Packing products for customers: an ergonomics evaluation of three supermarket checkouts

The introduction of laser scanners at supermarket checkout areas has resulted in previous ergonomics studies focusing specifically on the scanning process and associated cumulative trauma disorders in the hands and arms. Few studies have evaluated the increased musculoskeletal load and exertion of checkout staff when they are also expected to pack the products into bags for the customers. This paper describes an ergonomics evaluation of three different designs of checkout workstation, which require the operator to stand when they scan the products, pack them into plastic bags and transfer the packed bags to the customer. Musculoskeletal load and exertion associated with the different checkouts were measured using OWAS, heart rate recordings and ratings of perceived exertion. In addition, subjective rankings of the workstations were obtained and the productivity associated with each design examined as part of the evaluation. Some of the variables measured showed significant differences in postural load between the workstations. The results of the evaluation formed the basis of recommendations for an improved workstation design. Some of the suggestions made to reduce postural load and increase productivity include positioning the weigh scale to the side and the bag frame beneath the scanner.     

Self reported symptoms in the neck and upper limbs in nurses

This paper describes a cross-sectional study which examines musculoskeletal symptoms in nurses working in two similar units in a residential care centre for the developmentally disabled. Amongst the 30 nurses who were administered the Nordic Questionnaire, neck and upper limb symptoms had resulted in considerable inability to perform work. In contrast, a similar incidence of reported back symptoms in these nurses had not prevented them from doing their work.

An examination of the worker's compensation claims made by nurses from the whole facility showed low back claims to be more common than neck and upper limb claims. It appears that nurses are more likely to make a worker's compensation claim for low back symptoms than neck and upper limb symptoms. In other words, worker's compensation claims do not accurately reflect the types of musculoskeletal symptoms actually experienced by nurses and affecting their ability to do their work.

Five nurses from each unit were also observed during the entire morning and afternoon shifts to examine the work load and the effects of fatigue on the musculoskeletal system. Heart rate measurements and ratings of perceived exertion were taken. Activities performed and types of transfers carried out were also recorded.

Nurses in one of the units had significantly more reported neck and shoulder symptoms than their counterparts. Observations of a sample of five nurses from each unit also showed higher ratings of perceived exertion in this unit. These differences were possibly confounded by the fact that nurses in the unit which experienced these problems were about 8 cm shorter and about 5 kg lighter than their counterparts. Differences in the work practices in the two units, especially methods of manual handling and use of ergonomic interventions were identified as important contributing factors.     

Save your back!

Health care legislation is of key interest to many citizens of Michigan today. State Senator Dianne Byrum (D-Lansing) has worked diligently as an advocate in health care legislation over the past three years, and continues to develop safe-guards for patients in the managed care and insurance systems. Sen. Byrum hopes to create legislation that will "engage Michigan in dialogue on public policy aspects of health care and how it's changing in terms of providers and consumers." She currently serves as the Democratic Vice-Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee and recently worked at the committee level on the Patient Bill of Rights-which was signed into law on December 31, 1996.     

A new method for synchronous generator core quality evaluation

A new technique for detecting the presence and severity of inter-laminar short circuits as well as estimating the status of core compression (or looseness) in laminated magnetic cores of synchronous generators, with a single test equipment is demonstrated in this paper. The core loss measurement obtained from a flux injection probe that injects flux (of varying amplitude, frequency, and wave-shape) into two nominally adjacent teeth over a localized region, is used as an indicator for detecting and distinguishing the two fault conditions. An injection probe system was developed and tested, in the laboratory, using stacks of full size generator laminations with various induced fault conditions. The injection probe was shown to detect the presence of shorted laminations at the bottom of the slot and to gauge the degree of core compression or looseness. In addition, a unique differential probe was developed and tested to demonstrate the capability of detecting as few as five shorted laminations.     

An iron core probe based inter-laminar core fault detection technique for generator stator cores

A new technique for detecting incipient inter-laminar insulation failure of laminated stator cores of large generators is proposed in this paper. The proposed scheme is a low flux induction method that employs a novel probe for core testing. The new probe configuration, which uses magnetic material and is scanned in the wedge depression area, significantly improves the sensitivity of fault detection as well as user convenience compared to existing methods. Experimental results from various test generators tested in factory, field, and lab environments under a number of fault conditions are presented to verify the sensitivity and reliability of the proposed scheme.     

Experimental study of inter-laminar core fault detection techniques based on low flux core excitation

A comparison between two inter-laminar stator core insulation failure detection techniques for generators based on low flux core excitation is presented in this paper. The two techniques under consideration are: 1) the iron core probe based method developed recently and 2) the existing air core probe based method. A qualitative comparison of the two techniques is presented along with an experimental comparison on a 120-MW generator stator core. The test results are compared in terms of fault detection sensitivity, signal to noise ratio, and ease of interpretation, which are the main requirements for stator core inspection. In addition to the comparison, the performance of the iron core probe technique for machines with short wedge depression depth is presented along with the recent improvements in the algorithm. It is shown that the main requirements for stator core inspection are significantly enhanced with the new iron core probe-based core fault detector.     

In Vivo Electrical Stimulation Using Multichannel Photolithographic Electrode Atrays

Multichannel electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve is demonstrated in a cat model using photolithographic electrode arrays. Evoked potentials from the auditory cortex are used to map the location of fibers activated by different electrodes in the array. The evoked responses obtained are equivalent to those produced by fine wire electrodes currently used for functional stimulation of the auditory system.     

Observer performance in detecting multiple radiographic signals. Prediction and analysis using a generalized ROC approach

This inquire demonstrated that transfusion malaria was not so rare as we thought. So 56 cases have been numbered between 1960 and 1974, and probably they do not reflect exactly the real situation. In our country, plasmodium falciparum, specifically responsible of the most serious accidents, is the form most frequently incriminated and its frequency increases among the years: 76,1% of the infects between 1970 and 1974. At last we have confirmed that a prevent of those accidents must consider as a subject any one having resided in an impaluded country, and that implies a constant knowledge of the epidemiologic map of this parisitism. This prevent will be increased so that the transfusion malaria will not get a illness disease in France.     

Evaluation of the seating of Qantas flight deck crew

In 1985 Qantas Airways (Australia) requested an ergonomics assessment of three pilots' seats so that one could be selected for fitting in all new aircraft as well replacement in existing aircraft. The Ipeco seat was chosen. In 1991, after all aircraft were fitted with the Ipeco seats, the company then requested a further evaluation of the seat to see if it was acceptable to the pilots and if there were any outstanding problems. A seat feature checklist plus a body chart discomfort rating scale was given to the total crew of 1030 pilots. The results from the 202 respondents indicated that although the pilots found the Ipeco seat an improvement on the Weber seat there were some modifications required. The main problems included insufficient adjustment range of the lumbar support area and the thigh supports, and infrequent replacement of the seat cushion. The body charts supported the checklist results in that the main areas of discomfort indicated were the buttocks and low back. Recommendations for improvements in design of the Ipeco seat, training in use and maintenance are presented. The method used in this study has application for field assessment of seating in a wide range of occupations, particularly bus drivers, truck drivers and train drivers, who spend long hours seated without being able to take breaks.