UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA ITALY DESIGN INSTITUTE

(UniKL MIDI)

ASSIGNMENT 1

WHY DO WE NEED THE CHANGES?

ERGONOMICS IN RAILWAYS
(PWB20303)

NAME : MUSFIRAH BINTI MUSTAFA

STUDENT ID : 58221120073
LECTURER : DR. NIK MOHAMAD FARID NIK ISMAIL
NO CONTENT

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Ergonomic

1.2 Ladder

2 OBJECTIVE

3 THE PRODUCT THAT NEEDS CHANGES

4 PROBLEM STATEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT

4.1 Efficiency

4.2 Safety

4.3 Healthy

4.4 Easy to use

4.5 Comfort

4.6 Governance:

4.6.1 Materials

4.6.2 Costs

5 EXAMPLE OF ALUMINIUM DOUBLE-SIDED STEP LADDER THAT

HAS APPLIED SOME OF THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENT.

6 CONCLUSIONS
 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 ERGONOMIC

Ergonomic comes from the Greek word, which is “Ergon” and

“Nomos”. The word “Ergon” means work, while the word “Nomos”
means laws, hence, the combination of both words brings the
meaning as the law of work or science of work. Ergonomic is the
scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of
interactions among humans and other elements of a system.
Ergonomic is also the profession that applies theory, principles,
data, and methods to design to optimize human well-being and
overall system performance. Besides that, ergonomics also known
as human engineering. The 6 elements of ergonomic that are
important in every product are efficiency, safety, healthy, easy to
use, comfort, and governance. When a product has all these 6
elements in product it will make customers or buyers of the product
be more satisfied when looking, buying, and using the product.

1.2 LADDER IN HOUSEHOLD

A ladder is a series of steps that are made from either three of the
materials, which are wood, metal, or plastic. The use of a ladder is
to get to a higher place that cannot be reached easily just by
standing on our feet. The most common works that are being done
by using a ladder are painting walls, changing a bulb, and many
more things. People tend to buy a ladder and put it in their house
because it is easier for them to do works such as minor renovation,
house D.I.Y (Do It Yourself) idea, and much more. Several types of
ladders are Step Ladder, Extension Ladder, and Straights Ladder.
The most common type of ladder that is used in a household is
Step Ladder.

STEP LADDER PARTS

1.
 2. OBJECTIVES

1. The objective of this assignment is to identify the changes that need to

be done in a product.
2. To identify the problem of the product in term of efficiency, easy to use,
safety, healthy, comfort, and governance.
3. To make improvement on the product from the problem that is identified.
4. To create a product that achieved all the 6 elements of ergonomic, which
is efficiency, easy to use, safety, healthy, comfort, and governance.

3. THE PRODUCT THAT NEEDS CHANGES

ALUMINIUM DOUBLE-SIDED STEP LADDER

The product that is chosen in this assignment 1 is Aluminium Double-

Sided Step Ladder. The usage of the aluminium step ladder in this
assignment is focused on household usage. For example, wall painting,
bulb changing, cleaning the ceiling, and much more work that can be
done personally in a household without the need of someone
professional.
4. PROBLEM STATEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT ON THE PRODUCT

4.1 EFFICIENCY

PROBLEM STATEMENT IMPROVEMENT

- There is no place to put - Adding compartment at the
tools or other products. top cap or the top of the
step ladder
- Repetitive movements
occur if users need to use - It will help to reduce
more than one tool, large repetitive movement.
tool, or heavy product in
the work they do when - More than one tools can
using a ladder, because be used when the users
the ladder has no place to already climbed the step
put other tools or ladder due to having
products. compartment to put the
other additional tools on
- For example, after a user the top cap or the top of
uses a drill, they must the step ladder.
descend the ladder to pick
up screws, other tools and - This improvement will help
place the drill. users make fewer
movement when using the
- This makes the stairwell step ladder
less efficient due to the
need for more repetitive COMPARTMENT ON TOP
movements. CAP OF STEP LADDER
HELPS AVOID
REPETITIVE MOVEMENT

