Ergonomics as instrument for prevention against work injury or occupational diseases

Transactions of the VSB - Technical university of Ostrava Safety Engineering Series, ISSN 1805-3238 Vol. XIII, No. 2, 2018 55 ERGONOMICS AS INSTRUMENT FOR PREVENTION AGAINST WORK INJURY OR OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES Petr KOUTNY1, Ivana BARTLOVÁ2 1 VSB-Technical University in Ostrava, Faculty of Safety Engineering, Ostrava, Czech Republic, petr.koutny[email protected] 2 VSB-Technical University in Ostrava, Faculty of Safety Engineering, Ostrava, Czech Republic, [email protected] Abstract: Ergonomics as complex branch solves work of employee on concrete work place and follows up relationships between human, machine and work environment. Goal of ergonomics is achievement the most appropriate work environment and decreasing of work injuries and occupational diseases probability. This goal will be achievement by implementation of two instruments - process approach which is built on systematic approach and synergy effect of two basic principles technical and human which affect and affect and complement each other. A powerful tool for decreasing of work injuries and occupational diseases probability can be obtained with combination of process approach and synergy effect. Keywords: Ergonomics; prevention; psychology; injury; diseases. Review article Introduction Suffi ciency or rather defi ciency in employees with qualifi cation is mentioned more often in current labour market in many regions of the Czech Republic. The root cause can be found in unsuitable setting up of educational system, in direction and structure of employers’ needs but also in complex arrangement of occupational health and safety. It is quite obvious that the loss of a qualifi ed employee due to a work injury or an occupational disease is therefore unacceptable for the employer. Some employers perceive health and safety at work only from the point of view of complying with legislation or implementing measures (e.g. by covering a rotating part of the machine, using the LOTO system, assigning a PPE, etc.). This approach will only provide basic safety and health protection at work and will reduce the likelihood of losing a skilled workforce. We need to think more deeply about access to health and safety at work and make the reduction of the work injury or occupational disease (next prevention) more effective as direction against loss of qualifi ed employee. Focusing on prevention as a process of work conditions improvement is one of possibilities to do it. This process is inseparable part of multidisciplinary science branch - Ergonomics. Method of synergic effect can be used as next possibility for prevention. This method is based on interconnection of two main ergonomic principles - technical (safety) and human (health). These principles interact and complement each other. Strong instrument for prevention can be found by connection of a process approach and a method of synergic effect to decrease probability of work injury or eliminate of occupational diseases. Materials and methods Ergonomics as system Ergonomics can be defi ned as multidisciplinary science branch, which solves work activities of employee on concrete work place. It focuses on study of relationships between human, machine and work environment, which interact and complement each other (Marek and Skřehot, 2009). Ergonomics is specifi c system, which includes free subsystems (human, machine and work environment), Fig. 1. pp. 55 - 60, DOI 10.2478/tvsbses-2018-0013 Transactions of the VSB - Technical university of Ostrava Safety Engineering Series, ISSN 1805-3238 Vol. XIII, No. 2, 2018 56 Fig. 1. Illustration of Ergonomics system and subsystems - human, machine, work environment Process approach The goal of ergonomics is optimization of particular subsystems interaction in order to achieve the most appropriate working conditions for employees. This goal can be reached by implementation of process where systematic approach is basis - focusing on ergonomics like on system in which subsystems are interacting and complementing each other. Process can be divided into 5 steps: • identifi cation of danger and risk assessment of work positions; • setting up instrument leading to decrease of risk; • creation of concept for improvement; • testing of proposed countermeasures and verifi cation of their functionality on chosen positions; • implementation of countermeasure on all relating work positions. Workplaces can be sorted using process approach according their risks or can be grouped based on their similar risk and then focus on a particular workplace or group of workplaces. Process approach can be used for classic safety also for health protection. It is suitable as a cost saving when the proposed countermeasure is fi rst verifi ed at selected workplaces and after positive feedback they can be applied on rest of position. Constant improvement is next benefi t of process approach when real status and risk of each workplace can be defi ned. It can be also verifi ed if proposed countermeasures are effective and probability of work injury or occupational diseases decreased. Prevention against work injury and occupational diseases Process leading to goals achievement can be applied as prevention against work injury or occupational diseases. This statement can be proved by these ideas: • Danger identifi cation and risk assessment of concrete work