Acquisition of Data on Kinematic Responses to Unpredictable Gait Perturbations: Collection and Quality Assurance of Data for Use in Machine Learning Algorithms for (Near-)Fall Detection.

Slip, trip, and fall (STF) accidents cause high rates of absence from work in many companies. During the 2022 reporting period, the German Social Accident Insurance recorded 165,420 STF accidents, of which 12 were fatal and 2485 led to disability pensions. Particularly in the traffic, transport and logistics sector, STF accidents are the most frequently reported occupational accidents. Therefore, an accurate detection of near-falls is critical to improve worker safety. Efficient detection algorithms are essential for this, but their performance heavily depends on large, well-curated datasets. However, there are drawbacks to current datasets, including small sample sizes, an emphasis on older demographics, and a reliance on simulated rather than real data. In this paper we report the collection of a standardised kinematic STF dataset from real-world STF events affecting parcel delivery workers and steelworkers. We further discuss the use of the data to evaluate dynamic stability control during locomotion for machine learning and build a standardised database. We present the data collection, discuss the classification of the data, present the totality of the data statistically, and compare it with existing databases. A significant research gap is the limited number of participants and focus on older populations in previous studies, as well as the reliance on simulated rather than real-world data. Our study addresses these gaps by providing a larger dataset of real-world STF events from a working population with physically demanding jobs. The population studied included 110 participants, consisting of 55 parcel delivery drivers and 55 steelworkers, both male and female, aged between 19 and 63 years. This diverse participant base allows for a more comprehensive understanding of STF incidents in different working environments.

The impact of remote work using mobile information and communication technologies on physical health: a systematic review.

Remote e-working with information and communication technology (ICT) has long been on the rise, with its implementation accelerated by mandatory working from home regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic literature review summarises the influencing factors of ICT-based remote e-working (device types, duration of use, user interfaces, etc.) on the physical health (musculoskeletal system and eyes) of knowledge workers. A search in four electronic databases and a manual search in four German journals resulted in 21 articles being included in this review. A bias analysis was conducted for all articles. Unfavourable postures, inappropriate working devices and certain environmental factors may cause a range of physical complaints, even after comparably short periods of time. Mostly, these complaints are greater compared to those experienced when working on a fully equipped stationary computer. Therefore, remote e-working requires careful planning, awareness, and the willingness to embrace working situations that counteract these problems.

Different factors associated with remote e-working may influence physical health. This systematic literature review found that unfavourable postures, inappropriate working devices and certain environmental factors may cause physical complaints, even after short periods of time. Mostly, these complaints are greater compared to those experienced when working on a stationary computer.

Effects of two types of dynamic office workstations (DOWs) used at two intensities on cognitive performance and office work in tasks with various complexity.

This study examines the possible effects on objective work performance while using two types of dynamic office workstations (DOWs). 20 participants each used one type with three intensities (seated, light, moderate) and completed a task battery assessing cognitive performance and office work with two levels of complexity. Repeated measures MANOVA showed a significant interaction effect for work performance between the type of workstation and intensity for the simple level and a significant main effect for intensity for the complex level. Comparing the types of DOWs to each other, accuracy of text processing differed when working sedentary. Using both devices with light and moderate intensity had a significant detrimental effect on mouse tasks compared to working sedentary, but none comparing the intensities. No further results indicated neither a detrimental nor an enhancing effect of using DOWs on cognitive performance and office-work related tasks, regardless of the intensity of use or the task complexity. Practitioner Summary: By using DOWs, light physical activity can be integrated while working at a desk. Results showed that using different types of DOWs with different intensities does have a detrimental effect on tasks requiring a high motor control, but not on cognitive or further office work-related tasks of various complexity. Abbreviations: DOW: dynamic office workstation; aLT: activeLife Trainer; DB: deskbike; RPE: rated perceived exertion; MANOVA: multivariate analysis of variance; ANOVA: analysis of variance.

[Workshop on Health Risks of Sedentary Behavior at Workplace - Solutions Part II]. / Workshop Gesundheitsgefährdung durch langes Sitzen am Arbeitsplatz ­ Teil II Betriebliche Lösungsansätze.