STEP LADDER TOP CAP

THAT HAS NO
COMPARTMENT TO PUT
TOOLS OR ANY OTHER
PRODUCT
4.2 SAFETY
PROBLEM STATEMENT
- Users have different physical
appearances especially their
height.
- Un-adjustable height of the
step ladder will give users a
risk of head and others
injury.
- For example, taller users use
the step ladder and keep on
climbing the step ladder
without looking up. This
action may cause the users
to hit their head at the ceiling
of the house and causes
head injuries and more
possible injuries.
IMPROVEMENT
- Make the step ladder
adjustable.
- Designing a step ladder
that the number of
steps can be increased
or decrease according
to the suitable number
of steps needed for the
height of the users.
- Each step will be locked
and be on static when
the users pull it up, to
avoid accident happens
due to users forgot to
lock it manually when
they adjust the step
ladder.
- There are the sounds
“click” whenever users
pull up the steps. To tell
that the step are locked,
to make the users alert
and know that the steps
are already locked.
WHEN
DECREASE
STEPS
WHEN
INCREASE
STEPS
 PROBLEM STATEMENT IMPROVEMENT

- The grey colour of the step - Put yellow paint, yellow

ladder.
- The grey colour of the step
ladder is unsafety and could
lead to accidents and injuries
for the users and people
around the user. It could also
damage the things at users
surrounding.
- The reasons that the grey
colour is unsafety are
because people are not alert
or attracted to focus on a dull
colour. Due to that reason,
people will not really notice
when the users use the step
ladder in the house and
cause accident.
stickers, neon yellow
paint, or neon yellow
sticker at the rail of the
step ladder.
- This will help people
near the users
surrounding will be alert
with the present of the
step ladder in the
house. Accidents and
injuries can be avoided.
- Having neon yellow or
yellow colour at the rail
of the step ladder will
make the step ladder
safer.

- Another reason is when

changing a bulb in a house,
the lighting in the house will
be a bit dark and this
situation may also make
people nearby the users will
not notice the step ladder
and will cause accidents and
injuries.
Grey colour that
makes people not
alert and attracted
to focus

Bright colours like

yellow will attract
people attention more
4.3 HEALTHY
PROBLEM STATEMENT
- Lead to neck pain and back
pain.
- Having an un-adjustable
steps ladder, users need to
look up repetitively to avoid
their head from hitting the
ceiling, bulb, and other
things.
- Due to the repetitive
movement of looking up, it
will cause the users to
experience neck pain and
some user will also
experience back pain.
IMPROVEMENT
- Step ladder with
adjustable steps.
- Users can adjust the
height of the steps
ladder to the suitable
height for them to use.
- This will help decrease
the number of times they
have to look up while
climbing the step ladder
and decrease the
chance to experience
neck and back pain.
The steps are adjustable to the
suitable height
PROBLEM STATEMENT
- Holding a heavy product
for a long time.
- The small width of the top
cap area of the step
ladder makes the user
need to hold the heavy
products for a long time.
- For example, holding a
bucket of paint while on
the step ladder to paint the
wall.
- This action will make the
users experience arm
soreness and body aches
after they finished using
the step ladder.
Holding the paint bucket
while on the step ladder can
occurs arm soreness and
body aches afterward
IMPROVEMENT
- Wider top cap or the top of
the steps ladder with paint
bucket compartment.
- Users can put their bucket
of paint or any other big or
heavy product that they
need to use while on the
step ladder.
- The top cap of the step
ladder can be open to give
more space for user to
use and put products.
- Step ladder having a wider
top and paint bucket
compartment can help
avoid users to experience
arm soreness and body
aches afterward.
Wider top and place
to put paint bucket
and other big, heavy
product
4.4 EASY TO USE
PROBLEM STATEMENT
- Moving step ladder
- To move the step ladder to
the specific place, user
need to lift the step ladder
horizontally, which make it
is difficult to carry it
because of the length of
the step ladder that is long.
- The lifting of the step
ladder horizontally makes
the step ladder is not a
product that is easy to use
and un-enjoyable for users.
- It is also difficult to storage
the step ladder in house
when user does not need
to use the step ladder
anymore.
- The step ladder will take
up many spaces and it will
need a store or garage in
the house that has a higher
ceiling. This will make the
house looks untidy and
could give negative mood
to the users.
Ladder in
house
garage
IMPROVEMENT
- Make the step ladder an
adjustable step ladder, so
the length of the step
ladder can be maximized
to the most minimum
length.
- The ladder will be easier
to be stored in the house
without requiring a big
space of the house with a
higher ceiling.
- The appearance of a
ladder is much smaller
and compact which
makes it easier for the
user to carry the step
ladder to the specific
places that they want to
do their works.
- The step ladder also has
applied aesthetic aspects
at the same time and
does not make the house
looks untidy.
- This improvement will
create a happy user
because the step ladder
is much easier to be
moved and stored in
house.
Adjustable
step ladder in
its minimum
length.
4.5 COMFORT
PROBLEM STATEMENT
- The top cap or the top of
the step ladder has a hard
and textured surface.
- This will make users feel
uncomfortable when they
want to rest their hand or
put their hand on the top
cap or the top of the step
ladder to support them
while they are doing their
work in the house.
- This problem will also
leave a temporary scar on
the user’s hand.
Textured top cap
surface.
User’s hand has the top cap shaped
scarred, due to putting their hand
on the top cap of the step ladder
IMPROVEMENT
- Change only the top cap or
the top of the step ladder
to rubber material.
- The top cap or the top of
the step ladder will have a
soft, non-textured surface
and give extra safety to the
users because it is less
slippery.
- This improvement will give
the users comfort when
putting their hand on the
top cap. Besides that, it
will not make the user's
hand scarred after using
the top cap of the step
ladder as support.
- The top cap of the step
ladder with rubber-coated
can also help in avoiding
injuries that happen due to
slippery hands on the top
cap.
Top cap of the step ladder surface
is replaced with rubber to give
comfort and safety for the user.
4.6 GOVERNANCE
PROBLEM STATEMENT
4.6.1 MATERIALS
- Aluminium has high
electrical conductivity.
- The material of the step
ladder is Aluminium.
- If the Aluminium step
ladder is exposed to
electricity, the step ladder
will be the ground route
and the electricity will pass
through the user’s body
first.
- Although there is only
simple work that is
concerned with electricity
that can be done by the
users in their household
by themselves, there is
still a chance that this
problem can occur.
- Example of activities that
users do that include
electricity is changing
bulbs and putting festive
lights.
IMPROVEMENT
- Change the step ladder
material to a non-
conductive material.
- Non-conductive material
that can be chosen to
replace aluminium is
fiberglass.
- Fiberglass is non-
conductive, which means
it does not conduct
electricity.
- Using fiberglass as the
material for the step
ladder instead of
aluminium can help the
users avoid experiencing
an incident that involves
electricity.
- The safety of the step
ladder after changing from
aluminium to fiberglass is
also increased.
Step ladder material:
FIBERGLASS
 4.6.1 MATERIALS

