Svend Erik Mathiassen

Forskningsområde

Variation i arbetet – mätmetoder, fysiologiska effekter, interventioner i arbetslivet

Jag disputerade 1993 vid Karolinska Institutet/Arbetslivsinstitutet på en avhandling om fysiologiska effekter av olika sätt att variera fysisk arbetsbelastning, särskilt pauser. Sedan dess verksam som forskare vid Arbetslivsinstitutet, Malmö Högskola och har sedan 2004 varit anställd vid CBF, Högskolan i Gävle. Fram till 2020 var jag forskningsledare för CBF. Jag var koordinator för Forte-Centret "Kroppen i arbete – från problem till potential" 2009–2021, och har varit ledamot av expertgrupper vid Forte och AFA försäkring. 2008–2011 var jag huvudsekreterare i Regeringens Arbetsmiljö­politiska kunskapsråd, och för närvarande är jag med i Fortes styrelse.

Nuvarande forskningsintresse

Fysisk variation är fortfarande ett huvudintresse: hur uttrycker man variation i siffror, vilka är de fysiologiska och psykologiska effekterna av olika typer och storlekar av variation, och hur skapar man arbeten med lämplig variation som samtidigt är lönsamma för företagen? Ytterligare en viktig forskningsfråga, som knyter an till variabilitet i belastning, är hur man designar en statistiskt och resursmässig effektiv strategi för att mäta belastning i arbetslivet.

Nyckelord: arbetsfysiologi, ergonomi, fysisk belastning, trötthet, variation, mätstrategier

Education

2003 Graphic techniques in media; Teknik i Media, Malmö (3 weeks)
2003 Popular Science in writing; Ordfront, Stockholm (1 week)
1995 Science journalism; Upsala Nya Tidning, Uppsala (1 month)
1993 PhD / Dr. med. sc., Work Physiology; Karolinska Institute / National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm
Thesis title: Variation in shoulder-neck activity — physiological, psychophysical and methodological studies of isometric exercise and light assembly work
1986 M.Sc. / Cand.scient., Work Physiology; August Krogh Institute, Copenhagen University
1981 B.Sc., Biology; Odense University
1979 Advanced course in Statistics; Dept. of Mathematics, Odense University
1974 B.Sc., Physical Education; Odense University

Positions

2008– Head secretary; Scientific advisory committee on work environment issues, Ministry of Employment, Stockholm
2006– Professor in Work-related musculoskeletal disorder research; Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle
2004–2006 Guest Professor; Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle
2004– Adjunct Professor; School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
2001–2004 Professor in Production Ergonomics; Faculty of Technology and Society, Malmö University
2003 Invited visiting researcher; Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, MA, USA
1999–2001 Senior researcher, Production Ergonomics programme; Faculty of Technology and Society, Malmö University
1998– Appointed associate Professsor ("docent"); Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University
1993–1999 Senior Researcher; Dept. of Work and Health, National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm
1989–1993 Junior Researcher; Dept. of Work and Health, National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm
1987–1989 PhD student; Dept. of Applied Work Physiology, National Institute of Occupational Health / Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
1982–1987 Teacher in Physiology and Biomechanics; School of Physiotherapy, Odense University, Denmark
1974–1984 Teacher in Biomechanics and Experimental Work Physiology; Dept. of Sports Sciences, Odense University, Denmark

Grants 2004-2020

• 2019 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. Project “Retail 4.0? Work environment and inequality in e-retail” Grant: SEK 3.700.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
• 2019 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. Project “Flexible work – opportunity and challenge” Grant: SEK 17.000.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
• 2018 AFA insurance, Stockholm. Project “The influence of psychosocial factors on physical load, pain and sickness absence in elderly care.” Grant: SEK 2.902.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
• 2017 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. Project “Time patterns of physical load, performance and musculoskeletal disorders. A longitudinal study of male and female string players.” Grant: SEK 3.030.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
• 2016 Swedish Work Environment Authority. Project: “Equal health at work? Gender, work organisation and physical load in retail stores.”. Grant: SEK 3.200.000.-
• 2014 Swedish Work Environment Authority. Project: ”Physical variation and disorders in working life”. Grant: SEK 375.000.-
• 2013 AFA insurance, Stockholm. Project: ”Alternating physical and cognitive loads – effects on performance, fatigue and recovery”. Grant: SEK 3.569.000.-
• 2012 Swedish Work Environment Authority. Project: ”Physical work, gender, and health in working life. State of knowledge report”. Grant: SEK 600.000.-
• 2011 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare / EU Marie Curie. Project ”Motor variability in occupational work: Determinants & physiological effects” (Post-doc grant, SvEM researcher in charge). Grant: SEK 3.050.000.- (SvEM scientifically responsible)
• 2010 AFA insurance, Stockholm. Project: ”Healthy flight loaders”. Grant: SEK 2.800.000.- (SvEM co-applicant)
• 2009 FAS, Stockholm. Centre of excellence "The body at work — from problem to potential" (Dnr 2009-1761). Grant: SEK 50.500.000.-
• 2006 National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm. Project: editing a new textbook in working life physiology. Grant SEK 450.000.-
• 2006 Prevent, Stockholm. Project: writing up a course book in basic industrial ergonomics. Grant: SEK 150.000.-
• 2005 Sparbanksstiftelsen Nya, Gävle. Project: “Ergopriset — profitable production through a good work environment". Grant: SEK 500.000.-
• 2005 FAS, Stockholm. Project "Cost-efficient collection and analysis of data on physical loads in working life — guidelines for practitioners" (Dnr 2005-0183). Grant: SEK 1.900.000.-
• 2004 FAS, Stockholm. Project "Cost-efficient collection and analysis of data on physical loads in working life — strategies for practitioners" (Dnr 2004-0600). Grant: SEK 420.000.-

