Low-floor buses with folding ramp access represent a significant improvement in accessible public... more Low-floor buses with folding ramp access represent a significant improvement in accessible public transit for passengers with mobility disabilities. However, the safety and usability aspects of the interior design of low-floor buses on blind and visually impaired users has not been studied in much detail. A laboratory study was completed using a static full-scale simulation of a low-floor bus to evaluate the impact of seating configuration and crowding on interior movement and accessibility for individuals with (n=18)) and without visual impairments (n=17). The protocol simulated bus journeys including boarding, fare payment, seating, and alighting. Results from video observations and subjective assessments showed differences in boarding and alighting performance and users’ perceptions of task difficulty across different bus layout designs The results suggest the need for more supportive design features (e.g. guide rails, handholds), legroom, and space for guide dogs too improve accommodation for passengers who are visually impaired. Such design improvements will also support a universal design approach that takes into consideration the needs of a diverse passenger population.
Stairways into building or public vehicles are important environmental barriers that limit access... more Stairways into building or public vehicles are important environmental barriers that limit accessibility to users of wheeled mobility devices. Powered van lifts can serve as an alternative to stairs, ramps or porch lifts, but they have not yet been carefully evaluated for this purpose. The objectives of this study were to characterize the usability of a powered van lift device for wheelchair users and demonstrate the utility of using a multi-method evaluation approach to identify opportunities for design improvements. Twenty experienced wheeled mobility device users either alone (n=11) or with the assistance of a caregiver (n=9) completed tasks using a powered van lift. Measurements were made on the unrestricted space required to enter and exit the lift, time required to enter and exit the lift, errors made during the operation of the lift's control, and self-reports of device usability obtained with a questionnaire. Results indicated that the clear space required for the lift was less than what would be expected for a ramp and that the self-reported usability of the device was reasonably good. However, the time required to use the lift was high and participants had difficulty operating the lift's safety-belt. Improvements should be made to the design of the safety-belt to increase usability. Additional studies that include other user populations are recommended to investigate the efficacy of the device as an alternative to stairs, ramps and “porch” lifts.
While observing six simulated construction tasks in the field, trained analysts recorded arm, tru... more While observing six simulated construction tasks in the field, trained analysts recorded arm, trunk and leg postures categorically with two fixed-interval observational protocols. Observations were compared to measurements obtained with an electronic postural assessment system coupled with video analysis. The electronic postural assessment system consisted of electronic inclinometers to measure upper arm posture, knee flexion and trunk flexion, coveralls to house the inclinometer wiring, and an eletrogoniometric system to measure trunk lateral bending and twisting. Video analysis included frozen-frame analysis that corresponded to the moment of observation and simulated real-time analysis. Measurements were made on five male participants who each performed three tasks representative of construction laborers' work. Agreement among the observational and reference methods was generally high, although significant differences in measured frequency of exposure existed for knee flexion, trunk lateral bending and trunk twisting. The results suggest that, under appropriate conditions, discrete observations can be used to obtain reasonably accurate estimates of exposure frequency for broad categories of certain body postures.
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
This study investigated some potential sources of error, and their consequences, across different... more This study investigated some potential sources of error, and their consequences, across different types of anthropometric measurement methods. The measurement methods included use of traditional anthropometric instruments, as well as two versions of an electromechanical approach that recorded three-dimensional locations of body parts. Several errors were hypothesized to be from aspects related to human information processing and their interaction with differing methods. Measurements obtained with the traditional approach and two versions of the electromechanical approach were then compared for two experienced anthropometrists who each took 72 measurements on a cadaveric forearm while it was clothed and unclothed. ANOVA demonstrated that there were differences in measurement consistency between individuals, measurement methods and clothing conditions. This study was an initial attempt to investigate the potential sources of error within anthropometric measurements via focusing on the...
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Precision work has been shown to impose physical demands over and above similar work that does no... more Precision work has been shown to impose physical demands over and above similar work that does not require precision, but few studies have evaluated the effects of such work on the musculoskeletal stress of the upper extremities. Repetitive tasks that involved moving between a Home disk and a precision target were studied. The movements from the Home to the target were divided into a ballistic phase, followed by a slower homing-in phase. Work in two layouts, with the target in front of, or to the side of the Home disk, and three levels of precision were investigated for each phase of the home-to-target movement. Wrist and forearm postures and joint velocities were significantly different (P < 0.05) during the ballistic and homing in phases of travel for 21 of the 24 indices considered. Postures changed rapidly during the ballistic, but were sustained during the homing-in phase. Work in the forward versus side layouts produced statistically different joint angles and velocities (P...
Increasing attention has been drawn to the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (... more Increasing attention has been drawn to the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among surgeons in various medical specialties; however, the risk of work-related MSDs among gynecologic surgeons has not received much attention. This study aimed to investigate the postural load among gynecologic surgeons for various surgical tasks during vaginal surgery. The frequency and percentage of duration of awkward upper body postures experienced by vaginal surgeons during eleven different vaginal surgical tasks observed during thirteen surgeries were collected using a new observational ergonomic job analysis tool, Ergonomic Posture Assessment in Real Time (ErgoPART). Results indicate that the postural loading is high for many surgical tasks but that the frequency and duration of awkward neck, shoulder, and trunk postures is variable across tasks. Surgeons’ postural load was significantly higher for the transvaginal hysterectomy compared to others. This task, in particular...
