Ergonomics and Occupational Health

Code:

MESHO0003

Acronym:

ESO

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Safety and Hygiene Engineering

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S (of 09-09-2013 to 20-12-2013)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Mining Engineering Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Occupational Safety and Hygiene Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MESHO	40	Plano de estudos oficial a partir de 2007/08	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

 - To put ergonomics in the occupational context, present its scientific fundaments and the main branches of knowledge in which it is based on;
- To characterize the ergonomic approach of man-machine systems, by identifying their essential aspects (interface, work space, workload and corresponding physiological requirements, biomechanics, psycho-physics and psychological);
- To acquire knowledge of methodologies and instruments used to obtain and measure anthropometrical, physiological, biomechanical and psycho-physical parameters in the monitoring of experiments during the execution of occupational tasks;
- To identify the role of Occupational Medicine in the context of safety, hygiene and health at work;
- To be familiar with some measures of prevention of occupational disease, as well first aids in case of occupational accident;
- To pass on general notions of clinic and occupational pathology;

Learning outcomes and competences

This course aims to teach students the knowledge to identify situations with risk of occupational injury in various work contexts. Students get to know different methodologies to assess the adequacy of the job to its user and the various factors which influence their welfare and, consequently, in their work performance. While the emphasis is placed on prevention are also presented major occupational diseases, their identification and treatment form.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

This course welcomes students coming from different backgrounds being the main group of them from engineering and healthcare. Students should have a background in physics, secondary level, and some knowledge about vector algebra.

Program

- Introduction to Ergonomics. Aims. Scientific fundaments;
- Occupational biomechanical, psycho-physical and psychological aspects.
- Applications of physiology of muscular work;
- Applications of biomechanics;
- Ergonomic approach of man-machine systems;
- Man-machine interface. Control dials and devices;
- Work space and human physical dimensions. Static or structural anthropometry, dynamic or functional anthropometry and Newtonian anthropometry;
- Implications of anthropometry in occupational safety;
- Muscle work physiology; Static and dynamic muscle work;
- Applications of anthropometry in equipment and work space dimensioning;
- Occupational health and occupational medicine. Legislation;
- Clinic and occupational pathology;
- First aids.

Mandatory literature

Margareta Nordin, Victor H. Frankel; Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal system, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001. ISBN: 0-683-30247-7
Don B Chaffin, Gunnar B J Andersson, B J Martin; Occupational Biomechanics, Wiley-Interscience Pub, 1999. ISBN: 0-471-24697-2
Itiro Lida; Ergonomia projeto e produção, Edgard Blucher, 2005. ISBN: 85-212-3054-3
Stephen Pheasant, C. M. Haslegrave; Bodyspace: anthropometry, ergonomics, and the design of work, Taylor & Francis, 2006. ISBN: 978-0415285209
ISO 8996:2004 - Ergonomics of the thermal environment -- Determination of metabolic rate, 2004
William S. Marras and Waldemar Karwowski;  Fundamentals and Assessment Tools for Occupational Ergonomics, CRC Press , 2006. ISBN: 978-0-8493-1937-2
Eastman Kodak Company; Eastman Kodak Company: Kodak's ergonomic design for people at work,, John Wiley and Sons, 2004. ISBN: 0-471-41863-3
Karl H E Kroemer, Hiltrud J. Kroemer, Katrin E. Kroemer-Elbert; Engineering Physiology: Bases of Human Factors Engineering/Ergonomics, Springer, 2010. ISBN: 978-3-642-12882-0
ISO 11228-3:2007 - Ergonomics -- Manual handling -- Part 3: Handling of low loads at high frequency, 2007
ISO 11226:2000 - Ergonomics -- Evaluation of static working postures

Complementary Bibliography

Y. C. Fung; Biomechanics. ISBN: 0-387-97947-6
Ed John R . Wilson and Nigel Corlett; Evaluation of Human Work , CRC Press , 2005. ISBN: 978-0-415-26757-1
Edited by Neville Stanton, Alan Hedge, Karel Brookhuis, Eduardo Salas and Hal Hendrick;  Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods, CRC Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0-415-28700-5

Teaching methods and learning activities

Two classes of lecturing per week with a duration of two hours (2h T/week) to present the main concepts and methodologies. A practical class per week with a duration of two hours (2h TP/week) to solve problems and interpretation of methodologies for addressing the problems and consultation of required documents.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	95,00
Participação presencial	5,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Final rating = exam classification x  0.95 + information from classes x 0.05