Work Ergonomics and Physiology

Year
1
Academic year
2018-2019
Code
04450490
Subject Area
Ergonomics and Occupational Physiology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
10.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
Non Degree Course

Recommended Prerequisites

Anatomy and Physiology.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, with cases or problem solving.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the influence of work on physiological functions.
2. Adapt the work to the worker, maximizing work and minimizing the number of errors and accidents.
3. Improve the working system by optimizing the job.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Ergonomics as a way to adapt work and products to man.
Concept of Ergonomics and its applications. Planning (or design) ergonomics, corrective ergonomics, ergonomics of products (or comfort) or means of production, among others. Ergonomic team. Research in Ergonomics.

2. Work Physiology.
Energy systems. Work and energy, mechanical efficiency and heat production. Energy, strength, power and work; units. Determinants of work skills. Energy systems: anaerobic alactate, anaerobic lactate and aerobic. Power and duration of work in the use of these energy pathways. Energy continuum. Food and energy pathways. Gestures and tasks that use these energy pathways; energy cost of physical activity in man; job classification. Training or preparation of the energetic pathways; the role of heredity. Constitutional fatigue. Post-effort recovery - active or passive -, glycogen replacement, phosphagen replacement, myoglobin O2 replacement. Effort-induced pain. Tests for assessing effort and energy systems. Introduction of work breaks.

Muscle contraction. Static or dynamics; isometrics, isotonic (concentric or eccentric) and isokinetic; consequences for the development of work. Postures. Muscle fiber types (I, IIa and IIb) - characteristics; satellite cells. Effort and muscle fiber types; heredity and muscle fibers. Ability to work.
Women, youths and the elderly on the strength and ability to work.

Neuromuscular junction.

Movement. Voluntary movements (lesion of the first and / or the second neuron), posture, balance, static and kinetic coordination.

Sensitivities - Exteroceptive / interoceptive and proprioceptive.

Locomotion. Referred pain. Endogenous analgesic system and work.

Ideation of the movement. Learning and improvement of the movement.

Higher nerve functions.

Respiratory system and physical effort. Ventilation, perfusion and alveolar-capillary diffusion. Lung capacities and volumes. Effort-induced asthma. Determination of the VO2max or maximal aerobic power; anaerobic threshold. Respiratory quotient.

Cardiocirculatory system and physical effort - reaction and adaptation. Work and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Heart rate as an index for the intensity of effort.

3. Classification of work. Fitness for work.
4. Vision organ and work. Lighting.
Working with screens / computers.

5. Noise and work. Meaning. Measurement. Regulation. Protection.
6. Anthropometry, posture and movement.
7. Introduction to the study of posture. Knowledge of average anthropometric dimensions and for 95% of the interested population (Gaussian distribution, mean, standard deviation and percentage of population affected). Comfortable postures while standing, sitting, lying; poor postures - consequences. Postures of relaxation at work.
8. Application of forces - general and specific rules; cargo handling; Portuguese law; how to lift and/or push and/or pull weights; risk of musculoskeletal problems - prevention.
9. Scaling of the workplace.
10. Ergonomic furniture - chairs and tables. Rules for the design of chairs and tables, precision work or force. Furniture and anthropometry.
11. Tools. Reference to some rules in the design and use of tools. Ergonomics of the materials.
12. Signaling and commands. From stimulation to perception. Ways of signaling. Arrangement of signals and commands, control circuits, systems and control devices. Aging – signals and commands.
13. Ergonomics and protection of machines. Vibrations and work.
14. Organization of the work environment. Provision of tools and other work tools, verification and control of the desktop.
15. Ergonomics methodology.
16. Thermal environment. Measurement; WBGT index. Heat production and heat loss, humidity and work; ventilation; cooling; heating. Dehydration. Protection against hot and cold thermal injuries.
17. Biological rhythms (circadian and others) and professional performance. Shift work - pathological consequences, adaptation.
18. Stress. Motivation; monotony - causes and fight against monotony. Work relationships. Extra-professional conditions. Training.
19. Fatigue. Central (monotony, conflict and psycho-social problems, environment, stress) and / or peripheral (due to decreased blood supply, depletion of glycogen, lactic acid accumulation, environment, health status). Means for preventing or delaying fatigue.

 

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 100.0%

Bibliography

Textos da disciplina/Texts of the course. Slides da disciplina/slides of the course.

  • Ergonomie (Abregés), H. Monod & B. Kapitaniak, Masson, Paris
  • Manual de Higiene e Segurança do Trabalho, of Alberto Sérgio S. R. Miguel, Porto Editora
  • Manual de Ergonomia, fundación MAPFRE
  • Manual de Ergonomia, of Etienne Grandjean, 4th edition,  Bookman, Porto Alegre, Brasil
  • Fisiología del trabajo físico, of Astrand – Rodahl
  • Fox’s Physiological Basis for Exercise and Sport, of M J Fosse  and S. J. Keteyian, WCB McGraw-Hill