Received 28.10.2024, Revised 26.02.2025, Accepted 27.03.2025

Safe and productive digital workplace: Eco-ergonomic principles of organisation

Olga Protasenko, Andrii Ivashura, Oleksii Yermolenko, Yevhen Ponomarenko

The digitalisation of all work processes characterises the current reality. Consequently, information has emerged as the fundamental unit of these processes, with core operations revolving around the creation, reception, use, and exchange of information. This shift has prompted a fundamental transformation in work content, labour market dynamics, and the requirements concerning safety and ergonomic principles in workplace organisations. This research aimed to devise a strategy for developing digital workplaces, leveraging eco-ergonomic principles in their organisation. The “Work 4.0” concept was a foundational starting point for this research. Under the “Work 4.0” framework, traditional workplaces are evolving into digital ones by integrating digital devices and tools, alongside information ergonomics, green ergonomics, and ergoecology principles into work processes. The research introduced a model for a digital workplace and emphasised the necessity of adopting new eco-ergonomic principles for its organisation. The study also examined the company’s safety culture, as new working conditions necessitate a revision of the principles for ensuring worker safety. A connection between digitalisation and the development of a company’s safety culture was established, and the advantages of using digital technologies and tools to support this development were demonstrated. The formation of the digital workplace development strategy marked the final stage of the study. The “Work 4.0” concept, the revision and updating of ergonomic principles of work organisation under digitalisation, and the development of a company’s safety culture provided the foundation for the strategy. Its implementation ensures flexible work schedules, increased worker mobility, and a new level of workplace safety and comfort 

“Work 4.0” concept; ergoecology; green ergonomics; safety culture; sustainability
83-91
Protasenko, O., Ivashura, A., Yermolenko, O., & Ponomarenko, Ye. (2025). Safe and productive digital workplace: Eco-ergonomic principles of organisation. Innovation and Sustainability, 5(1), 83-91. https://doi.org/10.63341/vis/1.2025.83

