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- Relation between occupational exposure to noise and work stress: an exploratory study in industrial environmentPublication . Barros, Beatriz; Santos, Joana; Alberto Alves Carvalhais, CarlosEvidence indicates that exposure to excessive noise can affect auditory and non-auditory aspects of health. Research in industrial workplaces was more focused on the relation between occupational noise and auditory effects, and few relate noise exposure and non-auditory symptoms among workers. The set symptoms are referred to as occupational stress, having a direct impact on productivity and safety behaviors. The main goal of this study was to assess the effect of noise exposure on occupational stress.
- Implementation of REACH in a metalworking industry: a perspective from a downstream userPublication . Coelho, Maria João; Alberto Alves Carvalhais, Carlos; Almeida, Teresa Ramos; Santos, JoanaReach is a European Union's regulation regarding the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Reach purpose is the improvement of environmental and human health protection, against riks originated by chemicals.
- Influence of automation on biomechanical exposure of the upper-limbs in an industrial assembly line: a pilot studyPublication . Santos, Joana; Abreu, Ana Betty; Fonseca, Pedro; Alberto Alves Carvalhais, Carlos; Santos Baptista, João; Santos, Rubim; Vaz, MárioAutomation of assembly work was originally developed to increase operation efficiency and to reduce workload. However, a considerable number of unanticipated ergonomic problems have been observed such as the interaction between humans and automated systems. The aims of this study were to quantify joint angle positions (shoulder, elbow and wrist) of workers in two assembly lines with different mechanization levels and analyse the performance of an inertial motion capture system. Seven experienced female assemblers participated in this study. The measurements were performed in the workplace with a full-body inertial measurement system (Xsens MVN BIOMECH system). Maximum cross-correlation between angle-time courses was calculated to quantify the waveform similarities. In manual line, there are larger variations of joint angles than in the semi-automatic one. The analysis of cross correlation coefficients revealed that electromagnetic interferences are potential limitations to the use of these systems under field conditions.
- Noise in neonatal intensive care units: a short reviewPublication . Alberto Alves Carvalhais, Carlos; Vieira Da Silva, Manuela; Silva, Joana; Xavier, Ana; Santos, JoanaPrematurity and low birth weight of newborns lead to the need of a special care in neonatal units, and their permanence in these places can be extended for a long period. Indoor environmental conditions, such noise levels above the recommended, may induce some risks, not only for the newborns development, but also for health care staff. This literature review aims to examine the studies related to noise in neonatal intensive care units to understand the sources and effects of noise, as well as some strategies to reduce noise exposure. The search strategy included an electronic search in databases (ISI Web of Knowledge and PubMed) of scientific articles published in English/Portuguese between 2000-2017. Studies providing data on noise levels found in the neonatal units, the effects on health of newborns and staff and the measures to minimize these effects were included. The exclusion criteria were as follows: duplicate printings; nonEnglish/Portuguese language; editorials, letters, patents, errata, meeting abstracts and conference papers. PRISMA methodology was followed to perform the review. Twenty-two articles were considered for full analysis. It is important to note that some potentially relevant studies were rejected due to language criteria. It was found that the noise levels to which the newborns and staff are exposed in NICU, often exceeds the recommended levels for these spaces. Evidence also shows several adverse health effects for newborns and health care staff perceptions of noise. There is no consensus regarding the best intervention to reduce noise levels.
- Trust in human robot interaction: a literature reviewPublication . Ferreira, Sofia; Silva, Ana Sofia; Pinto, Ana; Santos, Joana; Carvalhais, CarlosThe presence of collaborative robots (or cobots) in workplaces will become increasingly common due to the need to ensure the health and safety of workers and to make production systems more efficient and flexible. To ensure good performance in human-robot interaction, it is essential that there is trust on the part of the human in this technology. Objectives: Thus, the main objective of this study was to identify the factors that may influence human-robot interaction through a literature review. Materials and Methods: To accomplish this objective, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews method was applied. The scientific databases used were Pubmed and Web Of Science. Results and Discussion: The literature search resulted in a total of 63 articles, 5 of which were included for analysis after applying the eligibility criteria. The factor "errors made by the robot" was the most reported in the included studies. Correlation between the different factors impacting trust was also observed. Conclusions: The success of human-robot interaction depends on the trust that the human places in the technology. However, it is essential to develop further studies on trust in industrial settings.
