Hellstrome Young Akuma, Nazlin Hanie Abdullah

Innovative Ergonomic Solutions: Integrating 3D-CAD, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Methods for Railway Maintenance Workers

Introduction

Innovative ergonomic solutions: integrating 3d-cad, virtual reality, and mixed methods for railway maintenance workers. Improve railway maintenance worker safety & well-being. Explore innovative ergonomic solutions integrating 3D-CAD, Virtual Reality, and mixed methods for comprehensive assessment.

Abstract

Physical ergonomics is critical in safeguarding worker safety and well-being, particularly in demanding work environments such as maintenance tasks involving complex engineering systems (CES). The ergonomics field is evolving with new technological tools, offering innovative approaches to enhance current assessment protocols. This study proposes a conceptual framework integrating advanced technological tools, specifically, Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design (3D-CAD) and Virtual Reality (VR), with conventional mixed methods approaches to optimize ergonomic solutions for railway maintenance workers. The proposed framework combines quantitative data, such as anthropometric measurements and workstation evaluations, with qualitative insights from worker feedback, ensuring a holistic approach to ergonomic assessment. By incorporating VR technology, the framework creates an immersive environment where workers can interact with full-scale models of their workstations, providing detailed feedback essential for both proactive and corrective ergonomic interventions. The study demonstrates that this integrated approach effectively addresses ergonomic challenges by merging the objectivity of quantitative analysis with the contextual depth of qualitative insights. The findings suggest that the proposed framework enhances worker performance and safety and supports continuous improvement in ergonomic practices. The study concludes that this framework is valuable for comprehensive research into ergonomic challenges in railway maintenance and offers a versatile methodology for improving worker well-being in similar high-risk industries.

Review

This study addresses the critical domain of physical ergonomics, particularly within the challenging context of railway maintenance, where worker safety and well-being are paramount. The authors propose an innovative conceptual framework that strategically integrates Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design (3D-CAD) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies with established mixed-methods research approaches. This ambitious endeavor aims to optimize ergonomic solutions by leveraging cutting-edge tools to enhance traditional assessment protocols, setting a promising direction for the field in designing more effective and responsive interventions for demanding work environments. The core strength of the proposed framework lies in its multi-faceted methodology. It skillfully combines quantitative data collection, such as anthropometric measurements and detailed workstation evaluations, with rich qualitative insights gleaned directly from worker feedback. The innovative use of VR technology is particularly noteworthy, enabling the creation of immersive, full-scale workstation models. This allows workers to interact realistically with their environments, providing invaluable, context-specific feedback crucial for both proactive design modifications and corrective interventions. This holistic approach effectively merges the objectivity of technological analysis with the essential contextual depth derived from human experience, offering a comprehensive ergonomic assessment protocol. The abstract effectively conveys that this integrated approach is not merely theoretical but is demonstrated to be effective in addressing complex ergonomic challenges. The findings suggest tangible benefits, including enhanced worker performance and safety, alongside fostering a culture of continuous improvement in ergonomic practices. This framework offers a robust and versatile methodology for comprehensive ergonomic research, extending its potential applicability beyond railway maintenance to similar high-risk industries. Overall, this work represents a significant advancement in operationalizing sophisticated technological tools for practical ergonomic problem-solving, promising substantial positive impact on industrial worker well-being and safety.

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