References

  1. Amani, M., & Akhavian, R. (2024). Intelligent ergonomic optimization in bimanual worker-robot interaction: A reinforcement Learning approach. Automation in Construction, 168, article number 105741. doi: 10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105741.
  2. Attaran, M., Attaran, S., & Kirkland, D. (2020). The need for digital workplace: Increasing workforce productivity in the information age. International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems, 15(1). doi: 10.4018/IJEIS.2019010101.
  3. Caterino, M., Rinaldi, M., & Fera, M. (2023). Digital ergonomics: An evaluation framework for the ergonomic risk assessment of heterogeneous workers. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 36(2), 239-259. doi: 10.1080/0951192X.2022.2090023.
  4. Chigrin, O.Yu., & Scherbak, A.S. (2011). Analysis of the main problems of ecologically pure production implementation in UkraineMechanism of Economic Regulation, 1(51), 234-241.
  5. Değer, K., & Başak, H. (2022). Green ergonomics, biomsmetic, energy and exergyThe International Journal of Energy & Engineering Sciences, 7(1). 1-26.
  6. European Commission’s Guidance Note on Ethics and Data Protection. (2021). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ethics-and-data-protection_he_en.pdf.
  7. Hasanain, B. (2024). The role of ergonomic and human factors in sustainable manufacturing: A review. Machines, 12(3), article number 159. doi: 10.3390/machines12030159.
  8. Hovanec, M., Korba, P., AI-Rabeei, S., Vencel, M., & Racek, B. (2024). Digital ergonomics – the reliability of the human factor and its impact on the maintenance of aircraft brakes and wheels. Machines, 12(3), article number 203. doi: 10.3390/machines12030203.
  9. Khan, S.R., Kaur, S., & Sharma, N. (2024). Exploring the impact of office syndrome on employee productivity: A literature review. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 18(3), 4. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/75364.19895.
  10. Kolade, O., & Owoseni, A. (2022). Employment 4.0: The work of the future and the future of work. SSRN Electronic Journaldoi: 10.2139/ssrn.4073516.
  11. Kolot, A., & Herasymenko, O. (2020). Labor 4.0 concept: Theoretical-applicable principles of formation and development. Economy and Forecasting, 1, 7-31. doi: 10.15407/eip2020.01.007.
  12. Kraus, К., Kraus, N., & Holubka, S. (2022). Establishment of Work 4.0 in the conditions of digitalization and the application of artificial intelligence. European Scientific Journal of Economic and Financial Innovation, 2(10), 19-31. doi: 10.32750/2022-0202.
  13. Lazko, O., Byshevets, N., Kashuba, V., Lazakovych, Y., Grygus, I., Andreieva, N., & Skalski, D. (2021). Prerequisites for the development of preventive measures against office syndrome among women of working age. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 21(3), 227-234. doi: 10.17309/tmfv.2021.3.06.
  14. Moko, A., Victor-Ikoh, M., & Okardi, B. (2023). Information overload: A conceptual model. European Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology, 11(5), 19-29. doi: 10.37745/ejcsit.2013/vol11n51929.
  15. Norton, T.A., Ayoko, O.B., & Ashkanasy, N.M. (2021). A socio-technical perspective on the application of green ergonomics to open-plan offices: A review of the literature and recommendations for future research. Sustainability, 13(15), article number 8236. doi: 10.3390/su13158236.
  16. Pongsak, J., Boonsiri, K., Phannee, R., Jatuporn, O., Tipvarin, B., Sasipen, K., & Sunatcha, C. (2020). The efficacy of healthy stand on back pain in office syndromeSystematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 11(10), 1091-1098.
  17. Protasenko, O. F., & Mygal, G. V. (2023). Ergonomics 4.0: Digitalization problems and overcoming them. Municipal Economy of Cities, 177(3), 182-188. doi: 10.33042/2522-1809-2023-3-177-182-188.
  18. Protasenko, O., & Mygal, G. (2024). Eco-ergonomic thinking under human-machine system design. In K. Mleczko & G. Płaza (Eds.), Insights into industrial ergonomics (pp. 37-51). Gliwice: Silesian University of Technology.
  19. Reiman, A., Kaivo-oja, J., Parviainen, E., Takala, E.-P., & Lauraeus, T. (2021). Human factors and ergonomics in manufacturing in the industry 4.0 context – a scoping review. Technology in Society, 65, article number 101572. doi: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101572.
  20. Schlund, S., Kamusella, C., & Knott, V. (2022). Digital ergonomics and digital work planning in university education: Experiences from Germany and Austria. Zeitschrift für Arbeitswissenschaft, 76, 510-524. doi: 10.1007/s41449-02200333-7.
  21. Shahrzadi, L., Mansouri, A., Alavi, M., & Shabani, A. (2024). Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 4(2), article number 100261. doi: 10.1016/j.jjimei.2024.100261.
  22. Souchet, A.D., Lourdeaux, D., Pagani, A., & Rebenitsch, L. (2023). A narrative review of immersive virtual reality’s ergonomics and risks at the workplace: Cybersickness, visual fatigue, muscular fatigue, acute stress, and mental overload. Virtual Reality, 27, 19-50. doi: 10.1007/s10055-022-00672-0.
  23. Stahn, C., Hartmann, V., & Koczy, A. (2022). Working world 4.0: Will everything remain different?! “AWA” project examines the changes of digitalization on a company level. Procedia Computer Science, 200, 969-975. doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2022.01.295.
  24. Thomas, A., Ma, S., Rehman, A.U., & Muthuswamy, S. (2023). Ergoecology factors influencing healthy and sustainable workplace in healthcare organisation. Sustainability, 15(20), article number 14669. doi: 10.3390/su152014669.
  25. Tomelleri, F., Sbaragli, A., Picariello, F., & Pilati, F. (2024). Digital ergonomic assessment to enhance the physical resilience of human-centric manufacturing systems in Industry 5.0. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 77, 246-265. doi: 10.1016/j.jmsy.2024.09.003.
  26. Wodajeneh, S.N., Azene, D.K., Berhan, E., & Sileyew, K.J. (2024). Impacts of ergonomic risk factors on the well-being and innovation capability of employees in the manufacturing industry. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 30(2), 412-424. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2024.2313905.