Advances in Ergonomics and Safety

A special issue of Safety (ISSN 2313-576X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2024 | Viewed by 597

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
ALGORITMI Research Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
Interests: human factors and ergonomics; occupational safety; occupational hygiene; aerospace human factors; science promotion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. ALGORITMI Centre, School of Engineering, Production and Systems Department, University of Minho, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal
2. DTx Digital Transformation Colab, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biomechanics; applied ergonomics; occupational safety and hygiene; human-centric design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current competition in the global labor market requires companies to implement flexible, efficient, and resilient workplaces. However, in occupational settings, there remain several problems, namely the exposure of workers to cognitive and physical overload, awkward postures, and monotonous and repetitive work (among other risk factors). These risk factors can negatively affect workers' health and productivity, compromising their well-being and representing a barrier to the creation of resilient, healthy, and safe workplaces. Therefore, the research domains of Safety and Ergonomics are highly relevant and this Special Issue therefore addresses the following topics:

  • Prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders;
  • Ergonomic assessment;
  • Human-centric design of workplaces;
  • Impact of human factors on the digital transformation of working systems.

Thus, scientists and practitioners are encouraged to publish their experimental and applied research relating to Safety and Ergonomics in order to enhance the state of the art in the design and assessment of tasks, workplaces, machines, tools, and systems, aiming to achieve safe, effective, and productive human activities.

Prof. Dr. Pedro Arezes
Dr. Ana Sofia de Pinho Colim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Safety is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human factors
  • ergonomic assessment
  • work-related musculoskeletal disorders
  • human-centric design
  • digital transformation

Published Papers (1 paper)

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12 pages, 5338 KiB  
Case Report
Assessing the Short-Term Effects of Dual Back-Support Exoskeleton within Logistics Operations
by André Cardoso, Ana Colim, Paula Carneiro, Nélson Costa, Sérgio Gomes, Abel Pires and Pedro Arezes
Safety 2024, 10(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10030056 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 186
Abstract
Logistics activities involve significant risk factors for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), particularly low back pain. Exoskeletons have emerged as potential solutions to mitigate these risks. This study assesses the short-term effects of dual passive back-support exoskeletons (Auxivo and Htrius) on [...] Read more.
Logistics activities involve significant risk factors for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), particularly low back pain. Exoskeletons have emerged as potential solutions to mitigate these risks. This study assesses the short-term effects of dual passive back-support exoskeletons (Auxivo and Htrius) on WMSD risk factors in logistics operations. Two workstations were evaluated using self-report ratings, postural assessment, and surface electromyography (EMG). The results indicate that both exoskeletons provided relief and support during tasks, with Htrius showing a slight advantage. Exoskeletons reduced perceived exertion, especially during trunk flexion tasks, and improved posture, particularly in tasks involving manual lifting loads at lower height levels. While variations in muscular activity were observed, the Htrius exoskeleton showed a trend of reducing lumbar muscle activity. Overall, Htrius demonstrated promise in improving workers’ comfort, safety, and efficiency, potentially reducing WMSD risk and muscular fatigue. However, individual preferences and workplace-specific characteristics should be considered when selecting exoskeleton models. Future research should explore the effects on different loads, genders, and EMG of different muscles to further enhance the understanding and application of exoskeletons in occupational contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ergonomics and Safety)
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