JP2003305026A - Risk avoidance support method and risk avoidance support apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a risk avoidance support method and a risk avoidance support apparatus that can improve the safety of work environment. <P>SOLUTION: This apparatus for supporting risk avoidance in work environment is provided with a physiological information measuring means 10 for continuously measuring physiological information on a worker, and an event time determining means 20 for determining event time when the worker felt risk, on the basis of the measured physiological information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a danger avoidance support method and a risk avoidance support apparatus for supporting danger avoidance in a work environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a work environment including danger such as a construction site, a road, a welfare facility, etc., a worker feels danger not only when an accident actually occurs, but also when the accident does not occur. Accumulated cases (so-called "hiyori / hatto" cases) are accumulated and analyzed. Conventionally, such cases have been accumulated based on reports from workers who actually experienced a dangerous situation.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Although it is said that the number of "Hatto" scenes is several tens of times greater than the actual number of accidents, it is often necessary for the analysis because workers are not required to submit notifications simply by feeling dangerous. At present, it is difficult to collect the number of reports.

Further, if there is no actual damage, the notification from the worker tends to be delayed, and there is a problem that the worker's memory fades over time and it is difficult to reproduce an accurate situation.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to improve the safety of the working environment by effectively detecting the state in which the worker feels a danger. An object is to provide an avoidance support method and a risk avoidance support device.

[0006]

The object of the present invention is a method for supporting danger avoidance in a work environment, which comprises a step of measuring physiological information of an operator and a work based on the measured physiological information. A risk avoidance assistance method, which comprises a step of determining an event time when a person feels danger.

The step of determining the event time includes:
It is preferable to include a step of determining whether or not the time is the event time by comparing data obtained from the physiological information for a predetermined time before and after an arbitrary time as a reference.

The step of determining the event time includes a step of performing a primary determination for each of a plurality of evaluation conditions based on the measured physiological information, and a weighting of the result of the primary determination with the evaluation conditions. It is preferable to include the step of performing the secondary determination. In this case, it is preferable that the physiological information includes at least information on an electrocardiogram, an electrocardiogram, an electromyogram, and respiration, and the weighting by the evaluation condition is at least the blink interval, the heart rate, and the breathing interval primary It is preferable to attach importance to the determination result.

Further, it is preferable that the method further comprises the steps of continuously capturing at least a part of the field of view of the worker, and associating the captured image information with the event time.

Further, the above object of the present invention is a device for supporting danger avoidance in a work environment, which is based on physiological information measuring means for continuously measuring physiological information of an operator and the measured physiological information. This is achieved by a danger avoidance support device including event time determination means for determining an event time at which a worker feels danger.

It is preferable that the danger avoidance support device further comprises image pickup means for continuously picking up at least a part of the field of view of the worker, and event image discrimination means for associating the event time with the picked-up image information. .

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The actual mode of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a danger avoidance assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
The physiological information measuring device 10, the event time determination device 20, the imaging device 30, and the event image determination device 40 are provided.

The physiological information measuring device 10 includes a plurality of detecting units 1.
2a to 12d, a physiological signal processing unit 14, and a physiological information storage unit 16 are provided. The detection units 12a to 12d are electrodes and sensors, and for example, wearable sensors having good workability can be used. In the present embodiment, the detection units 12a to 12d respectively use an electrocardiogram,
Although the measurement items of the electrocardiogram, the electromyogram, and the respiration are measured, other measurement items may be measured. However, it is preferable to acquire at least information regarding the blink, heart rate, body movement, and respiration. For heart rate,
In addition to the electrocardiogram, it is possible to measure with a pulse wave meter, and with respect to body movement, it is also possible to measure with, for example, an accelerometer other than the electromyogram.

The physiological signal processing section 14 includes detection sections 12a-1.
Upon receiving the signal detected by 2d, the detected signal is amplified and converted into digital information at a predetermined sampling rate. The physiological information storage unit 16 stores the physiological information converted by the signal processing unit 14.

The event time determination device 20 includes a primary determination unit 22, a secondary determination unit 24, and an event time storage unit 26. The primary determination unit 22 uses the physiological information measuring device 1
Based on the physiological information measured by 0, the primary determination is performed under a predetermined evaluation condition. The secondary determination unit 24 performs a secondary determination based on a predetermined evaluation condition based on the primary determination result,
The acquired event time is stored in the event time storage unit 26. The event time is a time when the worker feels dangerous, such as being “cool” or “hot”.

The image pickup device 30 includes an image pickup section 32, an image signal processing section 34, and an image information storage section 36. The image capturing unit 32 is, for example, a CCD camera, and is attached to a helmet or the like to capture at least a part of the field of view of the worker. The image signal processing unit 34 converts the image signal input from the imaging unit 32 into digital information, and the image information storage unit 3
Store in 6.

The event image discriminating device 40 comprises an event image extracting section 42 and an event image storing section 44.
The event image extraction unit 42 extracts the event image corresponding to the event time from the image information stored in the image information storage unit 36, and stores it in the event image storage unit 44.

The detection units 12a to 12d and the image pickup unit 32 are provided.
The other components may be integrated, for example, in a state where the worker can carry them on their backs, or may be installed at the work site and configured to wirelessly receive signals from the detection units 12a to 12d and the imaging unit 32. You may.

Next, the operation of the danger avoidance assistance device 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. Physiological information measuring device 10
Sequentially acquires the physiological information of the worker who is working and stores it in association with the measurement time. An example of physiological information is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 2 is an electrocardiogram (vertical direction), an electrocardiogram,
The horizontal axis of each waveform of respiration and electromyography (deltoid muscle) is shown as a time axis. Further, FIG. 3 shows an enlarged part of the physiological information shown in FIG.

The event time determination device 20 starts the determination of the event time after a predetermined time has elapsed since the physiological information measuring device 10 started measuring. This procedure will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the primary determination unit 22 sets a reference time t as a determination target of whether it is an event time (step S1). Then, the physical quantity corresponding to the reference time t is obtained based on the physiological information stored in the physiological information storage unit 16 (step S2). An example of this physical quantity is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the blink interval, the heart rate, and the breathing interval correspond to A, 1 / B (B is the RR interval) and C in FIG. 3, respectively, and are from (t-α) seconds to t seconds. The average values at a1 (t, αa) and b1 (t, α), respectively.
b) and c1 (t, αc). Here, α is predetermined for each measurement item and is, for example, 30 seconds to 60 seconds.
It can be set in the range of seconds. αa to αc may have the same value or different values.

Further, the widths of the maximum value and the minimum value of the blink interval, the heart rate and the breathing interval from (t-α) seconds to t seconds are a2 (t, αa), b2 (t, αb) and c2 (t, αc).

Regarding the electromyogram signal, the electrooculogram signal, the electrocardiogram signal, and the respiratory signal, the fluctuation range between the maximum value and the minimum value in (t-α) seconds to t seconds is d1 (t, α).
d), e1 (t, αe), f1 (t, αf) and g1
(T, αg). As an example, the swing width f1 (t, αf) of the electrocardiogram signal is shown in FIG. It is also possible to individually set αd to αg.

In this way, after calculating the physical quantity based on the physiological information in (t-α) seconds to t seconds before the reference time t, similarly to this, t seconds to (t +) after the reference time t.
β) Calculate a physical quantity based on physiological information in seconds.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the calculated physical quantity is the maximum and minimum width a3 (t, βa) of the blink interval, and the average value b3 (t, β) of the heart rate.
b), the maximum and minimum width c3 (t, βc) of the breathing interval, the swing width d3 (t, βd) of the EMG signal, and the swing width e of the electrooculogram signal
3 (t, βe), swing width f3 (t, βf) of the electrocardiogram signal
And the swing width g3 (t, βg) of the respiratory signal. As an example, the fluctuation width f3 (t, βf) of the electrocardiogram signal is shown in FIG.
Shown in. βa to βg may have the same value or different values, and can be individually set in the range of 5 seconds to 30 seconds, for example.

In this way, after calculating the physical quantity for a predetermined time before and after the time t as a reference, the primary judgment unit 22 makes a primary judgment based on a predetermined evaluation condition (step S3).
FIG. 6 shows evaluation conditions (a) to (f) as specific examples of the evaluation conditions in the primary determination. The primary judgment for each evaluation condition is performed by judging the establishment of each inequality.

In the evaluation condition (a) shown in FIG. 6, the left side is the absolute value of the ratio of the change (a3-a2) in the maximum and minimum blink interval before and after the reference time t to the blink interval average value a1. It is shown that the larger this value is, the reference time t
It shows that the number of blinks suddenly increases or decreases at the boundary. Then, when this value is larger than the preset threshold value Ta, it is determined that the evaluation condition (a) is satisfied.

Similarly, with respect to the evaluation conditions (b) and (c), the state change before and after the reference time t is compared with the threshold values Tb and Tc for the heart rate and the breathing interval. The left side of the evaluation condition (b) shows the absolute value of the ratio of the change (b3-b1) in the average heart rate before and after the reference time t to the maximum and minimum heart rate width b2. Also, the evaluation condition (c)
The left side of indicates the absolute value of the ratio of the change (c3-c2) in the maximum and minimum breathing intervals before and after the reference time t to the breathing interval average value c1.

The left sides of the evaluation conditions (d) to (g) are respectively the amplitude range of the electromyogram signal, the amplitude range of the electrooculogram signal, the amplitude range of the electrocardiogram signal and the amplitude range of the respiration signal before and after the reference time t. Shows the change. Then, it is determined that each of the conditions is satisfied when the change in the swing width is larger than the thresholds Td to Tg. Specific examples of the threshold value under each evaluation condition are Ta: 2.0, Tb: 0.2, Tc: 2.0, T.
d: 3.0, Te: 3.0, Tf: 2.0, Tg: 4.
0 can be mentioned. If there is an evaluation condition that the physical quantity becomes an abnormal value due to an artifact or the like and the satisfaction cannot be determined, it may be considered that the evaluation condition is not satisfied until the evaluation value returns to the normal value.

Next, the secondary judgment section 24 makes a secondary judgment based on the above-mentioned primary judgment result (step S4). This secondary determination can be made simply based on the number of satisfied evaluation conditions (a) to (g) in the primary determination, but it is higher by weighting each evaluation condition. The event time can be determined with accuracy. FIG. 7 shows evaluation conditions (I) to (III) as specific examples of the evaluation conditions in the secondary determination.

As shown in FIG. 7, the evaluation conditions (I) to (III) for the secondary judgment are the evaluation conditions (a) to (g) for the primary judgment.
In, the evaluation conditions (a) to (c) are emphasized. That is, when all the evaluation conditions (a) to (c) are satisfied, it is determined that the reference time t is the event time regardless of whether the evaluation conditions (d) to (g) are satisfied. On the other hand, when none of the evaluation conditions (a) to (c) is satisfied, it is determined that it is not the event time even if all the evaluation conditions (d) to (g) are satisfied. Evaluation conditions (a) to (c)
If 1 or 2 is satisfied, it is determined whether or not it is the event time based on the number of satisfied evaluation conditions (d) to (g).

The weighting by the evaluation condition is not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned method. For example, a weighting coefficient is set in advance for each evaluation condition of the primary judgment, and the sum of the weighting factors of the established evaluation conditions is a predetermined value. If it exceeds, it may be determined that it is the event time.

Thus, as a result of the secondary determination, it is determined whether the reference time t corresponds to the event time (step S).
5). When it is determined that it is the event time, the reference time t is stored in the event time storage unit 26 (step S6). Then, a predetermined increment value t'is added to the reference time t (step S7), and if the measurement end time has not passed, the above step S2 is repeated again (step S7).
8). On the other hand, as a result of the secondary determination, when it is determined that it is not the event time, the process proceeds to step S7 without storing the reference time t. Thus, while the operator is working, the event time determination device 20 constantly determines the event time in parallel with the measurement of the physiological information by the physiological information measurement device 10, and the "hidden / hatto" state occurs every time. Event time is accumulated in sequence.

Further, the image pickup device 30 is provided with an image pickup unit 3 during work.
The image information indicating the field of view of the operator imaged by 2 is stored in the image information storage unit 36. Time information such as a time stamp is added to this image information. The event image extraction unit 42 of the event image discrimination device 40 extracts the image information corresponding to the event time stored in the event time storage unit 26 from the image information storage unit 36 after the measurement end time has elapsed, and stores the event image storage. It is stored in the unit 44. The image information may be extracted, for example, for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) before and after the event time. As a result, it is possible to easily visually confirm under what condition the worker's "cool / hot" state occurs. When there are a plurality of event times, the image information corresponding to each event time is extracted. As a result, it becomes possible to easily identify a work site where "cool / hot" frequently occurs, and it is possible to improve the safety of the work environment.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the specific aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, the image at the event time is extracted by the image pickup device 30 and the event image discrimination device 40. However, the image pickup device 30
Also, instead of providing the event image discriminating device 4, an informing means for notifying the user immediately by voice or the like after the determination of the event time may be provided so that the worker can recognize the "cool / hot" state in almost real time. With such a configuration as well, it is possible to identify the work site where the "cool / hot" state has occurred.

