Ergonomics action research I: shifting from hypothesis testing to experiential learning

The better work, better care framework: 7 strategies for sustainable healthcare system process improvement

Healthcare systems are under pressure to control costs and improve performance. Efforts to apply improvement trends such as "Lean" and other industrial engineering approaches have led to degradation of the working environment for healthcare professionals. Research is increasingly demonstrating how poor working environments contribute to declines in care quality and has led to calls for a "quadruple aim" with a focus on the working environment alongside quality, cost, and patient experience factors. This paper contributes to the debate by using a "systems" perspective to propose seven strategies by which healthcare systems might be improved without compromising the working environment. This article presents a rationale for these strategies based on current organisational psychology and human factors research and how these strategies might be deployed in practice. The authors argue that better working conditions leads to better care for patients and presents a viable approach for both practitioners and researchers to pursue the "Better Work, Better Care" agenda.

Barriers and Challenges to Human Factors/Ergonomics Knowledge Transfer to Small Business Enterprises in an Industrially Developing Country

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONWe found that small business enterprises (SBEs) face intra- and extra-organizational barriers in different dimensions related to their work system to practically implement human factors/ergonomics (HFE) knowledge transfer and to achieve its benefits in an industrially developing country. Utilizing a three-zone lens, we evaluated the feasibility of overcoming the barriers identified by stakeholders, especially ergonomists. To overcome the identified barriers in practice, three types of macroergonomics interventions (top-down, middle-out, and bottom-up) were distinguished through macroergonomics theory. The bottom-up approach of macroergonomics, as a participatory HFE intervention, was considered as the entry point to overcome the perceived barriers in the first zone of the lens, which included such themes as lack of competence, lack of involvement and interaction, and inefficient training and learning approaches. This approach focused on improving emotional literacy as a care zone among the small business enterprise personnel.

Applying ergonomics and human factors to congress organization in uncertain times

Organizational Design and Management (ODAM) elements of Ergonomics and Human Factors (E/HF) apply to congress organization. Exemplary delegate and organizer E/HF experience is constrained by shifting requirements, time pressures and financial constraints. E/HF application while organizing the International Ergonomics Association's Triennial Congress in 2021 (IEA2021) is described focusing on delivery platforms considering typical and exceptional (pandemic) constraints, emphasizing ODAM E/HF principles and generalizable lessons. Post-Congress feedback from delegates, session chairs and Congress organizers reveal the Congress as experienced. Presenting virtually allowed on-demand recording access following live sessions and increased question-and-answer flexibility. Frustrations included navigating multiple platforms and insufficient communications. Stakeholders' differing expectations increased organizer workloads and delegate frustration. Maximum virtual presentation benefits require efforts to ensure integrated, human-centered platform development. Simply digitizing traditional Congress sessions ignores potential enhancements. Embracing innovations would help meet delegate communication needs via careful selection and deployment of evolving virtual meeting technologies. Organizational learning strategies can support these efforts.

Ergonomic Maturity Model: A tool for integrating ergonomics/human factors into organizations

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is a need for models, methods, and tools that allow ergonomics/human factor (E/HF) practitioners to assess the level of E/HF integration into organizations from a macroergonomics perspective. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to propose the Ergonomic Maturity Model (EMM) and the tools for its application as a framework for integrating E/HF in organizations. METHODS: The EMM is a macroergonomic tool that allows stakeholders to evaluate the degree of development and integration of E/HF in the organization based on a participatory and macroergonomic approach. The EMM classifies organizations into five gradual levels of maturity: Ignorance, Understanding, Experimentation, Regular use, and Innovation. RESULTS: In this paper, we provide a three-stage procedure for guiding the application of the EMM: preparation of the evaluation, evaluation, and improvement plan and implementation. We include four tools developed specifically for applying EMM in organizations: evaluation matrix, weighting questionnaire, quick questionnaire, and prioritization matrix. Also, we present a Colombian floriculture company’s case study to exemplify the use of the EMM. CONCLUSIONS: The EMM provides a framework for integrating E/HF into organizations from the macroergonomics approach. E/HF practitioners can find in the EMM a tool to help them channel the actions taken by the different organizational actors to improve the safety, health, well-being, and performance of work systems. Finally, it should be noted that further studies on the reliability and validity of the EMM are needed, which would contribute to demonstrating that the EMM can effectively and successfully guide change in E/HF maturity levels in organizations.

