Ergonomic Work Design

Learning Objectives

Identify ergonomic risk factors in the

workplace

Discuss workplace design issues

Coping with the possible adverse effects of
shiftwork

Evaluate existing workspaces and address
crucial ergonomic work design issues
Ergonomic Risk Factors

Awkward Postures

Forceful Exertion

Repetitive Motion

Vibration

Contact Stress
Awkward Postures

Maintaining good
postures, such as straight
wrists, elbows close to the
body and head straight
and in-line with the torso
is often difficult
Awkward Postures

Often results to
Cumulative Trauma
Disorders or CTDs

A properly adjusted
workstation can help
minimize awkward
postures
Forceful Exertion

Force is usually
associated with
strenuous physical
exertion

Office work seldom
requires this type of
strenuous exertion

Can result in injuries
Repetitive Motion

Same motions repeatedly at

a fast pace and with little
variation

Combined with forceful
exertions and awkward
postures results in muscle
strain and other injuries

Even the best designed
workstation can not eliminate
all highly repetitive motions
Repetitive Motion

Effects of repetitive motion maybe reduced by

the following

Task Rotation or Job Enlargement – Let
employees do tasks other than their core
tasks

Micro Breaks or Rest Pauses - Build
short micro pauses into computer use
sessions
Vibration

Vibration exposure from
prolonged use of power tools

Destruction of nerves

"Raynaud
s syndrome" or
white finger

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
(HAVS)

Can be reduced by using
gloves
Contact Stress

Can occur either internally or
externally

Internal stress occurs when a
tendon, nerve, or blood vessel
is stretched or bent around a
bone or tendon

External contact stress occurs
when part of your body rubs
against a component of the
workstation, such as the chair
seat pan or edge of the desk
Ergonomic Work Design Issues

Workspace layout

Work surfaces

Standing and walking surfaces

Seating

Storage

Work fixtures

Work environment
Factors which influence stress

Sitting vs. Standing

Stationary vs. Mobile

Large/Small demand for Strength/Power

Superior/Inferior Horizontal Work Area

Superior/Inferior Vertical Work Area

Length of the Work Cycle

Surface Stresses
Seven types of work

Standing Work

Standing Heavy Lifting/Carrying Work

Seated Repetitive Work with Light Parts

Seated Work With Larger Parts

Seated Control Work

Work with Hands Above Chest

Work With Hand Tools
Standing Operator

Standing is suitable if very large forces must

be exerted with the hands or a fairly large
work area needs to be covered

Standing in place should be imposed only for
a limited period.

The optimal height of the work surface varies
with the type of task performed

Twisting, bending and over-reaching should
be avoided
Work Surfaces

Work surfaces should:

Be at the proper height and angle for the
individual worker
s size and tools and
equipment used

Should permit neutral postures and be
adjustable, especially where different kinds of
tasks are performed or the workstation is
shared
Work Surface Heights

As a general rule, the strongest hand forces
and most useful mobility are between elbow
and hip heights. Thus, the height of the
workstation is determined by the working
height of the hands and the size of the object
worked on

The main reference point is the elbow height
of the operator

Writing and light assembly – 107 cm

Tasks requiring large downward - 91 cm
or side forces
Walking and Standing Surface

Surfaces on which people stand for long

periods should be designed to prevent slipping
or falling

Surfaces should provide adequate traction and
comfort

The floor should be flat and free from
obstacles

Elastic mats and soft shoe soles can reduce
foot, leg, and back discomfort
Semi-sitting

Stools may allow the operator to assume a
somewhat supported posture between sitting
and standing

Such semi-seats usually do not have full
backrests and do not support the body fully

Although better than standing in place, semi-
sitting is by no means satisfactory because
much weight still remains on the feet.
Sitting Operator

Sitting is suitable for:

Tasks that require fine control

Close visual work

When large forces are not
required

When all items are reachable
from the seated position
Sitting Operator

Allows better-controlled hand
movements, but coverage is of a
smaller area

Suitably seated, a person can
operate with their feet and can
apply much force

Free space is required by the legs
and feet
Working Height

Working surface should be at elbow height

with the upper arm hanging

It has been customary to provide chairs that
are about the popliteal height of the sitting
person