AIM: Health risks of prolonged periods of sitting at work are a matter of concern. Solutions are needed based on interdisciplinary collaborations of research experts and practitioners in occupational safety and health areas. METHODS: In February 2019, at a workshop in Berlin of experts from different fields, issues of scientific evidence on the health risks of sedentary behaviour at work were presented in 6 lectures and solutions for the workplace were discussed. The workshop is documented here in 2 parts. Gender relevant aspects are distinguished where possible. RESULTS: Part II describes solution approaches for practice in the workplace. The results of a recent evaluation of dynamic workplaces are presented. Two examples provide insight into ongoing workplace health promotion measures addressing sedentary behavior in Germany which currently mainly target measures to increase physical activity rather than measures to interrupt long sedentary bouts. The documentation of the plenary discussion summarizes how interventions addressing sedentary behaviour at the workplace can be successful. CONCLUSIONS: Decision makers increasingly realize that there is a trend in the 21st century towards low physical demands due to increasingly sedentary tasks in the workplace. Despite research gaps, there is a need for evidence-based decisions in policy and workplace practices. Germany can learn from the experiences of other countries.

Dynamic Office Workstations: Initial Insights into User Usability Evaluations and Motivation.

Dynamic office workstations present a promising way to address the problem of inactivity at work, as they combine light physical activity with office tasks. In order to overcome the lack of structured implementation of such devices in office environments and the difficulty of stimulating employees to engage in healthy behaviors, the aim of this study was to investigate employees' motivation and perceived usability (e.g. operability) regarding the use of dynamic office workstations. Two different types of devices were made available to 30 employees (13 females, 17 males, mean ± SD = 43 ± 11.51 years) for 6 weeks. Motivation to the use of the workstations was assessed pre- and post-intervention, and usability was assessed post-intervention. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon tests were conducted. Employees reported the usability of the workstations to be acceptable, as they did not impede their work activities, whilst they were autonomously motivated towards using either workstation. Dynamic office workstations are suitable for daily use, although a flexible use of such devices should be guaranteed, depending on the task at hand.

Constrained posture in dentistry - a kinematic analysis of dentists.

BACKGROUND: How a dentist works, such as the patterns of movements performed daily, is also largely affected by the workstation Dental tasks are often executed in awkward body positions, thereby causing a very high degree of strain on the corresponding muscles. The objective of this study is to detect those dental tasks, during which awkward postures occur most frequently. The isolated analysis of static postures will examine the duration for which these postures are maintained during the corresponding dental, respectively non-dental, activities. METHODS: 21 (11f/10 m) dentists (age: 40.1 ± 10.4 years) participated in this study. An average dental workday was collected for every subject. To collect kinematic data of all activities, the CUELA system was used. Parallel to the kinematic examination, a detailed computer-based task analysis was conducted. Afterwards, both data sets were synchronized based on the chronological order of the postures assumed in the trunk and the head region. All tasks performed were assigned to the categories "treatment" (I), "office" (II) and "other activities" (III). The angle values of each body region (evaluation parameter) were examined and assessed corresponding to ergonomic standards. Moreover, this study placed a particular focus on static positions, which are held statically for 4 s and longer. RESULTS: For "treatment" (I), the entire head and trunk area is anteriorly tilted while the back is twisted to the right, in (II) and (III) the back is anteriorly tilted and twisted to the right (non-neutral position). Static positions in (I) last for 4-10s, static postures (approx. 60%) can be observed while in (II) and (III) in the back area static positions for more than 30 s are most common. Moreover, in (II) the back is twisted to the right for more than 60 s in 26.8%. CONCLUSION: Awkward positions are a major part of a dentists' work. This mainly pertains to static positions of the trunk and head in contrast to "office work." These insights facilitate the quantitative description of the dentist profession with regard to the related physical load along with the health hazards to the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, the results allow for a selective extraction of the most unfavorable static body positions that dentists assume for each of the activities performed.

Restricted posture in dentistry - a kinematic analysis of orthodontists.

