Workstations Ergonomic Evaluation - INAIL

General Info

Applied research program

Application of evaluation methods and ergonomic design integrated to workstations and high-handed industrial machineries, in small and medium manufacturing industry with particular attention to older workers.

Typology 

Contract for research contribution between: INAIL Tuscany, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work - Regional Directorate for Tuscany

DIDA, Department of Architecture, University of Florence

Period

2017-2018

Coordination:

Francesca Tosi (Scientific Responsible) - Department of Architecture DIDA - University of Florence

Mattia Pistolesi (Coordination) - Department of Architecture DIDA - University of Florence

With 

Ocem 2 srl (Firenze)

Gilbarco srl (Firenze)

Baker Huges, a GE Company (Firenze)

Collaborators

Alessia Brischetto, Claudia Becchimanzi, Angelo Iannotta, Giovanni Santoro - Department of Architecture DIDA - University of Florence

OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAM

General Objective 

The general objective of the research is the realization of Guidelines for the application of the methods and intervention procedures aimed at the integrated ergonomic evaluation of the risk conditions, connected to the use of highly manual industrial machinery in the small and medium manufacturing enterprise, with specific attention to critical factors related to the elderly worker. The methodological-procedural tool, based on the methods of analysis of the dimensional and postural risk factors inherent to occupational biomechanics, and the methods of assessing usability and the safety of use of workstations of the User-Centred Design and of the Ergonomics for Design, allow the identification of the main critical factors and the definition of the intervention criteria for the adaptation or redesign of the workstations aimed at guaranteeing safety, efficiency and well-being of workers.

The contribution of the Ergonomics & Design Laboratory (LED)

The innovative contribution of the research program is the integration of expertise and methodologies of Occupational Ergonomics and User-Centered Design - which are components of Ergonomics traditionally aimed at the study of workstations - and in the experimental elaboration of an evaluation procedure aimed at planning of adaptation and/or new implementation interventions based on the approach of Ergonomics for Design.

The correct evaluation and design of the safety and usability of industrial machinery and workstations, aimed at favoring the reduction of risks and the improvement of the times and reliability of industrial processes, is also a factor of innovation for small and average manufacturing industry, and a factor in enhancing production quality. The increase in the levels of safety and usability of machinery, and the enhancement of their simplicity and reliability of use through the development of appropriate design solutions, will represent a strategic value of innovation in terms of security strategies aimed at the safety and well-being of workers with regard to:

- the reduction of risks immediately related to the adoption of postures, movements, incongruous efforts;

- reduction of errors related to difficulties in understanding / using machines;

- the levels of safety and comfort experienced and perceived by the operators;

- the improvement of working conditions, the time taken to complete each task, the control / attention possibilities of the individual operator on the operations performed. Quality strategy: aimed at raising the quality levels achieved by the production process with regard to:

- greater control over the quality of the product;

- optimization of production times and procedures.