Chapter 4

Workplace Design

⁻ Common workplace postures

⁻ Work space
⁻ Minimum requirements for special situations
⁻ Design of work surfaces
⁻ Science of seating, Seat designs for specific purpose

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Engineering Anthropometry
In This Section

1.Definition
2.Basic Ergonomic Design Principles
3.Statistical Basis of Anthropometry
4.Anthropometric Data
5.Use of Anthropometric Data in Design

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The Story of Lacy and Andrew
Does one size fit all?
Lacy is 4’ 10” (147 cm)
Andrew is 6’ 10” (208 cm)

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4
 Anthropometry - Introduction

The part of anthropology (study of humans)

having to do with measurements of the
human body to determine differences in
races, individuals, etc…

Source : Webster’s New 20th Century Dictionary (1970)

5
 Anthropometry - Introduction
Anthropometry is a science that deals with the
measurement of size, weight, and proportions of
the human body. It is empirical (experimentally
derived) in nature and has developed quantitative
methods to measure various physical dimensions.

6
 Anthropometry - Introduction
The basic applications of Anthropometry in design is finding
appropriate dimensions to be incorporated in the design.
There are two types of dimensions that determine what the
design dimensions should be – clearance and reach.
Clearance dimensions determine the minimum space
required for a human being to perform work activities in a
workplace, such as operating and maintaining machines.
Clearances are established by the larger people from the
expected user population (e.g., door frame).
Reach dimensions determine the maximum space allowable
for a human being who operates equipment and are
established by the small people in the expected user
population (e.g., Control height).
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Anthropometry – Design Philosophies
There are three basic design philosophies utilized
by ergonomists as they apply anthropometric data
to design for their specific population.

The philosophies are :

1.Design for average
2.Design for extremes
3.Design for a range
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Anthropometry – Design Philosophies
1. Design for average
The philosophy is utilized for designs involving
public facilities such as park benches, bus seats,
and other facilities used by a large variety of
people.

The problem of designing for the average is that

the design may end up fitting no one, because
no one is average in all dimensions.
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Anthropometry – Design Philosophies
2. Design for extremes
The philosophy is utilized for designs with criticality and
understanding the extremes of the design population
Designing for the maximum
• Doorway heights
• Automobile door openings
• Mattress sizes
Designing for the minimum
• Heights of kitchen cabinets
• Locations of levers and dials on equipment
• Weights of portable power tools
The problem of designing for extremes is the cost associated
with the design. 10
Anthropometry – Design Philosophies
3. Design for a range
It is the most common design philosophy of
ergonomists.
Atypical range of the 5th and 95th percentile of the
population is used. Such a design would be
expected to accommodate 90% of the design
population.
Design ranges can be wider or narrower and are
typically determined by task criticality and cost.
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 Anthropometry – Data
There are two types of anthropometric data
1.Structural (Static ) Measurement
Body segments at stationary
a)Body contour dimensions
- Stature, sitting height, hip breadth, etc
b) Skeletal dimensions
- Center of joints, hip to knee, etc
2. Functional (Dynamic) Measurements
Measurement during physical exercises
- Reach envelopes, crawling length and height, kneeling height,
etc
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 Anthropometric Measurements

Standing Seated
Measurements Measurements

Hand
Measurements

Breadth
Measurements

Foot
Measurements 13
 Anthropometric Measurements

Arm Reach Thumb-tip Reach

(from wall)

Thumb-tip reach,
extended
Vertical grip
Reach, standing

Vertical reach,
sitting 14
Anthropometric Data for US Adult Population

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Anthropometric Data for US Adult Population

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Anthropometric Data for US Adult Population
– Clothing Allowance

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 Anthropometry – BSA
Body Surface Area (BSA)

Important in studying
• Human response to thermal conditions
• Metabolic energy expenditure
• Exposure to ionizing radiation

BSA = 0.007184*Wt0.425*Ht0.725 (DuBois and DuBois, 1916)

