The ergonomic competence network (ECN) hosted on 3rd and 4th April 2014 to Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance. The network offered a platform on which scientists, entrepreneurs and service providers were able to share their knowledge about ergonomics on these two days.
Participants gained from lectures and mutual exchange. The combination of expertise and practical experience enhanced one's own perspective to the ergonomics issue. Provided with fresh impetus and new contacts many participants promised to be back at the event next year.
What specific effects ergonomists can create by dealing with individual professional groups is shown by three summaries on the topics dentists, forest work and fire-fighting. "Dentistry and Back Pain are linked like Coal Mining and Silicosis" That this "fact" quoted from an Internet blog of dentists is no longer considered as a truism, the long-time chairman of the working group "Work sciences and dentistry" of the German Society of Dental, Oral and Craniomandibular Sciences (DGZMK) Prof. Rotgans engaged for decades. more about ergonomics in the dental practice
What burdens are exposed to forest workers and how they cope with a physically strenuous work, Prof. Bombosch learned using a specially developed measurement system. Studies on emissions from power saws sensitized manufacturers and employers to threats of forest workers by pollutants. The professional group of forest worker is also endangered by momentous work accidents, often caused by tripping, favored by poor visibility. A new designed pair of glasses, taking into account the visibility in the forest and physiological characteristics of the human eye, will help. more about forest work
Prof. Kluth of the University of Siegen dealt with the water pressure in fire hoses from fire-fighters. The maximum water pressure, fire-fighters can still dominate the branchpipe and achieve a secure extinguishing result, Kluth with his team could identify in a study with full-time fire-fighters. New norms for maximum water pressure can be based on this study. more about water pressure in branchpipes
While in OSH action is derived if a danger exists, ergonomists are already active in the field of occupational safety, if harm is to be expected. Prof. Schmauder of the TU Dresden describes the different approaches of professionals from the Occupational Safety and ergonomists. more
The ergonomist and Feldenkrais teacher Rudolf Haller is interested in ergonomic training. He wanted to know if non-ergonomists can be put through training in the position to carry out ergonomic job evaluations. He introduced various methods of job evaluation and pointed out where are the possibilities and limits for "laymen". more about ergonomics and methods of job evaluation
Frank Lennings from the Institute for Applied Work Science (IFAA) is concerned with ways of working time. The man takes center stage. Ergonomic working hours are particularly flexible working hours considering the individual wishes and necessary requirements such as old age and disease. more
Seat comfort while driving is the issue of Dr.-Ing. Christian Mergl. The developers of car seats are looking for measurable quantities to determine seat comfort. Among the variables posture, microclimate, vibration and pressure distribution, the parameter pressure distribution has found as best parameter for determining the seat (dis) comfort. more about measuring seating comfort
Goal of a research project at the University of Wuppertal is the production of individual handles for hand tools. PhD student Aydin Ünlü presented as a convenience optimization can be achieved with simple steps. more about comfortable grip
he Ergonomic.Experts address the issue of products with high usability. Problematic human-machine interfaces hamper the proper use of products, lead to accidents and waste. With the help of a Usability Basic Check usability issues can be detected. more about usability
In the past the design of dental treatment chairs forced dentists to a permanently crooked posture. As a result many dentists suffered after many years of professional activity on skeletal and muscular deformations. The modern treatment chairs are more ergonomic, but many dentists are still plagued with work-related back pain. An equipment of the dental practices according to ergonomic principles and further measures should make the dental profession "painless".
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Forest work is physically strenuous. A portable measurement system has been developed to estimate these burdens. Additional to physical stress forest workers are interfered with carbon monoxide emissions from chainsaws. However, this "invisible" threat had to be made visible - with a simple trick. Forest workers are prone to accidents. They often tumble and stumble because of low vision in their working environment with strong contrasts. Special glasses can help.
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Internationally, no uniform regulation exists about the pressure limits of water used for putting out fires in high-rise buildings and extended real estates. It is difficult to establish the ideal water pressure, since on the one hand, the branchpipe needs a defined pressure in order to work efficiently and on the other hand, this pressure may not be too high for a secure handling of the branchpipe. Our tests should answer the question of how high the water pressure to be adjusted to ensure a physiologically executable and safe indoor fire-fighting.
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In Germany, occupational health and safety is regulated by the „Arbeitsschutzgesetz“. This article deals with risk assessment and measures of ergonomic approaches.
This article is only available at the german congress page.
Based on some recently conducted trainings and evaluations of workplaces with several popular methods it is discussed, which aspects of an evaluation are easily understood and used by “Non-experts”. In addition some hints are given how especially time/frequency analysis but also posture evaluation may be improved.
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Demographics models predict large changes in the structure of the economically active population. Increasing numbers old older employees and broader variance of individual attributes will be considered by employers. Modern methods of work scheduling can contribute to prolongate working life of employees.
This article is only available at the german congress page.
A central question in the development of new seats is the seat comfort. Developers are very concerned about ways to measure the comfort objectively. Therefore, the focus of developers are models that establish a relationship between objective measures and subjective sensation which allows a virtual prediction of seat comfort.
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The comfort optimization method for work equipment based on a digital hand model is derived from the example of an iron bender. It comprises both comfort analysis and comfort optimization.
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A product has come to market. Many barriers have been overcome - the technology works properly, all statutory requirements are met, the design is appealing, etc... A usability basic check could help and point out possible inconsistencies at the man-machine interface. What such a check includes and what methods are used is content of the following article.
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