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Papers by celal güngör

Düzce Üniversitesi bilim ve teknoloji dergisi, Oct 23, 2023

Asbest ısı ve elektrik iletkenliği düşük, fiziksel ve kimyasal etkenlere direnci yüksek bir malze... more Asbest ısı ve elektrik iletkenliği düşük, fiziksel ve kimyasal etkenlere direnci yüksek bir malzeme olduğu için geçmişte inşaat, kimya, petrol, lastik ve plastik, otomotiv ve enerji sektörü gibi birçok alanda kullanılmıştır. Başta asbestozis ve malign plevral mezotelyoma olmak üzere pek çok sağlık sorununa neden olduğu anlaşıldıktan sonra kullanımını yasaklayıcı yasal düzenlemeler yapılmıştır. Fakat geçmişteki yoğun kullanımı nedeniyle günümüzde halen birçok alanda karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Asbestin uygun şekilde sökülmesi ve uzaklaştırılması oldukça önem taşımaktadır. Ülkemizde, çalışanların asbest söküm, yıkım, tamir, bakım, uzaklaştırma çalışmalarında asbest tozuna maruziyetlerinin önlenmesi ve bu maruziyetten doğacak sağlık risklerinden korunması, sınır değerlerin ve diğer özel önlemlerin belirlenmesi amacıyla Asbestle Çalışmalarda Sağlık ve Güvenlik Önlemleri Hakkında Yönetmelik yürürlüğe girmiştir. Yönetmelik, asbest tozuna maruziyet riski bulunan çalışmalarda işverenin risk değerlendirmesi yapmakla yükümlü olduğunu belirtmektedir. Bu çalışmada, L-Tipi Matris yöntemi kullanılarak konutlarda, işyerlerinde, enerji santrallerinde, maden ocaklarında ve benzeri çalışma alanlarında asbest söküm işlerinde karşılaşılabilecek risklerin değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Değerlendirme sonucunda karantina kurulumu ve sökümü, asbest sökümü, söküm sonrası hijyen faaliyetleri, atıkların paketlenmesi ve istiflenmesi işleri yüksek riskli işler olarak belirlenmiştir. Söküm sırasında asbest liflerinin çevreye yayılmasını önlemek amacıyla naylon örtü ile tam sızdırmaz tecrit oluşturulmalı ve uygun sağlık ve güvenlik işaretleri yerleştirilmelidir. Asbest söküm işlerinde çalışanların P3 partikül filtreli tam-yüz veya yarım-yüz maske, Kategori III tip 5/6 tek kullanımlık tulum, iş eldiveni ve iş ayakkabısı gibi uygun kişisel koruyucu donanım (KKD) kullanımı sağlamalıdır. KKD kullanımı ve bakımı konularında çalışanlara eğitim verilmesi ayrıca önemlidir. Asbestli atıklar uygun kalınlıkta çift kat naylona konularak ağızları sıkıca kapatılmalı veya uygun daha büyük naylon torbalara konulmalıdır. Üzerlerine asbestli atık olduğunu bildiren işaretlemeler yapıştırılmalıdır. Atıklar çalışma alanı içinde yaşam mahalline uzak bir yerde geçici depolanmalı ve mümkün olan en kısa sürede lisanslı araçlarla lisanslı atık bertaraf tesisine sevk edilmelidir.

Heliyon, Jun 1, 2023

Safety signs are very important communication tools for accident prevention, fire safety, health ... more Safety signs are very important communication tools for accident prevention, fire safety, health hazard information, and emergency evacuation. They are helpful when properly designed and understood by employees. The purpose of the present study was to investigate fiberboard industry employees' understanding of safety signs. 139 participants were asked to indicate the meaning of a series of 22 commonly used safety signs. The mean comprehension score for 22 signs was 66.6% (min. 22.5% and max. 98.6%). The mean score for warning signs was the lowest, prohibition signs was the highest. Poor comprehension score (less than 40%) was noted for the toxic material, automated external heart defibrillator, overhead obstacle, and disconnect mains plug from electrical outlet signs. These low comprehension scores indicate that some symbols may not effectively convey the message to the audience. Safety practitioners and trainers should pay more attention to teach the actual meaning of those signs. 1. Introduction Safety signs are important because they help employees identify potential hazards and inform them how to avoid those hazards. When signs convey the message correctly, they can prevent occupational accidents and illnesses. The effect of characteristics of the person interacting with the sign on comprehension performance has been studied by several researchers. For example, studies [1-6] found that older participants performed significantly worse than younger participants. Educational level [7,8] and prior training [3, 9-13] also improved comprehension levels. The effects of cultural differences on comprehension of graphic symbols have been demonstrated by several researchers [14-24]. The design characteristics of a sign (i.e., color, shape, pictogram, size, visibility, readability, and comprehensibility, as well as the placement, illumination, and maintenance of the sign) and working conditions (i.e., dust, chemicals and fumes in the air, precipitation, time pressure, and performing multiple tasks simultaneously) can also affect the comprehensibility of a sign. Workplaces in the fiberboard industry (16.21 NACE Code, the European statistical classification of economic activities Code "Nomenclature of Economic Activities" for Manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels [25]) are classified as "very hazardous" workplaces by Turkish legislation [26] because there are significant physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards in the industry. For example, physical (noise, vibration, and heat stress) and mechanical (slip, trip and falls, moving machinery, electrical equipment) hazards, chemical hazards due to physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemicals and dusts, psychosocial hazards (fatigue, stress, work pressure, and lack of training), and ergonomic hazards due to repetitive movements, awkward posture, and prolonged duration of work are some common hazards in the fiberboard manufacturing industry. Proactive safety activities, including engineering and management control measures such as posting appropriate signs and conducting training on the signs, are critical to prevent or minimize occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities resulting from these hazards. It should be

PsycEXTRA Dataset, 2010

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of manag... more ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of managers in the American furniture manufacturing industry regarding Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) and to explore significant relationships between company size and managers' awareness on HF/E. The furniture manufacturing industry has a high occupational injury and illness rate and HF/E awareness is vital to improve worker safety and health. A web-based survey was used to gage managers' awareness of HF/E. Development, pre-test, and review stages followed to design the final survey. Sixty-four managers participated in the survey. This study shows the awareness level of managers depended on company size. Smaller companies were less likely to provide HF/E training programs to both managers and employees, additionally; smaller companies were less likely to have a team or department for HF/E interventions or for establishing HF/E programs in their organizations. The main reason for lower commitment to HF/E in small companies is owners, managers, and employees had a low awareness about the importance of HF/E to improve their occupational injury and illness rates. For example, 75 percent of the managers surveyed rated their HF/E knowledge level as poor, fair, or average. Some of the managers were not aware of available information resources about HF/E. A considerable number of managers believed that HF/E resulted in more regulations to follow and higher cost in training new employees. Without managers' commitment and support, the success of HF/E programs is not likely. In summary, our findings indicate managers in small companies are not well informed of the importance HF/E awareness plays in controlling their injury and illness rates. Therefore, we feel managers of any sized company especially smaller companies should be introduced to available HF/E resources and the benefits of HF/E.

Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, Jan 4, 2024

Objective: Health and safety signs are critical in communicating messages about potential hazards... more Objective: Health and safety signs are critical in communicating messages about potential hazards, safe practices, emergency procedures, and regulatory guidelines. The objective of this study was to investigate the understanding of safety sign comprehension among tractor operators in Türkiye's agricultural sector. It seeks to determine operators' knowledge of occupational safety and health signs, traffic signs, and tractor safety signs. Materials and Methods: A total of 118 tractor operators from Izmir's two districts (Menemen and Foça) were surveyed using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information, occupational safety and health signs (ISO 7010), traffic signs (Turkish Standards for Road Traffic Signage) and tractor safety signs (ISO 11684). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean comprehension score was 37.2% for fourteen occupational safety and health signs, 34.9% for seven traffic signs, and 28.0% for ten tractor safety signs. The mean comprehension score for all signs was 33.7% Conclusion: This study shows that tractor operators poorly understand these signs. Engineering and administrative control measures, including training, should be considered to improve sign comprehension. In addition, the poorly understood signs should be revised to effectively convey the intended messages. ÖZ Amaç: Sağlık ve güvenlik işaretleri, potansiyel tehlikeler, güvenli uygulamalar, acil durum prosedürleri ve yasal talimatlar konusunda iletişim kurmada kritik role sahiptirler. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye tarım sektöründeki traktör operatörlerinin işaretleri anlama seviyelerini araştırmaktır. Araştırma, operatörlerin iş sağlığı ve güvenliği işaretleri, trafik işaretleri ve traktör güvenlik işaretleri hakkındaki bilgi düzeyini belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Materyal ve Yöntem: İzmir'in iki ilçesinden (Menemen ve Foça) toplam 118 traktör operatörü anket ile incelenmiştir. Anket, demografik bilgiler, iş sağlığı ve güvenliği işaretleri (ISO 7010), trafik işaretleri (Karayolu Trafik İşaretleri Standartları) ve traktör güvenlik işaretlerini (ISO 11684) içermektedir. Verilerin analizi için tanımlayıcı ve çıkarımsal istatistikler kullanılmıştır. Araştırma Bulguları: Ortalama doğru cevaplanma oranı on dört iş sağlığı ve güvenliği işareti için %37.2, yedi trafik işareti için %34.9 ve on traktör güvenlik işareti için %28.0 olarak bulunmuştur. Tüm işaretler için ortalama doğru cevaplanma oranı %33.7 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, traktör operatörlerinin sağlık ve güvenlik işaretlerini tanıma seviyesinin düşük olduğunu göstermektedir. İşaretleri tanıma seviyesini artırmak için eğitim verilmesini de içeren yönetimsel ve mühendislik kontrol önlemleri dikkate alınmalıdır. Ayrıca, anlaması zor olan işaretlerin amaçlanan mesajları etkili bir şekilde iletebilmesi için tasarımlarının tekrar gözden geçirilmesi gerekmektedir.

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting, Dec 1, 2020

Evidence suggests that biomechanical models should consider the variations in spinal geometry, pa... more Evidence suggests that biomechanical models should consider the variations in spinal geometry, particularly the geometry of the intervertebral discs (IVDs), to investigate the mechanism and pathogenesis of low back pain (LBP). Regression models, as a non-invasive and indirect method, have been developed using anthropometric variables to estimate the size of the IVDs, with two major sources of geometric data, archived medical record (AMR) from hospital database and samples of subjects asymptomatic of LBP (ASY). Unfortunately, there is a lack of comparison of model performance and validity between the two approaches. The objective of this study was to compare the two approaches of model development. Results from this study may help determine whether it is feasible and plausible to apply AMR-derived regression models to estimate the geometry of the low back IVDs and help develop more personalized workplace ergonomic assessments in industry.

AHFE international, 2020

Back compressive force (BCF) is a commonly used surrogate for the risk of developing low back pai... more Back compressive force (BCF) is a commonly used surrogate for the risk of developing low back pain. Point force estimates of spinal loading have been shown to predict low back pain in epidemiological studies. However, they are an imperfect measure and can over- or under-estimate risk, particularly for very large or small individuals. A logical means to normalize risk over a varied population is to convert these forces to stresses (force/unit area). To achieve this, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were used to provide area measurements for the intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies of the lumbar region (L3/L4, L4/L5, & L5/S1 segments). Various regression models were explored based on individual subject gross anthropometry. These models allow for the estimation of intervertebral disc (IVD) size using easily measured anthropometric characteristics such as height and gender. Converting the BCF to a back compressive stress (BCS) normalizes and personalizes risk estimates for subjects of varying sizes. Back compressive force data from a previous study was converted to back compressive stress to determine if risk estimates could be improved. Using peak BCF with a cut point of 3400 N (~770 lbs) yielded an odds ratio of 2.76 (1.2-6.6) to predict jobs with injuries and discomfort. Using BCS with a cut point of 280 N/cm2, which corresponds to 3400 N load applied to a 50th percentile female L5/S1 IVD area, improved the odds ratio to 5.78 (1.8-18.4). Normalizing for the size of a subject’s IVD shows great promise for improving the predictive abilities of biomechanical assessment methods.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Jul 1, 2019

Current approaches to obtain lumbar morphometry data usually require expensive medical imaging te... more Current approaches to obtain lumbar morphometry data usually require expensive medical imaging technology, long processing time, and are often limited by small sample size. This study develops regression models for the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the lower lumbar (i.e., from L3/L4 to L5/S1 level) intervertebral discs (IVDs) and vertebral endplates (EPs) using both simple and complex anthropometric variables. CSAs were measured using OsiriX © software, based on 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from a sample of 13 females and 22 males, aged between 20 and 40, and asymptomatic of low back disorders. Comprehensive body anthropometry data were collected and included in the regression analyses. Several multiple regression models were developed with varying levels of complexity. Subject stature, elbow dimensions, and ankle dimensions were statistically significant predictors for the CSAs of IVDs and EPs. Gender exhibited a more predictive relationship with the CSAs when compared to body weight and age. In general, regression models using newly proposed best subset procedure resulted in smaller prediction errors, compared to the models using easy-to-measure variables (i.e., gender, age, height, and weight). However, simple regression models are still worthy of investigation given the low cost, ease of data collection, and satisfactory model performance.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, Mar 22, 2018

Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The ... more Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of having a safety climate scale for the Turkish furniture manufacturing industry since there has not been any scale available. The questionnaire recruited 783 subjects. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested a pre-existing safety scale's fit to the industry. The CFA indicated that the structures of the model present a non-satisfactory fit with the data (χ = 2033.4, df = 314, p ≤ 0.001; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08, normed fit index = 0.65, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.65, comparative fit index = 0.69, parsimony goodness-of-fit index = 0.68). The results suggest that a new scale should be developed and validated to measure the safety climate level in the Turkish furniture manufacturing industry. Due to the hierarchical structure of organizations, future studies should consider a multilevel approach in their exploratory factor analyses while developing a new scale.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Sep 1, 2015

Abstract Accurate and reliable low back morphological data such as the cross-sectional area (CSA)... more Abstract Accurate and reliable low back morphological data such as the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the erector spinae muscle (ESM) is vital for biomechanical modeling of the lumbar spine to estimate spinal loading and enhance the understanding of injury mechanisms. The objective of the present study is to enhance the current database regarding ESM sizes by studying with larger sample sizes, collecting data from live subjects, using high resolution MRI scans, using computerized, reliable, and repeatable measurement techniques, and analyzing data from three inter-vertebral disc (IVD) levels for both genders. A total of 163 subjects (82 males and 81 females) were included in the study. CSAs of both right and left ESMs were measured from axial-oblique MRI scans using architectural design software. The average CSA of the ESM was 23.50, 24.22, and 24.33 cm2 for females and 30.00, 28.28, and 24.60 cm2 for males at the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 levels, respectively. Results agree with some studies, but generally larger than most previous studies, possibly due to differences in sampling (sample size, subject characteristics: age, anthropometrics, cadavers, etc.), measurement techniques (scanning technology, scanning plane, scanning posture, different IVD levels), or muscle definitions. Relevance to industry Lifting tasks are very common in occupational settings and associated with low back pain. Accurate and reliable low back muscle size data is of importance to produce more efficient low back biomechanical models to better understand the loading mechanism in lifting tasks and to minimize low back pain risk regarding the lifting task. However, available low back muscle size data are quite limited. This study fills part of this gap by providing data from a large sample population of live subjects, multiple levels, both genders, high resolution MRI scans, reliable and repeatable measurement technique. The updated low back muscle size data presented in this paper can be used by biomechanical modelers to improve current low back biomechanical models.

Journal of biomechanical engineering, Jul 1, 2015

Accurate and reliable &am... more Accurate and reliable "individualized" low back erector spinae muscle mass (ESMM) data is of importance to estimate its force producing capacity. Knowing the force producing capacity, along with spinal loading, enhances the understanding of low back injury mechanisms. The objective of the study was to build regression models to estimate the ESMM size. Measurements were taken from axial-oblique MRI scans of a large historical population [54 females and 53 males at L3/L4, 50 females and 44 males at L4/L5, and 41 females and 35 males at L5/S1 levels]. Results suggest that an individual's ESMM size could be accurately estimated based on his/her gender, height, and weight. Results further showed that there is no significant difference between the measured and estimated ESMM sizes, and expected absolute error is less than 15\%

European Spine Journal, Feb 12, 2016

Purpose Variability of the human lower lumbar geometry is related to complications of disc arthro... more Purpose Variability of the human lower lumbar geometry is related to complications of disc arthroplasty surgery. Accurate morphometric descriptions are essential for the design of artificial intervertebral discs to ensure good prothesis-vertebra contact and better load distribution, and can improve spinal biomechanics. Unfortunately, current knowledge of the lower lumbar geometry is limited either in the representativeness of sample populations or the accuracy and comprehensiveness of measurements. The objective of this study was to establish an accurate and reliable measurement protocol, provide a comprehensive database of lower lumbar geometry, and compare and summarize geometric data as reported in the literature. Methods T 2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of lower lumbar spine (L3-S1), taken from 109 adult subjects, were anonymized from the digital archive of a local hospital. A total of 318 intervertebral discs and 590 endplates met the inclusion criteria and were studied. Linear and planar measurements were performed using OsiriX software, and analyzed using split plot factorial (SPF) analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent student t tests, paired sample t tests, and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) post hoc tests. Results Excellent intra-and inter-observer reliabilities were achieved using the proposed measurement protocol. The results of this study indicated that male subjects had significantly larger geometric dimensions. L5/S1 discs had the smallest geometric dimensions compared to the discs at other two levels. Significant craniocaudal differences were found in endplate morpohometry. The error associated with using ellipsoid methods was quantified at each lower lumbar level. A large comprehensive database compiling lower lumbar geometry from many studies was established. This study provides geometric data for the female subjects at the L5/S1 level, previously lacking in the literature. Conclusion This study demonstrates the potential of using MRI data to establish a standard measurement protocol for morphometric quantification of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs and vertebral endplates. These results are invaluable in characterizing comprehensive lower lumbar morphometry, which may provide crucial information for planning spinal surgeries, designing artificial intervertebral discs, and for biomechanical modeling of the low lack.

Gazi Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi dergisi, Sep 27, 2022

Aim of study: It is very important to design office furniture based on the anthropometry of emplo... more Aim of study: It is very important to design office furniture based on the anthropometry of employees because it affects their comfort, performance, and in serious cases, their health. Adjustable chairs are typically designed for a certain percentile of the user population. However, this design approach may not provide an accommodation level as intended because a chair has more than one design dimension. The objective of this study is to compare the percentile-based design approach and subject-based design approach by accommodation level. Material and methods: A sample of 4.082 males from the 2012 ANSUR II database was used to compare two design approaches by accommodation level. An adjustable office chair was designed to investigate whether or not the final accommodation level differed from the desired accommodation level. Using four anthropometric measurements, the lower and upper limits for four chair dimensions are calculated to cover 95% of users. Main results: The anthropometric measurements of a total of 728 subjects (17.83%) did not match for at least one chair dimension, resulting in the adjustable chair accommodating 82.17% of users, rather than 95% as intended. Two additional chair dimensions (backrest height and width) reduced the accommodation level to 77.36%. Highlights: Considering that eleven different chair dimensions are considered in a typical chair design, it is reasonable to assume that the accommodation level will be even lower.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, May 7, 2018

Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The ... more Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of having a safety climate scale for the Turkish furniture manufacturing industry since there has not been any scale available. The questionnaire recruited 783 subjects. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested a preexisted safety scale's fit to the industry. The CFA indicated that the structures of the model present a non-satisfactory fit with the data (χ 2 = 2,033.4, df = 314, p ≤ 0.001; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.08, normed fit index (NFI) = 0.65, (Tucker-Lewis index) TLI = 0.65, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.69, parsimony goodness-of-fit index (PGFI) = 0.68). The results suggest that a new scale should be developed and validated to measure the safety climate level in Turkish furniture manufacturing industry. Due to hierarchical structure of organizations, future studies should consider a multilevel approach in their exploratory factor analyses while developing a new scale.

ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition, Sep 9, 2014

America’s workforce is becoming more diverse. Generally, this diversity includes workers with dif... more America’s workforce is becoming more diverse. Generally, this diversity includes workers with different anthropometry (size, shape), capabilities, work experiences, and ethnicities. More importantly, the workforce is also aging and becoming heavier. However, the impact of aging and obesity is typically not considered in traditional ergonomic modeling. This paper explores the potential impact of these factors and proposes several ways to factor these characteristics into ergonomic models. Research is underway to quantify and empirically test new methods for evaluating work place risk. This paper details the application of an age modifier to the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE) (Waters, Putz-Anderson, and Garg, 1994) and proposes how such methods could be expanded to obesity and other worker personal characteristics. The RNLE is perhaps the most widely used manual material handling (MMH) evaluation method in use. Effective modifications to the RNLE have been demonstrated. For example, Sesek et al. (2003) modified the RNLE to allow analysis of one-handed lifting tasks. The predictive ability of the tool was maintained, but the number of jobs capable of RNLE analysis greatly increased. Modifying the RNLE to account for age will not increase the number of jobs capable of being analyzed, but rather has the potential to improve the predictive ability of this tool when dealing with older and presumably more at risk populations.

Social Science Research Network, 2022

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting, Sep 1, 2010

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of manag... more ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of managers in the American furniture manufacturing industry regarding Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) and to explore significant relationships between company size and managers' awareness on HF/E. The furniture manufacturing industry has a high occupational injury and illness rate and HF/E awareness is vital to improve worker safety and health. A web-based survey was used to gage managers' awareness of HF/E. Development, pre-test, and review stages followed to design the final survey. Sixty-four managers participated in the survey. This study shows the awareness level of managers depended on company size. Smaller companies were less likely to provide HF/E training programs to both managers and employees, additionally; smaller companies were less likely to have a team or department for HF/E interventions or for establishing HF/E programs in their organizations. The main reason for lower commitment to HF/E in small companies is owners, managers, and employees had a low awareness about the importance of HF/E to improve their occupational injury and illness rates. For example, 75 percent of the managers surveyed rated their HF/E knowledge level as poor, fair, or average. Some of the managers were not aware of available information resources about HF/E. A considerable number of managers believed that HF/E resulted in more regulations to follow and higher cost in training new employees. Without managers' commitment and support, the success of HF/E programs is not likely. In summary, our findings indicate managers in small companies are not well informed of the importance HF/E awareness plays in controlling their injury and illness rates. Therefore, we feel managers of any sized company especially smaller companies should be introduced to available HF/E resources and the benefits of HF/E.

Low Back Pain (LBP) remains the U.S.'s most significant and costly injury. Improved biomechanical... more Low Back Pain (LBP) remains the U.S.'s most significant and costly injury. Improved biomechanical modeling of the lumbar spine may allow better evaluation of LBP risk. To calculate the forces acting on the spine, accurate biomechanical model inputs are required. However, some biomechanical modelinputs are limited by assumptions. One of the most vital model inputs, the mechanical lever arm of the erector spinae muscle mass, (ESMLA), is typically approximated using a fixed value (5 cm or 2 inches) to simplify biomechanical models. This assumption decreases the sensitivity and applicability of models as well as their credibility. The objective of this study was to develop regression models to estimate

reviewed the questionnaire survey. A pre-test was conducted utilizing more than 20 graduate stude... more reviewed the questionnaire survey. A pre-test was conducted utilizing more than 20 graduate students. These graduate students were from different departments at Mississippi State University such as Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Landscape Architecture. Most of the students were international students. In the pre-test, wordy, complex, uncertain, unrelated, and repeated questions were reported to the researchers so that researchers could develop the final questionnaire survey. The survey was tested by using different technologies as well. The survey was tested in different web browsers, different operating systems, different monitors, and different screen resolutions. Therefore, problems with the appearance of the questionnaire on different screens were avoided. Because the time needed to complete the survey was

Journal of biomechanical engineering, May 13, 2019

Understanding low back muscle morphology is critical to understanding spinal loading and the unde... more Understanding low back muscle morphology is critical to understanding spinal loading and the underlying injury mechanisms, which help in characterizing risk and, therefore, minimize low back pain injuries. Individualized erector spinae muscle mass (ESMM) cross-sectional area (CSA) allows biomechanics practitioners to calculate individualized force generating capacities and spinal loadings for given tasks. The objective is to perform morphological analyses and then provide regression models to estimate the ESMM CSA of an individual with his/her subject characteristics. Thirty-five subjects (13 females and 22 males) without low back pain (LBP) history were included in this magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Axial-oblique scans of low back region were used to measure the ESMM CSA. Subject demographics and anthropometrics were obtained and regressed over the ESMM CSA. Best-subset regression analyses were performed. Lean body mass (LBM) and the ankle, wrist, and head indexes were the most frequent predictive variables. Regression models with easy-to-measure variables showed smaller predictive power and increased estimation error compared to other regression models. Practitioners should consider this trade-off between model accuracy and complexity. An individual's ESMM CSA could be estimated by his/her individual characteristics, which enables biomechanical practitioners to estimate individualized low back force capacity and spinal loading.

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care

Sagittal morphological dimensions of the human lower lumbar structures are critical inputs for th... more Sagittal morphological dimensions of the human lower lumbar structures are critical inputs for the comprehensive biomechanical modeling of spinal motions and the risk assessment of work-related low back pain. In this new quantitative exploration of sagittal morphology across the lower lumbar region (i.e., from L3/L4 to L5/S1), intervertebral disc (IVD) height, vertebral body (VB) height, endplate concavity was measured from two samples of subjects, including 1) archived medical records (AMR) collected from 57 patients and 2) 43 asymptomatic subjects with no history of low back pain (ASYM), independently by four individuals on a monthly basis. First, the current study achieved good inter- and intra-rater reliabilities. In addition, the current results also revealed that AMR sample had greater anterior-to-posterior vertebral body height ratio in vertebra L3 and L5. On the other hand, ASYM sample had significantly greater endplate concavity.