places is basic step for prevention against work injury and also for occupational diseases (work categorization). • Certain rules are valid for each system, therefore can be system characterised with word „law“ („nómia“ in Greek language) - interaction of subsystems (human, machine, work environment) happened by „work“ („érgo“ in Greek language). The word “Ergonomia” (ergonomics) comes with connection of two words „nómia“ and „érgo“. Ergonomics can be loosely translated as rules of work therefore ergonomics is general science which solves prevention against work injury and also occupational diseases. Method of synergic effect Technical and human principles can be identifi ed in improvement process of implementation ergonomics into practice. Technical principle focuses on relationship between machine and work environment. Fig. 2 while human principle focuses on relationship between human - work environment and human - machine, Fig. 3. Fig. 2. Technical principle relationship pp. 55 - 60, DOI 10.2478/tvsbses-2018-0013 Transactions of the VSB - Technical university of Ostrava Safety Engineering Series, ISSN 1805-3238 Vol. XIII, No. 2, 2018 57 Fig. 3. Human principle relationship Technical principle is rational thinking applied in virtue of defi ned technical possibilities and properties of machine or work conditions. Hazard identifi cation and risk prevention are used for searching of potential problems focused on machine (e.g. rotate moving, hot surface and impulsive noise) or focused on work conditions (e.g. wet and slippery fl oor, unstable stack, high temperature). Short, sudden and forced impact of above hazards can cause work injury. Technical principle is associated with work injury and does not take in consignation a human being as such. Human principle is opposite to technical principle. It is focused on human. Hazard identifi cation and risk prevention are used for searching of potential problems focused on human (e.g. local muscle drain, work position and psychical drain). Long term impact of above hazard results in occupational diseases. Human principle is associated with occupational diseases and takes a human being as such. Tab. 1. shows comparisons of these principles are done for better understanding of their relationship into hazard identifi cation and risk assessment. Tab. 1 Comparison of principles Method of synergy effect application Parallel view Principles effect side by side and do not interact with each other but they follow same goal. Hazard and risk for concrete principle can be found if technical principle will focus on machine and work environment as prevention against work injury (rotation part, sharp edge, work at height) and human principle will focus only on human as prevention against occupational diseases (local muscle drain, work position, psychical drain). Interacting view Principles interact each other and they follow same goal. More hazard and risks can be found by interconnection of these principles. If technical principle will be extension of subsystem - human and human principle will be extension of subsystems - machine and work environment. Next benefi t of this action is reaching of synergic effect - fi nal result of hazard identifi cation and risk assessment process will be more quality with better implementation into practice. Both of these principles are correct and lead to goal but interacting view has better effi ciency and this better implementation into practice due to synergic effect, Fig. 4. Next text will be focused only on interacting view on basis of above information. Fig. 4. Synergic effect Parameter Technical principle Human principle Hazard rotation part, sharp edge, work at height local muscle drain, work position, psychical drain Danger work injury work-related diseases Impact health damage health damage Time effect short term long term Countermeasures cover, LOTO, PPE, instruction rotation, workplace design, mental health pp. 55 - 60, DOI 10.2478/tvsbses-2018-0013 Transactions of the VSB - Technical university of Ostrava Safety Engineering Series, ISSN 1805-3238 Vol. XIII, No. 2, 2018 58 rate are inevitable. It should be looked on employee as one of basic subsystems and not to solve only technical or organization countermeasures - application of human principle. Some questions focused on employee have to be applied, e.g. “Why employee did not use LOTO system, though he was equipped by it and he has special training?”, “Why employee was not well ensured against fall down, though he had all necessary equipment and correct training?”, “Why employee snapped fi ngers between body and door of car?”, “Why employee stumbled over material lying on fl oor?”