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Appl Ergon 2022 May 23;103:103786. Epub 2022 May 23.

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, NC, USA.

The CHOISSE multi-stage framework for evaluating the effects of electronic checklist applications (e-checklists) on surgical team members' perception of their roles, performance, communication, and understanding of checklists is introduced via a pilot study. A prospective interventional cohort study design was piloted to assess the effectiveness of the framework and the sociotechnical effects of the e-checklist. A Delphi process was used to design the stages of the framework based on literature and expert consensus. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 21;103:103792. Epub 2022 May 21.

Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé et l'environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada.

This study aimed at understanding animal research technicians (ART) work activity to identify difficulties encountered by workers and their determinants which may increase musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) risks. The methods for the work activity analysis combined interviews, observations, events and operations chronicles as well as inclinometry. From the work activity analysis of the three main tasks (changing mouse cages, preparation of water bottles and unloading dirty material), difficulties such as awkward postures, heavy load handling, repetitiveness, high workload, supplementary tasks, interruptions and difficult social interactions emerged. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 20;103:103796. Epub 2022 May 20.

Clemson University Office of Research Development, 230 Kappa Street, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.

Background: Most adults prefer to age in place. However, the majority of homes are not designed to support resident needs, especially for adults undergoing joint replacement surgeries such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). It is of paramount importance to proactively assess and modify the homes of adults undergoing TKA/THA such that they can safely transition home following surgery. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 19;103:103800. Epub 2022 May 19.

Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Introduction: Excessive physical shoulder musculoskeletal loading (muscle and joint contact forces), known to contribute to work-related shoulder disorders, can be reduced by a passive shoulder exoskeleton during quasi-static tasks. However, its effect on neighboring joints i.e. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 16;103:103791. Epub 2022 May 16.

German Aerospace Center, Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, 82234, Wessling, Germany.

Sensorimotor performance is known to deteriorate during spaceflight. Prior research for instance documented that targeted arm motions are performed slower and less precise in microgravity conditions. This article describes an experiment on aiming performance during different stages of a space mission. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 16;103:103799. Epub 2022 May 16.

ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Applied Psychology, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, CH-8037, Zürich, Switzerland.

Two types of newly designed pharmaceutical pictograms (with and without context) were compared with an existing type of certified pictograms regarding their search efficiency. Each of the 30 participants had to search a total of 1'090 "fictitious" medical shelves for a certain box defined by the amount and type of medical instructions given (memory size) and presented among a variable number of other boxes (set size). The boxes contained the different types of pictograms mentioned above. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 17;103:103798. Epub 2022 May 17.

COSYS-PICS-L, Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, F-77454, Marne-la-Vallée, France. Electronic address:

The installation of shoulders on rural roads to create more forgiving roads encourages drivers to cut corners on right-hand bends, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Since eye movements and steering control are closely coupled, this study investigated how the presence of a shoulder influences drivers' gaze strategies. To this end, eighteen drivers negotiated right-hand bends with and without a shoulder on a simulated rural road. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 13;103:103797. Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China. Electronic address:

With the development of connected vehicles, in-vehicle auditory alerts enable drivers to effectively avoid hazards by quickly presenting critical information in advance. Auditory icons can be understood quickly, evoking a better user experience. However, as collision warnings, the design and application of auditory icons still need further exploration. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 10;103:103793. Epub 2022 May 10.

Optics Department, IMT Atlantique, 655 avenue du Technopôle, Brest, France; LaTIM, INSERM UMR1101, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29200, Brest, France.

Studies examining the potential of augmented reality (AR) to improve assembly tasks are often unrepresentative of real assembly line conditions and assess mental workload only through subjective measurements and leads to conflicting results. We proposed a study directly carried out in industrial settings, to compare the impact of AR-based instructions to computerized instructions, on assembly effectiveness (completion time and errors) and mental workload using objective (eye tracking), subjective (NASA-TLX) and behavioral measurements (dual task paradigm). According to our results, AR did not improve effectiveness (increased assembly times and no decrease in assembly errors). Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 3;103:103771. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.