Implementing Practical Ergonomics Knowledge Transfer Using Ergonomic Checkpoints to Support the Participatory Ergonomics Process in an Industrially Developing Country

Occupational ApplicationsErgonomics knowledge transfer is one of the potential challenges in organizations in industrially developing countries. For the effective implementation of a systemic ergonomics knowledge transfer process, the involvement of all organizational levels is necessary, especially workers, with the facilitation of ergonomics expert. Applying a participatory ergonomics process with different participatory approaches for participant involvement - including a top-down approach, as a pushing tactic for intentional learning, and a bottom-up approach, as a pulling tactic for voluntary learning - can play a key role in the transfer and application of practical ergonomics knowledge. The results of this study showed that active involvement of all organizational levels, especially workers through action learning and a learner-centered approach, and using the ILO ergonomic checkpoints, could improve participant learning of ergonomics principles. In addition, this process can lead to improved competence of personnel in identifying problems and providing and implementing solutions to improve working conditions, especially low-cost solutions. Accordingly, if this process continues as a constant improvement process through multiple learning cycles, it can improve participation and ergonomics culture and achieve additional practical benefits of the Human Factors/Ergonomics.

On building sustainable communities: A perspective for HFE practitioners

This paper is aimed mainly at Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) practitioners. It addresses the sustainability of communities, since without them there is no real human future. It also fits current concerns about climate change and general sustainability. However, our understanding of the characteristics of sustainable communities is still insufficient, as is evidenced by the different perspectives extant in the HFE literature. This paper provides a further perspective based on systems ergonomics, intended both to extend our socio-technical understanding and to assist HFE practitioners in contributing to a broad approach by which to contribute to the never-ending renewal process for these communities. Without such an approach many communities will become unsustainable, with collapse as their end, as Tainter originally, icily, explained (Tainter 1988). The paper begins with a definition of a 'sustainable community', including its legal basis. Its sustainability goals are outlined, based mainly on principles of social justice, since without people there is no community. Then there is a discussion of the characteristics of sustainable communities, the classes of resources available to maintain sustainability, and some of the complexities and hindrances to this maintenance. The last sections link this conceptual landscape to HFE practice by outlining approaches and processes that move from the conceptual landscape in this paper to current practice.

Classifying diverse manual material handling tasks using a single wearable sensor

The use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) for monitoring and classifying physical activities has received substantial attention in recent years, both in occupational and non-occupational contexts. However, a "user-friendly" approach is needed to promote this approach to quantify physical demands in actual workplaces. We explored the use of a single IMU for extracting information about different manual material handling (MMH) tasks (i.e., specific type of task performed, and associated duration and frequency), using a bidirectional long short-term memory network for classification. Classification performance using single IMUs placed on several body parts was compared with performance using multiple IMU configurations (2, 3, and 17 IMUs). Overall, the use of a single sensor led to satisfactory results (e.g., median accuracy >97%) in classifying MMH tasks and estimating task duration and frequency. Limited benefits were obtained using additional sensors, and several sensor locations yielded similar outcomes. Classification performance, though, was relatively inferior for push/pull vs. other tasks.

Assessing human factors and ergonomics capability in organisations - the Human Factors Integration Toolset

This paper presents the development of a tool that allows an organisation to assess its level of human factors (HF) and ergonomics integration and maturity within the organisation. The Human Factors Integration Toolset (available at: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Human-Factors-Integration-Toolset ) has been developed and validated through a series of workshops with 45 participants from industry and academia and through industry partnered field-testing. HF maturity is assessed across five levels in 16 organisational functions based on any of 31 discrete elements contributing to HF. Summing element scores in a function determines a percent of ideal HF for the function. Industry stakeholders engaged in field-testing found the tool helped to establish the status of HF in the organisation, plan projects to further develop HF capabilities, and initiate discussions on HF for performance and well-being. Improvement suggestions included adding an IT function, refining the language for non-HF specialists, including knowledge work and creating a digital version to improve usability. Practitioner summary: A tool scoring HF capability in 16 organisation functions has been developed collaboratively. Industry stakeholders expressed a need for the tool and provided validation of tool design decisions. Field-testing improved tool usability and showed that beyond scoring HF capability, the tool created opportunities for discussions of HF-related improvement possibilities. Abbreviations: HF: human factors; HFIT: Human Factors Integration Toolset.

From the seat to the system: Re-designing a tram drivers' workstation combining technical and contextual aspects

Through the detailed account of a design case-study, the paper aims to demonstrate how the activity-oriented approach promotes a systems perspective in ergonomics interventions. Specifically, by presenting an activity-oriented re-design of a tram drivers' workstation, it is shown: (i) how technical and contextual aspects were jointly considered, (ii) how their combination affects workers' activity in a non-trivial manner, and (iii) how this system level view helped generate feasible and sustainable design solutions. First, the activity-oriented theoretical lens is briefly presented, followed by the analysis of the tram driving activity, emphasizing on drivers' efforts to compensate for the original work-system design flaws. Next, key elements of the re-design process are presented, through a concept map, combining technical and contextual aspects, coupled with an account of stakeholder debates and resolution processes. The paper ends with a discussion on the lessons learned, concerning the adopted approach for design interventions in real work situations.