BACKGROUND: This study aims at identifying orthodontic activities with the highest frequency of unfavorable/awkward and static postures held over a period of more than 4 s based on kinematic analysis. Moreover, a separate analysis of static postures for orthodontic and non-orthodontic activities serves to evaluate the duration for which these particular postures are assumed. METHODS: In total, 21 (13f/8 m) orthodontists (age: 31.5 ± 3.8 years) participated in this study. CUELA, a personal measurement system, was used to collect kinematic data for all orthodontic activities in a working day. Angle values of the head and torso were evaluated in accordance with ergonomic standards. Only those postures that were held statically for 4 s and longer were selected for further analysis. Alongside the kinematic analysis, the activities performed on-site were also subject to a detailed computerized analysis. The synchronization of data collected from both measurements arranges the patterns of posture found chronologically and in conjunction with the orthodontic activities performed ((I) "treatment" (II) "office" and (III) "other activities"). RESULTS: For (I) we observed an anterior inclination of the head and torso area as well as a twist of the head and neck area to the right. We found anterior back inclination and lateral back torsion to the right for (II) and (III). If, furthermore, we differentiate the duration of static postures, there are primarily short to medium-term (4-30s) static postures identified for (I). Also, categories (II) and (III) predominantly demonstrate static back postures with a duration of up to 30 s. With regard to (II) we observed that the back is ventrally inclined for 10.1% of the total activity duration. CONCLUSIONS: During treatment static strains are observed in the entire head and torso area. On the contrary, static postures prevalent in the torso area are essential for activities of the other categories, particularly office work. These findings allow for a careful selection of unfavorable and static postures for each of the activities performed and help to develop specific preventive measures.

Combined exposures of whole-body vibration and awkward posture: a cross sectional investigation among occupational drivers by means of simultaneous field measurements.

OBJECTIVE: Multifactorial workloads such as whole-body vibration (WBV), awkward posture and heavy lifting are potential predictors for low back pain (LBP). In this study, we investigate the association between LBP and these exposures among 102 professional drivers. METHODS: The combined exposures of WBV and posture are measured at different workplaces. Health and personal data as well as information about lifting tasks are collected by a questionnaire. RESULTS: The daily vibration exposure value (odds ratio 1.69) and an index for awkward posture (odds ratio 1.63) show significant association with the occurence of LBP. Awkward posture and heavy lifting appear to be more strongly associated with sick leave than WBV exposure. Furthermore, a combination of the measurement results of WBV and awkward posture into one quantity also shows significant correlation to LBP. CONCLUSION: The combined exposure of WBV and awkward posture can be described in terms of the daily vibration exposure and the index for awkward posture. This facilitates work place assessments and future research in this area. Practitioner Summary: For the first time, quantitative measures combining whole-body vibration and awkward posture exposures have shown to correlate with the occurrence of low back pain significantly. This validates the proposed quantities and measurement methods, which facilitate workplace assessments and assist in the design of further studies which are necessary to establish a causal exposure-response relationship.

The comparative analysis of postural and biomechanical parameters of preschool teachers pre- and post-intervention within the ErgoKiTa study.

The ErgoKiTa study aimed to determine the musculoskeletal strain of preschool teachers and to identify and evaluate suitable prevention measures to reduce this strain. A comprehensive work analysis using objective and subjective methods was performed to determine the present work situation in preschools in Germany, and the results were used to derive suitable intervention measures. The musculoskeletal strain was determined by means of a comprehensive analysis of postures, forces and movements using the CUELA system and calculated as cumulative shift workloads. The intervention measures were evaluated in a pre- and post-intervention assessment for 12 participants. Significant alterations in the duration of postures were determined, specifically for the daily duration of knee-straining postures as well as the degree of trunk flexion between 60° and 90°, which were reduced from 8.4 to 3.1% and from 3.7 to 2.4%, respectively, following the intervention. Practitioner Summary: Research has shown that preschool teachers are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The effects of a situation-orientated and behaviour-orientated intervention approach were assessed with regard to awkward working postures. Significant alterations in the duration of postures following the intervention were found, specifically for knee-straining postures.

