Ways to Leverage Technology In Ergonomics

Ways to Leverage Technology in Ergonomics

© 2013 Humantech, Inc.

Ways to Leverage

Technology In Ergonomics

Pardon the silence…we’ll begin shortly

The 30-Inch View ®

Sponsored by:



The 30-Inch View ®

Ways to Leverage

Technology In Ergonomics

Sponsored by:



About Your Presenter

Winnie Ip, CPE

Director of Consulting

Ergonomics Engineer

Humantech, Inc.

Provide all the elements for our clients to achieve

effective, efficient, and sustainable improvement in

all business metrics related to ergonomics.

Largest collection of BCPE board-certified ergonomists

with 16 CPEs, 6 AEPs on staff



Agenda

• Why are you here?

• Why are we presenting this topic?

• Examples of how other industries leverage

technology to optimize performance

• Ways to leverage technology in ergonomics

• Collecting data

• Assessing and analyzing the data

• Training and development

• Solving the problem

• The impacts of technology

• Summary/Questions



Poll #1: Why Are You Here?

Image courtesy of Google images



Poll #1: Why Are You Here?

What is your main reason for attending today’s session on

leveraging technology?

A. My organization is “behind the curve” and we need

to evolve

B. Our program has plateaued and our methods are

stale, keeping us from getting to the next level

C. I am an “early-adopter” and want to make sure we

are cutting edge

D. I am a regular Humantech or HR.com webinar

participant

E. It was free



Agenda

Why are you here?

• Why are we presenting this topic?




• Collecting data








Why Are We Presenting This Topic?

• This is what we do!

• WE are big on innovation

• Share what we’ve seen

• Companies have told us they need this push

• What’s the best way to do hundreds of office

assessments?

• What is an acceptable amount of vibration?

• Do you do on-line training?

• We are inspired by what we see outside of our walls…



Agenda

Why are you here?

Why are we presenting this topic?




• Collecting data








From the Real World…

Examples of how other industries leverage technology to

optimize performance:

Logo images courtesy of Google images



• In 2005, UPS began to implement a $600 million route

optimization system

• Each evening it maps out the next day's schedule for the

majority of its 56,000 drivers

• Designs each route to minimize the number of left turns,

thus reducing the time and gas that drivers waste idling at

stoplights.

Example: UPS Route Optimization




Example: Chase Bank Mobile App

Quick Deposit

• Lets users deposit checks from their iPhones.

• Using Chase Mobile, bankers can now select an account, enter the

amount of the check, and snap a photo of the front and back of the

check to initiate a deposit.

Person-to-Person QuickPay

• Support payments to anyone, so long

as you have their e-mail address.

Source: http://mashable.com/2010/07/02/chase-mobile-quick-deposit/



• EMRs provide digital storage of

patient charts, and include

functionality to track patient

demographics, histories, notes,

medications, and test results.

• Health Information Technology for

Economic and Clinical Health

(HITECH) Act includes $19 billion

to incentivize medical offices to

adopt electronic health records.

• Physicians have a mandate to

become meaningful users by 2015.

• Those that fail to qualify will face

decreased Medicare and Medicaid

payments.

Example: Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)

Source: www.softwareadvice.com



Example: Dominos Pizza Builder & Tracker

Source: www.dominos.com



Agenda

Why are you here?


Examples of how other industries leverage



• Collecting data








Ways of Leveraging Technology

1. Collecting Data

• Force Measurement

• Advanced Instrumentation

2. Assessing and Analyzing the Data

• Analysis Software

• On-Line Office Assessment Tools

3. Training and Development

• Instructor led versus eLearning modules

• Blended models

4. Solving the Problem

• Distribution Solutions

• Manufacturing Solutions




1. Collecting Data





• On-Line Office Assessment Tools



• Blended models






1. Collecting Data



1. Collecting Data




Images courtesy of Google images



Force Measurements

To measure the grip forces, you can either:

A. Measure indirect forces. Use one of two methods: i. Have the employee squeeze or pinch the grip dynamometer

as hard as he or she normally would have to in order to complete the task. Get the force requirements from several employees and use the average.

ii. Try the job yourself and then squeeze or pinch the grip dynamometer as hard as you had to in order to complete the task. Try it several times and use the average

B. Measure direct forces (preferred method). Use a force gauge, such as Tekscan or Flexiforce system.

Step 2 – Gather Data

1. Collecting Data






Measuring Indirect Forces

• Dynamometer

• Operator must emulate force generation

• Take multiple measurements (average)

• Try to recreate same feel

• Vendors

• Jamar, Baseline

• $150 - $300 (individual)

• $400 - $800 (kits)

1. Collecting Data







Measuring Direct Forces

• Use a digital push/pull force gauge to measure

the tension or compression applied to the

probe.