A framework of knowledge creation processes in participatory simulation of hospital work systems

Participatory simulation (PS) is a method to involve workers in simulating and designing their own future work system. Existing PS studies have focused on analysing the outcome, and minimal attention has been devoted to the process of creating this outcome. In order to study this process, we suggest applying a knowledge creation perspective. The aim of this study was to develop a framework describing the process of how ergonomics knowledge is created in PS. Video recordings from three projects applying PS of hospital work systems constituted the foundation of process mining analysis. The analysis resulted in a framework revealing the sources of ergonomics knowledge creation as sequential relationships between the activities of simulation participants sharing work experiences; experimenting with scenarios; and reflecting on ergonomics consequences. We argue that this framework reveals the hidden steps of PS that are essential when planning and facilitating PS that aims at designing work systems. Practitioner Summary: When facilitating participatory simulation (PS) in work system design, achieving an understanding of the PS process is essential. By applying a knowledge creation perspective and process mining, we investigated the knowledge-creating activities constituting the PS process. The analysis resulted in a framework of the knowledge-creating process in PS.

Rapid Translational Field Research Approach for eHealth R&D

Successfully implementing eHealth research and design (R&D) requires a combination of rapid-cycle, flexible, and field-based design, development, and testing methods not readily achievable within traditional academic research programs. We report on an attempt to establish a model for facilitating and speeding up R&D projects, wherein academic faculty, design experts, students, and clinicians cooperate to produce, test, and deploy eHealth products in clinical practice. The first test of this model was performed in a project called Project T, a test of tablet use by older adults with depression, dementia, or both, recruited from a safety net health system. Fifteen tests were performed in a six-month period, which included purchasing, instrument development, approval, coordination, data collection, and interim analysis. The project exceeded its anticipated two-month timeline due to multiple barriers and delays. Having learned from this initial attempt, plans to reorganize the team’s working model for translational field research are described.

An ergonomics action research demonstration: integrating human factors into assembly design processes

In action research (AR), the researcher participates 'in' the actions in an organisation, while simultaneously reflecting 'on' the actions to promote learning for both the organisation and the researchers. This paper demonstrates a longitudinal AR collaboration with an electronics manufacturing firm where the goal was to improve the organisation's ability to integrate human factors (HF) proactively into their design processes. During the three-year collaboration, all meetings, workshops, interviews and reflections were digitally recorded and qualitatively analysed to inform new 'actions'. By the end of the collaboration, HF tools with targets and sign-off by the HF specialist were integrated into several stages of the design process, and engineers were held accountable for meeting the HF targets. We conclude that the AR approach combined with targeting multiple initiatives at different stages of the design process helped the organisation find ways to integrate HF into their processes in a sustainable way.

PRACTITIONER SUMMARY

Researchers acted as a catalyst to help integrate HF into the engineering design process in a sustainable way. This paper demonstrates how an AR approach can help achieve HF integration, the benefits of using a reflective stance and one method for reporting an AR study.

What do human factors and ergonomics professionals value in research publications? Re-examining the research-practice gap

The research-practice gap is of concern in human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) as there is a belief that HF/E research may not be making an impact on practice in the 'real world'. A potential issue is what researchers and practitioners perceive as important in HF/E journal articles as a primary means of conveying research findings to practitioners. This study examined the characteristics that make scientific journal articles appeal to HF/E researchers and practitioners using a web-based survey. HF/E researchers and practitioners were more similar than expected in judgements of important attributes and the selection of articles. Both practitioners and researchers considered practical significance to be more important than theoretical significance, in direct contrast to professionals from a related discipline--psychology. Well-written articles were appreciated across disciplines. The results signal a strong interest in practical applications in HF/E, but a relative lack of focus on development of theories that should be the basis for practical applications.

An evaluation of classification algorithms for manual material handling tasks based on data obtained using wearable technologies

With recent progress in wearable measurement systems, physical exposures can be feasibly assessed at high precision in the workplace. Such systems, however, generally lack contextual information for a given job (e.g., task type, duration). To extract such information, we explored three classification algorithms to classify manual material handling (MMH) tasks during a simulated job in a laboratory, using several combinations of outputs from commercially available inertial motion capture and in-shoe pressure measurement systems. A total of 10 participants completed three replications of four cycles of a simulated job. Precision and recall values of ≥ ∼90% and 80%, respectively, and errors in estimated task duration of < ∼14%, could be achieved across the MMH task examined. Classification performance, however, varied between classification algorithms, input data sets and task types. Overall, combining wearable technology with task classification could be an effective approach for field-based exposure assessment, though field-testing is needed to demonstrate the applicability of this method.

PRACTITIONER SUMMARY

Combining wearable technologies with task classification was explored to extract exposure context, specifically task type and duration. Results supported that task classification can facilitate the use of wearable technologies in field-based exposure assessment, specifically by aiding in task identification from within the rather large data sets obtained from these technologies.