Jörgen Anders Evert Eklund

Jörgen Anders Evert Eklund
KTH Royal Institute of Technology | KTH · Unit of ergonomics

PhD

About

122
Publications
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Publications

Publications (122)
Article
Full-text available
Workers in the construction industry must endure different weather conditions, long working hours, and engage in repetitive and strenuous jobs with unrealistic deadlines. Sick leaves, caused by accidents and by work-related diseases, are common in the construction industry. Hand–arm vibration from hand-held power tools is a cause of significant ill...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Companies use risk observations and work environment (WE) deviations such as occupational accidents and occupational illnesses to prevent injuries. There is no standard for how risks and occupational injuries are reported. Praktikertjänst's management requests a standard as a measure that can be used to work more proactively with health and safety...
Article
Vibrotactile feedback training may be one possible method for interventions that target at learning better work techniques and improving postures in manual handling. This study aimed to evaluate the short term effect of real-time vibrotactile feedback on postural exposure using a smart workwear system for work postures intervention in simulated ind...
Article
Full-text available
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a major concern globally affecting societies, companies, and individuals. To address this, a new sensor-based system is presented: the Smart Workwear System, aimed at facilitating preventive measures by supporting risk assessments, work design, and work technique training. The system has a module-based pla...
Book
Full-text available
The overarching purpose of this literature review is to provide a summary and overview of knowledge derived from research literature on work environment trends, particularly digitalization and new employment forms, with an emphasis on consequences for the work environment. While Swedish work environments comprised the point of departure, research c...
Article
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In this paper the RAMP Package is presented with the objective to facilitate the application of the RAMP tool to systematically manage MSD risks. The package consists of the RAMP tool (Risk Assessment and Management tool for manual handling Proactively), the RAMP website, and free, globally available online, training courses (MOOCs). An Action modu...
Technical Report
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Working life of today faces challenges. There is a fast pace in technical and organisational development and continual demands for increased performance. In order to manage the increasing complexity in work systems, there is a need to take a holistic view on operations. One such view is the systems concept of Humans, Technology and Organisation (HT...
Conference Paper
ABSTRACT-HERE - - - -https://www.premus2019.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PREMUS-2019-Abstact-30.08.19.pdf - - - - - - - Background: We have developed an ambulatory wearable system for assisting risk assessment and automated training to reduce adverse postural exposures. This study evaluated the effects of direct vibrotactile feedback using the sy...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Feedback training of postural behaviour is one possible strategy of reducing the risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Automated self-training could possibly have an impact on such disorders. The aim was to experimentally test the short-term effects of two low cost self-training approaches, targeting a reduction in the time of upper arm...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The RAMP package is composed of the RAMP tool, a website and MOOC training courses. The RAMP tool is an observation tool for risk assessment and risk management of MSD risks in manual handling. In order to support users globally, the tool was made freely available through a web-based platform. Further, RAMP MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) trainin...
Article
Full-text available
Work metabolism (WM) can be accurately estimated by oxygen consumption (VO2), which is commonly assessed by heart rate (HR) in field studies. However, the VO2–HR relationship is influenced by individual capacity and activity characteristics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three models for estimating WM compared with indirect calorimetry,...
Chapter
The objective of this paper is to describe the development, dissemination and preliminary effects of the use of a new musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk management tool for manual handling, RAMP (Risk Assessment and Management tool for manual handling Proactively). RAMP is research based and developed in close collaboration between researchers and...
Chapter
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) constitute a major health problem for employees, and the economic consequences are substantial for the individuals, companies and the society. The ageing population creates a need for jobs to be sustainable so that employees can stay healthy and work longer. Prevention of MSD risks therefore needs to become more eff...
Chapter
Truck drivers suffer work injuries to a higher extent than most other occupations. The HTO concept and the interaction framework were applied in a pre-study leading to a redesign of a new powered pallet truck. The old truck was evaluated using a literature study, interviews, observations, injury statistics and benchmarking, as part of the HTO analy...
