Documents human factors 58 results

"Halting environmental degradation requires workplaces to undergo a profound shift towards ecologically sustainable work that challenges customary growthoriented thinking and holds justice and the well-being of workers as a core value. Structures and practices of workplaces provide a critical link through which this transition could be achieved. However, there is a lack of clear and systemic definition and an easily applicable model to guide workplaces to become both just and green. In this paper, we aim to define the key characteristics of a just green workplace by using human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) as the underlying theoretical approach. Humans are positioned as the core component across all system levels. Thus, we posit that the HF/E approach can serve as a fundamental building block for just green workplaces. It helps shift the focus of the currently prevailing technology-, administration- and (de)growth-oriented green transition towards one that is more human-centric, contextually aware, as well as competence- and developmentally oriented. We apply a HF/E Tool to two case examples from different sectors to demonstrate the systemic, underlying factors of just green work at the individual, work, group, and organisational levels. Based on the findings, we present criteria and recommendations for a just green workplace. In addition, the value and development needs of the HF/E approach in fostering sustainability are discussed."

Open Journal Systems

"Industry 5.0 emphasizes human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience as its core characteristics, with a focus on developing socio-technical systems that enhance human health, safety, and well-being while fostering sustainable societal practices. The human-centric perspective places significant importance on human factors and ergonomics, aiming to align technological advancements with the needs and capabilities of individuals. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative tool for advancing human factors and ergonomics by optimizing workplace conditions and supporting human-centered design principles. This paper conducts a literature review to explore the applications and potential of AI in addressing human factors and ergonomics challenges, providing insights into its role in shaping the future of human-centric systems within Industry 5.0."

This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

"The extent of interaction between workers and robots is expected to increase in modern workplaces due to rapid advancements in robotic technologies. Advanced robotics often leverages progress in artificial intelligence, machine learning and sensor technologies to achieve higher levels of sophistication and versatility. The enhanced capabilities of new-generation robots facilitate increased collaboration between humans and robots, partly by ensuring safety when humans and robots are working in proximity. This marks a move away from traditional robots, often confined to cages on the shop floor to isolate them from human operators. In spite of the many benefits, there are lingering concerns around the requirement for workers to continually adapt to new or changing tasks and roles, the possibility of monitoring workers' activities at an unprecedented level of granularity, diminished autonomy and control over the pace of work, and the emergence of new health and safety risks, including of a psychosocial nature. Drawing on survey data and case studies investigating advanced robotic systems and applications, this report explores the opportunities and challenges that come with closer human–robot interaction, with a view to contributing to the broader policy debate on the automation of work."

"Human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience are the core pillars of the Industry 5.0 concept. The human-centric perspective emphasizes the development of socio-technical systems designed to enhance human health, safety, and well-being while fostering sustainable practices that benefit society at large. This paper presents a systematic literature review to identify the key characteristics of human-centered work environments. The findings reveal growing interest in human factors and ergonomics, with notable gaps in cognitive ergonomics requiring further attention. Beyond ensuring safety and health, human-centric systems must address cognitive workload and well-being to maintain productivity, efficiency, and motivation, which are closely tied to a company's market performance. This study provides valuable insights for both scientific and industrial stakeholders, outlining the principles and requirements essential for the effective implementation of human-centric systems."

"Despite the massive developments in new technologies, materials and industrial systems, notably supported by advanced structural and risk control assessments, recent major accidents are challenging the practicality and effectiveness of risk control measures designed to improve reliability and reduce the likelihood of losses. Contemporary investigations of accidents occurred in high-technology systems highlighted the connection between human-related issues and major events, which led to catastrophic consequences. Consequently, the understanding of human behavioural characteristics interlaced with current technology aspects and organisational context seems to be of paramount importance for the safety & reliability field. First, significant drawbacks related to the human performance data collection will be minimised by the development of a novel industrial accidents dataset, the Multi-attribute Technological Accidents Dataset (MATA-D), which groups 238 major accidents from different industrial backgrounds and classifies them under a common framework (the Contextual Control Model used as basis for the Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method). The accidents collection and the detailed interpretation will provide a rich data source, enabling the usage of integrated information to generate input to design improvement schemes. Then, implications to improve robustness of system design and tackle the surrounding factors and tendencies that could lead to the manifestation of human errors will be effectively addressed."

"This paper describes an experiment that was undertaken to compare three levels of automation in rail signalling; a high level in which an automated agent set routes for trains using timetable information, a medium level in which trains were routed along pre-defined paths, and a low level where the operator (signaller) was responsible for the movement of all trains. These levels are described in terms of a Rail Automation Model based on previous automation theory (Parasuraman et al., 2000). Performance, subjective workload, and signaller activity were measured for each level of automation running under both normal operating conditions and abnormal, or disrupted, conditions. The results indicate that perceived workload, during both normal and disrupted phases of the experiment, decreased as the level of automation increased and performance was most consistent (i.e. showed the least variation between participants) with the highest level of automation. The results give a strong case in favour of automation, particularly in terms of demonstrating the potential for automation to reduce workload, but also suggest much benefit can achieved from a mid-level of automation potentially at a lower cost and complexity."

"This retrospective study examined the levels of appreciation (applause) given by clients to Human Factors/Ergonomic (HFE) specialists after they have modified the systems of work. Thirteen non-academic projects were chosen because the HFE interventions involved changed the way workers work at their workplaces. Companies involved range from multi-national corporations and military organizations with thousands of employees to small trading companies with less than 10 employees. In 5 cases the HFE recommendations were fully adopted and well appreciated. In 4 they were largely ignored and not appreciated, with partial adoption and some appreciation in the other 4 cases.Three factors that predict appreciation were identified: (i) alignment between the benefits HFE can provide and the project's key performance indices; (ii) awareness of HFE among the client's senior management; and (iii) a team organization appropriate for applying HFE recommendations. Having an HFE specialist on the client's side can greatly increase levels of appreciation, but lack of such a specialist will not affect levels of appreciation. A clear contractual requirement for HFE intervention does not promote appreciation significantly, but its absence can greatly reduce levels of appreciation. These relationships are discussed using the Kano's model of quality. Means to generate greater appreciation of the benefits of HFE are discussed. Partial finding of this study was presented at the keynote address of the 1st Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Philippines Conference held in Nov., 2012."

"Human factors systems approaches are critical for improving healthcare quality and patient safety. The SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) model of work system and patient safety is a human factors systems approach that has been successfully applied in healthcare research and practice. Several research and practical applications of the SEIPS model are described. Important implications of the SEIPS model for healthcare system and process redesign are highlighted. Principles for redesigning healthcare systems using the SEIPS model are described. Balancing the work system and encouraging the active and adaptive role of workers are key principles for improving healthcare quality and patient safety."

"Ergonomics/human factors is, above anything else, a systems discipline and profession, applying a systems philosophy and systems approaches. Many things are labelled as system in today's world, and this paper specifies just what attributes and notions define ergonomics/human factors in systems terms. These are obviously a systems focus, but also concern for context, acknowledgement of interactions and complexity, a holistic approach, recognition of emergence and embedding of the professional effort involved within organization system. These six notions are illustrated with examples from a large body of work on rail human factors."