This book explores the formation of small and medium-sized construction company's (SME) compliance with health and safety issues in developing countries. Little has been written about the formation of SME contractors' health and safety compliance for developing countries, especially, in the sub-sahara regions where construction and infrastructure development activities have significantly increased in order to serve the development mandate of those countries. Thus, this book will provides insight into construction safety for SMEs, as well as health and safety compliance, and its policy implementation trends and development.

The study of expertise weaves its way through various communities of practice, across disciplines, and over millennia. To date, the study of expertise has been primarily concerned with how human beings perform at a superior level in complex environments and sociotechnical systems, and at the highest levels of proficiency. However, more recent research has continued the search for better descriptions, and causal mechanisms that explain the complexities of expertise in context, with a view to translating this understanding into useful predictions and interventions capable of improving the performance of human systems as efficiently as possible. The Oxford Handbook of Expertise provides a comprehensive picture of the field of Expertise Studies. It offers both traditional and contemporary perspectives, and importantly, a multidiscipline-multimethod view of the science and engineering research on expertise. The book presents different perspectives, theories, and methods of conducting expertise research, all of which have had an impact in helping us better understand expertise across a broad range of domains. The Handbook also describes how researchers and practitioners have addressed practical problems and societal challenges. Throughout, the authors have sought to demonstrate the heterogeneity of approaches and conceptions of expertise, to place current views of expertise in context, to show how these views can be used to address current issues, and to examine ways to advance the study of expertise. The Oxford Handbook of Expertise is an essential resource both to those wanting to gain an up-to-date knowledge of the science of expertise and those wishing to study experts.

This book discusses the latest advances in human factors and ergonomics, focusing on methods for improving quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in patient care. By emphasizing the physical, cognitive and organizational aspects of human factors and ergonomics applications, it reports on various perspectives, including those of clinicians, patients, health organizations and insurance providers. The book describes cutting-edge applications, highlighting the best practices of staff interactions with patients, as well as interactions with computers and medical devices. It also presents new findings related to improved organizational outcomes in healthcare settings, and approaches to modeling and analysis specifically targeting those work aspects unique to healthcare. Based on the AHFE 2016 International Conference on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare, held on July 27-31, 2016, in Walt Disney World (R), Florida, USA, the book is intended as timely reference guide for both researchers involved in the design of healthcare systems and devices and healthcare professionals aiming at effective and safe health service delivery. Moreover, by providing a useful survey of cutting-edge methods for improving organizational outcomes in healthcare settings, the book also represents an inspiring reading for healthcare counselors and international health organizations.

This book discusses the latest advances in affective and pleasurable design. It reports on important theoretical and practical issues, covering a wealth of topics, including aesthetics in product and system design, design-driven innovation, affective computing, evaluation tools for emotion, Kansei engineering for products and services, and many more. This timely survey addresses experts and industry practitioners with different backgrounds, such as industrial designers, emotion designers, ethnographers, human-computer interaction researchers, human factors engineers, interaction designers, mobile product designers, and vehicle system designers. Based on the AHFE 2016 International Conference on Affective and Pleasurable Design, held on July 27-31, 2016, in Walt Disney World (R), Florida, USA, the book represents an inspiring guide for all researchers and professionals in the field of design.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics, EPCE 2016, held as part of the 18th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2016, held in Toronto, ON, Canada, in July 2016. The total of 1287 regular papers and 186 poster papers presented at the HCII 2016 conferences was carefully reviewed and selected from 4354 submissions. These papers address the latest research and development efforts and highlight the human aspects of design and use of computing systems. The papers accepted for presentation thoroughly cover the entire field of human-computer interaction, addressing major advances in knowledge and effective use of computers in a variety of application areas. The 47 contributions included in the EPCE proceedings were organized in the following topical sections: mental workload and performance; interaction and cognition; team cognition; cognition in complex and high risk environments; and cognition in aviation.

