The Work Compatibility Improvement Framework: an integrated perspective of the human-at-work system

The industrial revolution demonstrated the limitations of a pure mechanistic approach towards work design. Human work is now seen as a complex entity that involves different scientific branches and blurs the line between mental and physical activities. Job design has been a traditional concern of applied psychology, which has provided insight into the interaction between the individual and the work environment. The goal of this paper is to introduce the human-at-work system as a holistic approach to organizational design. It postulates that the well-being of workers and work outcomes are issues that need to be addressed jointly, moving beyond traditional concepts of job satisfaction and work stress. The work compatibility model (WCM) is introduced as an engineering approach that seeks to integrate previous constructs of job and organizational design. The WCM seeks a balance between energy expenditure and replenishment. The implementation of the WCM in industrial settings is described within the context of the Work Compatibility Improvement Framework. A sample review of six models (motivation-hygiene theory; job characteristics theory; person-environment fit; demand-control model; and balance theory) provides the foundation for the interaction between the individual and the work environment. A review of three workload assessment methods (position analysis questionnaire, job task analysis and NASA task load index) gives an example of the foundation for the taxonomy of work environment domains. Previous models have sought to identify a balance state for the human-at-work system. They differentiated between the objective and subjective effects of the environment and the worker. An imbalance between the person and the environment has been proven to increase health risks. The WCM works with a taxonomy of 12 work domains classified in terms of the direct (acting) or indirect (experienced) effect on the worker. In terms of measurement, two quantitative methods are proposed to measure the state of the system. The first method introduced by Abdallah et al. (2004) identifies operating zones. The second method introduced by Salem et al. (2006) identifies the distribution of the work elements on the x/y coordinate plane. While previous efforts have identified some relevant elements of the systems, they failed to provide a holistic, quantitative approach combining organizational and human factors into a common framework. It is postulated that improving the well-being of workers will simultaneously improve organizational outcomes. The WCM moves beyond previous models by providing a hierarchical structure of work domains and a combination of methods to diagnose any organizational setting. The WCM is an attempt to achieve organizational excellence in human resource management, moving beyond job design to an integrated improvement strategy. A joint approach to organizational and job design will not only result in decreased prevalence of health risks, but in enhanced organizational effectiveness as well. The implementation of the WCM, that is, the Work Compatibility Improvement Framework, provides the basis for integrating different elements of the work environment into a single reliable construct. An improvement framework is essential to ensure that the measures of the WCM result in a system that is adaptive and self-regulated.     

The work compatibility improvement framework: an assessment of the worker-work environment interaction in the manufacturing sector

The manufacturing sector in the US is challenged by high health care costs and shortage of qualified workers, which are largely attributed to the degree of fit between the worker and work environment. In this regard, a healthy worker-work environment interface is a necessary and sufficient condition for the containment of health care costs and the retaining/attraction of highly qualified knowledge workers and should be based on the principles of optimum physical, cognitive and emotional health for the workers. In prior research, the Work Compatibility Improvement Framework (WCIF) was introduced as a vehicle to address these issues and was defined as the identification, improvement and maintenance of the well-being characteristics of the workforce and its interaction with the work environment through the application of engineering, medicine, management and human sciences methodologies, technologies and best practices. This paper advances WCIF by examining its applications in manufacturing with regard to the evaluation of working conditions impacting musculoskeletal/stress outcome measures. A study was conducted in a machining department of a bag packaging manufacturer in the Midwest of the United States. The work tasks were planned and executed with regard to the following aims: (1) to compute work compatibility as a function of work demands and energisers; (2) to establish whether the prevalence of musculoskeletal/stress disorders increases with a decrease in the quality of worker-work environment interface in terms of work compatibility level and other work factors such as shift and job category. A major finding is that a 'poor' work environment (a function of all work domains) results in musculoskeletal/stress disorders that are 105% and 67% higher than those for a 'good' work environment. The evening shift exhibited the poorest compatibility followed by the night shift relative to the day shift. Application of the work compatibility approach demonstrated the detection of non-added value work. It is essential to evaluate the various domains of worker-work environment interface to uncover the root causes that tend to sub-optimise the physical/cognitive/emotional health of the workforce. The WCIF was used to uncover the non-value added effort in the work process. These findings will have major implications for developing and implementing customised design interventions with the aim to maximise the benefit and reduce the cost of employees in a manufacturing enterprise. The study findings suggest that the WCIF should be pursued as a potential strategic tool for optimising human performance in an enterprise to create healthy workplaces.     