. Work psychology as one of basic science branch of ergonomics has to be applied for fi nding answers to these questions. Work psychology is theoretical and practical science, which solves how human psyche and personality manage work environment and which effect have work conditions and social relationship in work group on work effi ciency (Kohoutek, 2018). This science represents important instrument for decreasing of work injuries. Implementation of work psychology into practice will be demonstrated on two samples. Work psychology - risk factors Production focused on assembly work with night shift prevails in Czech Republic. Employees are often affected by load created by psychosocial (monotony, force tempo, night shift, social and emotive factors, etc.) and / or psychological (employee characteristics, abilities, expectation, etc.) (Koutný and Hajduková, 2015). Tab. 2. shows samples of negative effect including countermeasures. Technical and human principles within legislation According Directive 89/391/EEC from 12th of June 1989, employer shall: • evaluate the risks to the safety and health of workers; • take the measures necessary for the safety and health protection of workers. Both principles can be identifi ed (safety represents technical principle and health represents human principle) in text above. They are very tightly connecting with ergonomics. On basis of these ideas can be concluded that legislation focuses on prevention against work injury and occupational diseases as on ergonomics. Decreasing of number of work injuries Every employer has to check and assessment work injuries rating and setting up countermeasure and preventive actions to reach decreasing or at least non increasing trend of work injuries rating. Number of work injuries decreasing to value where further decreasing is not verifi ed and approaching to limit of workplace though some technical and organization countermeasures were realized (application of technical principle) to decreasing of work injuries number (winding of rotate part, burns, slip, work at height, etc.). Some changes of attitude to perception of occupational health and safety and founding of suitable conception to achieve decrease work injury Risk factor Demonstration Sample of countermeasure Psychosocial monotony loss of attention; surrounding is not percepted; employee does not think about work; suitable employee has to be chosen; rotation of activities; regular safety break; forced tempo production is not met; panic; stress; proper training on position; choosing of suitable employee; correct decomposition of drain; work at night fatigue; loss of attention; worst quality of live; sleep circadian rhythm (Duncan et al., 2014); family support; social and emotive team relationships; the activities of superior employee; family; creating a good mood at the workplace; positive motivation; setting up a fair procedure; Psychological willingness to adapt inability to adapt to group work; failure to control production; risk behaviour; creating confl icting situations (Koutný and Hajduková, 2015); multiphase employee selection; psychological testing of the employee focus on stress and load; proper training in position (Koutný and Hajduková, 2015); attention reaction time stress management Tab. 2. Samples of negative effect + countermeasures pp. 55 - 60, DOI 10.2478/tvsbses-2018-0013 Transactions of the VSB - Technical university of Ostrava Safety Engineering Series, ISSN 1805-3238 Vol. XIII, No. 2, 2018 59 Basic condition is chosen of suitable trainer who will be executed trainer. Basic characteristic of trainer are: • ability to properly explain and demonstrate the operation; • ability to fi nd mistakes and alert them accordingly; • ability to hand over their own experience how to simplify and speed up individual operations; • ability to solve interpersonal relationships and create optimistic mood in the workplace. Employee will be work more effectively and quickly - create time for rest. Second sample is choosing of suitable employee, which is basic pillar of psycho hygiene. If unsuitable type will be chosen, it will be suffering for him, his superior employee and co-workers. Characteristic and abilities which are requested have to be set up on beginning. Second step is set up rules for interview. Basic characteristic are: • willingness to adapt and comply with set rules; • attention; • reaction time; • stress management. Multistep interview is used to selection of employee with requested characteristics: • interview lead by specialist from production; • assessment of physical parameters; • psycho and manual testss; • correct medical check providing; • training on workplace - check abilities on workplace (line); • trial period - it is necessary recognize if employee keep tempo, manage load and adapt to production process (Koutný and Hajduková, 2015). Result and discussion Ergonomics is general science which solves prevention against work injury and also occupational diseases - it can be loosely translated as rules of work. This statement is verifi ed by legislation. Process approach has to be implemented to reach goal of ergonomics - decreasing probability of work injuries or occupational disease.Technical and human principles can be identifi ed in this process. Human principle has to be implemented in case when number of work injuries decreasing to value where further decreasing is not verifi ed though some technical and organization countermeasures were realized (technical principle is not suffi cient) - interact view with synergic effect. Psycho hygiene Countermeasure can be named as psycho hygiene. It is collection of preventive rules, which compliance helps mental and body health of employee. It is instrument for optimization of risk factors effects on employee and leads to increase of work effi ciency and positive impact on employee psyche and endurance (Bender, 2015). As sample can be mentioned positive motivation for concrete organized unit as a small gift for all employees (from this unit) by keeping number of days without work injuries. This system is supported by visualization - visible screening of this number in front of entrance into work. Number of work injuries within date of last injury is