Providing detailed analysis of the thermal comfort assessment of clothing as the basis for developing standards, this book discusses the thermal protective role of clothing as a way of modelling heat transfer from the body, general thermal regulation of humans, and the importance of globally accepted test methods and standards to improve quality. New materials and discoveries in the study of thermal comfort necessitate the need for standard improvements and update. The development of international standards and the unification of testing methods is of crucial significance to ensure cost reduction and health protection. The book promotes instruments, methods, implementation of unified specifications, and the definition of standards so that a clear quality management system can be established, for both production systems and testing methods. It discusses standards in ergonomics of the thermal environment, clothing thermal characteristics, and subjective assessment of thermal comfort, which allows for systematic control of the measuring methods and the services and final products that are distributed on the global market. This book is aimed at industry professionals, researchers, and advanced students working in textile and clothing engineering, comfort testing, and ergonomics.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics, EPCE 2015, held as part of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2015, held in Los Angeles, CA, USA, in August 2015. The total of 1462 papers and 246 poster papers presented at the HCII 2015 conferences was carefully reviewed and selected from 4843 submissions. These papers address the latest research and development efforts and highlight the human aspects of design and use of computing systems. The papers accepted for presentation thoroughly cover the entire field of human-computer interaction, addressing major advances in knowledge and effective use of computers in a variety of application areas. The 49 contributions included in the EPCE proceedings were organized in the following topical sections: cognitive aspects of display and information design; applied cognitive psychology; safety, risk and human reliability; and aviation and space safety.

This book addresses all the special considerations important in planning for disasters, from natural disasters to acts of terrorism to catastrophic events.

It covers all aspects from assessing the risk prior to a disaster to the legal ramifications following a disaster. The text addresses the "how-tos" of avoiding the common mistakes which turn natural and man-made catastrophes into economic disasters. It encompasses not only the tried and true tactics used for decades but also focuses on areas often overlooked during the reactive and post disaster phases.

Organizations can be prepared and proactive by using this guide to make a disaster management plan before disaster strikes.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics, EPCE 2011, held in Orlando, FL, USA, in July 2011, within the framework of the 14th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2011, together with 11 other thematically similar conferences. The 67 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers are organized in topical parts on cognitive and psychological aspects of interaction; cognitive aspects of driving; cognition and the Web; cognition and automation; security and safety; and aerospace and military applications.

The experience of the past decade since the publication of the first edition of The Rules of Work: A Practical Engineering Guide to Ergonomics proves just how central ergonomics is for effective production. Revised and updated to reflect new insights from workplace developments, the second edition continues the tradition of providing essential tools for implementing good ergonomics in a way that simultaneously improves both productivity and safety. What's New in the Second Edition: Updated examples and additional rules of thumb "How to" pages cover actions such as how to design a workstation Coverage of RULA, Strain Index, and TAPDA In short, the plan of the book is that Part I provides help on how to think and Part II help on how to measure. The non-quantitative materials come first, since creativity in the application of the principles and rules provides greater value. Based on 35 years of practical problem-solving in over 1,500 workplaces, the book provides a down-to-earth and practical guide for solving ergonomics problems. It provides a framework for evaluating tasks using low-tech, non-quantitative methods, along with an overview of the standard measuring systems for those occasions when numbers are needed.

Originally published in 1989, this book is a distinctive work in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). Cognitive ergonomics and HCI encompass a wide range of research and development activities in both academic and industrial environments, and this book satisfies a clear need for the dissemination of the knowledge generated by work in progress or completed. The book provides detailed reports of a number of long-term research projects, set within a framework for describing cognitive ergonomics activities and understanding their relationships. It reports in detail on substantial empirical investigations rather than being a summary of specific areas or theoretical speculations. The different contributions are integrated, and have been rigorously edited, within a framework provided by the editors and presented in the first chapter.

This book considers how agencies are currently figured at the human-machine interface, and how they might be imaginatively and materially reconfigured. Contrary to the apparent enlivening of objects promised by the sciences of the artificial, the author proposes that the rhetorics and practices of those sciences work to obscure the performative nature of both persons and things. The question then shifts from debates over the status of human-like machines, to that of how humans and machines are enacted as similar or different in practice, and with what theoretical, practical and political consequences. Drawing on recent scholarship across the social sciences, humanities and computing, the author argues for research aimed at tracing the differences within specific sociomaterial arrangements without resorting to essentialist divides. This requires expanding our unit of analysis, while recognizing the inevitable cuts or boundaries through which technological systems are constituted.

Fundamental Economic Principles, Methods, and Tools for Addressing Human Systems Integration Issues and Tradeoffs

Human Systems Integration (HSI) is a new and fundamental integrating discipline designed to help move business and engineering cultures toward more human-centered systems. Integrating consideration of human abilities, limitations, and preferences into engineering systems yields important cost and performance benefits that otherwise would not have been accomplished. In order for this new discipline to be effective, however, a cultural change--starting with organizational leadership--is often necessary.

"The Economics of Human Systems Integration" explains the difficulties underlying valuation of investments in people's training and education, safety and health, and work productivity. It provides an overview of how the field of economics addresses these difficulties, focusing on human issues associated with design, development, production, operations, maintenance, and sustainment of complex systems.