The relationships between work intensity,workaholism, burnout,and self‐reported musculoskeletal complaints

Technological advances within the work environment have dynamically changed the tools with which work is done and the methods applied for performing it, with a large amount of modern work being fast‐paced and sedentary in nature, that is, being done seated in front of a computer screen. This study investigated the relationship between work intensity, workaholism, burnout, and musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs). The results of this study could assist organizations in gaining a clearer understanding of how each of these constructs influences the other, promoting a healthier, and ultimately more productive workforce. A cross‐sectional research design was adopted and implemented by means of a survey amongst office employees within a large engineering services organization (n = 398). Structural equation modeling methods were applied to analyze the data. The results revealed that work intensity was positively related to workaholism and that workaholism was, in turn, also positively related to employees’ burnout and MSCs. Finally, burnout was also shown to be significantly related to MSCs. Awareness of these phenomena and the promotion of effort recovery is important to obviate the effects on employee health and well‐being in the long term.     

Performance tracking through the work compatibility model

The work compatibility model is a multidimensional diagnostic tool of human performance that measures the level of synchronization between the workforce and the work environment. The authors propose a quantitative model and a graphic‐based framework to implement the work compatibility model at the operational level. Using the proposed approach, managers can identify smart solutions that contribute to personnel development. The model is tested with data collected from a manufacturing company to analyze the behavior of the proposed indices. The implementation is exemplified by a case study. The work compatibility model is a forward‐looking approach to hidden aspects and potential deficiencies of the organization. Decision makers can provide targeted solutions to low‐performing elements of the work environment that are discovered through this tool. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 16: 133–153, 2006.     

The work compatibility improvement framework: an assessment of the worker–work environment interaction in the manufacturing sector

The manufacturing sector in the US is challenged by high health care costs and shortage of qualified workers, which are largely attributed to the degree of fit between the worker and work environment. In this regard, a healthy worker–work environment interface is a necessary and sufficient condition for the containment of health care costs and the retaining/attraction of highly qualified knowledge workers and should be based on the principles of optimum physical, cognitive and emotional health for the workers. In prior research, the Work Compatibility Improvement Framework (WCIF) was introduced as a vehicle to address these issues and was defined as the identification, improvement and maintenance of the well-being characteristics of the workforce and its interaction with the work environment through the application of engineering, medicine, management and human sciences methodologies, technologies and best practices. This paper advances WCIF by examining its applications in manufacturing with regard to the evaluation of working conditions impacting musculoskeletal/stress outcome measures. A study was conducted in a machining department of a bag packaging manufacturer in the Midwest of the United States. The work tasks were planned and executed with regard to the following aims: (1) to compute work compatibility as a function of work demands and energisers; (2) to establish whether the prevalence of musculoskeletal/stress disorders increases with a decrease in the quality of worker–work environment interface in terms of work compatibility level and other work factors such as shift and job category. A major finding is that a ‘poor’ work environment (a function of all work domains) results in musculoskeletal/stress disorders that are 105% and 67% higher than those for a ‘good’ work environment. The evening shift exhibited the poorest compatibility followed by the night shift relative to the day shift. Application of the work compatibility approach demonstrated the detection of non-added value work. It is essential to evaluate the various domains of worker–work environment interface to uncover the root causes that tend to sub-optimise the physical/cognitive/emotional health of the workforce. The WCIF was used to uncover the non-value added effort in the work process. These findings will have major implications for developing and implementing customised design interventions with the aim to maximise the benefit and reduce the cost of employees in a manufacturing enterprise. The study findings suggest that the WCIF should be pursued as a potential strategic tool for optimising human performance in an enterprise to create healthy workplaces.     

