PhareSST (Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé)
Not a member yet
5305 research outputs found
Sort by
Les appareils de protection respiratoire (APR) en milieux de soins
No full textEn collaboration avec l’ASSTSAS et des spécialistes en protection respiratoire du secteur de la santé et des services sociaux, l’IRSST a créé des ressources pour aider les milieux de soin dans leurs démarches de prévention des risques de maladies respiratoires professionnelles.
Cette production regroupe des vidéos conçues pour sensibiliser, informer et soutenir les responsables de formations en protection respiratoire sur le port des APR. Vous y trouverez aussi les documents suivants : des guides sur la protection respiratoire produits par l’IRSST
; un lexique
; une infographie
; et une bande dessinée.
/= / \u3e
Abstract
In collaboration with ASSTSAS and respiratory protection specialists from the health and social services sector, the IRSST has created resources to help healthcare environments in their efforts to prevent the risk of occupational respiratory diseases.
This production includes videos designed to raise awareness, inform and support those responsible for respiratory protection training in the use of respirators. You will also find the following documents : guides on respiratory protection produced by the IRSST ; a glossary ; an infographic ; and a comic strip
Respiratory monitoring with textile inductive electrodes in driving applications: Effect of electrode\u27s positioning and form factor on signal quality
Full text linkThis paper provides insights into where and how to integrate textile inductive electrodes into a car to record optimal-quality respiratory signals. Electrodes of various shapes and sizes were integrated into the seat belt and the seat back of a driving simulator car seat. The electrodes covered various parts of the body: upper back, middle back, lower back, chest, and waist. Three subjects completed driving circuits with their breathing signals being recorded. In general, signal quality while driving versus sitting still was similar, compared to a previous study of ours with no body movements. In terms of positioning, electrodes on seat belt provided better signal quality compared to seat back. Signal quality was directly proportional to electrode’s height on the back, with upper back outperforming both middle and lower back. Electrodes on the waist provided either similar or superior signal quality compared to electrodes on the chest. In terms of form factor, rectangular shape outperformed circular shape on seat back. Signal quality is proportional to the size of circular electrodes on seat back, and inversely proportional to size of rectangular electrode on seat belt
Le travail dans les espaces ouverts et de coworking : deux études en ergonomie de l’activité
No full textLa conférence porte sur un rapport axé sur l’ergonomie de l’activité et qui explore les dynamiques de travail dans les espaces ouverts et de coworking. Elle offre une analyse approfondie des résultats de l’étude et des pistes concrètes pour optimiser ces espaces de travail en fonction des besoins des travailleurs.
Cette conférence fait référence au rapport R-1200-fr publié par l\u27IRSST
Mistrust among injured immigrant workers: A conceptual framework
No full textBackground
In Quebec, injured workers have access to medical assistance, wage replacement indemnities, and rehabilitation measures, with most injuries resolved easily. However, a small percentage of cases require a lengthy rehabilitation process, which is particularly complex when involving immigrants. The therapeutic alliance is at the heart of the process, involving mutual trust and confidence and a degree of consensus about the therapeutic interventions to be used and, ultimately, the return to work.
Objective
This article delves into the concept of mistrust as more than the absence of trust, and sheds light on its role in the rehabilitation process of immigrant workers.
Method
Drawing from a literature review on mistrust of immigrants in the healthcare setting and comprehensive studies on the rehabilitation process, a conceptual framework for understanding mistrust in this context is proposed.
Results
Vulnerable situations, such as precarious employment and/or temporary immigration status, create fertile ground for mistrust. Negative experiences with healthcare professionals or systems further exacerbate mistrust, as do social stigmas within the rehabilitation system. Cross-cultural miscommunications such as differences in communication styles or beliefs about illnesses further complicate matters, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches.