The set of thought leaders recruited as contributors to this volume collectively provides a compelling set of data and principles for assessing the economic value of investing in people, not just in general but in specific investment situations. The early chapters provide the contexts for HSI and investment analysis, illustrating the enormous difference context makes in how issues are best framed and analyzed. A host of practical methods and tools for investment valuation are then presented. Provided are:

A variety of real-world applications of economic analysis ranging from military acquisition and automotive investment to healthcare and high-tech investments in general, in both the U.S. and abroad

A range of economics-based methods and tools for cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and investment analysis, as well as sources of data for performing such analyses

Differing perspectives on economic decision-making, including a range of private sector points of view, as well as government and regulatory perspectives

In addition, five real-world case studies illustrate how such valuations have been done and their major impacts on investment decisions. HSI professionals, systems engineers, and finance professionals who address investment analysis will appreciate the wide range of methods and real-life applications; senior undergraduates and masters-level graduate students will find this to be an excellent textbook that provides theory and supports practice.

This sweeping introduction to the science of virtual environment technology masterfully integrates research and practical applications culled from a range of disciplines, including psychology, engineering, and computer science. With contributions from the field's foremost researchers and theorists, the book focuses in particular on how virtual technology and interface design can better accommodate human cognitive, motor, and perceptual capabilities. Throughout, it brings the reader up-to-date with the latest design strategies and cutting-edge virtual environments, and points to promising avenues for future development. The book is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the reader to the subject by defining basic terms, identifying key components of the virtual environment, and reviewing the origins and elements of virtual environments. The second part focuses of current technologies used to present visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic information. The book concludes with an in-depth analysis of how environments and human perception are integrated to create effective virtual systems. Comprehensive and splendidly written, Virtual Environmentsand Advanced Interface Design will be the "bible" on the subject for years to come. Students and researchers in computer science, psychology, and cognitive science will all want to have a copy on their shelves.

The principles of successful market-oriented and human-centered design are used to analyze the formation of a good business enterprise. Focusing on technology based enterprises, the author elaborates on the powerful methods for planning, organization and control; and on starting, growing and maturing organizations that create human-centered products and systems. Case studies include the aerospace, computer and electronics industries, as well as technology-oriented government institutions.

Whether used for aviation, manufacturing, oil and gas extraction, energy distribution, nuclear or fossil fuel power generation, surveillance or security, all control rooms share two common features. The people operating them are often remote from the processes that they are monitoring and controlling and the operations work 24/7. The twin demands of remote and continuous operation place special considerations on the design of central control rooms. Human Factors in the Design and Evaluation of Central Control Room Operations provides an analysis of Human Factors and Ergonomics in this complex area and the implications for control room staff. This information contained within this book can then be used to design, assessed and evaluate control rooms.

Taking an integrated approach to Human Factors and Ergonomics in the control room environment, the book presents fourteen human factors topics: competencies, training, procedures, communications, workload, automation, supervision, shift patterns, control room layout, SCADA interfaces, alarms, control room environment, human error, and safety culture. Although there are many resources available on each of these topics, this book the information together under one cover with a focus on central control room operations. Each chapter is self-contained and can be read in any order, as the information is required.

3D Printing for Product Designers closes the gap between the rhetoric of 3D printing in manufacturing and the reality for product designers. It provides practical strategies to support the adoption and integration of 3D printing into professional practice. 3D printing has evolved over the last decade into a practical proposition for manufacturing, opening up innovative opportunities for product designers. From its foundations in rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing has developed into a range of technologies suitable for end-use products. This book shows you how to evaluate and sensitively understand people, process, and products and demonstrates how solutions for working with additive manufacturing can be developed in context. It includes a practical, step-by-step plan for product designers and CEOs aimed at supporting the successful implementation of 3D printing by stakeholders at all levels of a manufacturing facility, tailored to their stage of technology integration and business readiness. It features a wide range of real-world examples of practice illustrated in full colour, across industries such as healthcare, construction, and film, aligning with the strategic approach outlined in the book. The book can be followed chronologically to guide you to transform your process for a company, to meet the unique needs of a specific client, or to be used as a starting point for the product design entrepreneur. Written by experienced industry professionals and academics, this is a fundamental reference for product designers, industrial designers, design engineers, CEOs, consultants, and makers.