Physiological strain and decision making affected by different cooling tactics following live‐fire training

Multiple factors, including different environmental, physical, and psychophysiological agents, influence firefighters’ health and safety in real fire and rescue operations. This experimental study investigated the effect of live‐fire training and cooling strategies on both physiological response and decision making. Twenty‐three healthy male firefighters performed live‐fire tasks in four separate conditions: namely rest or without cooling method (WCM), cool vest (CV), forearm immersion (FI), and cool vest and forearm immersion (CV + FI). Cooling effects of the employed interventions were evaluated based on heart rate (HR), tympanic temperature (TT), and Iowa gambling task (IGT) scores. At the end of the four experimental conditions, HR and TT increased, whereas IGT scores as a measure of decision making decreased relative to baseline. HR (beats per minute) and TT (°C) were significantly lower at the end of the experiment in the CV, FI, and CV + FI compared with the WCM conditions. There was no significant difference in Iowa scores between experimental conditions. These consequences demonstrate that live‐fire tasks are effective in raising the physiological and decision‐making responses following firefighting activities. It is concluded that CV, FI, and CV + FI were more effective than the WCM in attenuating physiological responses and decision making during live‐fire training.     

Work compatibility: An integrated diagnostic tool for evaluating musculoskeletal responses to work and stress outcomes

Advances in human-based systems have progressed at a slower pace than those for technological systems. This is largely attributed to the complex web of variables that jointly influence work outcomes, making it more difficult to develop a quantitative methodology to solve this problem. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop and validate work compatibility as a diagnostic tool to evaluate musculoskeletal and stress outcomes. Work compatibility is defined as a latent variable integrating the positive and negative impact characteristics of work variables in the human-at-work system in the form of a prescribed relationship.

The theoretical basis of work compatibility is described at length in terms of concepts and models. In addition, approximate reasoning solutions for the compatibility variables are presented in terms of three models, namely, linear, ratio, and expert. A test case of 55 service workers in a hospital setting has been used to validate work compatibility with respect to severe musculoskeletal and high stress outcomes. The results have demonstrated that the expert compatibility model provided the stronger and more significant associations with work outcomes in comparison to the linear and ratio compatibility models. In conclusion, although the work compatibility validation is limited by both the cross-sectional design and sample size, the promising findings of this exploratory investigation suggest that further studies are warranted to investigate work compatibility as a diagnostic tool to evaluate musculoskeletal and stress outcomes in the workplace.     

Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders at work: Validation and reliability in a multicenter intervention study

During the years 1986–1989 The Finnish Work Environment Fund initiated a multicenter, intervention study (programme) to prevent musculoskeletal disorders at work. The programme consisted of four different projects comprising methodological, epidemiological, and interventive themes. The main results were as follows: (1) More than half of the occupational physiotherapists and physicians involved in the project felt that they did not have adequate training for testing the performance capacity of the musculoskeletal system. Several of the most commonly used musculoskeletal tests had either poor validity in predicting future musculoskeletal troubles or had poor reliability. (2) A controlled intervention study showed that active training of neck-shoulder muscles can prevent musculoskeletal troubles, even more than ergonomic actions. (3) It is possible to reduce sick-leave due to low-back disorders by intervention measures directed toward both the work (environment, tools) and the workers (working methods, positive attitude to work, preparedness to keep fit). (4) The identification of ergonomic hazards with the help of teamwork proved to be feasible. The practical improvements, however, were difficult to implement in the prevailing conditions. Some of the improvements increased the work load and the stress of the workers. This aspect needs further consideration.     

Understanding the link between psychosocial work stressors and work-related musculoskeletal complaints

It is well established that psychosocial work stressors relate to employees' work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) symptoms. Using a model investigating psychological strain as a mediator between work stressors and WRMSD complaints, this study demonstrated that high levels role conflict, low job control, and low safety-specific leadership are associated with increased employee strain. Strain, in turn, was related to higher levels of WRMSD symptoms of the wrist/hand, shoulders, and lower back. Partial mediation of some relationships was also found, suggesting that additional meditational mechanisms for the relationships between stressors and musculoskeletal symptoms are plausible. This work supports the notion that psychosocial stressors in the work environment have important links to employee health, especially WRMSDs.     