Chapter
An interactive research approach was applied in an evaluation of a potential organizational change for mail carriers. Interviews and observations were performed. The results showed that specialization of mail carriers into either mail sorting or mail delivery would lead to more monotonous jobs. Observations showed that sorting mail in a new distric...
Chapter
Full-text available
The workspace design process offers opportunities for significant improvements of work environments at low costs. However, work environment experts and Occupational Health Services (OHS) personnel are not seen as natural partners, inhibiting their chances of getting experience. This paper reports results from a national pilot intervention project c...
Article
Full-text available
Work-related musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders are still prevalent in today’s working population. Nowadays, risk assessments are usually performed via self-reports or observations, which have relatively low reliability. Technology developments in textile electrodes (textrodes), inertial measurement units (IMUs), and the communication and...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction In collaboration with five Swedish universities of technology, Prevent has produced an online course in English, based on the textbook ‘Work and technology on human terms’ to be used as a modern, highly accessible study material. The purpose is to contribute to safer and healthier workplaces and to improve organisational performance. T...
Conference Paper
Work-related injuries and disorders constitute a major burden and cost for employers, society in general and workers in particular. We@Work is a project that aims to develop an integrated solution for promoting and to support a safe and healthy working life by combining wearable technologies, Big Data analytics, ergonomics, and information and comm...
Article
Full-text available
Many companies move from open-plan offices (OPO) toactivity-basedworkplaces (ABWs). However, few studies examine the benefits and drawbacks following such a change. The aim of this study was to explore how physical conditions, office use, communication, privacy,territoriality, satisfaction and perceived performance change following a company’s relo...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Prevent has collaborated with five Swedish universities of technology to produce an online course in human factors engineering, ergonomics, work science and related subjects. The online course could serve as a pedagogic tool to attract more students to the subject, not only in engineering university programs, but also in economics and human relatio...
Article
Full-text available
The field of human factors and ergonomics constitutes a strong potential in systems analysis, design and improvement. However, it is difficult to communicate its potential value. This paper addresses how the human-technology-organization (HTO) concept can be defined and supports the understanding, communication and development of the systems' chara...
Article
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Conclusions about implementing the management concept lean in healthcare are contradictory and longitudinal studies are scarce. In particular, little is known of how working conditions contribute to the sustainability of lean in healthcare. The aim of this article is to identify to what extent lean tools (visual follow-up boards, standardised work,...
Article
Knife sharpness is imperative in meat cutting. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of knife blade steel quality with meat cutters’ individual ability to maintain the cutting edge sharp in an industrial production setting. Twelve meat cutters in two different companies using three different knives during normal production were studied in...
Article
Purpose – This paper aims to identify conditions affecting sustainability of Lean implementations in Swedish psychiatric healthcare, from a socio-technical perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Longitudinal focus group interviews were conducted with 24 first-line managers within Swedish psychiatric healthcare. The analysis was made using Cher...
Article
The overall aim of this paper is to draw combined, all-embracing conclusions based on a long-term multidisciplinary research programme on recycling centres in Sweden, focussing on working conditions, environment and system performance. A second aim is to give recommendations for their development of new and existing recycling centres and to discuss...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
A recently developed model intended to be used by practitioners and ergonomists in the manufacturing and logistics industry for assessment of physical ergonomic risks related to manual lifting and lowering operations is presented. The model is constructed using the revised NIOSH lifting equation (RNLE) as a basis, but it has been modified to enhanc...
Article
Unlabelled: Meat cutters' work has been investigated by several researchers. However, knowledge about the physiological demands of meat cutting is almost lacking. The aim of this explorative study was to assess physiological demands in meat cutting, to compare them with International Labour Organization (ILO) recommendations for acceptable workloa...