• Proper and consistent alignment of the gauge is

essential for accurate force measurements.

• A push/pull gauge is useful when:

• Completing Physical Demands Analyses

(PDA) or Functional Job Analyses (FJA)

• A WMSD injury has occurred on the job, or

team member performance has diminished

• Determining force required to perform a task

1. Collecting Data








• Push/Pull Gauge Vendors

• Imada - Shimpo - $600 - $800

• Hoggan Health ErgoFET - $1,300

• Chatillon - $1,000 - $1,200

• Mark-10 - $1,200 - $1,300

1. Collecting Data








• Advanced Gauge Vendors

• Hoggan Health

• digiFET - $3,000

• ergoPAK - $8,000

• ergoPAK FSR - $4,500+

• Tekscan MELF system - $1,000

1. Collecting Data




Source: Tekscan and Hoggan Health



Advanced Instrumentation

Source: www.nextgen.com

1. Collecting Data




• Portable EMG Units



Advanced Instrumentation

• Accelerometers

• Used to measure vibration

levels

• Similar to sound level

meters

• Has settings for measuring

frequency, a frequency-

weighting network, and a

display such as a meter,

printer, or recorder.

1. Collecting Data







Poll #2: How Do You Collect Data?




Poll #2: How Do You Collect Data?

What methods and equipment do you currently use to

collect data?

A. We rely on qualitative methods (e.g., asking the

employee what they think)

B. We use simple data collection equipment (e.g.,

camera, measuring tape, scale)

C. We use quantitative methods and advanced tools

(e.g., force gauges, accelerometers)

D. We don’t really collect any data at this point.




1. Collecting Data





• On-Line Assessment Tools



• Blended models






2. Assessing and Analyzing Data

• Software Analysis Tools

• On-Line Assessment Tools (Office Environment)

1. Collecting Data






NIOSH Lifting Equation

• Evaluate lifting tasks for acceptable risk

• Prioritize hazardous jobs for ergonomic interventions

• Evaluate proposed conditions for acceptable risks

• Highlight opportunities for reducing lifting hazards

1. Collecting Data






1. Collecting Data



4. Solving the Problem Tablet Use: HT Lift Calc App



Advanced Assessments: 3DSSPP

• Michigan 3D Static Strength Prediction Program

(3DSSPP)

• Purpose

• Software that predicts the static strength requirements for

specific lifting, pushing, and pulling tasks

• Strengths

• In depth analysis with no equipment (other than software)

required

• Analysis of multiple body parts

• Limitations

• Can only be used for the analysis of "slow" movements

• Dynamic tasks must be broken down into a sequence of

static postures and analyzed individually

1. Collecting Data






Michigan 3DSSPP Software

• Inputs

• Load

• Segment Angles

• Height, weight, gender

• Box dimensions/size

• Outputs

• Low Back Compression

• Percent of Population Capable for: Elbow

Shoulder

Torso

Hip

Knee

Ankle

• Center of Pressure

1. Collecting Data






Advanced Assessments: JACK

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/tecnomatix/assembly_planning/jack/

1. Collecting Data




• 3D Modeling Software: JACK



Our clients are responsible for 100s to 1,000s of people in offices/cubicles.

• How do I see all these people?

• Where do I start?

• How do I train all these people?

• How do I empower them to make good choices?

• How to do I assess remote workers?

Online Office Ergo Assessments 1. Collecting Data






Manage your office ergonomics as a process with a data-driven approach:

• Train employees on office ergonomic practices

• Identify who is at a higher concern level

• Track and show improvement from high risk to low concern

• Report results and improvements to your boss














1. Collecting Data








• Blended models







• Learning has expanded outside of the traditional

classroom

• What is e-Learning?