Kinematic analysis of work-related musculoskeletal loading of trunk among dentists in Germany.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, about 86.7 % of the dentists have stated to suffer from pain in the neck and shoulder region. These findings are predominantly based on surveys. Therefore the objective of this study is to conduct a kinematic analysis of occupational posture in dentistry. METHODS: Twenty one dentists (11 f/10 m; age: 40.1 ± 10.4 years) have participated in this examination. The CUELA-System was used to collect kinematic data of the activities on an average dental workday. A detailed, computer-based task analysis took place parallel to the kinematic examination. Through the synchronization of data collected from both measurements, patterns of posture were arranged chronologically and in conjunction with the tasks performed: (I) "treatment" (II) "office" and (III) "other activities". For the data analysis, characteristic data of joint angular distributions (percentiles P05, P25, P50, P75 and P95) of head, neck and torso at pre-defined tasks were examined and assessed corresponding to ergonomic standards. RESULTS: Forty one percent of tasks executed on an average dental workday can be categorized as the treatment of patients. These tasked are most frequently performed in "straight back" positions (78.7 %), whereas 20.1 % were carried out in a "twisted or inclined" torso posture, 1.1 % "bowed" and only 0.1 % "bowed and twisted/inclined to the side" upper body position. In particular, it can be observed that in the area of the cervical and thoracic spine the 75th and 95th percentile show worse angular values during treatment than during non-dental tasks. For the period of treatment (at a standardized dental chair construction), a seated position with a strong inclination of the thoracic spine to the right while the lumbar spine is inclined towards the left is adopted. CONCLUSION: The kinematic analysis of dentists illustrates typical patterns of postures during tasks that are essential to the dental treatment of patients. The postures in the area of the cervical and thoracic spine have higher angular values during treatment compared to other dental tasks. Consistently, appropriate ergonomic design measures to optimize the dental chair and equipment as well as integrated training in ergonomics as part of the study of dentistry to prevent musculoskeletal are recommended.

Factors affecting the perception of whole-body vibration of occupational drivers: an analysis of posture and manual materials handling and musculoskeletal disorders.

Due to the high cost of conducting field measurements, questionnaires are usually preferred for the assessment of physical workloads and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study compares the physical workloads of whole-body vibration (WBV) and awkward postures by direct field measurements and self-reported data of 45 occupational drivers. Manual materials handling (MMH) and MSDs were also investigated to analyse their effect on drivers' perception. Although the measured values for WBV exposure were very similarly distributed among the drivers, the subjects' perception differed significantly. Concerning posture, subjects seemed to estimate much better when the difference in exposure was significantly large. The percentage of measured awkward trunk and head inclination were significantly higher for WBV-overestimating subjects than non-overestimators; 77 and 80% vs. 36 and 33%. Health complaints in terms of thoracic spine, cervical spine and shoulder-arm were also significantly more reported by WBV-overestimating subjects (42, 67, 50% vs. 0, 25, 13%, respectively). Although more MMH was reported by WBV-overestimating subjects, there was no statistical significance in this study. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: Self-reported exposures of occupational drivers are affected by many other cofactors, and this can result in misinterpretations. A comparison between field measurement and questionnaire was used to highlight the factors affecting the perception of drivers for whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure. Posture and musculoskeletal disorders influenced the perception of the similarly WBV-exposed drivers significantly.

Comparison of the postural and physiological effects of two dynamic workstations to conventional sitting and standing workstations.

Increasing evidence is being found for the association of health risk factors with work-related physical inactivity. An increasing number of people are being exposed to this form of inactivity, and as a result, various interventions aimed at increasing physical activity during working hours are being developed. This study aims to investigate the differences in postural, muscular and physical activities resulting from two dynamic workstations, namely an elliptical trainer and a treadmill workstation, compared with a conventional sitting and standing workstation. Twelve participants completed five standardised office tasks in a laboratory setting at all workstations. No significant effect was found regarding changes in posture and the muscular activity was only significantly higher for the trapezius muscle (50th percentile: 8.1 %MVC) at the dynamic workstations. For the dynamic workstations, physical activity ranged from 4.0 to 14.9 × 10(-2) g, heart rate from 14.3 to 27.5 %HRR and energy expenditure from 1.8 to 3.1 METs. Practitioner Summary: Work-related physical inactivity is associated with health risk factors. In this study, physiological and postural effects of dynamic workstations were assessed in comparison to conventional workstations. No significant effects were found regarding changes in posture and muscular activity. Physical activity, heart rate and energy expenditure increased for the dynamic workstations.

