Thai Journal of Ergonomics

Design and Development of Tools Supporting Pharmacy Warehouse Operations Based on Ergonomic Principles to Reduce Cognitive Workload and Physical Workload of Employees at Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital

2026-06-20T19:30:22+07:00

This research aimed to investigate ergonomic problems in the pharmacy warehouse of Chaophya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital and to design and develop tools to reduce workload and ergonomic risks encountered during work operations. The results revealed that the inpatient pharmacy warehouse relied primarily on a paper-based documentation system, resulting in time-consuming information retrieval, verification, and processing, which increased the mental workload of workers. In addition, workers in the central pharmacy warehouse were required to manually lift and transport heavy peritoneal dialysis solution boxes without mechanical assistance, leading to increased physical workload and a higher risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. To address these problems, an information system was designed and developed using AppSheet to reduce the mental workload of workers in the inpatient pharmacy warehouse. After implementation, the average operation time significantly decreased from 86.10 minutes per week to 31.60 minutes per week, representing a 63.30% reduction (p < 0.05). The developed system also improved the accessibility of information and supported decision-making in pharmacy warehouse management. Users reported a high level of satisfaction with the system. In addition, a prototype device was designed and developed to reduce the physical workload of workers in the central pharmacy warehouse. The effectiveness of the prototype was evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and the results showed that the REBA score decreased from 11 (very high risk) to 2 (low risk), indicating that the prototype effectively reduced physical workload and ergonomic risks among workers. In conclusion, the developed tools effectively reduced both mental and physical workloads, improved work efficiency, and minimized ergonomic risks among pharmacy warehouse workers.

Ergonomic Analysis for Preventing Human Error in Railway Level Crossing Accidents: Application of Safety Engineering Concepts Using Pokayoke and the 3E Principle

2026-06-14T09:56:21+07:00

This study aimed to analyze the factors contributing to railway level crossing accidents in Thailand and to synthesize preventive measures based on ergonomics, system safety, the 3E principle, and the Pokayoke concept. A qualitative research approach was employed through document analysis of ten reported railway crossing accident cases. The findings revealed that human factors were present in all cases, particularly violations of warning signals and risky decisions to cross railway tracks. System-related and engineering-related factors also contributed to many incidents, including the absence of physical barriers, inadequate warning systems, and insufficient crossing management. The results indicate that railway crossing accidents cannot be attributed solely to human error but arise from the interaction of multiple factors within the transportation system. Therefore, effective prevention should integrate engineering improvements, safety education, law enforcement, and fail-safe design principles to minimize human error and enhance overall railway crossing safety in a sustainable manner.

A Comparison of Ergonomic Benefits in Irrigation Control between Traditional and Smart Farm Systems: A Case Study of Integrated Farming Demonstration Site

2026-06-17T08:44:53+07:00

This research aimed to analyze the ergonomic benefits of a Smart Farm system for automatic irrigation control using Internet of Things (IoT) technology compared with traditional irrigation practices: a case study of an integrated farming demonstration site. The study area was an 8 field integrated farm with more than 300 irrigation points. The performance comparison was conducted based on operational time, travel distance, and work efficiency. The results showed that the Smart Farm system reduced operational time from 240 minutes per day to 20 minutes per day and reduced walking distance from 5 kilometers per day to no required travel. These results indicate the potential to reduce physical workload and fatigue while improving work performance. The findings demonstrate the potential of IoT technology in supporting ergonomic principles for agricultural work.

Prevalence and Severity of Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Basketry Handicraft Workers in Phayao Province

2026-06-20T21:41:31+07:00

This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence and severity of upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms, including symptoms of the arms, hands, and fingers, among basketry handicraft workers in Phayao Province. The sample consisted of 127 basketry handicraft workers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The findings showed that most participants were female (69.29%), had a mean age of 63.65 ± 11.18 years, were older than 60 years (66.14%), and were right-hand dominant (86.61%). Regarding the prevalence of pain during both the past 7 days and the past 12 months, the right shoulder was the most frequently affected area (77.95% and 76.38%, respectively), followed by the right thumb and right arm. In terms of symptom severity, the right thumb had the highest mean severity scores during both the past 7 days (2.83 ± 1.27) and the past 12 months (2.77 ± 1.36), followed by the right index finger and right shoulder, respectively. These findings indicate that basketry handicraft workers experienced work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of the arms, hands, and fingers in several body areas, particularly on the right side of the body. The findings may serve as baseline information for occupational health surveillance and ergonomic interventions appropriate to basketry work.