergonomic risk factors affecting the operational and corporate performance of aircraft ground handling services. Ergonomic related performance fields are identified via expert opinion and a taxonomy focusing on classified error conditions for ground handling services. The taxonomy is developed to improve corporate performance while eliminating ergonomic risks and maintaining a safe working environment. Identified performance risks are intended to be a guide for operational managers in aircraft ground operations in the field of investments, decision making and safe operations.

Ergonomic Risk Reduction Method in Aerospace Manufacturing

In the aerospace manufacturing, lots of processes cannot be automated and are performed manually by skilled workers. Because there exist some human error mistakes in such manual working processes, root cause investigations of these mistakes are indispensable and measures are implemented in working processes for preventing repetition of the same mistakes. Although skilled workers have strong confidence that they can complete their work with no mistake, there exist some cases that they cannot recognize their mistakes in practice. In such cases, root cause investigations cannot be performed and no measure is implemented. Such situation may become a serious risk in aerospace manufacturing because a tiny mistake can cause the serious mission failure of aviation system. To reduce such situation, the ergonomic risk reduction method is proposed. Skilled workers try to avoid frustration in performing their tasks and make mistakes through careless behavior. The cause of the frustration is discovered by ergonomic risk reduction method. Work risks can be removed by the progress of the working environment. Such risk reduction method contributes manufacturing organization resiliency. In this paper, we propose an ergonomic human error risk reduction method for skilled workers in Japanese domestic liquid rocket engine manufacturing.

A METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR RESEARCH OF ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS IN DENTISTRY

This paper proposes a methodological framework for the research of ergonomic risk factors in dentistry, since this is a profession with very specific and complex ergonomic challenges. When analyzing ergonomic risk factors in dental practice, three separate entities should be taken into account: the dentist, as the central figure in the office; the dental office equipment, which includes all the instruments and devices, dental chair and dentist stool; and the dental office, including the workplace layout and the working conditions. Bearing in mind that it is impossible to eliminate the risk, systematic analysis of ergonomic risk factors enabled us to propose solutions for its reduction. Risk reduction improves dentists’ work ability and working conditions in the dental office and contributes to a more humane, i.e., more functional design of dental equipment.

Evaluasi Postur Kerja Operator Pemasangan Fire Brick Berbasis Metode Rapid Upper Limb Assessment dan Work Ergonomic Risk Assessment Di PT ABA

A service provider is known as a job that profoundly depends on human work. Musculoskeletal disorder is considered a risk in such work. PT. ABA is a contractor service company that provide some services. The fire brick installation is a part of the refractory project, which is carried out continuously at the customer's request. Early results using the Nordic Body Map questionnaire found severe risk, which may lead to wellbeing difficulty. This study aims to evaluate musculoskeletal disorder risk due to inappropriate posture in fire brick installation activities. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and Work Ergonomic Risk Assessment are ergonomic risk approaches used in this study. This research found two final scores using RULA and WERA calculation. RULA final score is 44, classified as a medium score. The evaluation results of the RULA method obtained a final score of 7 with an extreme condition. An urgent improvement is a necessity in order to improve posture and work positioning of fire brick installation.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Dental Students—RULA Applied to Objective Kinematic Data

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is already prevalent in dental students despite their young age and the short duration of dental practice. The current findings state that the causes of MSD are related to posture during dental work. This study aims to investigate the ergonomic risk of dental students. In order to analyze the ergonomic risk of dental students, 3D motion analyses were performed with inertial sensors during the performance of standardized dental activities. For this purpose, 15 dental students and 15 dental assistant trainees (all right-handed) were measured in a team. Data were analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), which was modified to evaluate objective data. Ergonomic risk was found for the following body parts in descending order: left wrist, right wrist, neck, trunk, left lower arm, right lower arm, right upper arm, left upper arm. All relevant body parts, taken together, exhibited a posture with the highest RULA score that could be achieved (median Final Overall = 7), with body parts in the very highest RULA score of 7 for almost 80% of the treatment time. Dental students work with poor posture over a long period of time, exposing them to high ergonomic risk. Therefore, it seems necessary that more attention should be paid to theoretical and practical ergonomics in dental school.