Low-floor buses with folding ramp access represent a significant improvement in accessible public... more Low-floor buses with folding ramp access represent a significant improvement in accessible public transit for passengers with mobility disabilities. However, the safety and usability aspects of the interior design of low-floor buses on blind and visually impaired users has not been studied in much detail. A laboratory study was completed using a static full-scale simulation of a low-floor bus to evaluate the impact of seating configuration and crowding on interior movement and accessibility for individuals with (n=18)) and without visual impairments (n=17). The protocol simulated bus journeys including boarding, fare payment, seating, and alighting. Results from video observations and subjective assessments showed differences in boarding and alighting performance and users’ perceptions of task difficulty across different bus layout designs The results suggest the need for more supportive design features (e.g. guide rails, handholds), legroom, and space for guide dogs too improve accommodation for passengers who are visually impaired. Such design improvements will also support a universal design approach that takes into consideration the needs of a diverse passenger population.
Stairways into building or public vehicles are important environmental barriers that limit access... more Stairways into building or public vehicles are important environmental barriers that limit accessibility to users of wheeled mobility devices. Powered van lifts can serve as an alternative to stairs, ramps or porch lifts, but they have not yet been carefully evaluated for this purpose. The objectives of this study were to characterize the usability of a powered van lift device for wheelchair users and demonstrate the utility of using a multi-method evaluation approach to identify opportunities for design improvements. Twenty experienced wheeled mobility device users either alone (n=11) or with the assistance of a caregiver (n=9) completed tasks using a powered van lift. Measurements were made on the unrestricted space required to enter and exit the lift, time required to enter and exit the lift, errors made during the operation of the lift&#39;s control, and self-reports of device usability obtained with a questionnaire. Results indicated that the clear space required for the lift was less than what would be expected for a ramp and that the self-reported usability of the device was reasonably good. However, the time required to use the lift was high and participants had difficulty operating the lift&#39;s safety-belt. Improvements should be made to the design of the safety-belt to increase usability. Additional studies that include other user populations are recommended to investigate the efficacy of the device as an alternative to stairs, ramps and “porch” lifts.
While observing six simulated construction tasks in the field, trained analysts recorded arm, tru... more While observing six simulated construction tasks in the field, trained analysts recorded arm, trunk and leg postures categorically with two fixed-interval observational protocols. Observations were compared to measurements obtained with an electronic postural assessment system coupled with video analysis. The electronic postural assessment system consisted of electronic inclinometers to measure upper arm posture, knee flexion and trunk flexion, coveralls to house the inclinometer wiring, and an eletrogoniometric system to measure trunk lateral bending and twisting. Video analysis included frozen-frame analysis that corresponded to the moment of observation and simulated real-time analysis. Measurements were made on five male participants who each performed three tasks representative of construction laborers&#39; work. Agreement among the observational and reference methods was generally high, although significant differences in measured frequency of exposure existed for knee flexion, trunk lateral bending and trunk twisting. The results suggest that, under appropriate conditions, discrete observations can be used to obtain reasonably accurate estimates of exposure frequency for broad categories of certain body postures.
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
This study investigated some potential sources of error, and their consequences, across different... more This study investigated some potential sources of error, and their consequences, across different types of anthropometric measurement methods. The measurement methods included use of traditional anthropometric instruments, as well as two versions of an electromechanical approach that recorded three-dimensional locations of body parts. Several errors were hypothesized to be from aspects related to human information processing and their interaction with differing methods. Measurements obtained with the traditional approach and two versions of the electromechanical approach were then compared for two experienced anthropometrists who each took 72 measurements on a cadaveric forearm while it was clothed and unclothed. ANOVA demonstrated that there were differences in measurement consistency between individuals, measurement methods and clothing conditions. This study was an initial attempt to investigate the potential sources of error within anthropometric measurements via focusing on the...
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Precision work has been shown to impose physical demands over and above similar work that does no... more Precision work has been shown to impose physical demands over and above similar work that does not require precision, but few studies have evaluated the effects of such work on the musculoskeletal stress of the upper extremities. Repetitive tasks that involved moving between a Home disk and a precision target were studied. The movements from the Home to the target were divided into a ballistic phase, followed by a slower homing-in phase. Work in two layouts, with the target in front of, or to the side of the Home disk, and three levels of precision were investigated for each phase of the home-to-target movement. Wrist and forearm postures and joint velocities were significantly different (P < 0.05) during the ballistic and homing in phases of travel for 21 of the 24 indices considered. Postures changed rapidly during the ballistic, but were sustained during the homing-in phase. Work in the forward versus side layouts produced statistically different joint angles and velocities (P...
Increasing attention has been drawn to the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (... more Increasing attention has been drawn to the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among surgeons in various medical specialties; however, the risk of work-related MSDs among gynecologic surgeons has not received much attention. This study aimed to investigate the postural load among gynecologic surgeons for various surgical tasks during vaginal surgery. The frequency and percentage of duration of awkward upper body postures experienced by vaginal surgeons during eleven different vaginal surgical tasks observed during thirteen surgeries were collected using a new observational ergonomic job analysis tool, Ergonomic Posture Assessment in Real Time (ErgoPART). Results indicate that the postural loading is high for many surgical tasks but that the frequency and duration of awkward neck, shoulder, and trunk postures is variable across tasks. Surgeons’ postural load was significantly higher for the transvaginal hysterectomy compared to others. This task, in particular...
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