• Includes “…all forms of electronically supported

learning and teaching, including educational

technology”

• Also referred to as Web-based Training (WBT),

Computer-Based Learning (CBL), Distance

Learning, etc.

1. Collecting Data






E-Learning is Here to Stay! 1. Collecting Data




E-Learning

Adapted from: http://aquaculturepda.wikispaces.com/Elearning

Web Conferencing

(e.g., live

interactive, Webex,

GoTo Meeting)

Mobile Learning

(e.g., PDAs, tablets, iPhone) Web 2.0

(e.g., social networking,

open source, podcasts,

wiki, RSS, VoIP)

CD ROMs

(e.g., toolboxes)

Learning Management

Systems (LMS)

(e.g., Blackboard, Moodle)



Training and Development

• Current trend is to move towards blended learning

• Computer-based activities integrated with practical

or classroom-based situations

• Research has shown that blended learning results

in learning outcome gains and increased

enrollment retention (Source: http://www.uic.edu/depts/oee/blended/workshop/bibliography.pdf)

1. Collecting Data






Training and Development

• Also known as the “Flipped Classroom”

• Encompasses any use of technology to leverage

the learning in a classroom, so an instructor can

spend more time interacting with students instead

of lecturing

1. Collecting Data




Source: http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/



Poll #3: What Training Methods Do You Use?




Poll #3: What Training Methods Do You Use?

What is your primary method of training within your

organization?

A. Instructor-led

B. E-learning (computer based learning)

C. Blended model

D. We use all of these methods equally

E. Not sure because we aren’t consistent and have

no way of tracking/measuring




1. Collecting Data








• Blended models







• Finger Bar Code Scanners

• Manufacturing Solution

• DC Tools

4. Solving the Problem 1. Collecting Data






Finger Bar-Code Scanner

• Wearable scanners can strap around the wrist,

freeing the hands for grasping and allow scanning

with neutral wrist postures, eliminating non-neutral

hand/wrist, elbow, and shoulder postures.

• Pistol grip scanner result in prolonged power grip,

rotated forearm, and raised shoulder postures.

1. Collecting Data







Direct Current (DC) Tools

• Fast and efficient

• Able to record achieved

torque

• Less vibration than air tools

• BUT, kickback when torque

is achieved

1. Collecting Data







Agenda

Why are you here?




Ways to leverage technology in ergonomics

Collecting data

Assessing and analyzing the data

Training and development

Solving the problem





Impacts of Technology

• The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Ergonomics

and Technology

• People

• Product

• Process




Impacts of Technology: People

• The Good:

• Technology helps sustain/improve

our quality of life (especially as we age)

• People are well equipped to adapt to

challenges we face with new technology

• The Bad:

• Decision makers in companies may not understand the

value of ergonomics in products/processes they develop

• Management tends to be reactive in how they deal with

ergonomic challenges

• The Ugly:

• Ergonomics can be used as a political chip in

adopting/refusing to try new technologies



Impacts of Technology: Product

• The Good:

• Technological advances in products improve

task performance, quality, and consistency

• Smaller and more mobile equipment

• The Bad:

• Increased in sedentary (indoor) work

• Increased exposure to ergonomic and

safety risks (texting/driving, radio waves)

• The Ugly:

• Dependence on technology means little downtime

• Employees can exploit the use of technology (e.g., demand

overtime for working outside of normal hours)



Impacts of Technology: Process

• The Good:

• Easier to access and use information

• Technology helps streamline business processes

• The Bad:

• People are becoming less informed due to increased

dependence on “headline” information (i.e., tweets/texts)

• The Ugly:

• Technology can be an easy scapegoat

when things don’t go as planned

• Constant pace of change makes

it difficult to keep up

• Technology updates costly if it

becomes obsolete



Agenda

Why are you here?





Collecting data

Assessing and analyzing the data

Training and development

Solving the problem

The Impacts of Technology




The 30-Inch View ®

Thank You!

Winnie Ip, CPE 734.663.3330 x147

[email protected]

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Ways to Leverage Technology In Ergonomics