Born out of a partnership between INRS (the French National Research and Safety Institute) and Arts et Métiers, the "Safe Work Situation Design" laboratory focuses on taking occupational risks into account at a very early stage in the design of equipment. Researchers Arts et Métiers LCFC (design, manufacturing and control laboratory) contribute their expertise to this partnership, which was launched in 2012.
The work carried out by the LC2S laboratory focuses on several areas. For purchasers of machinery and tools, the aim is to support them in incorporating risk into their specifications. Data and indicators, taken in particular from the INRS databases on workplace accidents, are sent to designers. This enables them to take into account risky situations at each stage of the equipment's life cycle (assembly, adjustment, maintenance, and dismantling). The laboratory also seeks to raise technicians' awareness of operator actions.
The ultimate goal is to promote best practices, which are disseminated by INRS to companies and institutions. The databases developed by researchers are made available to CAD (computer-aided design) software providers in order to develop new computer modules dedicated, for example, to ergonomics or maintenance.