Article
In many western countries individuals will need to continue their professional careers beyond the current retirement age. This requires adaptation of the working conditions to compensate for age related visual changes. The aim of this paper is to compile and structure knowledge concerning age related changes in visual and non-visual functions among...
Article
The static posture of postal workers when sorting mail can lead to musculoskeletal discomfort. Research has shown a connection between eyestrain and upper-body musculoskeletal discomfort in general, including postal workers. A previous study of postal workers found that most of those with eye strain were in need of a new correction in their existin...
Article
Meat cutters face higher risks of injury and musculoskeletal problems than most other occupational groups. The aims of this paper were to describe ergonomics changes implemented in three meat cutting plants and to evaluate effects related to ergonomics on the individual meat cutters and their work. Data was collected by interviews, observations, do...
Article
This paper highlights experiences from ergonomics projects, applying an interactive research approach. The aim of this paper is to summarise experiences from seven interactive ergonomics projects with the aim to improve ergonomics and organizational performance jointly. Results from these seven projects were analysed with a model for assessing sust...
Article
This study was performed between 2004 and 2011 at mail sorting facilities in Sweden. During this time, different interventions were performed. The first was a lighting intervention that had a positive impact on the postal workers, especially those with eyestrain. A new lighting system also improved the illuminance and gave better light distribution...
Article
Visual requirements are high when sorting mail. The purpose of this visual ergonomics intervention study was to evaluate the visual environment in mail sorting facilities and to explore opportunities for improving the work situation by reducing visual strain, improving the visual work environment and reducing mail sorting time. Twenty-seven postmen...
Article
Full-text available
Swedish recycling centres are manned facilities for waste collection. There is no special category in the official injury statistics for employees at recycling centres, which precludes a straightforward analysis of reported occupational injuries. This study aimed at identifying the frequency of reported accidents and diseases and the type of events...
Article
Full-text available
There has been increased focus on recycling in Sweden during recent years. This focus can be attributed to external environmental factors such as tougher legislation, but also to the potential gains for raw materials suppliers. Recycling centres are important components in the Swedish total recycling system. Recycling centres are manned facilities...
Chapter
Contemporary quality issues in product design are moving from materialistic to emotional user fulfillment; comprehensive research is needed to examine quality product feelings. This research is directed toward a deeper understanding of user and customer quality feelings for different product types, including services. The quality feelings concept i...
Article
Purpose This paper aims to present and discuss the current state of quality‐improvement activities in Swedish companies. The paper focuses on the drivers for quality improvement; types of approaches, tools and techniques, and organizational aspects influenced by quality improvement; and potential areas for improvement. Design/methodology/approach...
Article
This paper addresses a number of issues for work environment intervention (WEI) researchers in light of the mixed results reported in the literature. If researchers emphasise study quality over intervention quality, reviews that exclude case studies with high quality and multifactorial interventions may be vulnerable to ‘quality criteria selection...
Article
Recycling is a new and developing industry, which has only been researched to a limited extent. This article describes the development and use of instruments for data collection within a multidisciplinary research programme "Recycling centres in Sweden - working conditions, environmental and system performance". The overall purpose of the programme...
Article
Full-text available
This paper investigates Swedish recycling centres from the users' perspective. The aim was to describe the characteristics and experiences of the users and their activities when sorting and disposing of waste, and to identify improvements for the users. The typical recycling centre user is a recently retired man, living in a house with a garden, ha...
Article
All municipalities in Sweden offer their inhabitants a service for disposing of large-size and hazardous waste at local recycling centres. Opening hours at these centres include hours of darkness. The aims of this study were to 1) describe user and employee experiences of lighting and signs at Swedish recycling centres, 2) measure and assess the li...
Chapter
Full-text available
Publisher Summary In the beginning of the 1970s, the concept of Kansei Engineering was introduced in Japan. Kansei Engineering can be defined as a product development methodology that translates customers’ and users’ feelings, impressions, and emotions into concrete design parameters. This chapter provides a background to Kansei Engineering and exa...