Occupational kneeling and squatting: development and validation of an assessment method combining measurements and diaries.

OBJECTIVES: As knee-straining postures such as kneeling and squatting are known to be risk factors for knee disorders, there is a need for effective exposure assessment at the workplace. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a method to capture knee-straining postures for entire work shifts by combining measurement techniques with the information obtained from diaries, and thus avoiding measuring entire work shifts. This approach was applied to various occupational tasks to obtain an overview of typical exposure values in current specific occupations. METHODS: The analyses were carried out in the field using an ambulatory measuring system (CUELA) to assess posture combined with one-day self-reported occupational diaries describing the durations of various work tasks. In total, 242 work shifts were measured, representing 81 typical tasks from 16 professions. Knee-straining postures were analysed as daily time intervals for five different postures. The accuracy of the method was examined by comparing the results to measurements of entire work shifts. RESULTS: Unsupported kneeling was the most widely used knee posture in our sample (median 11.4 % per work shift), followed by supported kneeling (3.0 %), sitting on heels (1.1 %), squatting (0.7 %), and crawling (0.0 %). The daily time spent in knee-straining postures varied considerably, both between the individual occupations, within an occupation (e.g. parquet layers: 0.0-88.9 %), and to some extent even within a single task (e.g. preparation work of floor layers (22.0 ± 23.0 %). The applied measuring method for obtaining daily exposure to the knee has been proven valid and efficient randomly compared with whole-shift measurements (p = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: The daily degree of postural exposure to the knee showed a huge variation within the analysed job categories and seemed to be dependent on the particular tasks performed. The results of this study may help to develop an exposure matrix with respect to occupational knee-straining postures. The tested combination of task-based measurement and diary information may be a promising option for providing a cost-effective assessment tool.

Optimization of inertial sensor-based motion capturing for magnetically distorted field applications.

Inertial measurement units (IMU) are gaining increasing importance for human motion tracking in a large variety of applications. IMUs consist of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers which provide angular rate, acceleration, and magnetic field information, respectively. In scenarios with a permanently distorted magnetic field, orientation estimation algorithms revert to using only angular rate and acceleration information. The result is an increasing drift error of the heading information. This article describes a method to compensate the orientation drift of IMUs using angular rate and acceleration readings in a quaternion-based algorithm. Zero points (ZP) were introduced, which provide additional heading and gyroscope bias information and were combined with bidirectional orientation computation. The necessary frequency of ZPs to achieve an acceptable error level is derived in this article. In a laboratory environment the method and the effect of varying interval length between ZPs was evaluated. Eight subjects were equipped with seven IMUs at trunk, head and upper extremities. They performed a predefined course of box handling for 40 min at different motion speeds and ranges of motion. The orientation estimation was compared to an optical motion tracking system. The resulting mean root mean squared error (RMSE) of all measurements ranged from 1.7 deg to 7.6 deg (roll and pitch) and from 3.5 deg to 15.0 deg (heading) depending on the measured segment, at a mean interval-length of 1.1 min between two ZPs without magnetometer usage. The 95% limits of agreement (LOA) ranged in best case from -2.9 deg to 3.6 deg at the hip roll angle and in worst case from -19.3 deg to 18.9 deg at the forearm heading angle. This study demonstrates that combining ZPs and bidirectional computation can reduce orientation error of IMUs in environments with magnetic field distortion.

The work Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise program for preventing functional decline in employees aged 55 years and older: development and initial evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the global increase in older employees, workplace physical activity interventions (WPAIs) for this target group have not yet been sufficiently developed. The major drawback of existing WPAIs is low adherence due to lack of time or limited motivation. A novel approach could be to integrate tailored neuromotor and strength exercises into everyday working tasks to prevent the functional decline of older employees at the workplace without needing much additional time for training. This approach was tested in the present study by evaluating the proof-of-concept of a novel WPAI based on the Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program integrated into a working environment (wLiFE55 +). METHODS: The proof-of-concept of wLiFE55 + was quantified within a 4-week pre-post exercise intervention study by measuring (1) feasibility including adherence, activity frequency, adverse events and acceptance (integrability of wLiFE55 + activities, perceived improvement and safety, satisfaction, physical demand, personal trainer session, intervention content) and (2) pre-to-post changes in neuromotor function (12-Level Balance Scale, 12-LBS; Community Balance and Mobility Scale, CBM), strength (60sec Chair Stand Test), and PA (1-week activity monitoring). For statistical analysis, the median and interquartile range (IQR) were computed. For pre-to-post changes, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with effect size (r) were also performed. RESULTS: Seventeen older employees (mean age 59 years, 8 female) were included of which fifteen completed the study. The intervention adherence was 100%, and the activity adherence was 58% (9 out of 12 maximum possible wLiFE55 + activities implemented). Depending on the specific activity, the frequency of practice ranged between 25-75% of the days of the intervention period, and single wLiFE55 + activities were practiced between one and three times per day. No adverse events occurred, and acceptance was high. Pre-to-post increases with medium effect sizes were found for neuromotor function (CBM, 12-LBS) and specific PA variables (total sedentary time, sedentary bouts > 30 min). CONCLUSION: The results of the study highlight the feasibility of wLiFE55 + in a work setting with older employees. The pre-to-post increases observed in neuromotor measures and reductions in sedentary time suggest that wLiFE55 + may counteract the age-related functional decline in older employees and justifies future studies in this field. The next steps are program adjustments to boost exercise frequency and evaluating wLiFE55 + in a randomized controlled trial.

Validity of self-reports of knee-straining activities at work: a field study with 6-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To measure short-term and long-term validity of self-reported duration of kneeling and squatting at work and to examine the possibility of differential misclassification due to knee complaints. METHODS: Work-related kneeling and squatting were analysed for 190 male subjects (mean age, 35.0 and SD, 11.5) in field by both measurements and questionnaires. Posture capturing was performed with an ambulatory measuring system (CUELA). Immediately after the measurement (t(0)), each participant was asked to estimate frequency and duration of five specific knee postures taken during the measurement period. After 6 months (t(1)), the survey was repeated (n = 125). Health status of all subjects was recorded by Nordic questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed by using nonparametric tests, correlations, and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: At both time points, subjects were able to recall the occurrence of knee postures rather well (100.0-57.6% agreement) but many of them failed in quantifying their knee load. We found poor-to-moderate correlations between measurements and self-reports for all examined postures in both surveys (0.23 < ρ < 0.63). The durations of knee postures were both over- and underestimated but overestimations predominated (t(0), 74.7% and t(1), 87.2% overestimations). High-exposed subjects seemed to misjudge their exposure to a greater extent than low-exposed ones, while knee complaints seemed to have no impact on the assessment behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: As our study showed, self-reported knee loading may deviate widely from measured exposure. These limitations of self-reporting emphasise the arguments in favour of using objective data whenever possible, for example by complementing self-reported occurrence of knee postures with quantitative measurement data.

Improvement of short-term outcomes with VR-based safety training for work at heights.

Serious games and virtual reality offer engaging learning opportunities and a cost-effective solution within an immersive and safe environment for safety training in construction. However, there have been few examples of safety training for work at heights developed using these technologies, especially commercial training. To fill this literature gap, a new VR-based safety training was developed and compared with lecture-based training across time. We conducted a quasi-experiment with a non-equivalent group design with 102 workers from six construction sites in Colombia. Learning objectives, observations from training centers, and national regulations were considered during the design of the training methods. Training outcomes were assessed using Kirkpatrick's model. We found that both training approaches were effective in improving knowledge test results and self-reported attitudes in the short-term; and risk-perception, self-reported behavior and safety climate in the long-term. In particular, participants of the VR-based training got significantly higher results in knowledge and reported higher attitudes (commitment and motivation) than participants of the lecture-based training. We suggest that safety managers and practitioners should invest in VR using serious games as an alternative to training programs based on short-term outcomes. Future work is needed to test VR for long-term outcomes.

