TY - JOUR
T1 - Participatory ergonomics and new work
T2 - Reducing neck complaints in assembling
AU - Miguez, S. A.
AU - Hallbeck, M. S.
AU - Vink, P.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - A participatory ergonomics approach is used to create a new work environment, which is aimed at reducing neck complaints in a cell phone assembly. The participatory ergonomics program included an initiative, problem identification, a selection of solutions, an implementation and evaluation. Twenty-eight women, all operators on an assembly line of cell phone boards, voluntarily participated in the design and evaluation of a device before implementing the device to all 215 employees performing that job. Prior to and after the intervention, RULA, comfort experiences and interviews were used. After introducing an adjustable angled small counter, these measurements showed both posture and comfort improvements. 90% of the 215 workers preferred the new work station and the neck complaints were reduced in 75% of the group. It also showed that the initial prototype needed to be modified as to reduce its sharp edges/compression points for the forearm. This project shows the importance of iterative testing and that an initiative by workers enlarges the chance of successful implementation.
AB - A participatory ergonomics approach is used to create a new work environment, which is aimed at reducing neck complaints in a cell phone assembly. The participatory ergonomics program included an initiative, problem identification, a selection of solutions, an implementation and evaluation. Twenty-eight women, all operators on an assembly line of cell phone boards, voluntarily participated in the design and evaluation of a device before implementing the device to all 215 employees performing that job. Prior to and after the intervention, RULA, comfort experiences and interviews were used. After introducing an adjustable angled small counter, these measurements showed both posture and comfort improvements. 90% of the 215 workers preferred the new work station and the neck complaints were reduced in 75% of the group. It also showed that the initial prototype needed to be modified as to reduce its sharp edges/compression points for the forearm. This project shows the importance of iterative testing and that an initiative by workers enlarges the chance of successful implementation.
KW - assembly
KW - comfort
KW - neck complaints
KW - new work
KW - participatory ergonomics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859815835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859815835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/WOR-2012-0802-5108
DO - 10.3233/WOR-2012-0802-5108
M3 - Article
C2 - 22317512
AN - SCOPUS:84859815835
SN - 1051-9815
VL - 41
SP - 5108
EP - 5113
JO - Work
JF - Work
IS - SUPPL.1
ER -