BSA= Body Surface Area(m2)

Wt = Body weight (kg)
Ht = Body Height (cm)
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Anthropometry – BSA

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 Anthropometry – Body Segments
Body Segments
In biomechanical assessments, center of mass, and
weight distribution of human body and its
segments will be required to be determined to:

• Design of equipment operated or occupied by

humans in various postures
• Design of workstations
• Biomechanical applications
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 Anthropometry – Body Segments

Fig. The location of center of mass in the body segments in the sagittal plane
indicated by the percentages of the body segments Adapted from Dempster (1955) 21
 Anthropometry – Body Segments

Fig. The segmental body masses as a percentage of the whole body mass
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Use of Anthropometric Data in Design
To achieve an appropriate fit between the operator and
the design (of equipment, workplace, etc.), the
following procedure should be utilized:

1. Define the equipment’s potential user population

2. Choose the proportion of the population to be accommodated
by the design
3. Determine the body dimensions important to the design
4. Determine the percentile values of the dimensions
5. Determine the type of clothing and personal equipment worn by
the user

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Use of Anthropometric Data in Design

Then P[X ≤ xp] = P[(X - ) /s] = p, or P[X ≤ xp] = p

Where Zp = (xp - ) /s values are given in standard normal

probability tables (Z-distribution)
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Use of Anthropometric Data in Design
Statistical Basis of Anthropometry
xp = +Zp*s

Where
= Sample mean
s = sample standard deviation
xp = pth percentile value of the variable X
Zp = Standard normal value corresponding to the
pth percentile of value of X
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Use of Anthropometric Data in Design
Percentile 0.5th 1st 2.5th 5th 10th 16.5th 25th
(p) 0.005 0.01 0.025 0.05 0.1 0.165 0.25
Zp -2.575 -2.327 -1.96 -1.645 -1.282 -0.974 -0.675

Percentile 75th 83.5th 90th 95th 97.5th 99th 99.5th

(p) 0.75 0.835 0.9 0.95 0.975 0.99 0.995
Zp 0.675 0.974 1.282 1.645 1.96 2.327 2.575

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 Use of Anthropometric Data in Design
Example 1:
Based on the anthropometric measurement taken on a randomly
selected sample, the mean popliteal height of a certain population
was found to be 45 cm with standard deviation of 2.65.
Calculate the popliteal height for the 95th percentile, 50th percentile
and 5th percentile.
Example 2:
A designer is concerned with the layout of a push-button control that
has to be located on a vertical panel such that about 95% of the US
male population can grip-reach the control while standing. How high
the control should be installed?
Example 3:
What should be the height between the seat and the inside of the
roof of automobiles to fit 90% of the US population?
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 Anthropometric Measurements

Standing Seated
Measurements Measurements

Hand
Measurements

Breadth
Measurements

Foot
Measurements 28
Anthropometric Data for US Adult Population

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Anthropometric Data for US Adult Population

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 Workplace Design
In This Section

1. Introduction
2. Ergonomics Principles for Workplace Design
3. Recommendations for Seated and Standing
Tasks

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 Workplace Design - Introduction

A strong relationship exists between comfort of

workers and their productivity.

Management should understand that worker

discomfort puts additional energy demands on the
employee that by no means contribute to the
worker’s productivity.

The goal of ergonomics is not just to reduce effort; it

is rather to maximize the worker’s productivity level
of effort which is not harmful to the worker. 32
 Workplace Design - Introduction

Workplace and Workspace

A workspace is three dimensional region

surrounding the worker, defined by the outmost
points touched by various parts of the body and by
the controls, tools or other equipment used by the
worker.

Workplace is more comprehensive and can be varied

as assembly stations, offices, warehouses, vehicle
cabs, or any area where work is performed. 33
 Workplace Design -Problems

The workplace should be designed in such a way that employees

will be able to perform their jobs effectively. Then the designer
should have the following two design factors in mind:

1. There is large variability in size of people in the work force

population
2. Understand the user population (culture, education, training,
skills, attitude, physical and mental capability, etc.).

