ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Operators of machinery classified as Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) are exposed to high levels of workload and fatigue. However, only few studies have been conducted on this topic in Hispanic-American countries workers. Several instruments be used to assess workload and fatigue; however, only few of them have been adapted to Spanish language. This paper reports on the development and validity testing of a survey instrument in Spanish, aiming to subjectively assess workload and fatigue among AMT operators in Mexico. METHOD: After an exhaustive literature review in search of already available measurement instruments, they were adapted for content and later translated into Spanish; a pilot test was conducted to evaluate validity and reliability; afterwards appropriate modifications were made to the testing instruments. Final version of the instrument was applied to a group of 121 operators of CNC lathes. Reliability was analyzed using KMO and Cronbach alpha indices. RESULTS: For the assessment of workload, both NASA-TLX and ISTAS 21 methods were incorporated to the survey instrument. As for fatigue assessment tools, these were SOFI-S, FAS and OFER questionnaires. RESULTS show KMO value and Cronbach alpha above 0.6.Conclusions. The survey instrument as designed, allows the collection of reliable and valid data regarding workload and fatigue among AMT operators in Mexico.
Subject(s)
Fatigue/etiology , Industry , Surveys and Questionnaires , Workload , Humans , Mexico , Pilot Projects , Risk AssessmentABSTRACT
Se revisaron 43 trabajadores de la industria del calzado, operadores de máquina de "pespuntar" de un total de 800 obreros de ocho fábricas. Todos fueron del sexo masculino. Para su evaluación se dividieron en dos grupos, aquellos que utilizaron máquina de poste y los que usaron máquina plana. El 54.5 por ciento de los trabajadores de máquina de poste tuvieron síntomas dolorosos en las regiones cervical, dorsal o lumbar; el 47 por ciento de los que trabajan en máquina plana tuvieron sintomatología dolorosa. Se concluye que esta diferencia es poco significativa como consecuencia de los apoyos o posiciones que se desarrollan con uno y otro tipo de máquina. Esta cifra es cercana al 52 por ciento reportado entre obreros manuales en general.