- Characterizing illuminance levels and perceived work environment in an automotive industryPublication . Carvalhais, Carlos; Abreu, Betty; Santos, Joana; Vieira da Silva, ManuelaAutomotive Industry in Portugal, is these days a dynamic and competitive industry. For components production such as cables, comfort systems or others is require observation, human touch and must be done manually using man power capability (Ismail et al, 2010). Thus the quality of the product heavily depends on worker’s comfort in the working environment. Environmental factors are considered to have influence for acceptability and performance on the occupant’s premises (Ismail et al, 2010). One of them, such lighting, is determined by the satisfaction of three basic human needs: visual comfort, where the workers have a feeling of well-being, in an indirect way also contributing to a high productivity level; visual performance, where the workers are able to perform their visual tasks, even under difficult circumstances and during longer periods and safety (EN 12464-1, 2011). Proper lighting is a prerequisite for obtaining a good working environment. Poor lighting may increase the risk of accidents and could also cause a variety of symptoms. The variables that determine a good working visual of accidents and could also cause a variety of symptoms. The variables that determine a good working visual direction of light, no flicker, appropriate choice of lamp color and availability of natural light (Calleja and Pérez, 2011).
- Burnout and coping strategies among Professors during COVID-19: Portugal-Brazil comparative studyPublication . Pinto, Ana; Carvalho, Carla; Rodriguez, Susana; Simões, Ana; Carvalhais, Carlos; Gonçalves, Fernando J.; Santos, JoanaThe global pandemic experienced in recent years led Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to close their facilities to safeguard the health and safety of the academic community. This reality overloaded professors in terms of work, often leading them to the limit of exhaustion and impacting on their performance, quality of life and well-being, taking, in many cases, to burnout. This study aims to identify and characterize the frequency of burnout and strategies of coping in professors from HEIs of Portugal and Brazil. A sample of 132 professors answered to online self-administrated questionnaires: sociodemographic and telework conditions; Oldenburg-Burnout Inventory and Brief-COPE. The results suggest that: regarding burnout, the exhaustion dimension is higher among professors in Portugal; regarding coping strategies, professors in Brazil use more strategies designated as maladaptive. Appropriate coping strategies and resources made available to professors can contribute to their well-being at work and to their quality of life and happiness.
- Avaliação de riscos psicossociais em profissionais de saúde: o caso dos Técnicos Superiores de RadiologiaPublication . Pereira, Patrícia; Carvalhais, Carlos; Santos, Joana; Saúde, MiguelOs atuais contextos organizacionais, económicos e sociais levaram a que os riscos psicossociais fossem considerados riscos emergentes na sociedade. As queixas relacionadas com a saúde mental, nomeadamente, o stress, a depressão ou a ansiedade são o segundo problema de saúde mais relatado pelos europeus, depois das lesões musculosqueléticas. A exposição a acontecimentos traumáticos, o confronto frequente com situações de sofrimento, elevadas expectativas tendo em conta o tempo disponível, as urgências e ainda o apoio por parte da organização são considerados os fatores de risco mais frequentes no setor da saúde.
- Psychometric properties of the portuguese version of the occupational fatigue exhaustion/recovery (OFER) scale among industrial shift workersPublication . Santos, Joana; Ramos, Catarina; Silva, André; Amorim, Sara; Winwood, Peter; Alberto Alves Carvalhais, CarlosReliable and valid instruments are essential for understanding fatigue in occupational settings. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery (OFER). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 260 workers (M = 46.52 ± 13.16 years) from a textile industry, exposed to shift work. Convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Results showed an adequate fit to data (χ2 (84) = 209,102, CFI = 0.936, GFI = 0.902, RMSEA = 0.076 CI90% (0.063–0.089)), yielding a 13-item, three factor structure. Two items were removed due to low factor loading. The OFER presented an adequate internal consistency, with the subscales presenting good reliability values (Chronic Fatigue (α = 0.81), Acute Fatigue (α = 0.84) and Recovery between Shifts (α = 0.77)). Findings suggest that the Portuguese version of OFER can be a useful tool to assess occupational fatigue of shift workers and prevent work related injuries.
- Novo laboratório de investigação em Saúde Ocupacional: caracterização de câmara climática Walk-InPublication . Alberto Alves Carvalhais, Carlos; Santos, Joana; Guedes, Joana; Santos Baptista, JoãoPoster apresentado no 8th International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene (SHO) 2012.