CONTENTS:

Articles:

PROTECTION OF HUMAN IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

“Slip and Fall” Theory--Extreme Order Statistics Ralph Lipsey Barnett, 135–159       A Simulation Method of the Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides Over a Silver Aluminate Catalyst in Static Tests of Combustion Engines Zdzisław Chłopek, Andrzej Darkowski, 161–182       Proposal for an Indexical Method of Evaluating Risk of Hand Tool Operators’ Exposure to Mechanical Vibrations Zbigniew Engel, Piotr Kowalski, Wiktor M. Zawieska, 183–194       Work as a Cultural and Personal Value: Attitudes Towards Work in Polish Society, 15B55 Krystyna Skarżyńska, 195–208

PROTECTION OF HUMAN AT THE WORKSTATION

New Equipment to Lighten the Work Load of Construction Workers Anneli Kaukiainen, Jarmo Sillanpää, Jorma Lappalainen, Matti Viljanen, Mika Nyberg, 209–224       Ergonomic Diagnosis of the Driver’s Workplace in an Electric Locomotive Iwona Grabarek, 225–242       An Evaluation of the NIOSH Lifting Equation: A Psychophysical and Biomechanical Investigation Farag E. Elfeituri, Salem M. Taboun, 243–258       The Relationships Between Biomechanical and Postural Stresses, Musculoskeletal Injury Rates, and Perceived Body Discomfort Experienced by Industrial Workers: A Field Study Philip Stuebbe, Ashraf Genaidy, Waldemar Karwowski, Young Guk Kwon, Ali Alhemood, 259–280

NOTES

Effects of Gender and Athletic Participation on Driving Capability Peter A. Hancock, Mary Jo Kane, Steven Scallen, Courtney B. Albinson, 281–292       The Basic Principles of Building an Ergonomic Component of Automated Training Systems Nina Kalinina, Nina Kostyukova, 293–302

“Slip and Fall” Theory--Extreme Order Statistics
Ralph Lipsey Barnett, 135–159

Classical “slip and fall” analysis was reformulated in this paper to account for the stochastic nature of friction. As it turned out, the new theory, arising from this analysis, was a precise statement of the distribution function for the smallest value among n independent observations. This made it possible to invoke an important result from the asymptotic theory of extreme order statistics that reduced the theory to a simple and elegant relationship among the probability of slipping, the critical friction criterion, the distance traveled by the walker, and the average, spread and asymmetry of the distribution of friction coefficients. The new theory reveals that short walks lead to fewer falls; low friction floors are sometimes better than high friction ones.

A Simulation Method of the Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides Over a Silver Aluminate Catalyst in Static Tests of Combustion Engines
Zdzisław Chłopek, Andrzej Darkowski, 161–182

The paper presents a proposition of simulation studies of nitrogen oxide catalytic reduction. The method enables estimating the influence of catalytic reactors on ecological properties of engines in static bench tests (e.g., ECE R49, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe [UN/ECE], 2000; Standard No. ISO 8178-4:1996, International Organization for Standardization [ISO], 1996; Merkisz (1998). An algorithm of simulation studies is shown. A model catalytic reactor for selective catalytic reduction is described. Silver aluminate deposited on steel substrate covered with aluminium phosphate is used as a catalyst. Propene is used as a reductant.  The results of reactor studies in a chemical lab are presented. A simulation of the influence of catalytic reactor properties on ecological properties of an engine was done. Unitary emission conversion coefficients of nitrogen oxide in a static test ECE R49 were determined.

Proposal for an Indexical Method of Evaluating Risk of Hand Tool Operators’ Exposure to Mechanical Vibrations
Zbigniew Engel, Piotr Kowalski, Wiktor M. Zawieska, 183–194

The article presents proposals for an indexical evaluation of exposure of hand tool operators to vibrations. The presented indices have been developed on the basis of the results of laboratory tests. The examinations studied the effect of pressure force and grip force exerted by an operator on a hand tool as well as the amplitudes and frequencies of an exciting signal on vibrations transmitted in the hand-tool handle system.

Work as a Cultural and Personal Value: Attitudes Towards Work in Polish Society
Krystyna Skarżyńska, 195–208

The meaning of work for Poles is analyzed here from 2 perspectives: macrosocial and individual. From the macrosocial perspective work attitudes are explained by 3 factors: traditional Polish Catholicism, cultural patterns (influence of noble class tradition), and experience of “real socialism.” From an individual perspective some psychological and demographic predictors of an autonomous (intrinsic) work attitude are empirically tested. The autonomous attitude towards work is understood here as treating work as an important autonomous value versus only an instrumental means for earning money. The data was collected by means of standardized interviews run on a representative random sample of adult working Poles, N = 1340.