Article
Purpose This paper seeks to deal with affective design of waiting areas (servicescapes) and has twofold aims. The first, is to explore affective values for waiting areas. The second, is to identify interactions between physical design attributes and affective values. Design/methodology/approach This study included a free association method for dat...
Article
Several companies have developed their own company-specific models for ergonomic improvements. This study aims to describe and identify factors supporting and hindering the implementation and application of one such corporate model for ergonomic assessment and improvement. The model has been developed by Volvo Car Corporation and implemented at an...
Article
The objective of this pilot study was to explore whether organisational change and work-related stress, as measured by the Job Content Questionnaire, were associated with first-ever stroke among working people aged 30-65. In a case-control study a total of 65 consecutive cases, aged 30-65 years of age, with first-ever stroke were recruited from fou...
Article
Although the use of continuous improvement (CI) is widespread today, many organizations face problems maintaining high and sustained employee involvement in such programs. The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing employee involvement in submitting suggestions within a suggestion system in a Swedish production company. The compa...
Article
Full-text available
This article describes and discusses an interactive research approach, and illustrates this approach by presenting two examples of national change projects. Our aim in presenting these two examples is to demonstrate how interactive research can be conducted in close co-operation with those concerned, within the framework of a critical and reflectiv...
Article
Although the use of continuous improvement (CI) is widespread today, many organizations face problems maintaining high and sustained employee involvement in such programs. The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing employee involvement in submitting suggestions within a suggestion system in a Swedish production company. The compa...
Article
Full-text available
This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey of the auditing practices and the value of certification audits in 269 Swedish ISO 9001:2000 certified organisations. Certification audits help to improve the quality management system and increase the motivation for quality work. Certified organisations want auditors not only to issue a cer...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose The aim of the study is to investigate and to understand the practice of implementing and operating the QMS in an organisational context, providing an analysis of the way ISO 9001:2000 was implemented and operated and focusing on identifying factors which have negatively or positively influenced the effects of the quality management system...
Conference Paper
Waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the most rapidly growing waste stream. Further, producer responsibility was enforced in EU member countries during 2005. Most of the WEEE in Sweden is collected at manned recycling centres, which have a key role for the downstream handling in order to ensure high collection rates of WEEE and a prope...
Article
Rocker switches used in vehicles meet high demands partly due to the increased focus on customer satisfaction. Previous studies focused on ergonomics and usability rather than design for emotions and affection. The aim of this study was to determine how and to what extent engineering properties influence the perception of rocker switches. Secondary...
Article
Full-text available
Trends in product development today indicate that customers will find it hard to distinguish between many products due to functional equivalency. Customers will, therefore, base their decisions on more subjective factors. Moreover, in the future, products will consist, to a higher grade, of a combination of a tangible and intangible part. Kansei En...
Article
ISO 14000 is based on the concept that better environmental performance can be achieved when environmental aspects are systematically identified and managed. Despite the growing interest in voluntary environmental management standards, little empirical information exists and only a few survey studies have been made. This paper contains an evaluatio...
Article
The concept of "showroom appeal" is known in the car and furniture industries, meaning that a product is perceived very favorable at first sight. This can sometimes be followed by a substantially less favorable perception after some time has elapsed. One example of this is that chairs with too soft a seat may be perceived more comfortable at first,...
Article
Although the use of continuous improvement (CI) is widespread today, many organizations are faced with problems associated with both the implementation and long-term sustainability of their CI programmes. The purpose of this article is to identify factors important for the sustainable development of suggestion schemes. A case study has been perform...
Article
Employee participation in the development and improvement of their own work activities and daily production tasks has been strongly emphasised by the "quality movement". From this point of view, the quality perspective, and in particular development work, are supportive of improved working conditions and ergonomics. This paper proposes a classifica...
