Towards an ergonomic and risk evaluation of sonographer activity

The purpose of this paper is to describe a research project that aims to conduct a multi-criteria and integrated ergonomics evaluation of sonographer activity. The authors are developing a perspective analysis by means of advanced modelling and simulation software tools. The research project started with a critical and systematic literature review mainly finalized to characterize the actual level of investigation of sonographers activity. The review identified the main results available in literature and the current research gaps on which the authors will focus their attention. In the light of this evidence, the authors started a multifactorial evaluation of the sonographer activity with the aim to arrange a set of support tools for the risk assessment that permits a preventive analysis and the identification of the best working conditions in the analyzed situations (e.g. skilled or not killed sonographer, older or younger sonographer, male or female sonographer, on obese or non collaborative patients, etc.).