Düzce Üniversitesi bilim ve teknoloji dergisi, Oct 23, 2023

Asbest ısı ve elektrik iletkenliği düşük, fiziksel ve kimyasal etkenlere direnci yüksek bir malze... more Asbest ısı ve elektrik iletkenliği düşük, fiziksel ve kimyasal etkenlere direnci yüksek bir malzeme olduğu için geçmişte inşaat, kimya, petrol, lastik ve plastik, otomotiv ve enerji sektörü gibi birçok alanda kullanılmıştır. Başta asbestozis ve malign plevral mezotelyoma olmak üzere pek çok sağlık sorununa neden olduğu anlaşıldıktan sonra kullanımını yasaklayıcı yasal düzenlemeler yapılmıştır. Fakat geçmişteki yoğun kullanımı nedeniyle günümüzde halen birçok alanda karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Asbestin uygun şekilde sökülmesi ve uzaklaştırılması oldukça önem taşımaktadır. Ülkemizde, çalışanların asbest söküm, yıkım, tamir, bakım, uzaklaştırma çalışmalarında asbest tozuna maruziyetlerinin önlenmesi ve bu maruziyetten doğacak sağlık risklerinden korunması, sınır değerlerin ve diğer özel önlemlerin belirlenmesi amacıyla Asbestle Çalışmalarda Sağlık ve Güvenlik Önlemleri Hakkında Yönetmelik yürürlüğe girmiştir. Yönetmelik, asbest tozuna maruziyet riski bulunan çalışmalarda işverenin risk değerlendirmesi yapmakla yükümlü olduğunu belirtmektedir. Bu çalışmada, L-Tipi Matris yöntemi kullanılarak konutlarda, işyerlerinde, enerji santrallerinde, maden ocaklarında ve benzeri çalışma alanlarında asbest söküm işlerinde karşılaşılabilecek risklerin değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Değerlendirme sonucunda karantina kurulumu ve sökümü, asbest sökümü, söküm sonrası hijyen faaliyetleri, atıkların paketlenmesi ve istiflenmesi işleri yüksek riskli işler olarak belirlenmiştir. Söküm sırasında asbest liflerinin çevreye yayılmasını önlemek amacıyla naylon örtü ile tam sızdırmaz tecrit oluşturulmalı ve uygun sağlık ve güvenlik işaretleri yerleştirilmelidir. Asbest söküm işlerinde çalışanların P3 partikül filtreli tam-yüz veya yarım-yüz maske, Kategori III tip 5/6 tek kullanımlık tulum, iş eldiveni ve iş ayakkabısı gibi uygun kişisel koruyucu donanım (KKD) kullanımı sağlamalıdır. KKD kullanımı ve bakımı konularında çalışanlara eğitim verilmesi ayrıca önemlidir. Asbestli atıklar uygun kalınlıkta çift kat naylona konularak ağızları sıkıca kapatılmalı veya uygun daha büyük naylon torbalara konulmalıdır. Üzerlerine asbestli atık olduğunu bildiren işaretlemeler yapıştırılmalıdır. Atıklar çalışma alanı içinde yaşam mahalline uzak bir yerde geçici depolanmalı ve mümkün olan en kısa sürede lisanslı araçlarla lisanslı atık bertaraf tesisine sevk edilmelidir.

Heliyon, Jun 1, 2023

Safety signs are very important communication tools for accident prevention, fire safety, health ... more Safety signs are very important communication tools for accident prevention, fire safety, health hazard information, and emergency evacuation. They are helpful when properly designed and understood by employees. The purpose of the present study was to investigate fiberboard industry employees' understanding of safety signs. 139 participants were asked to indicate the meaning of a series of 22 commonly used safety signs. The mean comprehension score for 22 signs was 66.6% (min. 22.5% and max. 98.6%). The mean score for warning signs was the lowest, prohibition signs was the highest. Poor comprehension score (less than 40%) was noted for the toxic material, automated external heart defibrillator, overhead obstacle, and disconnect mains plug from electrical outlet signs. These low comprehension scores indicate that some symbols may not effectively convey the message to the audience. Safety practitioners and trainers should pay more attention to teach the actual meaning of those signs. 1. Introduction Safety signs are important because they help employees identify potential hazards and inform them how to avoid those hazards. When signs convey the message correctly, they can prevent occupational accidents and illnesses. The effect of characteristics of the person interacting with the sign on comprehension performance has been studied by several researchers. For example, studies [1-6] found that older participants performed significantly worse than younger participants. Educational level [7,8] and prior training [3, 9-13] also improved comprehension levels. The effects of cultural differences on comprehension of graphic symbols have been demonstrated by several researchers [14-24]. The design characteristics of a sign (i.e., color, shape, pictogram, size, visibility, readability, and comprehensibility, as well as the placement, illumination, and maintenance of the sign) and working conditions (i.e., dust, chemicals and fumes in the air, precipitation, time pressure, and performing multiple tasks simultaneously) can also affect the comprehensibility of a sign. Workplaces in the fiberboard industry (16.21 NACE Code, the European statistical classification of economic activities Code "Nomenclature of Economic Activities" for Manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels [25]) are classified as "very hazardous" workplaces by Turkish legislation [26] because there are significant physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards in the industry. For example, physical (noise, vibration, and heat stress) and mechanical (slip, trip and falls, moving machinery, electrical equipment) hazards, chemical hazards due to physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemicals and dusts, psychosocial hazards (fatigue, stress, work pressure, and lack of training), and ergonomic hazards due to repetitive movements, awkward posture, and prolonged duration of work are some common hazards in the fiberboard manufacturing industry. Proactive safety activities, including engineering and management control measures such as posting appropriate signs and conducting training on the signs, are critical to prevent or minimize occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities resulting from these hazards. It should be

PsycEXTRA Dataset, 2010

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of manag... more ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of managers in the American furniture manufacturing industry regarding Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) and to explore significant relationships between company size and managers' awareness on HF/E. The furniture manufacturing industry has a high occupational injury and illness rate and HF/E awareness is vital to improve worker safety and health. A web-based survey was used to gage managers' awareness of HF/E. Development, pre-test, and review stages followed to design the final survey. Sixty-four managers participated in the survey. This study shows the awareness level of managers depended on company size. Smaller companies were less likely to provide HF/E training programs to both managers and employees, additionally; smaller companies were less likely to have a team or department for HF/E interventions or for establishing HF/E programs in their organizations. The main reason for lower commitment to HF/E in small companies is owners, managers, and employees had a low awareness about the importance of HF/E to improve their occupational injury and illness rates. For example, 75 percent of the managers surveyed rated their HF/E knowledge level as poor, fair, or average. Some of the managers were not aware of available information resources about HF/E. A considerable number of managers believed that HF/E resulted in more regulations to follow and higher cost in training new employees. Without managers' commitment and support, the success of HF/E programs is not likely. In summary, our findings indicate managers in small companies are not well informed of the importance HF/E awareness plays in controlling their injury and illness rates. Therefore, we feel managers of any sized company especially smaller companies should be introduced to available HF/E resources and the benefits of HF/E.

Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, Jan 4, 2024

Objective: Health and safety signs are critical in communicating messages about potential hazards... more Objective: Health and safety signs are critical in communicating messages about potential hazards, safe practices, emergency procedures, and regulatory guidelines. The objective of this study was to investigate the understanding of safety sign comprehension among tractor operators in Türkiye's agricultural sector. It seeks to determine operators' knowledge of occupational safety and health signs, traffic signs, and tractor safety signs. Materials and Methods: A total of 118 tractor operators from Izmir's two districts (Menemen and Foça) were surveyed using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information, occupational safety and health signs (ISO 7010), traffic signs (Turkish Standards for Road Traffic Signage) and tractor safety signs (ISO 11684). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean comprehension score was 37.2% for fourteen occupational safety and health signs, 34.9% for seven traffic signs, and 28.0% for ten tractor safety signs. The mean comprehension score for all signs was 33.7% Conclusion: This study shows that tractor operators poorly understand these signs. Engineering and administrative control measures, including training, should be considered to improve sign comprehension. In addition, the poorly understood signs should be revised to effectively convey the intended messages. ÖZ Amaç: Sağlık ve güvenlik işaretleri, potansiyel tehlikeler, güvenli uygulamalar, acil durum prosedürleri ve yasal talimatlar konusunda iletişim kurmada kritik role sahiptirler. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye tarım sektöründeki traktör operatörlerinin işaretleri anlama seviyelerini araştırmaktır. Araştırma, operatörlerin iş sağlığı ve güvenliği işaretleri, trafik işaretleri ve traktör güvenlik işaretleri hakkındaki bilgi düzeyini belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Materyal ve Yöntem: İzmir'in iki ilçesinden (Menemen ve Foça) toplam 118 traktör operatörü anket ile incelenmiştir. Anket, demografik bilgiler, iş sağlığı ve güvenliği işaretleri (ISO 7010), trafik işaretleri (Karayolu Trafik İşaretleri Standartları) ve traktör güvenlik işaretlerini (ISO 11684) içermektedir. Verilerin analizi için tanımlayıcı ve çıkarımsal istatistikler kullanılmıştır. Araştırma Bulguları: Ortalama doğru cevaplanma oranı on dört iş sağlığı ve güvenliği işareti için %37.2, yedi trafik işareti için %34.9 ve on traktör güvenlik işareti için %28.0 olarak bulunmuştur. Tüm işaretler için ortalama doğru cevaplanma oranı %33.7 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, traktör operatörlerinin sağlık ve güvenlik işaretlerini tanıma seviyesinin düşük olduğunu göstermektedir. İşaretleri tanıma seviyesini artırmak için eğitim verilmesini de içeren yönetimsel ve mühendislik kontrol önlemleri dikkate alınmalıdır. Ayrıca, anlaması zor olan işaretlerin amaçlanan mesajları etkili bir şekilde iletebilmesi için tasarımlarının tekrar gözden geçirilmesi gerekmektedir.

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting, Dec 1, 2020

Evidence suggests that biomechanical models should consider the variations in spinal geometry, pa... more Evidence suggests that biomechanical models should consider the variations in spinal geometry, particularly the geometry of the intervertebral discs (IVDs), to investigate the mechanism and pathogenesis of low back pain (LBP). Regression models, as a non-invasive and indirect method, have been developed using anthropometric variables to estimate the size of the IVDs, with two major sources of geometric data, archived medical record (AMR) from hospital database and samples of subjects asymptomatic of LBP (ASY). Unfortunately, there is a lack of comparison of model performance and validity between the two approaches. The objective of this study was to compare the two approaches of model development. Results from this study may help determine whether it is feasible and plausible to apply AMR-derived regression models to estimate the geometry of the low back IVDs and help develop more personalized workplace ergonomic assessments in industry.

AHFE international, 2020

Back compressive force (BCF) is a commonly used surrogate for the risk of developing low back pai... more Back compressive force (BCF) is a commonly used surrogate for the risk of developing low back pain. Point force estimates of spinal loading have been shown to predict low back pain in epidemiological studies. However, they are an imperfect measure and can over- or under-estimate risk, particularly for very large or small individuals. A logical means to normalize risk over a varied population is to convert these forces to stresses (force/unit area). To achieve this, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were used to provide area measurements for the intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies of the lumbar region (L3/L4, L4/L5, & L5/S1 segments). Various regression models were explored based on individual subject gross anthropometry. These models allow for the estimation of intervertebral disc (IVD) size using easily measured anthropometric characteristics such as height and gender. Converting the BCF to a back compressive stress (BCS) normalizes and personalizes risk estimates for subjects of varying sizes. Back compressive force data from a previous study was converted to back compressive stress to determine if risk estimates could be improved. Using peak BCF with a cut point of 3400 N (~770 lbs) yielded an odds ratio of 2.76 (1.2-6.6) to predict jobs with injuries and discomfort. Using BCS with a cut point of 280 N/cm2, which corresponds to 3400 N load applied to a 50th percentile female L5/S1 IVD area, improved the odds ratio to 5.78 (1.8-18.4). Normalizing for the size of a subject’s IVD shows great promise for improving the predictive abilities of biomechanical assessment methods.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Jul 1, 2019

Current approaches to obtain lumbar morphometry data usually require expensive medical imaging te... more Current approaches to obtain lumbar morphometry data usually require expensive medical imaging technology, long processing time, and are often limited by small sample size. This study develops regression models for the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the lower lumbar (i.e., from L3/L4 to L5/S1 level) intervertebral discs (IVDs) and vertebral endplates (EPs) using both simple and complex anthropometric variables. CSAs were measured using OsiriX © software, based on 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from a sample of 13 females and 22 males, aged between 20 and 40, and asymptomatic of low back disorders. Comprehensive body anthropometry data were collected and included in the regression analyses. Several multiple regression models were developed with varying levels of complexity. Subject stature, elbow dimensions, and ankle dimensions were statistically significant predictors for the CSAs of IVDs and EPs. Gender exhibited a more predictive relationship with the CSAs when compared to body weight and age. In general, regression models using newly proposed best subset procedure resulted in smaller prediction errors, compared to the models using easy-to-measure variables (i.e., gender, age, height, and weight). However, simple regression models are still worthy of investigation given the low cost, ease of data collection, and satisfactory model performance.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, Mar 22, 2018

Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The ... more Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of having a safety climate scale for the Turkish furniture manufacturing industry since there has not been any scale available. The questionnaire recruited 783 subjects. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested a pre-existing safety scale's fit to the industry. The CFA indicated that the structures of the model present a non-satisfactory fit with the data (χ = 2033.4, df = 314, p ≤ 0.001; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08, normed fit index = 0.65, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.65, comparative fit index = 0.69, parsimony goodness-of-fit index = 0.68). The results suggest that a new scale should be developed and validated to measure the safety climate level in the Turkish furniture manufacturing industry. Due to the hierarchical structure of organizations, future studies should consider a multilevel approach in their exploratory factor analyses while developing a new scale.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Sep 1, 2015

Abstract Accurate and reliable low back morphological data such as the cross-sectional area (CSA)... more Abstract Accurate and reliable low back morphological data such as the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the erector spinae muscle (ESM) is vital for biomechanical modeling of the lumbar spine to estimate spinal loading and enhance the understanding of injury mechanisms. The objective of the present study is to enhance the current database regarding ESM sizes by studying with larger sample sizes, collecting data from live subjects, using high resolution MRI scans, using computerized, reliable, and repeatable measurement techniques, and analyzing data from three inter-vertebral disc (IVD) levels for both genders. A total of 163 subjects (82 males and 81 females) were included in the study. CSAs of both right and left ESMs were measured from axial-oblique MRI scans using architectural design software. The average CSA of the ESM was 23.50, 24.22, and 24.33 cm2 for females and 30.00, 28.28, and 24.60 cm2 for males at the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 levels, respectively. Results agree with some studies, but generally larger than most previous studies, possibly due to differences in sampling (sample size, subject characteristics: age, anthropometrics, cadavers, etc.), measurement techniques (scanning technology, scanning plane, scanning posture, different IVD levels), or muscle definitions. Relevance to industry Lifting tasks are very common in occupational settings and associated with low back pain. Accurate and reliable low back muscle size data is of importance to produce more efficient low back biomechanical models to better understand the loading mechanism in lifting tasks and to minimize low back pain risk regarding the lifting task. However, available low back muscle size data are quite limited. This study fills part of this gap by providing data from a large sample population of live subjects, multiple levels, both genders, high resolution MRI scans, reliable and repeatable measurement technique. The updated low back muscle size data presented in this paper can be used by biomechanical modelers to improve current low back biomechanical models.

Journal of biomechanical engineering, Jul 1, 2015

Accurate and reliable &am... more Accurate and reliable "individualized" low back erector spinae muscle mass (ESMM) data is of importance to estimate its force producing capacity. Knowing the force producing capacity, along with spinal loading, enhances the understanding of low back injury mechanisms. The objective of the study was to build regression models to estimate the ESMM size. Measurements were taken from axial-oblique MRI scans of a large historical population [54 females and 53 males at L3/L4, 50 females and 44 males at L4/L5, and 41 females and 35 males at L5/S1 levels]. Results suggest that an individual's ESMM size could be accurately estimated based on his/her gender, height, and weight. Results further showed that there is no significant difference between the measured and estimated ESMM sizes, and expected absolute error is less than 15\%

European Spine Journal, Feb 12, 2016

Purpose Variability of the human lower lumbar geometry is related to complications of disc arthro... more Purpose Variability of the human lower lumbar geometry is related to complications of disc arthroplasty surgery. Accurate morphometric descriptions are essential for the design of artificial intervertebral discs to ensure good prothesis-vertebra contact and better load distribution, and can improve spinal biomechanics. Unfortunately, current knowledge of the lower lumbar geometry is limited either in the representativeness of sample populations or the accuracy and comprehensiveness of measurements. The objective of this study was to establish an accurate and reliable measurement protocol, provide a comprehensive database of lower lumbar geometry, and compare and summarize geometric data as reported in the literature. Methods T 2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of lower lumbar spine (L3-S1), taken from 109 adult subjects, were anonymized from the digital archive of a local hospital. A total of 318 intervertebral discs and 590 endplates met the inclusion criteria and were studied. Linear and planar measurements were performed using OsiriX software, and analyzed using split plot factorial (SPF) analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent student t tests, paired sample t tests, and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) post hoc tests. Results Excellent intra-and inter-observer reliabilities were achieved using the proposed measurement protocol. The results of this study indicated that male subjects had significantly larger geometric dimensions. L5/S1 discs had the smallest geometric dimensions compared to the discs at other two levels. Significant craniocaudal differences were found in endplate morpohometry. The error associated with using ellipsoid methods was quantified at each lower lumbar level. A large comprehensive database compiling lower lumbar geometry from many studies was established. This study provides geometric data for the female subjects at the L5/S1 level, previously lacking in the literature. Conclusion This study demonstrates the potential of using MRI data to establish a standard measurement protocol for morphometric quantification of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs and vertebral endplates. These results are invaluable in characterizing comprehensive lower lumbar morphometry, which may provide crucial information for planning spinal surgeries, designing artificial intervertebral discs, and for biomechanical modeling of the low lack.

Gazi Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi dergisi, Sep 27, 2022

Aim of study: It is very important to design office furniture based on the anthropometry of emplo... more Aim of study: It is very important to design office furniture based on the anthropometry of employees because it affects their comfort, performance, and in serious cases, their health. Adjustable chairs are typically designed for a certain percentile of the user population. However, this design approach may not provide an accommodation level as intended because a chair has more than one design dimension. The objective of this study is to compare the percentile-based design approach and subject-based design approach by accommodation level. Material and methods: A sample of 4.082 males from the 2012 ANSUR II database was used to compare two design approaches by accommodation level. An adjustable office chair was designed to investigate whether or not the final accommodation level differed from the desired accommodation level. Using four anthropometric measurements, the lower and upper limits for four chair dimensions are calculated to cover 95% of users. Main results: The anthropometric measurements of a total of 728 subjects (17.83%) did not match for at least one chair dimension, resulting in the adjustable chair accommodating 82.17% of users, rather than 95% as intended. Two additional chair dimensions (backrest height and width) reduced the accommodation level to 77.36%. Highlights: Considering that eleven different chair dimensions are considered in a typical chair design, it is reasonable to assume that the accommodation level will be even lower.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, May 7, 2018

Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The ... more Understanding the safety climate level is essential to implement a proactive safety program. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of having a safety climate scale for the Turkish furniture manufacturing industry since there has not been any scale available. The questionnaire recruited 783 subjects. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested a preexisted safety scale's fit to the industry. The CFA indicated that the structures of the model present a non-satisfactory fit with the data (χ 2 = 2,033.4, df = 314, p ≤ 0.001; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.08, normed fit index (NFI) = 0.65, (Tucker-Lewis index) TLI = 0.65, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.69, parsimony goodness-of-fit index (PGFI) = 0.68). The results suggest that a new scale should be developed and validated to measure the safety climate level in Turkish furniture manufacturing industry. Due to hierarchical structure of organizations, future studies should consider a multilevel approach in their exploratory factor analyses while developing a new scale.

ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition, Sep 9, 2014

America’s workforce is becoming more diverse. Generally, this diversity includes workers with dif... more America’s workforce is becoming more diverse. Generally, this diversity includes workers with different anthropometry (size, shape), capabilities, work experiences, and ethnicities. More importantly, the workforce is also aging and becoming heavier. However, the impact of aging and obesity is typically not considered in traditional ergonomic modeling. This paper explores the potential impact of these factors and proposes several ways to factor these characteristics into ergonomic models. Research is underway to quantify and empirically test new methods for evaluating work place risk. This paper details the application of an age modifier to the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE) (Waters, Putz-Anderson, and Garg, 1994) and proposes how such methods could be expanded to obesity and other worker personal characteristics. The RNLE is perhaps the most widely used manual material handling (MMH) evaluation method in use. Effective modifications to the RNLE have been demonstrated. For example, Sesek et al. (2003) modified the RNLE to allow analysis of one-handed lifting tasks. The predictive ability of the tool was maintained, but the number of jobs capable of RNLE analysis greatly increased. Modifying the RNLE to account for age will not increase the number of jobs capable of being analyzed, but rather has the potential to improve the predictive ability of this tool when dealing with older and presumably more at risk populations.

Social Science Research Network, 2022

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting, Sep 1, 2010

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of manag... more ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to better understand the knowledge and opinions of managers in the American furniture manufacturing industry regarding Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) and to explore significant relationships between company size and managers' awareness on HF/E. The furniture manufacturing industry has a high occupational injury and illness rate and HF/E awareness is vital to improve worker safety and health. A web-based survey was used to gage managers' awareness of HF/E. Development, pre-test, and review stages followed to design the final survey. Sixty-four managers participated in the survey. This study shows the awareness level of managers depended on company size. Smaller companies were less likely to provide HF/E training programs to both managers and employees, additionally; smaller companies were less likely to have a team or department for HF/E interventions or for establishing HF/E programs in their organizations. The main reason for lower commitment to HF/E in small companies is owners, managers, and employees had a low awareness about the importance of HF/E to improve their occupational injury and illness rates. For example, 75 percent of the managers surveyed rated their HF/E knowledge level as poor, fair, or average. Some of the managers were not aware of available information resources about HF/E. A considerable number of managers believed that HF/E resulted in more regulations to follow and higher cost in training new employees. Without managers' commitment and support, the success of HF/E programs is not likely. In summary, our findings indicate managers in small companies are not well informed of the importance HF/E awareness plays in controlling their injury and illness rates. Therefore, we feel managers of any sized company especially smaller companies should be introduced to available HF/E resources and the benefits of HF/E.

Low Back Pain (LBP) remains the U.S.'s most significant and costly injury. Improved biomechanical... more Low Back Pain (LBP) remains the U.S.'s most significant and costly injury. Improved biomechanical modeling of the lumbar spine may allow better evaluation of LBP risk. To calculate the forces acting on the spine, accurate biomechanical model inputs are required. However, some biomechanical modelinputs are limited by assumptions. One of the most vital model inputs, the mechanical lever arm of the erector spinae muscle mass, (ESMLA), is typically approximated using a fixed value (5 cm or 2 inches) to simplify biomechanical models. This assumption decreases the sensitivity and applicability of models as well as their credibility. The objective of this study was to develop regression models to estimate

reviewed the questionnaire survey. A pre-test was conducted utilizing more than 20 graduate stude... more reviewed the questionnaire survey. A pre-test was conducted utilizing more than 20 graduate students. These graduate students were from different departments at Mississippi State University such as Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Landscape Architecture. Most of the students were international students. In the pre-test, wordy, complex, uncertain, unrelated, and repeated questions were reported to the researchers so that researchers could develop the final questionnaire survey. The survey was tested by using different technologies as well. The survey was tested in different web browsers, different operating systems, different monitors, and different screen resolutions. Therefore, problems with the appearance of the questionnaire on different screens were avoided. Because the time needed to complete the survey was

Journal of biomechanical engineering, May 13, 2019

Understanding low back muscle morphology is critical to understanding spinal loading and the unde... more Understanding low back muscle morphology is critical to understanding spinal loading and the underlying injury mechanisms, which help in characterizing risk and, therefore, minimize low back pain injuries. Individualized erector spinae muscle mass (ESMM) cross-sectional area (CSA) allows biomechanics practitioners to calculate individualized force generating capacities and spinal loadings for given tasks. The objective is to perform morphological analyses and then provide regression models to estimate the ESMM CSA of an individual with his/her subject characteristics. Thirty-five subjects (13 females and 22 males) without low back pain (LBP) history were included in this magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Axial-oblique scans of low back region were used to measure the ESMM CSA. Subject demographics and anthropometrics were obtained and regressed over the ESMM CSA. Best-subset regression analyses were performed. Lean body mass (LBM) and the ankle, wrist, and head indexes were the most frequent predictive variables. Regression models with easy-to-measure variables showed smaller predictive power and increased estimation error compared to other regression models. Practitioners should consider this trade-off between model accuracy and complexity. An individual's ESMM CSA could be estimated by his/her individual characteristics, which enables biomechanical practitioners to estimate individualized low back force capacity and spinal loading.

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care

Sagittal morphological dimensions of the human lower lumbar structures are critical inputs for th... more Sagittal morphological dimensions of the human lower lumbar structures are critical inputs for the comprehensive biomechanical modeling of spinal motions and the risk assessment of work-related low back pain. In this new quantitative exploration of sagittal morphology across the lower lumbar region (i.e., from L3/L4 to L5/S1), intervertebral disc (IVD) height, vertebral body (VB) height, endplate concavity was measured from two samples of subjects, including 1) archived medical records (AMR) collected from 57 patients and 2) 43 asymptomatic subjects with no history of low back pain (ASYM), independently by four individuals on a monthly basis. First, the current study achieved good inter- and intra-rater reliabilities. In addition, the current results also revealed that AMR sample had greater anterior-to-posterior vertebral body height ratio in vertebra L3 and L5. On the other hand, ASYM sample had significantly greater endplate concavity.