This book explores how human factors and ergonomic principles are currently transforming healthcare. It reports on the design of systems and devices to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of patient care, and discusses findings on improving organizational outcomes in the healthcare setting, as well as approaches to analyzing and modeling those work aspects that are unique to healthcare. Based on papers presented at the AHFE 2019 International Conference on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare and Medical Devices, held on July 24-28, 2019, in Washington, DC, USA, the book highlights the physical, cognitive and organizational aspects of human factors and ergonomic applications, and shares various perspectives, including those of clinicians, patients, health organizations, and insurance providers. Given its scope, the book offers a timely reference guide for researchers involved in the design of medical systems, and healthcare professionals managing healthcare settings, as well as healthcare counselors and international health organizations.

Neuroergnomics can be defined as the study of brain and behavior at work. It combines two disciplines -- neuroscience, the study of brain function, and human factors, the study of how to match technology with the capabilities and limitations of people so they can work effectively and safely. The goal of merging these two fields is to use the startling discoveries of human brain and physiological functioning both to inform the design of technologies in the workplace and home, and to provide new training methods that enhance performance, expand capabilites, and optimize the fit between people and technology. Research in the area of neuroergonomics has blossomed in recent years with the emergence of noninvasive techniques for monitoring human brain function that can be used to study various aspects of human behavior in relation to technology and work, including mental workload, visual attention, working memory, motor control, human-automation interaction, and adaptive automation. The proposed volume will provide the first systematic overview of this emerging area, describing the theoretical background, basic research, major methods, as well as the new and future areas of application. This collection will benefit a number of readers: the experienced researcher investigating related questions in human facotrs and cognitive neuroscience, the student wishing to get a rapid but systematic overview of the field, and the designer interested in novel approaches and new ideas for application. Researchers in human factors and ergonomics, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, medicine, industrial engineering, and computer science will find this volume useful.

The past decade has seen the development and testing of an increasingly large set of ergonomics tools. With new sections in every chapter, the third edition of Introduction to Ergonomics describes a representative selection of tools and demonstrates how to apply them in practice. In fully researched, stand alone sections with worked examples, the book provides useful, practical skills for dealing with real-world ergonomic problems. The author's approach is based on a professional model in which specialized skills are backed-up by a good general knowledge of ergonomics. This approach is in accordance with International Ergonomics Association guidelines. See what's new in the Third Edition: Ergonomics Workshop sections in each chapter with worked examples and advice for using problem solving tools Guidance for the design of questionnaires, rating scales, and the conduct of surveys applicable across all areas of ergonomics Task analysis examples together with a wide variety of ergonomics checklists and design guidelines Increased coverage of the role of stress and psychological well-being on the health of workers and on systems safety New material for course lectures, examinations, and projects - over 200 essays and exercises Glossary of technical terms New evidence for the cost-effectiveness of ergonomics in practice Advice for further study Updated Instructor's Manual The book's built-in flexibility allows it to be used in a variety of ways. Reading the main text supplies a general overview of ergonomics in action. Delving deeper, the Ergonomics Workshop sections include tutorials and exercises that provide a basic toolkit for carrying out risk assessments and for solving real-world problems. This multi-level organization allows those studying human factors, psychology, industrial engineering, and occupational ergonomics to get both general knowledge and specialized information. The self-contained chapters are also accessible to non-ergonomics professionals who need to know more about the subject.

Currently people deal with various entities (such as hardware, software, buildings, spaces, communities and other people), to meet specific goals while going about their everyday activities in work and leisure environments. These entities have become more and more complex and incorporate functions that hitherto had never been allocated such as automation, use in virtual environments, connectivity, personalization, mobility and friendliness. This book contributes to the analysis of human-system interactions from the perspective of ergonomics, regardless of how simple or complex they are, while incorporating the needs of users and workers in a healthy safe, efficient and enjoyable manner. This book provides a comprehensive review of the state of the art of current ergonomic in design methods and techniques that are being applied to products, machinery, equipment, workstations and systems while taking new technologies and their applications into consideration. Ergonomics in Design: Methods and Techniques is organized into four sections and 30 chapters covering topics such as conceptual aspects of ergonomics in design, the knowledge of human characteristics applied to design, and the methodological aspects of design. Examples are shown in several areas of design including, but not limited to, consumer products, games, transport, education, architecture, fashion, sustainability, biomechanics, intelligent systems, virtual reality, and neurodesign. This book will: Introduces the newest developments in social-cultural approaches Shows different ergonomics in design methodological approaches Divulges the ways that ergonomics can contribute to a successful design Applies different subjects to support the design including -ergonomics, engineering, architecture, urbanism, neuro, and product designs. Presents recent technologies in ergonomic design, as applied to product design. With the contributions from a team of 75 researchers from 11 countries, the book covers the state-of-the-art of ergonomics in a way to produce better design.