Healthy working in inclusive companies - a study protocol of the GAIN project.

BACKGROUND: The research project GAIN (working healthy in inclusion companies) deals with the topics of health and work in inclusive companies. Due to a great need for research on (occupational) health (e.g. physical and mental health status) and workplace design in companies employing people with disabilities, this project pursues the primary goal of generating information for the development and implementation of health-preserving measures within the framework of occupational health and safety, and risk assessment, for employees with and without impairments in inclusive companies. METHODS: Within the framework of the project, the employees of three inclusive companies will be examined with the help of an interdisciplinary and triangulative approach. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, specific physical workloads and hazards will be investigated by means of baseline screening methods and measurement techniques, specifically among employees with physical disabilities and impairments. In the statistical analysis, descriptive methods will be used to record the current state, while inferential statistical methods will be used to evaluate health maintenance measures. Inferential statistics for continuous data with confidence intervals based on the statistical parametric mapping (SPM) method will also be performed. The significance level will be set at 5%. Qualitative methods will be used to analyse structures and working conditions within the companies, with particular attention to the specific construction of the relationship between work, health and disability. CONCLUSIONS: The structures in inclusion companies must be specifically designed to support and promote the understanding of work and health in relation to the idea of one's own body, its positioning in space and its performance. These characteristics are to be identified in the course of the project and bundled into best-practice recommendations. Furthermore, it is the aim of the research project to derive recommendations for action at its conclusion and to present further advice for the promotion of health in inclusive companies.

The burden of conveyor belt work in the canteen kitchen: A question of working height?

BACKGROUND: Working in forced postures and standing continuously can be classified as straining the musculoskeletal system. OBJECTIVE: Since such postures are frequently used in hospital canteen kitchens, we used kinematic analysis to determine the working postures of canteen kitchen staff. METHODS: In this study, the daily work routine of 18 (11 w/7 m) workers of a hospital canteen kitchen (Frankfurt Main/Germany) aged 21-62 years (46±13 years) was examined by means of kinematic analysis (CULEA system; IFA; Sankt Augustin/Germany) and a detailed computerized analysis of the activities performed on-site. Angle values of the head and trunk were evaluated in accordance with ergonomic standards and presented using percentile values (P05-P95). The OWAS method was also employed to capture the proportions of standing, walking and sitting work. RESULTS: The kinematic posture analysis showed for all activities on the conveyor belt a tendency towards a dorsally inclined body position: trunk inclination (-7.5° to 0), thoracic spine inclination or a bending forward (-11.3° to 0°) and curvature of the back within the thoracic spine (-15.2° to 0°). In addition, >90% of the "activities on the belt" (46% of the daily working routine) were carried out standing. CONCLUSION: The activities on the conveyor belt were characterized by a tendency towards hyperextension of the trunk, possibly due to a too high working environment. Furthermore, an increased burden on body structures while standing can be concluded. From a primary prevention perspective, this increased standing load should be reduced by behavioral and relational prevention measures.

The effectiveness of virtual safety training in work at heights: A literature review.

Virtual environment techniques are technologies that can be used for safety training, and deliver significant advantages (e.g. risk-free, immersive learning). However, no studies have assessed the effectiveness of this training for work at heights (WAH). This paper aimed to synthesize the outcomes criteria for measuring the effectiveness of virtual safety training of WAH in different work sectors. A total of 658 records were identified through an explorative search of relevant citations from 2010 onwards. Only 21 documents were considered and classified according to the training goal: improvement of knowledge, skills or attitudes. Outcomes criteria of virtual safety training were analyzed according to Kirkpatrick's model. The results support practitioners and safety managers by providing an inventory of training methods, evaluation indicators and evaluation effects. Further recommendations are made for the design of an effective training assessment.