Therefore relevant anthropometric data in design of the

workplace for the workforce should be used.

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 Workplace Design - Problems

Work stations are generally designed for

1. Seated
2. Standing
3. Sit-stand work postures

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Workplace Design - Problems

Illustration of appropriately designed chair

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 Workplace Design - Problems
Seated workstations are recommended for the following
situations:

• All items can easily be supplied and handled within the seated
workstation
• The job being performed does not require reaches more than
40cm forward or higher than 15cm above the work surface
• The job does not require large forces, such as handling objects
heavier than 4.5 kg
• The job involves writing or light assembly for a major part of the
shift
• The job requires precision or fine manipulative movements that
need a level of stability
• The job include foot control operation, that is performed more
easily and safely while sitting and maintaining good postures
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 Workplace Design - Problems
Standing workstations are recommended for the
following situations:

• The workstation does not have knee clearance for a seated

operation
• The job involves handling objects weighing more than 4.5
kg
• The job requires high, low or extended reaches frequently
• The job requires frequent movement from one station to
others
• The job requires exertion of downward forces, as in
packaging and wrapping operations
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 Workplace Design - Problems

Sit-Stand workstations are recommended for the

following situations:

• The job requires frequent reaches more than 41 cm

forward or more than 15 cm above the work surface
• The job consists of multiple tasks, some of which
performed in the sitting position, and others are
performed while standing

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 Workplace Design - Problems
Advantages of Sitting over Standing workstations

• Taking the body weight off the legs

• Ability to avoid unnatural body postures
• Lower energy consumption due to less muscular activity for
maintaining postures
• Less demand on the cardiovascular system
• Providing more stability needed for tasks requiring precision
or fine manipulative movements
• Ability to operate foot controls more easily, precisely and
safely while maintaining good working postures

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 Workstation Design – General principles

Six Key points to answer

1. What the worker must see while on the job?

2. What must the worker hear?
3. What tasks must the worker perform?
4. What is the sequence of job activities?
5. What clearances are required?
6. What storage is required?

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 Workstation Design – Ergonomic principles
Three Key factors to be considered
1. Anthropometric data
2. Nature of the work
3. Behavioral pattern of workers

In general the workplace design must satisfy the following

important criteria:
• Be economical
• Enhance the workers efficiency
• Allow good working postures
• Minimize fatigue
• Minimize healthy and safety risks

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 Workstation Design – Anthropometric Data
Design Procedures
1. Preparation
• Types of job functions(tasks)
• The human- machine interfaces
• Workplace requirements and constraints
• The workplace environmental conditions
• Characteristics and requirements of equipments used
• Description and capabilities of work population
2. Identification of feasible deign alternatives
• Functional Characteristics
• Compatibility of the functional characteristics with design constraints
• Reliability of the alternative design
3. Selection of the best design alternative
• Economy of production
• Efficiency of operations
• Ease of maintenance
4. Examination of the final alternative 43
 Designing Work Tables/Desks
Critical Dimensions in Designing any work-surface
1. Working height
2. Working width
3. Working depth
4. Knee-room height
5. Knee-room depth
6. Knee-room width
7. Kick room

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 Designing Work Tables/Desks

A = 0.6*a
B = B1+B2+B3

45
 Anthropometric Measurements

Standing Seated
Measurements Measurements

Hand
Measurements

Breadth
Measurements

Foot
Measurements 46
Anthropometric Data for US Adult Population

47
 Designing Work Tables/Desks
Example 4:
Consider the following two cases to design a workstation. In the first
case both the chair and table are adjustable (fully adjustable). In the
second case, the table is fixed but the seat is adjustable. In both
cases, the design recommendations will be made to accommodate
66 % of the US population.

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