Digital Human Modeling in the Occupational Safety and Health Process: An Application in Manufacturing

Abstract

Occupational Applications Digital human modeling (DHM) and simulation software has been identified as an effective tool for evaluating work tasks and design alternatives without requiring the expense of physical mock-ups and production trials. Despite recent commercial advancements and a broader availability of DHM platforms, the peer-reviewed scientific literature lacks sufficient demonstration of the application of DHM software within an occupational safety and health process for mitigating exposures to physical risk factors in a real work environment. We describe the implementation of a commercially-available DHM platform as a component of an occupational safety and health process in a manufacturing environment over the course of one year. Success stories, challenges, and practical recommendations are discussed.

Benchmark on Human Simulation Tools: A Transdisciplinary Approach

“…Indeed, the adoption of virtual mannequins into process simulation can help designers and engineering to consider the human factors from the early design phases, to produce more human-centered vehicles, equipment, assembly lines, manufacturing plants, interfaces, and interactive systems in general [13]. The scientific literature shows numerous examples of successful applications of DHS in the manufacturing context, under the name of DHS systems [14][15][16]. In particular, DHS are widespread for assembly task evaluation, in which a knowledge-based decision support tool could facilitate the optimization of workflow [17], from a human-centered perspective.…”

Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Manufacturing by Digital Human Modeling

“…Among applications concerned with manufacturing, a wide variety of positions were investigated. For example, Grobelny et al [ 65 ] examined painters, fitters, polishers, pressers, technicians, forklift truck operators, and stockroom deliverers; Schall et al [ 66 ] focused on manual material handling by means of transfer carts and performing tasks such as window and door construction; Peruzzini et al [ 67 ] examined pipe external and internal grinding, cleaning, ovalization control, whereas Zhang et al [ 68 ] investigated welders. Studies directly involving assembly works were conducted, among others, by [ 69 , 70 , 71 ].…”

The Effect of Key Anthropometric and Biomechanics Variables Affecting the Lower Back Forces of Healthcare Workers

“…Such incongruencies directly resulted in a notable difference in forces exerted on the lumbar spine. Additionally, the time-consuming process of manually setting full body postures in DHM, as well as gathering the necessary information, communicating the details of the task to the engineers, and implementing the anthropometric information in the model, significantly constrains the development of dynamic simulations, as reported in [ 18 ].…”