Perceived musculoskeletal symptoms among dental students in the clinic work environment

Musculoskeletal symptoms are a major concern among dental practitioners. Dental students perform the same clinical tasks as dentists in private practice, yet only recently has scientific evidence suggested a relationship between the tasks and musculoskeletal symptoms. This study investigates the clinical tasks that place students at physical risk and the relationship between the tasks and musculoskeletal symptoms. Student perceptions of physical symptoms were established with a questionnaire identifying variables on general health, tasks, physical demands, workload and environment. A total of 61% (358/590) reported that during the past year they experienced musculoskeletal symptoms related to work at dental school (second year (n = 212), third year (n = 201) and fourth year (n = 177)). Of those students, the neck represented 48%, shoulder 31%, back 44% and hands 20% (p < 0.001). Third year students reported the highest occurrence of symptoms in every body area (p < 0.001). Third and fourth year students reported significant relationships between the occurrence of symptoms and equipment utilisation, work efficiency and general health. Further studies are recommended to evaluate types and levels of potential risk factors. A total of 75% of dental practitioners are at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Results from this study have found that dental students were no exception. Third year dental students reported the highest level of musculoskeletal symptoms with the prevalence of pain in the neck, shoulder and lower back.     

Flexible workspace design and ergonomics training: impacts on the psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, and work effectiveness among knowledge workers

A macroergonomics intervention consisting of flexible workspace design and ergonomics training was conducted to examine the effects on psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, and work effectiveness in a computer-based office setting. Knowledge workers were assigned to one of four conditions: flexible workspace (n=121), ergonomics training (n=92), flexible workspace+ergonomics training (n=31), and a no-intervention control (n=45). Outcome measures were collected 2 months prior to the intervention and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Overall, the study results indicated positive, significant effects on the outcome variables for the two intervention groups compared to the control group, including work-related musculoskeletal discomfort, job control, environmental satisfaction, sense of community, ergonomic climate, communication and collaboration, and business process efficiency (time and costs). However, attrition of workers in the ergonomics training condition precluded an evaluation of the effects of this intervention. This study suggests that a macroergonomics intervention is effective among knowledge workers in office settings.     

The concept of work compatibility: An integrated design criterion for improving workplace human performance in manufacturing systems

In this paper, we present the concept of work compatibility as an integrated work design criterion that simultaneously improves human health and safety, productivity, and work quality in manufacturing systems. In this respect, we have modeled work compatibility as a work design parameter that mathematically integrates the energizing (i.e., system resources) and the demand (i.e., system requirements) forces in the work system. A mathematical equation has been derived for the work compatibility matrix. Furthermore, an operating zone has been developed in which there is a region of optimality for the employee to function on practical grounds with a good degree of efficiency and sustainability. An application example is provided to demonstrate the potential of work compatibility to improve productivity and quality along with improvement in worker safety and health. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 14: 379–402, 2004.     

Exploring time‐dependent symptom outcomes in office staff

This article illustrates the application of a new mathematical model developed for the study of time‐dependent health outcomes for office staff during computer work. The model describes the time‐dependent associations of computer usage with outcomes expressed as discomfort in multiple body regions. The association is explicitly presented with a functional relationship that is parameterized by body regions. The validation of the model demonstrated accuracy in reproducing the observed quantities for the study population. Therefore, we used this model to assess the impact of computer‐related work exposure on discomfort in different body regions among office staff to better understand the behavior of musculoskeletal and other symptoms. The exposures and outcomes were recorded parallel in time as usage of keyboard and mouse and with diaries of discomfort. The body regions of neck/shoulders, eyes, head, shoulder joint/upper arm, and upper back were identified to have the highest discomfort levels and rates for the development of discomfort parallel with exposures. Most of our findings are consistent with the literature. The developed mathematical methodology may be used to understand how the human body reacts to computer work to further prevent potential musculoskeletal and other disorders. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Neck/shoulder and low-back disorders in the forestry industry: relationship to work tasks and perceived psychosocial job stress