In the present embodiment, the event time determination device 20 determines the event time in parallel with the measurement by the physiological information measuring device 10. However, the measurement by the physiological information measuring device 10 is completed. The determination of the event time may be started later.

Further, in the present embodiment, the event image discriminating apparatus 40 extracts the image information corresponding to the event time from the image information storage section 26, and the event image storage section 4 is extracted.
However, other methods may be used as long as the event time can be associated with the image information. For example, of the image information stored in the image information storage unit 26, the event image discriminating apparatus 40 is configured so that the image information corresponding to a predetermined time before and after the event time is processed so as to be visually or audibly identifiable. You may.

Further, in this embodiment, the image pickup device 30 is used.
Is the image information storage unit 2 for all the image information obtained by imaging.
6 is stored in the image information storage unit 2
6 may be an image buffer or the like in which old image information after a predetermined time has been deleted and new image information can be written.

[0039]

[Example] A large VR (Virtual Reality) capable of projecting stereo images on a total of four surfaces including the front surface, the left and right surfaces, and the floor surface.
A virtual construction work site was reproduced by using the device, and a test subject was asked to wear the danger avoidance support device of the present embodiment. In this virtual work space, events such as a backhoe approaching or a steel frame hung by a crane passing in front of the subject cause the subject to be "cool / hot" four or five times. The scenario was set as follows.

As test subjects, 44 healthy men in their 20s to 40s were used. After the experiment, we asked the subject to report a "cool / hot" scene and analyzed the detection results. The result is shown in FIG.

A particular problem in actually using the danger avoidance assistance device of the present embodiment is that the subject cannot detect it even though he / she is actually “cool / hot”. is there. In the present example, the subject's subjective declaration confirmed that he / she was “cool / hot” a total of 27 times, of which the number of false detections was only 2 (about 8%).
Therefore, it was possible to effectively detect the situation where the subject felt a danger.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the danger avoidance support method and the danger avoidance support apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to effectively detect a state in which a worker feels a danger. This can improve the safety of the work environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a danger avoidance assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of physiological information measured by a physiological information measuring device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a part of the physiological information shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the event time determination device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a physical quantity calculated by a primary determination unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of evaluation conditions determined by a primary determination unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of evaluation conditions determined by a secondary determination unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an experimental result by the danger avoidance support device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Danger avoidance support device 10 Physiological information measuring device 20 event time determination device 22 Primary judgment section 24 Secondary judgment section 30 Imaging device 40 Event image discrimination device

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) A61B 5/11 A61B 5/04 330 G06F 17/60 154 5/10 310A G08B 21/02 5/02 321D F term (reference) ) 4C017 AA02 AA10 AA14 AA18 AA19 BC11 FF30 4C027 AA01 AA02 AA04 BB00 CC00 FF00 FF01 GG00 GG16 GG18 4C038 VA04 VB31 VB33 VC20 5C086 AA22 AA22 A41 CB18 DA26 CB18 DA41 CB18 DA26 CB18 CA41 CA27 CA40

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for supporting danger avoidance in a work environment, the method comprising measuring physiological information of an operator, and determining an event time at which the operator feels danger based on the measured physiological information. A risk avoidance support method comprising steps. 2. The step of determining the event time determines whether or not the time is the event time by comparing data obtained from the physiological information for a predetermined time before and after an arbitrary time as a reference. The risk avoidance assistance method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of making a determination. 3. The step of determining the event time includes the step of performing a primary determination for each of a plurality of evaluation conditions based on the measured physiological information, and weighting the result of the primary determination with the evaluation conditions. The risk avoidance assistance method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of performing a secondary determination. 4. The physiological information includes at least information about blinks, heart rates, respirations and body movements, and the weighting by the evaluation condition is at least blink intervals,
The risk avoidance assistance method according to claim 3, wherein the primary determination result regarding the heart rate and the breathing interval is emphasized. 5. An apparatus for supporting danger avoidance in a work environment, wherein physiological information measuring means for continuously measuring physiological information of an operator, and an operator feeling danger based on the measured physiological information. Risk avoidance assistance device comprising: an event time determination means for determining the event time.