Background and Objectives: Exposure limit of employees with ergonomic risk factors should be managed based on domestic and international laws and regulations. Manual tasks are tasks due to which a person is required to use part of the body to lift, lower, push, pull, carry and hold the material. The purpose of this study was to introduce ergonomics with the implementation of the PErforM Participatory ergonomics program. Methods: The present study was carried out on all employees working in the Reactor Charging Unit of a resin company during the year 2017. The Participatory ergonomics for manual tasks (PErforM) Method was used to manage ergonomic risks due to manual tasks. After holding several training sessions, ergonomic risks have been identified and evaluated using the ManTRA (Manual Tasks Risk Assessment) tool and also by staff. Then interventions suggested by the staff using the DotMocracy tool were eventually implemented. Also, the proposed interventions were simulated before implementation, in order to assess interventions’ implementation. Results: The tasks of pushing pallets containing 800 kg bags and machines with 25 kg bags were identified as risky manual tasks using ManTRA. After the interventions using Participatory ergonomics, the intensity of repetitive tasks and force in the areas of the hands, shoulders and lower back were reduced. Conclusion: Generally, the PErforM has a high capacity to modify employee’ s exposure to ergonomic risk factors, as well as to discover effective, simple, and effective control strategies. However, achieving this goal requires the promotion of ergonomic knowledge and management commitment.

Work-associated Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are one of the most crucial of these problems. Those disorders are very common In industrialized and developing international locations,statistics display that almost a hundred and fifty million human are suffering from these problems. . . .

Background and Objectives: One of the most effective methods for managing ergonomic risk factors in the workplace is to involve employees in identifying and assessing ergonomic risk factors and ultimately designing and implementing interventions by themselves. Therefore, this study aimed to implement a Participatory ergonomic program, focusing on the transfer of ergonomic knowledge to employees, and to examine the effects of interventions on the macroeconomic indexes. Methods: This semi-experimental interventional study was carried out in cooperation with all staff of one of the medical diagnostic laboratories in Isfahan (11 people) in 2017. A Participatory ergonomic program was implemented based on the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) Guide. Then, the differences in the level of macro ergonomic elements such as job satisfaction and increase in motivating potential score of employees were studied before and after the interventions resulting from Participatory ergonomic program (OHCOW) in this work environment. The data was analyzed using SPSS 23. Results: Job satisfaction before and after ergonomic interventions had no significant difference (a relative increase), but in one of the scales, namely organizational climate, there was a significant change (P=0. 016). Also, the motivating potential score of employees after the intervention was significantly higher than before (P=0. 013). Conclusion: In this study, Participatory ergonomics were used to improve some aspects of macro ergonomic elements. Based on the results of this study, Participatory ergonomics can increase some job satisfaction scores and motivating potential score of employees. Finally, it is suggested that allocate a longer duration for intervention utilization.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant public health concern that can greatly affect individuals’ health and well-being. Since Iran is a significant producer and exporter of saffron, with many workers engaged in this industry, the study aimed to design an ergonomic table for saffron flower processing to reduce MSDs, like back pain. Methods: In this experimental study, the design process involved brainstorming and group meetings with 10 experts and ergonomics students, using anthropometric data from Iranian workers aged 20 to 60. The table was created using Rhino Software, version 6. Results: The saffron flower processing table was designed ergonomically with the capability of rotation and height adjustment. For each component of the saffron processing process, a specific place was designated on this table, and these designated areas were determined according to the reach of individuals. The table’s height ranged from 76 to 87 cm, with a total cross-section of, 6645 square cm. Conclusion: The limitations of this study included the inability to generalize the results to other countries and different age ranges, as the anthropometric data of Iranian workers aged 20 to 60 years were utilized. An ergonomic solution that works well in one country may lead to an increase in MSDs in another country due to different body dimensions. While some risk factors are common across various agricultural activities, each presents its own unique ergonomic challenges and injury risks, emphasizing the need for appropriate approaches to ergonomic interventions.

Background: “Participatory ergonomics” is defined as an active participation of all members of the organization in the development and implementation of ergonomic knowledge in order to improve the working environment, quality, productivity and safety of the organization. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate process of working condition with the Participatory ergonomic approach and its impact on one of the printing industries.Methods: This research is an interventional study carried out in one printing industry center. To identify the ergonomic risk factors the “Nordic Questionnaire" and “ergonomic Review Points” and to evaluate the quality employees’ working life, the NIOSH modified quality of life curriculum was used. The results were by conducting a paired t-test using SPSS20 software package.Results: The investigation of health, and working conditions using the supplementary checklist before and after applying the review points with Participatory ergonomic approach shows a significant increase. Data analysis using the paired t-test showed a significant improvement in quality of working life and reduction of musculoskeletal disorders after intervention (P<0.001).Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the individuals’ social skills and abilities have increased by participation in the process of Participatory ergonomics. Increasing the quality of working life has a significant role to improve the health of workers and reduce occupational accidents. Therefore, the implementation of Participatory ergonomic program with the collaboration of industrial managers can be an effective step towards achieving human resource satisfaction and health.

Background and Objective: ergonomic training does not impose the same costs as the other interventions, such as changing the work procedures, using new technologies, and redesigning the work environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous ergonomic training on the rate of productivity and exposure to ergonomic risk factors. Materials and Methods: In this study, 51 employees of a food industry factory in Tehran in the year 2018 were selected by random sampling method. The demographic and productivity data were collected by demographic and achieve questionnaires, respectively. In addition, exposure to ergonomic risk factors was evaluated by Quick Exposure Check (QEC). This information was re-collected after a four-month ergonomic audio-visual training course. The efficacy of the training course was examined by the paired t-test. Results: Our findings indicated that almost half of the participants were in the worst possible posture and the number of people who had the unsuitable posture did not change pre-and post-intervention. The results demonstrated that two-thirds of the samples had a moderate productivity score and training was not effective in this regard. Despite the lack of significant changes in terms of productivity and exposure to risk factors of ergonomics, the scores of these two variables altered significantly. In other words, the change was not significant in a way that could alter the levels of these two variables in the studied subjects. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, continuous ergonomic training could reduce the QEC score and increase productivity in the work environment.