In a national cross-sectional study, the prevalence of neck/shoulder and low-back disorders and their relationship to work tasks and perceived psychosocial job stress was studied among forestry employees. The data were collected by occupational health service staff using Karasek's demand/control questionnaire for the psychosocial measures and the Standardized Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal disorders. Based on data about past and present work tasks, the study population was classified into three groups: 645 manual workers, 66 machine operators and 124 administrative workers. Low-back disorders were more common among the manual workers than among the administrative workers \[odds ratio (OR) = 1.98]. For the machine operators and manual workers, an increasing level of psychological demands was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of low-back disorders. The prevalence of neck/ shoulder disorders was significantly higher among the machine operators (OR = 3.37) and manual workers (OR = 2.34) than among the administrative workers. An increasing level of psychological demands combined with a decreasing level of intellectual discretion was associated with an increased prevalence of neck/shoulder disorders. Authority over decisions was not associated with musculoskeletal disorders. In conclusion, musculoskeletal disorders were associated with both physical and psychosocial work factors. The modest strength of the associations between each individual independent variable and the outcome measure shows, however, that a substantial reduction in the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders may be difficult to achieve. Nevertheless, the study clearly suggests that in the forestry industry attention should be paid to psychosocial work factors in future organizational changes and preventive programmes.     

Perceived musculoskeletal symptoms among dental students in the clinic work environment

Musculoskeletal symptoms are a major concern among dental practitioners. Dental students perform the same clinical tasks as dentists in private practice, yet only recently has scientific evidence suggested a relationship between the tasks and musculoskeletal symptoms. This study investigates the clinical tasks that place students at physical risk and the relationship between the tasks and musculoskeletal symptoms. Student perceptions of physical symptoms were established with a questionnaire identifying variables on general health, tasks, physical demands, workload and environment. A total of 61% (358/590) reported that during the past year they experienced musculoskeletal symptoms related to work at dental school (second year (n = 212), third year (n = 201) and fourth year (n = 177)). Of those students, the neck represented 48%, shoulder 31%, back 44% and hands 20% (p < 0.001). Third year students reported the highest occurrence of symptoms in every body area (p < 0.001). Third and fourth year students reported significant relationships between the occurrence of symptoms and equipment utilisation, work efficiency and general health. Further studies are recommended to evaluate types and levels of potential risk factors. A total of 75% of dental practitioners are at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Results from this study have found that dental students were no exception. Third year dental students reported the highest level of musculoskeletal symptoms with the prevalence of pain in the neck, shoulder and lower back.     

Application of the relative summary climatic indices during work in heat for ergonomic purposes

A new method was elaborated for the evaluation of work-heat load. Two indices of heat stress were introduced, the so-called 'climatic heat'--Hcl (a sum of convective, radiation, respiration and maximum evaporation heat), and the 'total heat'--Htot (a sum of metabolic and climatic heat). It is an adapted thermal balance equation in which the evaporation heat was replaced with maximum evaporation heat. This enabled the quantification of climatic load also in the normothermic region, where stored heat S=0. The applicability of these indices is given by the fact that so-called heat heart rate (HRh) is in good correlation with them. The above mentioned indices were used in the relative values of the 'quotient of heat stress' (Qdif,H) and of the 'grade of heat strain' (Gdif,H). These variables are basically a relation between real load and 'permissible' load to which a healthy adult male can be exposed for 8 h without an increase in his body temperature. In this paper, equations for calculation of those relative values according to heat stress indices are introduced. The relative indices show how many times is the real HRh larger (or smaller) than its permissible value (= 20 min(-1)). By joining the relative heat stress indices with the relative work load indices (Qdif,W and Gdif,W, respectively) the index of work-heat load is obtained. The permissible work heart rate (= 30 min(-1)), which corresponds with the energetic output in males (approximately 250 W). The work-heat strain grade (Gdif,WH) can be used for the quantification of load, for the determination of the rest allowance, of the necessary recovery time and for the determination of a suitable regime of work and rest in general. The permissible values of climatic elements under a given physical load, and the admissible duration of exposure under different climatic conditions and different muscle load intensities can be determined.     

