Work Equipment Engineering division

Workplace acoustics

The acoustics laboratory has recognised expertise in all areas of workplace acoustics. 

The main topics related to noise exposure are the reduction of machine or process noise, at source or by means of enclosures, the improvement of acoustics in workshops or open-plan offices and the evaluation of the effectiveness of personal noise protectors.

Over the last decade, the laboratory has become a major player in the field of noise perception in open-plan offices.
In close collaboration with specialists in ergonomics and psychology at work, it develops new analysis methods for problems such as intelligibility and fatigue in open-plan offices or the comfort of individual protectors.

It also conducts research on speech intelligibility and audibility of alarms for employees with hearing loss with a view to their continued employment.
 

Electromagnetism - Vibration – Optics

This laboratory aims to improve the prevention of the risks inherent in occupational exposure to the three physical nuisances: electromagnetic fields, vibrations and optical radiation. It is also interested in the risk of accidents (overturning of forklift trucks, securing of loads) with skills in mechanics and numerical calculations.

Studies and research are aimed in particular at:

• The improvement of knowledge on sources of physical nuisance (industrial machines radiating electromagnetic fields, optical radiation sources, vibrating machines, vehicles or logistics trucks), their modes of transmission and their effects on health.
• Evaluating the performance of collective and individual means of protection and developing prevention engineering.
• The development of simplified risk assessment tools for a broad public not specialised in these physical nuisances.

To do this, the laboratory develops and improves measurement techniques, masters the means of digital modelling (simulation) and implements test benches to compare and confirm theory and experience, models and measurements.
 

Safe Design—Protection and Human-Machine Interfaces

This laboratory constitutes one of the poles of competence in the field of machine safety, which is fully engaged on the subject of the industry of the future.

Safe Design Engineering

Studies in this field combine engineering and human sciences. They aim to develop knowledge, methods and tools to help machines, workshops or facilities designers to integrate the real use of equipment in their projects and risks evaluation throughout the design process. Most of these studies are carried out in partnership with academic research laboratories.

Man machine interfaces

The studies carried out in this field concern mainly innovative collective or individual protection equipment (wearable smart system, head worn or machine display, lone worker devices, detection by vision or data fusion, safety nets, manual handling trolley,  etc.). Their objectives are to evaluate the advantages and the limitations of these systems and to develop standardized test methods
 

Safety of work equipment and automated systems

This laboratory constitutes the other pole of competence in the field of machine safety, which is fully engaged, on the subject of the industry of the future. 

The activities of this laboratory fall within the general field of safety of work equipment and the operating safety of automation systems. They aim to analyze the risks generated by automated systems and to control their consequences on worker safety.
The studies and research carried out in the laboratory are widely intended to take into account the increasing complexity of systems and their automatisms. They relate to:
- The safe design of automated installations (e.g. integrating machines, robots, protection or driver assistance devices, etc.),
- Methods of designing automation systems in relation to safety,
- Analysis of the prevention problems posed by a machine throughout its life cycle (installation, production, maintenance, dismantling, etc.).

The laboratory is interested in the prevention of professional risks linked to the emergence of new technologies: robotics, flexible and collaborative robotics, mobile machines, digitisation of production or surveillance data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity...