COHSEE

Background and Description

The group was formed to pursue research in the areas of Occupational Health & Safety related to Industrial Engineering, and Human Factors Engineering and Ergonomics. It has a systems orientation and emphasises a user-centred approach within the systems development lifecycle / design process. There is a strong emphasis on the use of engineering and ergonomics tools and techniques such as task analysis, human modelling, safety and reliability analysis and standard ergonomic assessment techniques such as RULA, OWAS, REBA etc.  The focus of the group is on interaction in the context of work with all levels of technology whether it is hardware or software, (e.g., CAD/CAM, concrete blocks, aircraft loading systems, intensive care systems). The group is not a HCI group per se and does not necessarily have a have a strong computing focus.

The group also supports a large number of small scale physical ergonomics projects at M.Sc level which provide useful data. This work is dictated by the local requirements of the local environment.

            In the last few years, the group has obtained significant investment for usability systems and equipment, e.g. eye-tracking, motion analysis, biometric systems; however it does not yet have a dedicated usability space. This will be provided as part of the New Engineering Building at NUI Galway in 2010.

            The group is located at the Department of Industrial Engineering and has significant interaction with groups from the Department of Experimental Physics and Health Promotion. There are currently 8 member of the group comprising 2 full time lecturing staff, 2 full time researchers and 3 part-time PhD and Masters Students and 1 adjunct staff member.

Research Agenda

The main areas of interest of the group are: Human performance in complex systems, allocation of functions, human reliability in biomedical and medical systems, integrated management systems and organisations, ergonomics in the workplace, and health & safety in the work place.

The focus of the group’s main research in the future is likely to move to the Enterprise level and to be directed mainly at medical and biomedical applications.

Education Effort

Members of the group are involved in delivering courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in the following areas: Ergonomic Design of the Workplace, Information Systems Ergonomics, Physical Ergonomics, System Safety, Human and Systems Reliability. The following programmes are directed by members of the group:

• M.Sc Occupational Health & Safety and Ergonomics
• M.Appl.Sc Occupational Safety Engineering and Ergonomics
• Higher Diploma Occupational Health & Safety
• B.Sc Health & Safety Systems
• B.E. Industrial Engineering and Information Systems

New Plans / Development

The Group is currently developing a research agenda related to the role of human factors at the Enterprise level with an emphasis on biomedical and medical systems. However, given the practicalities of the environment in which the group operates, there will also be some activity in traditional ergonomic areas going into the future.

A Sampling of Research Projects Conducted in the Group

• Human Reliability in Health Care (Intensive Care)
• A Best Practice Occupational Health & Safety Management System for Networked Organisations in the Manufacturing Sector
• Integrated Management Systems for Biomedical Device Manufacturing Companies
• Health & Safety and Ergonomics in the Professional Athletes Workplace
• Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Check-in Agents and Baggage Handlers at Dublin Airport
• Occupational Health & Safety Culture in a Biomedical Company
• Occupational Health & Safety Performance in a Beverage Manufacturing Company

Funding: Health & Safety Authority, Dublin Airport Authority, Telair International, the Construction Workers Health Trust (CWHT), PRTLI, NUI Galway, AMT Ireland

Other Activities

Members are/have been actively involved in the Irish Ergonomics Society, International Ergonomics Association, Occupational Safety and Health Institute of Ireland (OSHII). Members of the group are involved in informal networks through the UK and Europe.

The Group has hosted 2 International Conferences

1. ALLFN’97 Revisiting the Allocations of Functions Issue: New Perspectives, October 1997
2. HAMMAHA’04, Human Aspects of Advanced Manufacturing Agility and Hybrid Automation: Human and Organisational Issues in the Digital Enterprise, August 2004

Contact Points

Enda F. Fallon

Senior Lecturer                                                                                                                                                            COHSEE
Industrial Engineering                                                                                                                                                      National University of Ireland                                                                                                                                                 Galway                                                                                                                                                                             Ireland

+353 91492745

enda.fallonnuigalway.ie

Sample Publications

• Proceedings of ALLFN’97 Revisiting the Allocations of Functions Issue: New Perspectives, IEA Press, 0-9653395-2-1
• Proceedings of HAMMAHA’04, Human Aspects of Advanced Manufacturing Agility and Hybrid Automation: Human and Organisational Issues in the Digital Enterprise, August 2004, ISBN ISBN 0-9538974-1-9
• Special Issue on Allocation of Functions, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies V.52, No.2, 2000
• Duignan, C, Fallon, E.F., 2005, Best Manual Handling Practices at Dublin Airport, HSA, ISBN 1-84496-024-2

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