The current study analyzed the root causes of 22 helicopter accidents/incidents that took place between 1998 and 2019. Each root cause was coded using three commonly used classification models in aviation HFACS, ATSB, and IATA to identify recurring factors for better targeting of future prevention strategies. The frequency analysis revealed that not following procedure (22 observations), training inadequate or unavailable (17), inadequate regulatory oversight (17), inadequate procedure guidance (16), company management absent or deficient (10) and incorrect manuals/charts/checklists (9) were the most frequent contributing factors. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 May 2;103:103774. Epub 2022 May 2.

Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia. Electronic address:

Effects of psychosocial hazards on risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are often very substantial, but workplace risk management practices focus largely on biomechanical hazards, as do the risk assessment methods used by ergonomists. Translation of research evidence into more effective workplace practices demands a more holistic risk management framework that encompasses both types of hazard. In this context, we evaluate the validity of different MSD risk assessment methods for different purposes, focusing particularly on requirements for routine workplace risk management. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 29;103:103772. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. Electronic address:

This study examined associations between metrics of noise exposure and mental workload. In this cross-sectional study, five occupational noise metrics computed from full-shift dosimetry were evaluated among surface mine workers in the US Midwest. Mental workload was evaluated using a modified, raw NASA-TLX and clustered with a k-means clustering algorithm. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 29;103:103775. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Center for Psychological Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, PR China. Electronic address:

The aim of this study is to identify the best practices and future research directions for driver lane-change intention (DLCI) prediction using eye-tracking technologies based on a systematic literature review. We searched five academic literature databases and then conducted an in-depth review, structured coding, and analysis of 40 relevant articles. The literature on DLCI prediction is summarized in terms of input features, feature extraction and prediction time windows, labeling methods, and machine learning algorithms. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 28;103:103785. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, 200031, China; NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China. Electronic address:

Eye-gaze and head-gaze are two hands-free interaction modes in virtual reality, each of which has demonstrated different strengths. Selecting suitable interaction modes in different scenarios is important to achieve efficient interaction in virtual scenes. This study compared the movement time in an object positioning task by examining eye-gaze interaction and head-gaze interaction in various conditions. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 27;103:103784. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

GIzartea, Kirola eta Ariketa Fisikoa Ikerkuntza Taldea (GIKAFIT) Society, Sports, and Physical Exercise Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education and Sport-Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Section, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

This study aimed to determine the interactive physiological effect of backpack load carriage and slope during walking in professional mountain rescuers. Sixteen mountain rescuers walked on a treadmill at 3.6 km/h for 5 min in each combination of three slopes (1%, 10%, 20%) and five backpack loads (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% body weight). Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 26;103:103776. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, Division of Ergonomics, Hälsovägen 11C, 141 57, Huddinge, Sweden.

Reaction forces from nutrunner tools constitute a risk of developing MSDs. However, recommendations for sustainable reaction force levels are lacking. The aim of this study was to inform recommendations regarding reaction load exposures from right-angle nutrunners. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 23;103:103762. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Chair of Ergonomics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, BY, 85748, Germany.

With the introduction of Level 3 and 4 automated driving, the engagement in a variety of non-driving related activities (NDRAs) will become legal. Previous research has shown that users desire information about the remaining time in automated driving mode and system status information to plan and terminate their activity engagement. In past studies, however, the positive effect of this additional information was realized when it was integrated in or displayed close by the NDRA. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 21;103:103773. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Institute of Human and Industrial Engineering (ifab), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engler-Bunte-Ring 4, D-76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Objective: The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a secondary motor task induced by an interactive seating system (IASS) on passive driver fatigue in a monotonous simulated driving task. The effect was compared to that of a state-of-the-art massage seating system (MS), which may reduce monotony through additional tactile stimuli. The secondary objective was to compare the user experience of both systems. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 20;103:103768. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

University of Michigan, 500 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. Electronic address:

Wearable robotic systems, such as exoskeletons, are designed to assist human motion; however, they are typically only studied during level walking. Before exoskeletons are broadly integrated into unstructured environments, it will be important to evaluate exoskeletons in a broader set of relevant tasks. A balance beam traverse was used to represent a constrained foot placement task for examining balance and stability. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 20;103:103767. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

DLR Institute of Transportation Systems, Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108, Braunschweig, Germany.