Prevention of work‐related musculoskeletal disorders in a chemical plant in Taiwan and a comparison of three assessment tools

Work‐related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) caused by a poor working environment or an improper work design are the most common occupational diseases seriously affecting workers’ health, causing huge economic losses in many countries. Thus, the prevention of WMSDs is considered a priority issue worldwide. In this study, three ergonomics analysis tools and a statistic analysis were used to assess the risk level of exposure to WMSDs and to find improvements for the operations in a chemical plant. The applicability of these tools was also evaluated. Results of the analysis suggest that, to greatly prevent the incidence of WMSDs, a mobile elevating platform should be adopted to adjust the handling height of material bags at 90 cm, allowing the operators to stand in front of them to hold their short or long sides. Among the tools, key indicator methods–manual handling operation methods (KIM‐MHO) have the highest sensitivity.     

Checkout cashier work and counter design – Video movement analysis, musculoskeletal disorders and customer interaction

This study was conducted in order to analyse checkout cashiers’ movements at a checkout counter during interaction with customers and the prevalence of work-related stress and musculoskeletal disorders in checkout cashiers. In one shop, six cashiers were videotaped during the workday, and 50 cashiers from seven shops from the same chain of stores responded a questionnaire. Cashier activities and movements, customer interaction and counter design issues were analysed from the video data. Prevalence of work-related stress and musculoskeletal disorders was obtained from the questionnaire. It was found that 76% of all items were manually turned or angled. With a better adjustment of the scanner and a standardised positioning of the EAN-code, many of these movements could be avoided. Furthermore the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was quite high (68% for the neck). The questionnaire results showed that many cashiers experienced stress, giving a high percentage of cashiers in the “dedication under pressure” group. The behaviour of the customers was the major cause of stress. Other sources of stress arose from bad design or function of the computer system or other technical equipment.

Relevance to industry

In this study several problems regarding cashier work were identified and solutions, relevant to counter and package designers, shop managers and cashiers are suggested. Data obtained on cashier movements and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders are given.     

A bio‐inspired approach for regulating and measuring visco‐elastic properties of a robot arm

This work focuses on interaction control of robot manipulators in unstructured environments, with special regard for situations of unpredictable contact/noncontact transitions. It is basically addressed to those environments where a high level of robot adaptability is required and no information on the geometry of the environment is available. By pointing out the main limitations of standard interaction control schemes in managing situations of contact/noncontact transitions, this paper proposes a new control solution that is inspired by the biological model of motor control in voluntary movements. It consists of a combination of a feedforward loop and a proportional‐derivative plus gravity compensation control in the feedback loop. The control law is named coactivation‐based compliance control in the joint space since a unique function, called coactivation function, is evaluated for regulating robot visco‐elasticity in an unpredictably variable environment. It resumes the mechanism of adjustable visco‐elastic properties acting on the agonist and antagonist muscles of a human arm. The work also proposes a methodology for evaluating performance of interaction control schemes that is based on stiffness graphical representation through ellipses. The method replicates the experimental setup used in neuroscience to measure stiffness in human limbs. It is regarded as a powerful tool for evaluating robot behavior over space and time, since it allows both a visual representation of stiffness variation during motion and a quantitative measure of robot performance. It is shown how the method can be used to evaluate a control scheme and how it can provide indications to improve a control law. In this paper, an application to the standard compliance control in the joint space and the coactivation‐based compliance control is presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Stress, computer-based work monitoring and measurement systems: a conceptual overview

The design and implementation of computer-based work monitoring systems can result in changes in the organization, job and task. Electronic performance monitoring (EPM) systems are one type of change based on principles of work simplification and work rationalization. In this new work arrangement, control and coordination functions are allocated to the computer. The supervisor becomes a monitor of information and primarily provides negative performance feedback to the employee. The employee is constrained in his/her ability to use either job resources or social resources to meet the greater demands resulting from the system controlling the pace of work. It is proposed that these work arrangements provoke stress responses in employees that can result in short-term illness and potentially long-term changes in health status. Information enriched work environments are proposed as an alternative. These new work arrangements could improve job resources and social resources to manage job demands and reduce the potentially damaging stress responses. To provide a frame of reference we focus on the impact of EPM systems on the organizational and job elements involved in provoking individual stress responses. The impact of EPM systems on individual health is described using a psychosocial stress framework. Ergonomics interventions discussed include: participation in the design process; allocation of control and coordination functions between the computer and the employee; development of feedback systems; and work measurement and the development of performance appraisal systems.