Open AccessDevelopment of an observation-based tool for ergonomic exposure assessment in informal electronic waste recycling and other unregulated non-repetitive work
Author(s) -
Augustine A. Acquah,
Clive D’Souza,
Bernard J. Martin,
John ArkoMensah,
Afua Asabea Amoabeng Nti,
Lawrencia Kwarteng,
Sylvia Akpene Takyi,
Paul K. Botwe,
Prudence Tettey,
Duah Dwomoh,
Isabella A. Quakyi,
Thomas G. Robins,
Julius Fobil
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
proceedings of the human factors and ergonomics society annual meeting/proceedings of the human factors and ergonomics society ... annual meeting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.207
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1541-9312
pISSN - 1071-1813
DOI - 10.1177/1071181320641216
Subject(s) - work (physics) , human factors and ergonomics , duration (music) , observational study , exposure assessment , coding (social sciences) , engineering , manual handling , risk analysis (engineering) , computer science , operations management , poison control , business , environmental health , mechanical engineering , medicine , art , statistics , literature , mathematics , pathology
Most existing ergonomic assessment tools are intended for routine work. Time- and cost-efficient observational tools for ergonomic assessment of unregulated work are lacking. This paper presents the development of an observation-based tool designed to investigate ergonomic exposures among informal electronic waste workers that could be applied to other unregulated jobs/tasks. Real time coding of observation is used to estimate the relative duration, intensity, and frequency of exposure to key work postures, forceful exertions, movements, contact stress and vibration. Time spent in manual material handling activities such as carrying, lifting and pushing/pulling of working carts are also estimated. A preliminary study conducted with 6 e-waste workers showed that the tool can easily be used with minimal training and good inter-observer agreement (i.e., 89% to 100%) for most risk factors assessed. This new assessment tool provides effective and flexible options for quantifying ergonomic exposures among workers engaged in unregulated, highly variable work.