Ergonomics Evaluation of Workstations for Mechanical Engineering Companies with Particular Attention to Older Workers

Abstract

Raising the retirement age characterizes the Italian pension policies as long as many other Western countries. The problems associated with the rise of the working-age population occur at the level of the production sector and at the level of the over 50 age workers safety and health risks, who work in the handling and control of industrial machineries. (ILO, 2015)

The sector of mechanical engineering is part of the metal industry, and it deals with machineries and facilities production. Today many people work into the metal industry, especially the over 50 workers.

By identifying the over 50 workers as a specific category of users, the design needs require the adaptation of the workstation to prevent any risks related to safety and to incapacity to work. The purpose of this ergonomics evaluation is the raising of safety and usability standard conditions.

This is the case of OCEM 2 company. It is made up of workers aged between 22 and 54.

The project in question aims to an ergonomic evaluation of 6 workstations in the carpentry and assembly departments.

The purpose of research project is to improve current workstations through an euristic evaluation of users risks conditions, using the methodological approach of ergonomics for design and its theoretical and operational tools, as Task Analysis, Users observation, Thinking Aloud, questionnaires and interviews. The aim of the results is to provide the basis for developing the design phase and to improve users risk conditions, usability and users comfort.