screened on light table. Effect of social pressure is impacted by this programme. Employees check oncoming number of work injuries and they encourage each other to receive this goal. Employees feel bigger responsibility for collective success but there is some risk of negative pressure of unit to ignore small injuries. Work unit fulfi ls one of its functions and creates space for sharing common goals and values. Individual interest in benefi t for group is suppressed by acceptance of work without work injuries. This standard creates of relationships inside unit, infl uences and changes in group structures such as positions and roles. Successful employee is perceived as man who has no work injuries or is not on sickness leave. Individual behaviour in relation to injuries rate is changed and infl uenced by feeling of solidarity and unit acceptance. Employees used to go with each light work injury to company doctor before implementing of this system. Number of these employees was dramatically decreasing after acceptance of lower injury rate. Work unit and its standard has sometimes negative role - undesirable conformity. Individual interest is suppressed for benefi t of unit standard and social pressure. Individual who identifi ed with unit often changes his behaviour according to unit standard. Light work injury may not be presented because unit and its attitude to individual would not agree (Radkovský and Koutný, 2016). Some individuals are willing to do things which are in breach with their morale only to live without complication (Mikuláštík, 2015). Employees have to pass some periodical training and also possibility of abuse of this system is mentioned. Important countermeasure in range of psycho hygiene is also training on workplace. If employee is trained well, it is great premises that operation will be done easy and in time. pp. 55 - 60, DOI 10.2478/tvsbses-2018-0013 Transactions of the VSB - Technical university of Ostrava Safety Engineering Series, ISSN 1805-3238 Vol. XIII, No. 2, 2018 60 References Bender, P.U. Psychohygienic. [online]. Přerov, [cit. 2015-04-19]. Available at: http://www.prerov.eu/fi lemanager/ fi les/fi le.php?fi le=13803. (in Czech) Directive 89/391/EEC from 12th of June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. Duncan, L. et al. 2014. Ergonomic and the management of musculoskeletal disorders. 2nd edit. St. Louis: Butterworth Heinemann. Kohoutek, R. Psychology in work. [online]. Dictionary of foreign works ABZ [cit. 2015-04-19]. Available at:http:// slovnik-cizich-slov.abz.cz/web.php/hledat?cizi_slovo=Psychologie+pr%C3%A1ce&typ_hledani=prefix. (in Czech) Marek, J., Skřehot, P. 2009. Basics of applied ergonomics. 1st edit. Praha: VÚBP, v.v.i. (in Czech) Mikuláštík, M. 2015. Managerial psychology. 3rd edit. Praha: Grada Publishing. (in Czech) Koutny, P., Hajduková, Z. 2015. Implementation of ergonomics into practice as multidisciplinary branch. In: Bartlova, I.: Collection of contributions from 15. International conference (Ostrava SPBI), 49-52. (in Czech) Radkovský, J., Koutný, P. 2016. Positive motivation is tool for decreasing of work injuries of employee. 64 (11): 22-23. Human principle brought changes of view and focusing on employee as source of work injuries. Space for work psychology implementation (psycho hygiene and positive motivation) was opened. It is quite evident that synergic effect (linking technical and human principles) represents strong instrument for prevention against work injuries and occupational diseases. Work psychology as prevention against work injury has not such an effect as elimination of risk direct by source (cover of rotation parts, installation of lifting barriers, work standard procedure, new tools usage, improvement design of workplace, set up manage station, etc.) Implementation of work psychology can be start when prevalence work injuries caused by mistake or failure of employee (pinch hand between body and door from car, bad snapping, trip about obstacle, sleep by driving of car, etc.). In case of occupational diseases is situation different. It is clear that implementation of countermeasures on all workplaces in same timeis not time consuming as implementation on single workplace. Manage rotation can be mentioned as sample of implementation on many position in same time(Koutný and Hajduková, 2015). Work psychology as one of basic science branch of ergonomics was used for implementation of human principles into practice.It was demonstrated on two samples. Psycho hygiene was used as instrument for optimization of risk factors effects on employee and leads to increase of work effi ciency and positive impact on employee psyche and endurance. Positive motivation for concrete organized unit as a small gift for all employees (from this unit) by keeping number of days without work injurieswas used as second sample. Conclusion Ergonomics as science about work represents system in which some rules are valid and which includes subsystems (human-machine-work environment). These subsystems interact and complement each other. The goal of ergonomics can be reached by implementation of process where systematic approach is basis - focusing on ergonomics like on system in which subsystems are interacting and complementing each other. Synergic effect (technical and human principles effect) was presented on samples from practice where their relation in prevention was shown. pp. 55 - 60, DOI 10.2478/tvsbses-2018-0013