Conclusion
Addressing mistrust requires understanding its origins and consequences, as well as providing guidelines for practitioners to enable them to recognize and manage it effectively. Further research is crucial to deepen our understanding of mistrust among immigrant workers and develop strategies for promoting trust and cooperation throughout the rehabilitation process
Flexible screen-printed \u3ci\u3eSiC\u3c/i\u3e-based humidity sensors
No full textHumidity sensors are essential components in modern technology, spanning applications from residential appliances to the Internet of Things (IoT). However, conventional commercial sensors are typically rigid, constrained by narrow relative humidity (%RH) operating ranges, and require complex fabrication processes. In this study, we present a highly sensitive cubic silicon carbide (3C–SiC) nanoparticle-based relative humidity sensor, fabricated via serigraphic printing on to 5 mil thick flexible polyimide (Kapton®) substrate. Devices are tested across a broad humidity range of 10–90%RH at ambient temperature and their performance is evaluated in a controlled humidity chamber. The sensor exhibits a robust response of 45.2% R/R0, with a sensitivity of 5.34 Ω/%RH, an adsorption time of 18 seconds, and a desorption time of 46 seconds. Additionally, the device demonstrates low hysteresis of 6.5% at 60%RH, with excellent repeatability and stability over 3.5 hours of continuous cycling. To showcase their potential for real-world applications, the printed sensors are integrated into a commercial KN95 mask for monitoring respiration parameters, such as respiration rate. This integration highlights the potential for future exploration in human health monitoring, utilizing fully printed, low-cost sensing devices
Development and validation of a subject-specific integrated finite element musculoskeletal model of human trunk with ergonomic and clinical applications
No full textBiomechanical modeling of the human trunk is crucial for understanding spinal mechanics and its role in ergonomics and clinical interventions. Traditional models have been limited by only considering the passive structures of the spine in finite element (FE) models or incorporating active muscular components in multi-body musculoskeletal (MS) models with an oversimplified spine. To address those limitations, we developed a subject-specific coupled FE-MS model of the trunk and explored its applications in ergonomics and surgical interventions. A parametric detailed FE model was constructed, integrated with a muscle architecture, and individualized based on existing datasets. Our comprehensive validation encompassed tissue-level responses, segment-level mechanics, and whole-spine behavior across multiple subjects and loading conditions, demonstrating satisfactory performance in ergonomics (i.e., wearing exoskeleton) and clinical interventions (nucleotomy and spinal fusion). The model accurately predicted tissue-level stresses (in uni- and biaxial loading), whole-spine motion (i.e., moment rotation response was in agreement with in vitro measurements), intradiscal pressures (RMSE = 0.12 MPa; R2 = 0.72), and muscle activities (matching EMG trends across 19 subjects during forward flexion). Wearing an exoskeleton reduced intradiscal pressures (1.9 vs. 2.2 MPa at L4–L5) and peak von Mises stresses in the annulus fibrosus (2.2 vs. 2.9 MPa) during forward flexion. Spinal fusion (at L4–L5) increased the intradiscal pressure in the upper adjacent disc (1.72 MPa vs. 1.58 MPa), but nucleotomy had a minimal effect on the intact intradiscal pressures. Nucleotomy substantially affected the load transfer at the same level by increasing facet contact loads and annulus radial strains. Unlike conventional MS models with simplified spine, and in contrast to passive models (without active components), this model provides crucial outputs such as strain/stress fields in discs/facets (essential for a comprehensive risk analysis). This integrated approach enables more accurate surgical planning, workplace safety design, and personalized rehabilitation strategies, helping reduce spine-related injuries by identifying risk factors and optimizing interventions for individual patients
Calculateur de concentrations
No full textCet utilitaire permet, pour un dosimètre passif , de calculer la concentration équivalente en mg/m³ à un résultat non décelé à partir des paramètres suivants :
• Valeur minimum rapportée de la méthode;
• Durée d\u27échantillonnage en minute
Élaboration et faisabilité d\u27application d\u27une méthode d\u27évaluation biomécanique de l\u27exposition physique lors du port d\u27exosquelettes en milieu de travail
No full textLa prévalence des troubles musculosquelettiques (TMS) liés au travail physique reste prédominante selon les données épidémiologiques. Les récentes avancées technologiques des exosquelettes représentent une opportunité pour la prévention des TMS. Des études ont montré que les exosquelettes peuvent réduire l\u27activité musculaire pendant des tâches spécifiques en laboratoire. Cependant, très peu d\u27études ont évalué les exosquelettes directement sur le lieu de travail.
L\u27objectif est d’élaborer une méthode d’évaluation de l\u27efficacité des exosquelettes à réduire l\u27exposition physique des travailleuses et travailleurs et de vérifier sa polyvalence. La méthode indique la posture et l\u27activité musculaire des régions du dos et des épaules à l\u27aide d\u27instruments portables pour des tâches en laboratoire ou en milieu de travail.
Un système sans fil Xsens corps complet (17 senseurs) a permis l’analyse du mouvement. Un système électromyographique (EMG) sans fil Delsys a été utilisé pour l\u27activation musculaire du trapèze supérieur, deltoïde médian, deltoïde antérieur, obliques externes et érecteurs spinaux [ilio-costalis (L3) et longissimus (L1)] normalisée avec des contractions volontaires maximales. Quatre exosquelettes passifs, soit deux pour assister le tronc (Laevo, Biolift) et deux pour les épaules (ShoulderX, Ekso) ont été testés.
La phase en laboratoire impliquait quatre hommes en bonne santé sans expérience. Ils ont effectué des tâches de manutention de boîtes et de transferts de pièces de viande répliqués d’une entreprise agroalimentaire. La phase en entreprise impliquait deux travailleurs masculins et deux ouvrières effectuant des transferts de flancs. Les tâches des deux phases débutaient sans exosquelette, puis chaque exosquelette était testé.
Bien que l’objectif de l’étude n’était pas d’évaluer l’efficacité des exosquelettes, les résultats de l’analyse du mouvement et de l’activation musculaire étaient dans les plages de valeurs observées dans d’autres études. Cette concordance avec ce qui était attendu selon la littérature montre la faisabilité de la méthode à évaluer directement en milieu de travail sur différents types d’exosquelettes. En général, similairement à d’autres études, les quatre exosquelettes testés ont provoqué peu d’effets sur l’activation de l\u27ensemble des muscles, ceci tant en laboratoire qu’en entreprise.
Une méthode d\u27évaluation biomécanique des exosquelettes a été élaborée. Elle montre une bonne polyvalence entre le laboratoire et le terrain sur différents types d\u27exosquelettes. Elle permet l\u27analyse du mouvement et de l’EMG pour indiquer le potentiel de réduction de l\u27effort. Les données préliminaires suggèrent une efficacité immédiate limitée des quatre exosquelettes à réduire l\u27exposition physique pendant les tâches testées en laboratoire et en entreprise.
Abstract
The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) related to physical work remains high, according to epidemiological data. Recent technological advances in exoskeletons represent an opportunity to prevent MSDs. Laboratory studies have shown that exoskeletons can reduce muscle activity during specific tasks. However, very few studies have assessed exoskeletons directly in the workplace.
The objective is to develop a method to assess exoskeletons’ effectiveness for reducing workers’ physical exposure and to verify its versatility. The method indicates the posture and muscle activity of the back and shoulder regions using portable instruments for tasks performed in the lab or in the workplace.
An Xsens wireless full-body system (17 sensors) was used for the movement analysis. A Delsys wireless electromyography (EMG) system was applied for the activation of the upper trapezius, medial deltoid, anterior deltoid, external obliques and erector spinae muscles [iliocostalis (L3) and longissimus (L1)], normalized with maximum voluntary contractions. Four passive exoskeletons were tested: two to assist the trunk (Laevo, Biolift) and two for the shoulders (ShoulderX, Ekso).
The laboratory phase involved four healthy men with no experience. The tasks they executed were box handling and transfers of rubber replicas of pieces of meat from an agri-food company. The workplace phase involved two male and two female workers transferring flanks. In both phases, the tasks started without an exoskeleton; then each exoskeleton was tested.
Although the purpose of the study was not to assess the exoskeletons’ effectiveness, the results of the movement and muscle activation analysis fell in the same ranges of values observed in other studies. This match with expectations based on the literature shows the feasibility of the method for directly assessing different kinds of exoskeletons in the workplace. In general, as in other studies, the four exoskeletons tested had few effects on muscle activation overall, either in the lab or in the workplace.
A method for biomechanically evaluating exoskeletons was developed. It shows good versatility in the lab and in the field with different types of exoskeletons. It allows for movement and EMG analysis to indicate the potential reduction in effort. The preliminary data suggest that the four exoskeletons have limited immediate effectiveness to reduce physical exposure during tasks tested in the lab and in the workplace
Two-post above-ground automotive lifts and vehicle falls: A better understanding for more effective prevention
Full text linkTackling paradoxes and double binds for a healthier workplace: Insights from the early COVID-19 responses in Quebec and Ontario
Full text linkThe urgency of managing the COVID-19 health crisis in workplaces led to tensions, work overload, and confusion about preventive measures. This study presents a secondary analysis of qualitative data on paradoxes and double binds (PDBs) experienced by precarious essential workers in Canada who interacted with the public and their supervisors. Based on 13 interviews from a larger qualitative dataset, we examine how workers navigated public health recommendations and organisational demands during the pandemic. Findings reveal multiple organisational and managerial PDBs—both COVID-19-related and pre-existing—that contributed to psychological distress and compromised well-being. We argue that PDBs represent a significant occupational health hazard for precarious workers. Addressing these structural contradictions through proactive management strategies could help mitigate workplace tensions, reduce stress, and enhance resilience in both crisis situations and regular organisational contexts. Our study contributes to occupational health and safety (OHS) by underscoring the risks posed by PDBs and advocating for strategies to support vulnerable workers in navigating conflicting demands