Scientific commitments

Expert assignments

• 2019– Member of expert committe reviewing associations between work enviroment factors and disorders in the neck, shoulders and arms, Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services
• 2018– Member of the scientific expert committee evaluating applications for research funding, AFA Insurance
• 2016–2019 Coordinator for Mid-Sweden in the VINNOVA-funded platform “Sustainable work as a resource for health, innovation and growth”
• 2014 Member of international expert committee evaluating the Danish National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen
• 2011–2014 Member of expert committe reviewing associations between work enviroment factors and low back disorders, The Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment
• 2010–2013 Expert member, prioritization committee Work, environment and Health, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (then FAS, now Forte)
• 2011 Chairman of the group developing the (successful) application of the University of Gävle to the Swedish Higher Education Authority for PhD examination rights in “Health-promoting working life”
• 2010– Numerous assignments in reference groups and expert committees, e.g. for the Swedish Work Environment Authority; the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare

Member of scientific evaluation committee / PhD thesis opponent:

• Umeå University
• Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg
• Jönköping University
• University of Southern Denmark, Odense
• Norwegian University of Technology, Trondheim
• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• University at Buffalo
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogota

PhD thesis opponent:

2006 Dept Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University (licentiate)
2003 Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg
1995 Norwegian University of Technology, Trondheim

Member of scientific evaluation committee:

2001-2008 Umeå University, Stockholm University, Gothenburg University, Chalmers Technical University, Lund University, Copenhagen University, University at Buffalo

Member of editorial board

Ergonomics, Applied Ergonomics

Appointed reviewer for the journals:

American Journal of Industrial Medicine; Applied Ergonomics; Ergonomics; European Journal of Applied Physiology; International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics; Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology; Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health; Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health; Work and Stress

Invited keynotes

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 51st Annual Meeting, 2007, Baltimore.
IEA2006 conference "Diversity in Ergonomics", Maastricht 2006.
X2004 conference "Exposure assessment in a changing environment", Utrecht 2004.

Editorial commitment

Principal or co-editor of:
“EMG amplitude as an indicator of upper trapezius load - how do we calibrate?"; proceedings of a symposium at the National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm 1994
Special Issue of J Electromyogr Kinesiol on Normalization of Trapezius EMG, 1995
“Methods for collecting and analysing data on mechanical exposure in developing production systems", proceedings and discussion of an invited Nordic workshop at the National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm 1999

International standardization

Appointed expert in SIS/TK120 “Ergonomics", and thus in ISO/TC159/SC3 “Anthropometry/Biomechanics" and CEN/TC122/WG4 “Biomechanics".

Organisation of scientific courses, workshops, etc.

• Co-organizer of the Nordic symposium “EMG amplitude as an indicator of upper trapezius load- how do we calibrate?"; National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm, February 1994
• Co-organizer of COPE-workshop "Methods for collecting and analysing data on mechanical exposure in developing production systems"; National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm, March 1999
• Organizer of workshop "Exposure assessment in intervention studies - design of efficient measurement strategies" vid konferensen "X2001 — Exposure assessment in epidemiology and practice", Göteborg 2001 (co-operation with AJ van der Beek, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
• Co-organizer of two sessions "More variation in the job: will it improve musculoskeletal health?" at the XVth Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association in Seoul, August 2003 (co-operation with Paul Kuijer, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Mardy Frazer, University of Waterloo, Canada)
• Co-organizer of session “Exposure assessment strategies" at the 17th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, Beijing, August 2009 (co-operation with Jens Wahlström, Dept Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University).
  Member of the scientific board for several conferences in musculoskeletal disorders and occupational exposure assessment.

Publications in total

Peer-reviewed papers

Non-peer-reviewed papers

Supervision

Main supervisor

Susanna Mixter, PhD 2021
Jennie Jackson, PhD 2017
Eva Bergsten, PhD 2017
Mahmoud Rezagholi, PhD 2012
Per Liv, PhD 2012
Therese Möller, Licentiate 2001

Co-supervisor

Johanna Edvinsson, current PhD student
Sofie Bjärntoft, current PhD student
Monica Kaltenbrunner, PhD 2020
Malin Håkansson PhD 2019
Peter Palm, PhD 2017
Marina Ciccarelli, PhD 2009
Inger Arvidsson, PhD 2008
Gerd Flodgren, PhD 2007
Catarina Nordander, PhD 2004
Patric Neumann, PhD 2005
Susanne Svendsen, PhD 2003
Nils Petersson, Licentiate 1997
Monica Attebrant, Licentiate 1995

Leadership and administrative experience

During the years 1993–2001, co-responsible for building up the Production Ergonomics research group at the National Institute for Working Life (head: professor Jörgen Winkel).
Since 2004 research director at the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University in Gävle. This includes responsibility for:
- quality development, planning, surveillance and evaluation of the R&D of the Centre, including budget proposals and allocation
- initiating activities for increased external funding of the R&D
- initiating, developing and sustaining national and international R&D co-operations
- national and international visibility of the Centre
- promoting, developing, implementing and surveilling commissioned R&D
Since 2009 chief coordinator for the national R&D centre “The Body at Work — from problem to potential", funded by the Swedish Research Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS).