Ergonomics & Ergo design workgroup
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Contact: |
Address:
Chair of Biosystems Engineering, Institute of Forestry and Engineering
Estonian University of Life Sciences56 Fr. R. Kreutzwald Str. 51006 Tartu, ESTONIA |
| Workgroup of Ergonomics & Ergo design is led by Professor Eda Merisalu. Current members of the workgroup are: one professor, one professor emeritus, one associate professor, two lecturers and five PhD students. The research topic of the workgroup is the optimisation human well-being at work in order to improve the overall performance of the work-system. Since 2004, the focus of applied research was on the physical parameters of the work environment and on the assessment of employee’s health risks. In 2011 the topics ‘Ergonomic assessment of tools’ and ‘Implementation of cost-effective methods for the ergonomic assessment’ were added to the portfolio. Nowadays the topic of Cognitive ergonomics focuses on the psycho-social risk factors, such as issues related to stress, burnout and mental health. The studies often apply simulation in the assessment of skill acquisition, considering the learning ability, attention, reaction time and coordination. Ongoing developments also include a training simulation for the assessment of physical load of body posture and movements. The workgroup currently participates in three European projects: 1) Safety Culture and Risk Management in Agriculture (COST Action CA16123; SACURIMA); 2) Network on the Coordination and Harmonisation of European Occupational Cohorts (COST Action CA16216; OMEGA-NET) and 3) Better prevention, identification and reporting of work-related and occupational diseases and emerging risks. |
Research topics: Physical ergonomics
Cognitive ergonomics
Effective use of milking equipment considering the issues of energy consumption, performance and reliability. |
Members of the workgroup:
| Eda Merisalu, Dr.Med.Sci Professor of ergonomics e-post: eda.merisalu@emu.ee |
Cognitive ergonomics; physiological and psychological risk factors in the work environment; risk assessment and risk management; prevalence and prevention of work accidents in agriculture, ergonomic intervention; prevention of musculoskeletal diseases, occupational diseases and work related diseases; occupational health |
| Boris Reppo, Dr.Sc.Eng. Professor emeritus e-post: boris.reppo@emu.ee |
Physical and mental workload; reliability of Biosystems |
| Arvo Leola, Dr.Eng Associate professor of biosystem engineering e-post: arvo.leola@emu.ee |
Cost-effective utilisation of farm equipment |
| Märt Reinvee, PhD
Senior lecturer of physical ergonomics
e-post: mart.reinvee@emu.ee |
Methodology of ergonomics; development and testing of low-cost measurement equipment |
| Alar Seiler, MSc
Teacher of workplace safety
e-post: alar.seiler@emu.ee |
Occupational health and safety; risk assessment and risk management; noise and vibration |
| Taavi Leola, Msc Lecturer of husbandry engineering and workplace safety e-post: taavi.leola@emu.ee |
Husbandry engineering; engineering design of farm buildings; workplace safety |
| Assar Luha, PhD Junior researcher e-post: assar.luha@emu.ee |
Noise in military vehicles and firearms; assessment of internal environment |
| Galina Kononenko, MSc Administrative aide of studies e-post: galina.kononenko@emu.ee |
Curricula management; supervision of laboratory equipment and assets; styling & ergodesign of info materials |
| Riin Raimla, MSc PhD student e-post: riin.raimla@emu.ee |
Ergonomic intervention programmes and use of simulation method for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders |
| Kerttu Juhanson, MSc PhD student E-post: kerttu.juhanson@emu.ee |
Ergodesign of workstations and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in the electronics industry |
| Anni Enn, MSc PhD student e-post: anni.enn@student.emu.ee |
Prevalence and prevention of work accidents through ergonomic interventions in agriculture |
Curricula related to work group:
The aim of master programme is to prepare specialists with systematic knowledge who can plan, design and control the work systems. The graduates will understand the interactions of humans and other elements of the work system in order to optimise human well-being and overall system performance. They are able to involve data of ergonomics and related fields by choosing appropriate methods and technologies while solving multidisciplinary problems and assess possible risks. The graduates will usually implement their knowledge in professions of ergonomics, quality engineers or experts in the enterprises, ministries, Labour Inspectorate or academic work at the university. The access to doctoral studies is available. |
The students acquire basic knowledge about engineering and technology, risk factors and skills for work environment measurement. As the focus of the bachelor studies is on the workplace, the students learn handling of equipment for of noise, vibration, lighting, dust and microclimate measurements. Another key topic in bachelor studies is the labour law, as the assurance of health and safety on the workplace must conform to the local legislations. The excursions to industrial or agricultural enterprises give the students the perfect opportunity to test all acquired skills in the field settings. Often the graduates of bachelor programme are working as work environment specialists or quality managers. Usually they continue in master studies. |
Publications:
| Reinvee, M.; Mrugalska, B. (2019). Contemporary Low-Cost Hardware for Ergonomic Evaluation: Needs, Applications and Limitations. In: Karwowski, W.; Trzcielinski, S.; Mrugalska, B.; Di Nicolantonio, M.; Rossi, E. (Ed.). Advances in Manufacturing, Production Management and Process Control. AHFE 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing (386−397). Cham: Springer.10.1007/978-3-319-94196-7_36. Coggon, D., Ntani, G., Palmer, K.T., Felli, V.E., Harari, F., Quintana, L.A., Felknor, S.A., Rojas, M., Cattrell, A., Vargas-Prada, S., Bonzini, M., Solidaki, E., Merisalu, E., Habib, R.R., Sadeghian, F., Kadir, M.M., Warnakulasuriya, S.S., Matsudaira, K., Nyantumbu-Mkhize, B., Kelsall, H.L., Harcombe, H. (2018). Drivers of international variation in prevalence of disabling low back pain: Findings from the CUPID study. Eur J Pain, June 2018; DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1255 Merisalu, E., Mugur D. and Kic P. (2018). Importance of microclimate conditions and CO2 control in educational buildings: a case study. Agronomy Research 16(x): https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.18.157 [ilmumas] Aia, S.; Reinvee, M (2018). An investigation of forearm EMG normalization procedures in a field study. In: Arezes, P.M.; Baptista, J. S.; Barroso, M.P.; Carneiro, P.; Cordeiro, P.; Costa, N.; Melo, R.B.; Miguel, A.S.; Perestrelo, G. (Ed.). Occupational Safety and Hygiene VI (313−317). CRC Press/Balkema. Gaworski, M.; Leola, A.; Kiiman, H.; Sada, O.; Kic, P.; Priekulis, J.; (2018). Assessment of dairy cow herd indices associated with different milking systems. Agronomy Research, 16(1). 83-93. 10.15159/ar.17.075. Raimla, Riin; Merisalu, Eda (2017). Effectiveness of simulation models on technical skills among surgeons. A critical review. Agronomy Research, 15(4),1756-1770. 10.15159/AR.17.030. Coggon, D.; Ntani, G.; Walker-Bone, K.; Palmer, K.T.; Felli, V.E.; Harari, R.; Barrero, L.H.; Felknor, S.A.; Gimeno, D.; Cattrell, A.; Vargas-Prada, S.; Bonzini, M.; Solidaki, E.; Merisalu, E.; Habib, R.R.; Sadeghian, F.; Kadir, M.M.; Warnakulasuriya, S.S.; Matsudaira, K.; Nyantumbu, B. ... Salazar Vega, E.J. (2017). Epidemiological Differences Between Localised and Non-localised Low Back Pain. Spine, 42 (10), 740−747. 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001956. Juhanson, K., Merisalu, E. (2017). Ergonomic intervention programs in different economic sectors: a review article. Agronomy Research, 15(1), 170-186. Sada, O.; Leola, A.; Kic, P. (2016). Choosing and evaluation of milking parlours for dairy farms in Estonia. Agronomy Reserch, 14 (5), 1694−1701. Gaworski, M.; Leola, A.; Sada, O.; Kic, P.; Priekulis, J. (2016). Effect of cow traffic system and herd size on cow perfomance and automatic milking systems capacity. Agronomy Reserch, 14 (1), 33−40. Reinvee, M,; Pääsuke, M. (2016). Overview of Contemporary Low-cost sEMG Hardware for Applications in Human Factors and Ergonomics. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (408−412). Sage Publications Ltd. Sarquis, L.M.M.; Coggon, D.; Ntani, G.; Walker-Bone, K.; Palmer, K.T.; Felli, V.E.; Harari, R.; Barrero, L.H.; Felknor, S.A.; Gimeno, D.; Cattrell, A.; Vargas-Prada, S.; Bonzini, M.; Solidaki, E.; Merisalu, E.; Habib, R.R.; Sadeghian, F.; Kadir, M.M.; Warnakulasuriya, S.S.P.; Matsudaira, K. ... Salazar-Vega, E.J. (2016). Classification of neck/shoulder pain in epidemiological research: A comparison of personal and occupational characteristics, disability and prognosis among 12,195 workers from 18 countries. Pain, 157 (5, 5), 1028−1036. 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000477. Vargas-Prada, S; Coggon, D; Ntani, G; Walker-Bone, K; Palmer, KT; Felli, VE; Harari, R; Barrero, LH; Felknor, SA; Gimeno, D; Cattrell, A; Bonzini, M; Solidaki, E; Merisalu, E; Habib, RR; Sadeghian, F; Kadir, MM; Warnakulasuriya, SS; Matsudaira, K; Nyantumbu, B ... Vega, EJ (2016). Descriptive Epidemiology of Somatising Tendency: Findings from the CUPID Study. PlosOne, 11 (4), e0153748.10.1371/journal.pone.0153748. Merisalu, Eda; Animägi, Liina; Oha, Kristel; Freimann, Tiina; Sirk, Tuuli (2016). Job-Specific Factors and Prevalence of Multiple and Disabling Musculoskeletal Pain Among Office Workers, Nurses, and Caregivers in Estonia. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Section B Natural Exact and Applied Sciences , 70 (5), 286−293.10.1515/prolas-2016-0044. Merisalu, E.; Hiir, K., Männaste, M.; Traumann, A. (2016). Predictors and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among sewing machine operators. Agronomy Research, 14 (4), 1417−1426. Freimann, Tiina; Pääsuke, Mati; Merisalu, Eda (2016). Work-Related Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health Problems Associated with Musculoskeletal Pain in Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pain research and management, online. 10.1155/2016/9361016. Reinvee, M.; Vaas, P.; Ereline, J.; Pääsuke, M. (2015). Applicability of affordable sEMG in ergonomics practice. In: Tareq Ahram, Waldemar Karwowski and Dylan Schmorrow (Ed.). Procedia Manufacturing (4260−4265).. 6th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2015) and the Affiliated Conferences, AHFE 2015: Elsevier Science BV. 10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.412. Gaworski, M.; Leola, A. (2015). Comparison of dairy potential in Europe and its effect on assesment of milking systems. Agronomy Research, 13 (1), 223−230. Freimann, T; Merisalu, E; Pääsuke, M. (2015). Effects of a home-exercise therapy programme on cervical and lumbar range of motion among nurses with neck and lower back pain: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Sport Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 7, 31. 10.1186/s13102-015-0025-6. Merisalu, Eda; Vähi, Mare; Kinnas, Siim; Oja, Margit; Sarapuu, Karin; Novikov, Oleg; Pärnapuu, Margus; Indermitte, Ene; Lea, Kersti; Orru, Hans (2015). Job specific factors, demographic parameters and musculo-skeletal disorders among military personnel depending on type of service. Agronomy Research, 13 (3), 775−785. Freimann, Tiina; Merisalu, Eda (2015). Work-related psychosocial risk factors and mental health problems amongst nurses at a university hospital in Estonia: A cross-sectional study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 43 (5), 447−452. 10.1177/1403494815579477. Gaworski, M.; Leola, A. (2014). Effect of technical and biological potential o dairy production development. Agronomy Research, 12 (1), 215−222. Reinvee, M.; Jansen, K. (2014). Utilisation of tactile sensors in ergonomic assessment of hand–handle interface: a review. Agronomy Research, 12 (3), 907−914. Merisalu, Eda; Männik, Georg; Põlluste, Kaja (2014). Quality management and job related factors predicting satisfaction of dental clinic staff in Estonia. Stomatologija, Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal, 16 (4), 144−152. |
Intellectual property Patent nr. 05807. Method for comparative assessment of work environment and work technology assessment. Date of the grant of the patent: 16.07.2018. Holder: Estonian University of Life Sciences. Inventor names: Kuzmin, Jüri; Reppo, Boris; Sada, Oliver. Application number: P201600025 |
Active projects 8V180179TIBT „Network on the Coordination and Harmonisation of European Occupational Cohorts“. 26.10.2018–25.10.2021. V170045TIFT "Safety Culture and Risk Management in Agriculture" (17.03.2017−16.03.2021) |