Seat height range from about 35-50 cm

Provide suitable height, width, breadth and
shape for the pan and backrest
Seating
Chairs or seating should:

Adequately support the back
and the legs

Have padded seats

Have separately adjustable
back and seat cushions

Permit feet to be supported
either on the floor or with a foot
rest
Seating

Be easily adjustable while
seated

Have swivel seats for most
tasks

Isolate workers from
whole-body vibration

Have adjustable arm
support when appropriate
Foot Operation

Compared to hand movements
over the same distance, foot
motions:

Consume more energy

Are less accurate

Are slower

But are more powerful

Operation of foot controls is
much easier for a seated
operator
Designing Foot Controls

Require repeated operation only from a
seated operator

Design for pushing roughly in the direction of
the lower leg

Have the person exert small forces by tilting
the foot about the ankle

Have the person exert large forces by
pushing the whole leg, preferably with a solid
back support from the seat

Do not require fine control, continuous
operation, or quick movements
Types of Hand Use

Fine manipulation of objects with little

displacement or force

Hand writing, assembly of small parts, adjusting
controls

Fast movements toward an object, requiring
moderate accuracy to reach the target, but a
small exertion of force

Moving a switch and then operating it
Types of Hand Use

Frequent movements between targets,
usually with some accuracy, but little force

Assembly task wherein parts are taken
from bins and assembled

Forceful activities with little or moderate
displacement

Turning a hand tool against resistance

Forceful activities with large
displacements

Using a hammer
Designing for Hand Use

Fitts
law: The smaller the distance traveled

and the larger the target, the more accurate is
a fast movement

Finger movements are the fastest & most
accurate; followed by forearm movements

A horizontal forearm sweep, rotating at the
elbow is faster, more accurate and less tiring
than when the forearm flexes or extends in the
elbow.
Designing for Hand Use

Of the hand digits, the

thumb is the strongest
and the little finger the
weakest

Gripping and grasping
strengths of the whole
hand are larger than
exerted with any digit
alone
Designing Hand Tools

Push or pull in the direction of the

forearm, with the handle directly in
front of it: keep the wrist straight

Provide good coupling between
hand and handle by shape and
friction

Avoid pressure spots and “pinch
points”
Designing Hand Tools

Round edges and pad

surfaces

Avoid tools that transmit
vibration to the hand

Do not operate tools
frequently and forcefully by
hand; a robot or other
machine is better suited for
such activities
Work Fixtures

Operators should not have to

use their hands or bodies as a
vise to hold objects.
Mechanical devices do this
much better

Tooling fixtures and jigs
should be set up to avoid
awkward postures and
excessive forces
Workspace Layout

Work space layout and arrangement should

allow:

Adjustability to fit each worker
s size

Worker to maintain neutral posture and avoid
awkward or extended reaches and jerky
movements

A variety of working positions to avoid static
postures
Workspace Layout

Full range of motion and

adequate leg room

Adequate space for and
access to all necessary
tools and equipment

Frequently used work times
within easy arm's reach

Unobscured line of sight
Storage

Storage areas should be organized so

that the workers maintain good body
positions, reduce muscular forces and
avoid excessive reach.

Store heavy items between knee and
shoulder height and frequently used
items closest to the operator.
Shiftwork

Covers a wide variety of work

schedules and implies that shifts
rotate or change according to a set
schedule

Shifts can be either continuous,
running 24 hours per day, 7 days per
week, or semi-continuous, running 2
or 3 shifts per day with or without
weekends.
Shiftwork

Often blamed for “human
error” in nuclear power plant
and airplane accidents,
among others

Common in essential services
such as hospitals, police,
transportation and lately, in
the BPO industry
Adverse Effects of Shiftwork

Upset one's circadian rhythm
(24-hour body cycle)

Cause sleep deprivation and
disorders of the gastrointestinal
and cardiovascular systems

Make existing disorders worse

Disrupt family and social life
Coping With Shiftwork

Best solution: Eliminate it!

Other solutions:

The organizational level - primarily
through the design of shift schedules,
education and better facilities

The individual level - helping workers to
get better sleep, a healthier diet, and the
reduction of stress