Crane is an important equipment for the transport of heavy goods in industrial sites, but it is also known as one of the most fatal machines. In order to reduce crane accidents, it is necessary to minimize human errors during crane operations. To achieve this, ergonomic design principles are recommended to be reflected from the crane design stage. The study analyzed the safety certification standards for crane that should be fulfilled at the crane design and manufacturing stage. This study selected five representative ergonomic design principles (feedback, compatibility, consistency, full-proof, and fail-safe) by surveying heuristic evaluation principles that are widely used for usability evaluation in early design stage. Next, the principles were applied to the safety certification standards to identify insufficient clauses. This study identified 12 insufficient clauses out of 119 in the current safety certification standards for crane and discussed their improvement directions to comply the ergonomic principles. The analysis results of this study can help of improving the safety certification standards and the method used in this study can also be applied to identify insufficient clauses in the safety certification standards for other industrial machines such as press machine and lift.

Background : Methods of wearing a baby carrier have suggested; however, there have been no studies suggesting ideal ways. Objective : To investigate muscular fatigue and balance of the waist during baby carrier are worn on the front, the side, and the back of the body. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial (single blind) Methods : The subjects of this study were 20 healthy men and women in their 20s, who underwent tests of muscular fatigue and balance of the waist bones based on types of wearing baby carrier. Electromyogram (EMG) patches were attached to the L2 and the L4 for testing muscular fatigue, while a device for measuring proprioceptive senses was used to assess balance ability. The measurements were performed before wearing the baby carrier and after 30 minutes of normal walking. The methods of wearing the baby carrier included wearing on the front, the side, and the back of the body. Results : The time taken to adjust the balance was shorter than other types of wearing during the baby carrier were worn on the side, and the ratio of lumbar flexion and relaxation was shown insignificant. Conclusions : These results suggested that wearing the carriers on the side was most effective on reducing fatigue and enhancing balance ability of the waist.

Pilot Aptitude Research Equipment (PARE) is a simulator developed to measure or research pilot aptitude and train for student pilots. Design of an ergonomic PARE operation console is required to operate the equipment effectively. This study carried out five steps : (S1) operator questionnaire survey, (S2) anthropometric design formula development, (S3) usability evaluation, (S4) improvement design, and (S5) validation considering both Physical User Interface (PUI) and Graphic User Interface (GUI) of PARE operation console. The operator questionnaire surveyed needs for each PUI and GUI part of the console from two PARE actual operators. In terms of PUI, the anthropometric design formula was developed by using design variables, body dimensions, target population characteristics, and reference posture related to the PARE console. In terms of GUI, the usability evaluation was conducted by three usability testing experts with a 7-point scale (1 : very low, 4 : neutral, 7 : very high) on GUI of the PARE operation console by seven usability criteria. The improved PARE operation console was designed to reflect the optimal values of design variables calculated from design formula, the results from usability testing, and the operator’s needs. The improvement effect was observed by 20 people who had experience with the PARE operation console. As a result of the validation, monitor visibility and cockpit visibility for the improved PUI design and visibility and efficiency for the improved GUI design were significantly increased by more than 90% respectively. The improved design of the PARE operation console in this study can contribute to enhance operation performance of the PARE.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the emotional factors of human and the physical design elements of shopping mall website and to improve the desire to purchase the products through the screening of emotional factors influencing the purchasing decision. The results of the study suggested the effective ways to develop the internet on-line website design that the users want through human sensibility ergonomics approach.

Currently, the harvest is achieved by manpower of laborer and recently, the bulk of laborers are almost old people and women. In addition, due to the inconveniences of using harvest baskets and the percentages of labor in harvesting are high, in this research the harvest basket is designed for using in harvest. The basket is designed by consideration of the physical condition, it is analyzed about the effects of the weight and strain on the harvest basket by using the structure analysis. As a result, underside of basket occurs largest deformation. And the back of basket occurs lower deformation than underside of basket.

Among various manual materials handling tasks, pushing/pulling was known to be one of the risk factors for the low back and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study was conducted to find out an optimal solution set of the handle height and distance for 4-wheel cart with two vertical handles. Ten male college students participated in the pushing force measurement experiment. The face-centered cube design, one of the central composite designs, was applied for the experiment, and the isometric voluntary pushing force was measured in 9 treatment conditions. The second order response surface model was predicted by using the pushing strength as a response variable, and the handle height and distance as independent factors. According to the 2nd order response model, the handle height and distance showed nonlinear relationship with the isometric pushing strength. To maximize the 2nd order response model (pushing force), the handle height and distance were optimized. The optimal handle height was 'xyphoid process height - stature’, and the optimal handle distance was ‘1.25*shoulder width’. When calculated using the anthropometric data of the subjects of this study, the optimal handle height was 115.4 ± 3.4 cm, slightly higher than the elbow height, and the handle distance was 52.9 ± 2.3 cm.

목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 사무직 근로자들을 대상으로 현재 호소하는 통증 및 증상과 작업환경을 평가하고, 이를 바탕으로한 인간공학 프로그램의 적용이 통증 감소에 미치는 효과에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 총 20명의 사무직 근로자가 설문에 참여하였으며, 이들 중 근골격계 통증이 있는 12명의 대상자를 선정하여 인간공학 프로그램을 적용하였다. 인간공학 프로그램은 6주간 실시하였으며, 프로그램 적용 전과 후에 증상 조사(Symptoms Survey)를 이용하여 통증 정도를 측정하였다. 결과 : 인간공학 프로그램을 적용한 후에 어깨, 목, 팔/팔꿈치, 손/손목 부위에 통증이 감소하였고, 가장 많은 대상자들이 통증 감소를 보고한 신체부위는 어깨와 목이었다. 그리고 근골격계 통증 감소를 위한 스트레칭으로 구성된 체조를 실시한 1일 평균 횟수와 통증 감소간의 유의한 상관관계(p<.05)가 있었다. 결론 : 포괄적인 인간공학 프로그램(업무환경 개선, 자세 및 운동 교육 등) 제공이 사무직 근로자의 통증 감소에 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 지속적인 프로그램 제공을 통해 근로자 본인의 건강 유지와 증진에 대한 관리를 할 수 있도록 해야 할 것이다.

Electro-accel pedal is needed to raise fuel efficiency by controlled pedal angle signal regardless driver’s willings to fast start or stop pedaling, and to reduce muscle fatigue by designed Ergonomic structure. For this purpose, in this study, we designed new mechanism of accel pedal in a double linkage with two springs to minimize the force of pedaling on main pedal period for HECV in close the future. We have achieved the simulation to dynamic characteristics and experimented to measure the pedal force with proto sample, and confirmed the potentialities this new mechanism.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to develop a method for distribution between superelevation and side friction factor by increasing design speed. METHODS: First of all, a method for distribution between superelevation and side friction factor and a theory for the functional formula of side friction factor in compliance with horizontal radius applied in South Korea and the United States are considered. Especially, design speed of 140km/h and numerical value of design elements are applied to the theory for the functional formula of side friction factor in AASHTO's methods. Also, the anxiety EEG upon running speed is measured to reflect ergonomic characteristics through field experiments at seven curve sections of the West Coast Freeway, and this data is applied to graph for the functional formula of side friction factor. RESULTS : Matching side friction factor against the anxiety EEG, the results that a critical points of driver's anxiety EEG sharply increase locate under existing parabola are figured out. CONCLUSIONS : Therefore, we could get a new type of the functional formula that driver's driving comfortability is guaranteed if the existing the functional formula of side friction factor goes down under boundary of the critical points of the anxiety EEG.

Recent technological advances in the domestic railway industry have turned out to deliver a profound impact on the forefront of other industries as well. Furthermore, the introduction of the high-speed railway systems has made it possible to travel around our country in a day, thereby changing our life styles a lot. However, it has been well recognized that many factors can cause unanticipated accidents during the operation. One of the causes is known to be the human errors made by the train operators in locomotive cabs. The problem is getting more serious as the trains run at high speed. As such, the objective of this paper is on how to improve the work environment of the locomotive cabs. Our approach is based on the systems engineering methodology. Specifically, we first identify the context and scope of the problem to be solved. We then continue our effort in deriving the requirements set to accomplish the improvement. These results are utilized in constructing a computer-aided management system for test and evaluation intended for the improvement. The approach taken and the results obtained in this paper is expected to make a contribution on the route to keeping our nation's technologies on the competitive edges in the high-speed railway systems industry.

It has been very important to have an exact evaluation for risk factors in order to prevent WMSDs(Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders). However, most WMSDs evaluation methods have always been some problems of possibilities associated with subjective evaluation. Therefore, this study tried to conduct a sort of usability analysis on three major evaluation methods(OWAS, RULA, REBA). Specifically, major subjects in the study consisted of three parts as follows; comparison of the results between experienced and inexperienced observers, analysis for the consistency of the results in terms of different evaluation times, and analysis for the consistency of the results in terms of different job characteristics(based on the part of the automobile). The results of the study were summarized as follows; 1) There was statistically significant difference of the results by RULA and by REBA between experienced and inexperienced observers. This might be due to the fact that experienced observers have had better ability to detect the important working posture during evaluation. However, the results by OWAS did not give any significantly different results between experienced and inexperienced observers, 2) All three checklists applied by experienced subjects did not show any single result significantly different in terms of different evaluation times. This might have to do with high intra-observer reliability from some of previous studies, 3) The five parts of an automobile were selected as five major jobs with different job characteristics in the automobile industry. Specifically, they were door part, front part(hood, etc.), inside part(dash board, seats, etc.), rear part(trunk etc.), and bottom part. All three methods did not show any significant differences for the results from each observers. Further study on this subject would eventually provide a sophisticated evaluating guidelines for WMSDs regarding determination of observer-specific evaluation, identification of repetitive number of evaluations for stable results for each checklist, determination of job-specific evaluation methods, and so on.

This study tried to focus on nontraditional job that has not been studied in terms of the subjects associated with MSDs(Musculoskeletal Disorders). Specifically, dental procedure was the job to be analyzed in this study. An alternative method as well as a traditional method for viewing teeth while performing simulated dental procedures. Four graduated students did both methods(direct view and indirect view) as the subjects in this study. The method based on indirect view used a video camera and monitor to view the teeth. The experiment was conducted five times for each subject. The major findings in this study were as follows; 1) Job speed was increased with the repetitions for both methods, 2) Difference of Neck flexion between direct and indirect methods was statistically siginificant(Neck flexion for indirect method was dramatically decreased), 3) Difference of job speed between direct and indirect methods was statistically significant(Job speed for direct method was faster than that of indirect method), 4) Difference of error rate between direct and indirect methods was statistically significant(error rate for direct method was lower than that of indirect method), 5) Even though indirect method did not provide better performance in terms of job speed and error rate yet, it seemed to need a trade-off between two methods in the future since indirect method provided better working postures than that of direct method.

Cycling that transform human energy into mechanical energy is one of the man-machine systems out of sports fields. Benchmarking means "improving ourselves by learning from others', therefore benchmarking toward dominant cyclist is necessary on field. The goals of this study were to provide important factors on multi-disciplines (kinematics, physiology, power, psychology) for a tailored-training program that is suitable to individual characteristics. Two cyclists participated in this study and gave consent to the experimental procedure. One was dominant cyclist (years: 21 yrs, height: 177 cm, mass: 70 kg), and the other was non-dominant cyclist (years: 21, height: 176, mass: 70). Kinematic data were recorded using six infrared cameras (240Hz) and QTM (software). Physiological data (VO2max, AT) were acquired according to graded exercising test with cycle ergometer and power with Wingate test used by Bar-Or et. al (1977) and to evaluate muscle function with Cybex. Psychological data were collected with competitive state anxiety inventory (CSAI-2) that was devised by Martens et. al (1990) and athletes' self-management questionnaire (ASMQ) of Huh (2003). It appears that the dominant's CV of ankle joint angle was higher than non-dominant's CV and dominant's pedaling pattern was consistent in biomechanics domain, which the dominant's values for all factors ware higher than non-dominant's values in physical, and physiological domain, and their values between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety were contrary to each other in psychology. Further research on multi-disciplines may lead to the development of tailored-optimal training programs applicable with key factors to enhance athletic performance by means of research including athlete, coach and parents.

The objective of this study is to develop 3D anthropometrical data acquisition method of human back surface and to recognise and extract its morphological characteristics. This technique is very useful in describing the sitter's back contour and the interaction between the sitter's back and the seat. The back surfaces of subjects in sitting posture are measured by using martine-type anthropometer and sliding gauge. These basic anthropometrical data are reconstructed into 3D image.

Cycling that transform human energy into mechanical energy is one of the man-machine systems out of sports fields. Benchmarking means " improving ourselves by learning from others ", therefore benchmarking toward dominant cyclist is necessary on field. the goals of this study were to provide important factors on multi-disciplines (kinematics, physiology, power, psychology) for a tailored-training program that is suitable to individual characteristics. Two cyclist participated in this study and gave consent to the experimental procedure. one was dominant cyclist (years:21 yrs, height:177 cm, mass:70 kg), and the other was non-dominant cyclist(years:21, height:176, mass:70). Kinematic data were recorded using six infrared cameras (240Hz) and QTM (software). Physiological data (VO2max, AT) were acquired according to graded exercising test with cycle ergometer and power with Wingate test used by Bar-Or et. al ( 1977) and to evaluate muscle function with Cybex. Psychological data were collected with competitive state anxiety inventory (CSAI-2) that were devised by Martens et. al (1990) and with athletes' self-management questionnaire (ASMQ) of Huh (2003). It appears that the dominant's CV(coefficient of variability) was higher than non-dominant's CV in Sports Biomechanics domain, that the dominant's values for all factors ware higher than non-dominant's values in physical, and physiological domain, and their values between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety were contrary to each other in psychology. Further research on multi-disciplines may lead to the development of tailored-optimal training programs applicable with key factors to enhance athletic performance by means of research including athlete, coach and parents.