The ergo-UAS system and a new design approach: Overview and validation

Musculoskeletal disorders are the second largest contributor to disability worldwide affecting people across the life-course. Risk identification and design of interventions to reduce the rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders need to be based on valid and reproducible methods. The Ergo-MTM model is a method used for balancing and design purposes based on the definition of standard time that considers at the same time two of the most important issues in the definition of a fair load. The innovative aspect, is the definition of the Ergonomic Factor determined for every workplace accordingly to the biomechanical load coming from the combination of the assigned operations and quantified with EAWS method. The concept is based on recent relevant standards related to the biomechanical load, which is influenced by the sequence, the repetitiveness and frequency of the operations, in addition to the characteristics of every movement. In the paper the methodology of the project of validation through longitudinal epidemiological study of the EAWS system for the assessment and prevention of biomechanical overload will be presented. Fondazione Ergo and University of Bologna are carrying out the study with the scientific contribution of a panel of experts from academic and non-academic institutions and the Bioethics Committee of the University of Bologna.