776964
research-article2018
books
Ergonomic Workplace Design for
Health, Wellness, and Productivity
Edited by Alan Hedge
2017, 443 pages, $99.95
Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis
Group, CRC Press
ISBN 9781466598430
—Reviewed by Liana Algarín
Ergonomic Workplace Design for Health,
Wellness, and Productivity is composed
of three sections: one for the physical
environment and two for ergonomic
workplace design. There are 36
contributors, including Alan Hedge.
The physical environment section
discusses computer work settings,
including chair and work surface
requirements shared directly from
ANSI/HFES 100 Human Factors Engineer-
ing of Computer Workstation Design.
There are also guidelines on taking
breaks and for setting up lighting and
ventilation. More in-depth topics include
temperature, ventilation, psychoacous-
tics, vibration, and lighting. A chapter
on shift work discusses circadian
disruption.
The two sections on ergonomic
workplace design address a variety of
objectives, such as combining office
layouts for several offices and designing
entire buildings for large organizations.
Work environments addressed include
offices, health care facilities, control
rooms, schools, universities, laborato-
ries, and hotels. The home-based work
environment is also addressed, specifi-
cally with regard to designing for an
individual’s work-from-home worksta-
tion, which includes elements of
macroergonomic design for teleworking.
I find particular interest in other
topics in this book. For example, the
chapter on office workplaces explains
that meeting-room interiors with
oval-shaped tables are preferable for
groups to share information. Also, a
home setting with armchairs is prefer-
able for groups to generate ideas. The
chapter on workplace connectedness,
collaboration, and creativity (3C)
includes a case study that suggests that
an environment with medium flexibility
would lead to optimal creativity among
group members. Additionally, there is a
discussion on green ergonomics and
Leadership in Energy and Environmen-
tal Design (LEED).
Regarding health, wellness, and
productivity, the book contains discus-
sion of teleworkers and participatory
ergonomics, which I think is entirely
relevant to today’s workers. Participa-
tory ergonomics is a methodology by
which home-based teleworkers are
involved in the design process to create
their own safe and healthy workplace.
The challenges of home-based tele-
working have been addressed by
micro-, meso-, and macroergonomics.
Teleworkers report social isolation,
but they also report perceived produc-
tivity. For teleworkers to maintain
health, their employers should assess
how they are doing; this assessment
can be accomplished by surveys and
checklists, data analysis from safety
records, or teleworkers’ reports of
work-related injuries. Beyond worksta-
tion design, teleworkers can follow
recommendations on where to set up
their workspace to optimize windows
for sunlight and where to store work-
related items. They may also plan for
movement through their day, and their
employers should encourage them to
avoid sitting for prolonged periods.
A discussion on activity-based
working (ABW) most directly relates to
productivity. ABW is a workplace design
ERGXXX10.1177/1064804618776964ergonomics in designergonomics in design
strategy by which workers may choose
from a variety of workspace options
(standing rooms, team areas, quiet
rooms, meal spaces, etc.). This book
contains many references to standards
as well as surveys and questionnaires
to identify workers’ satisfaction with
their ABW work environment.
The research cited throughout the
book is up-to-date, as each chapter
provides ample references from the
1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. Black-and-
white figures help readers understand
the content, and useful checklists and
charts are included.
In addition to a conclusion section
for each chapter, it would have been
nice to have a guidelines or recommen-
dations section for each chapter that
would add value for readers by quickly
explaining how they can apply what they
have learned from reading it.
I recommend this book for workers,
teleworkers, the employers who care
about them, and the human factors/
ergonomics consultants who contribute to
the design of myriad work environments.
Liana Algarín received her PhD from the
George Washington University. She also
has degrees from the University of South
Florida and Virginia Tech. She founded
LianaWorks, a startup company intended
to teach others how to apply human fac-
tors and ergonomics principles to improve
their work environments.
Copyright 2018 by Human Factors and Ergonomics
Society. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1177/1064804618776964
July 2018 | ergonomics in design 33