Article
Full-text available
A previous research project on lowlifters led to the conclusion that the suspension and damping of the platform on which the drivers stand are important factors for the impact on the drivers' health, comfort and performance. A prototype platform was designed in order to improve these aspects and in particular the driving feeling of the platform. Th...
Article
Improvements in the design of products for industrial use gets increasingly important. The aim is to get better knowledge about the user's feelings about warehouse-trucks and to test study methods . Kansei Engineering is used in order to compare three trucks from different manufacturers and reveal differences in impact on the users. The project con...
Article
Participation has been of great interest in organizational development as well as in the field of ergonomics and total quality management (TQM) for many years. However, many aspects of participation are still not well understood. The aim of this paper is to contribute towards a better understanding of the expert versus the participant in change and...
Article
Few studies have researched the potential of different quality strategies to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss opportunities and disadvantages by using quality concepts, especially continuous improvement and standardisation, for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. The results point to that qu...
Article
Cases from production as well as product use support that quality for the end customer can only be performed if there is quality in all processes and work activities leading to the delivery of the product or service. A conditional requirement is that these work activities are free from risks of accidents, health impairments and that they promote we...
Article
In many studies, ergonomics has been shown to influence human performance. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate important ergonomics influences on quality in industrial production, from the perspective of interactions between humans, technology, organization, and work environment. A second aim was to elaborate on the implications of these findi...
Article
Full-text available
This paper describes and evaluates experiences of applying a business process perspective as a part of a change project in three different enterprises, especially with respect to improvements in production planning and information flow activities. The business process modelling gives a detailed and structured understanding of the relations between...
Article
What effects will the implementation of the quality standard ISO 9000 have regarding working conditions and competitive advantages? Which are the most important change process characteristics for assuring improved working conditions and other desired effects? These are the main questions behind this study of six furniture-making companies which imp...
Article
This paper reviews the literature comparing the fields of ergonomics and quality, mainly in an industrial context, including mutual influences, similarities and differences. Relationships between ergonomics and the factors: work conditions, product design, ISO 9000, continuous improvements and TQM are reviewed in relation to the consequence, applic...
Article
The external CO2 dead space volume (Vd) in facial visors and respiratory protective devices is difficult, but important, to measure in human subjects. The lack of proper methods for its assessment has hampered the development of standards and the improvement of visor and device design. We have improved and evaluated a method for measuring Vd and th...
Article
Work conditions in industrial production vary substantially between different cultures. In the present study the aims were to identify differences between Swedish and Indonesian assembly industry workers regarding work environment factors, health and job satisfaction, and to find associations between work environment factors, and the health measure...
Article
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether psychological stress causes increased muscle activity, especially static muscle activity, in the trapezius muscles of the neck and shoulder. A pilot and a main study were carried out with 10 males and 20 females, respectively. The subjects performed a VDU data entry task under psychologically stressful...
Article
Several studies indicate a relationship between ergonomic work conditions and the quality of the work. The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between a number of ergonomic conditions and product quality in car assembly. The most physically demanding tasks, the tasks with the most difficult parts to assemble, and the most psychologi...
Article
An increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders, e.g. from the neck region, has been found among professional drivers of work vehicles. The purpose of this study was to identify causes of postural load and implications for vehicle design and work tasks. A second purpose was to develop the methods for measurement and analysis of head postures. Field...
Article
Reaction torque measures of six different nutrunners were correlated with EMG measures and subjective ratings of perceived exertion for different work surface orientations, joint stiffnesses, rpm levels, air pressure levels and handle configurations. Using an underpowered tool or using a softer joint resulted in larger impulses and worse ratings. A...
Article
The risk for musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and shoulder regions was evaluated for different fabric-seaming work tasks. Forty-seven seaming operators answered a questionnaire and 12 of then also participated in an in-depth study. Ratings of perceived exertion, video filming followed by posture analysis and trapezius EMG with temporal pattern...