New Equipment to Lighten the Work Load of Construction Workers
Anneli Kaukiainen, Jarmo Sillanpää, Jorma Lappalainen, Matti Viljanen, Mika Nyberg, 209–224

The objective of this study was to determine whether the 4 pieces of equipment for cutting moulding, cutting reinforcement rods, carrying carpet rolls, and fitting drain pipes can lighten the work load of construction work.  The results indicate that the effect of using the new ergonomically designed equipment was positive. The cutter for reinforcement rods proved to be useful, bent back postures decreased by 11%. The carrying of carpet rolls became less loading on the lower and upper extremities. According to the men the work load was lower in fitting drain pipes, especially on the lower extremities and in the neck and shoulder region. The conclusion was reached that work load can be decreased with well-planned equipment, but more attention should be given to personal work methods and habits.

Ergonomic Diagnosis of the Driver’s Workplace in an Electric Locomotive
Iwona Grabarek, 225–242

This paper deals with research aimed at developing a method for ergonomic analysis of the driver’s workplace in an electric locomotive. It presents the structure of the diagnosis and its assumptions, and includes a re-evaluation of the questionnaire-expert method in ergonomic research. The article presents research data on weights and evaluations including their standard deviations for particular priority features. Ergonomic levels of the studied operator’s cabin in locomotives are compared.

An Evaluation of the NIOSH Lifting Equation: A Psychophysical and Biomechanical Investigation
Farag E. Elfeituri, Salem M. Taboun, 243–258

Using the results of psychophysical and biomechanical experiments, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Recommended Weight Limit (RWL), the Lifting Index (LI), the form of the asymmetry multiplier, and the criterion for compression force were investigated. Analysis of the results indicated a significant difference between the NIOSH RWL and the reported Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift (MAWL). Contrary to the NIOSH lifting equation, the form of the asymmetry multiplier was found to be non-linear. The overall average of peak compression force on the L5/S1 was 3685 N. Fifty-eight percent of all compression forces reported in the biomechanical experiment were found to exceed the suggested 3400 N set by NIOSH guidelines. These results support previous research findings on the validity of NIOSH guidelines.

The Relationships Between Biomechanical and Postural Stresses, Musculoskeletal Injury Rates, and Perceived Body Discomfort Experienced by Industrial Workers: A Field Study
Philip Stuebbe, Ashraf Genaidy, Waldemar Karwowski, Young Guk Kwon, Ali Alhemood, 259–280

A combination of archival, subjective, and observational field data collection methods were used to investigate the relationship between biomechanical and postural stresses, and the resulting physical strain experienced by industrial workers of a packaging plant. Assessment of physical strain was based on the number and incidence rate of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-reportable injuries that were recorded over a period of 27 months, and based on the self-reported ratings of perceived body discomfort. Both the biomechanical and postural stresses correlated with the musculoskeletal injury rate. The results illustrate the usefulness of postural and biomechanical analyses for assessing the risk of injury in industry.

Effects of Gender and Athletic Participation on Driving Capability
Peter A. Hancock, Mary Jo Kane, Steven Scallen, Courtney B. Albinson, 281–292

This study sought to determine if spatiotemporal skills, represented by success in high level sport, transfer to driving and, if so, whether such transfer is mediated by the gender of the driver. Using an emergency-braking test, we compared the driving ability of male and female athletes and non-athletes and showed that athletes achieved significantly longer and therefore superior durations for time-to-contact. The advantage of athletic participation thus did not appear in movement time but rather in the ability to produce desirable performance in context. We found that males and females did not differ significantly with respect to driving, however, involvement in sport apparently transfers to aspects of driving and so provides benefits beyond the intrinsic reward of the sports activities themselves.

The Basic Principles of Building an Ergonomic Component of Automated Training Systems
Nina Kalinina, Nina Kostyukova, 293–302

In recent years, in view of the transformation in education in the Russian Federation, it has been necessary to introduce different technical facilities and new educational methods into the educational process. An introduction of training systems into the educational process concerns every educational method. New methods use various results from such fields as pedagogy, psychology, cybernetics, mathematics, and linguistics. Automated training systems consist of 3 components: informational, didactic, and ergonomic. This paper considers 2 components: didactic and ergonomic. They provide maximum learning with minimum energy consumption on the part of the trainee, in acceptable working conditions. As an example, this paper considers educational systems of calculus mathematics and mathematical geophysics realized in the Novosibirsk State University and Institute, Russian Federation.