CHANGING ALUMINIUM TO FIBERGLASS

PROS CONS

- Durable. - Heavier than aluminium.

- Safer for the users to use - Expensive.

for activities involving
electricity, such as
changing bulb.

PROBLEM STATEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT

4.6.2 COSTS
- The price range for the aluminium double-sided step ladder
is 150 Ringgit Malaysia and below.

- The price can be lessened down because this day,

especially when a pandemic occurs, people tend to do small
renovations, changing bulbs, painting walls, and do many
other household activities by themselves due to safety and
health matter.

- Having a step ladder in a household has become a necessity

and due to that the price range should be lessened and
affordable.
 5. EXAMPLE OF ALUMINIUM DOUBLE-SIDED STEP LADDER THAT
HAS APPLIED SOME OF THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENT.

WHEN STEP LADDER IS

OPEN AND ADJUSTED TO WHEN STEP LADDER WHEN STEP LADDER IS
THE SUITABLE HEIGHT FOR IS CLOSED CLOSED AND PUSH DOWN
THE USER. TO ITS MINIMUM SIZE.

TOP OF THE STEP

LADDER IS RUBBER-
COATED TO GIVE USER WHEN OPEN THE TOP CAP OR THE TOP OF
COMFORT THE STEP LADDER, THERE WILL BE MORE
COMPARTMENT FOR USER TO USE

TOP OF THE STEP LADDER HOLDER TO MAKE IT

CAN BE OPEN TO GIVE EASIER FOR USER TO
MORE SPACE AND CARRY THE STEP
COMPARTMENT LADDER
6. CONCLUSION

Ergonomic in a product is very important because the product that the

users use could affect their health, safety, emotion and else. Applying 6
important element in ergonomic which is, efficient, healthy, safety,
comfort, easy to use, and governance could lead in creating a happy
customer and user, a safer environment, and healthier society.