The 13th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI Inter- tional 2009, was held in San Diego, California, USA, July 19-24, 2009, jointly with the Symposium on Human Interface (Japan) 2009, the 8th International Conference on Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics, the 5th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, the Third International Conf- ence on Virtual and Mixed Reality, the Third International Conference on Internati- alization, Design and Global Development, the Third International Conference on Online Communities and Social Computing, the 5th International Conference on Augmented Cognition, the Second International Conference on Digital Human Mod- ing, and the First International Conference on Human Centered Design. A total of 4,348 individuals from academia, research institutes, industry and gove- mental agencies from 73 countries submitted contributions, and 1,397 papers that were judged to be of high scientific quality were included in the program. These papers - dress the latest research and development efforts and highlight the human aspects of the design and use of computing systems. The papers accepted for presentation thoroughly cover the entire field of human-computer interaction, addressing major advances in knowledge and effective use of computers in a variety of application areas.

In re cent years "Quality Control" has had a revival of al- most incredible dimension. This revival is largely attribu- table to the acknowledged success of Japanese products all over the world - success which is thought to be at least partly due to the socalled "Total Quality Control", Japanese Style" or "Company Wide Quality Control" philosophy. This Japanese way of quality control was developed chiefly by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa and resembles in many aspects a spiritual movement. Ishikawa (1985) demands simultaneously the "best QC education to workers in the manufacturing divisions" and a "thought revolution in management". He defines quality control as follows: "To practice quality control is to deve- lop, design, produce and service a quality product which is most economical, most useful, and always satisfactory to the consumer", i. e. quality control as enunciated by Ishikawa is very much related to an ethic of production. Hence Ishikawa calls Quality Control one of the basic objectives of a com- pany and distinguishes strictly between Quality Control it- self and its tools which are divided into two categories; proper techniques and (statistical) control techniques. This book deals with the latter, applying Ishikawa's general ideas to a small but nevertheless important facet of Total Quality Control. Consider a situation in which one must choose between seve- ral different pieces of technical equipment all designed to produce the same end product. Generally the procedure where- by adecision is reached consists of two steps.

Advances in Safety, Reliability and Risk Management contains the papers presented at the 20th European Safety and Reliability (ESREL 2011) annual conference in Troyes, France, in September 2011. The books covers a wide range of topics, including: Accident and Incident Investigation; Bayesian methods; Crisis and Emergency Management; Decision Making under Risk; Dynamic Reliability; Fault Diagnosis, Prognosis and System Health Management; Fault Tolerant Control and Systems; Human Factors and Human Reliability; Maintenance Modelling and Optimisation; Mathematical Methods in Reliability and Safety; Occupational Safety; Quantitative Risk Assessment; Reliability and Safety Data Collection and Analysis; Risk and Hazard Analysis; Risk Governance; Risk Management; Safety Culture and Risk Perception; Structural Reliability and Design Codes; System Reliability Analysis; Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis. Advances in Safety, Reliability and Risk Management will be of interest to academics and professionals working in a wide range of scientific, industrial and governmental sectors, including: Aeronautics and Aerospace; Chemical and Process Industry; Civil Engineering; Critical Infrastructures; Energy; Information Technology and Telecommunications; Land Transportation; Manufacturing; Maritime Transportation; Mechanical Engineering; Natural Hazards; Nuclear Industry; Offshore Industry; Policy Making and Public Planning.

The extensive safety restrictions imposed globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic have brought significant changes to almost all environmental parameters. The largest pandemic of the century has left an indelible mark on all aspects of human life and the environment. This book revolves around COVID-19 and its influence on all biotic and abiotic components on earth, with a focus on the regulatory role of air quality during the pandemic, environmental toxicity and susceptibility to COVID-19, and the impact of the lockdown on different ecosystems. The book fundamentally explains the biology of SARS-CoV-2 and the pathophysiology and epidemiology of COVID-19. Dedicated chapters highlight the ongoing global cutting-edge research on COVID-19, control and safety measures, and public health concerns. COVID-19 and Emerging Environmental Trends: A Way Forward is aimed at graduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers in environmental and medical science, health and safety, and ecology. This book offers a multiperspective and multidisciplinary approach to the discussion of the pandemic as well as emerging environmental issues, current trends, and a way forward. As humanity stands face-to-face with the largest global crisis in recent times, this book helps readers to easily understand its various aspects from a beginner's perspective, without going into the intricate technicalities of medical science or environmental science, and beautifully juxtaposes critical issues with lucid language and flexible scientific explanations.