Inattentiveness of road users on approach to passive railway crossings represents a major threat to level crossing safety. An auxiliary strobe light system installed on trains in addition to existing headlights may help address this issue by providing an ergonomic way of attracting human attention to the level crossing and to the train. The objective of this paper was to investigate the ergonomics and safety potential of auxiliary strobe light systems. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Apr 14;103:103769. Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Imperial College London, UK.

Background: Home care medical devices are the fastest-growing segment of the medical device industry with associated safety and usability challenges. Human factor studies in the home environment present many difficulties resulting in limited knowledge of device use in this setting. This systematic review aims to identify usability challenges reported directly by end-users in the home environment. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 12;102:103770. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Medical Simulation Centre, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan. Electronic address:

We assessed whether training on writing readable and accurate medical incident reports (IRs) improves the quality of fact description. In this training, 124 residents created fictional IRs. We provided tips, including using When, Where, Who, What, Why, How. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 12;102:103745. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Occupational Health Center, Boston University, USA.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the existing literature to determine the scope and risk factors of slips, trips, and falls (STFs) within the janitorial population in order to make evidence-based recommendations to prevent these incidents in the future. Selected for review were published peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and gray literature relating to STFs among janitors and cleaners. Individuals employed as janitors and cleaners, specifically those that were older than 45-years of age and/or female, represented the highest risk populations for STFs. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 11;102:103758. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Australia.

In this three-year study we examined the effect on work ability in a cohort of workers before and after the implementation of a workplace intervention based on the APHIRM (A Participative Hazard Identification and Risk Management) toolkit. Primary analysis was conducted to detect changes in mean work ability scores between baseline and three-year follow-up for all workers who completed the surveys (matched and unmatched), and all workers who were ≥50 years of age (matched and unmatched). There were no significant differences between the two time periods. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 11;102:103766. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address:

Exposure assessment is critical for understanding musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk. Previous reviews summarized the tools available for single-task exposure assessment, however no reviews summarize tools available to assess the accumulation or aggregation of exposure associated with the performance of multiple tasks (i.e. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 9;102:103759. Epub 2022 Apr 9.

Centre for Innovative Human Systems, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland. Electronic address:

The scale and pace of improvement in patient safety in healthcare has been unacceptably slow. A paucity of research into the application of systems-thinking concepts and a failure to appreciate health systems complexity are cited as barriers to sustainable health systems improvement. This study reports on a socio-technical systems analysis, called the CUBE, of the characteristics of a large acute teaching hospital's system for the transport of precious specimens, a system enabled by radio-frequency identification tracking technology. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 9;102:103756. Epub 2022 Apr 9.

Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. Electronic address:

Objective: Investigate the influence of sex, strength capacity, and relative load mass on low-back exposure and lower extremity joint power generation in backboard lifting.

Background: Sex and strength have been shown to influence lifting strategy, but without load mass being scaled to strength it is unknown which factor influences low-back exposures, and whether there are interactions with load mass.

Methods: Motion capture and force plate data from 28 participants were collected during backboard lifting at load masses scaled to strength capacity. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 8;102:103763. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

imec-mict-UGent, Miriam Makebaplein 1, 9000, Gent, Belgium.

Industrial settings will be characterized by far-reaching production automation brought about by advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. As a consequence, human assembly workers will need to adapt quickly to new and more complex assembly procedures, which are most likely to increase cognitive workload, or potentially induce overload. Measurement and optimization protocols need to be developed in order to be able to monitor workers' cognitive load. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 8;102:103761. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, P.O. Box 40, FI-00032, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Finland.

Work stress may compromise professional drivers' health and driving capacity. Differences between driver groups in terms of on-duty stress are understudied. Therefore, we examined self-reported stress (Stockholm University Stress Scale) of shift-working tram and long-haul truck drivers (n = 75) across 2-3 weeks. Read More

Appl Ergon 2022 Jul 8;102:103765. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Ave., Laramie, WY, 82071, USA; University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA. Electronic address:

Back support exosuits can support workers in physically demanding jobs by reducing muscle load, which could reduce risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This paper presents a two-session evaluation of a commercial exosuit, the Auxivo LiftSuit 1.1. Read More