HP repository

Image not found or type unknown

Published on HP repository (http://webprisme.cfmu.eurocontrol.int/ehp)
Home > EN ISO 9241-5 - Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs) - Part 5: Workstation
layout and postural requirements

EN ISO 9241-5 - Ergonomic requirements for office work

with visual display terminals (VDTs) - Part 5: Workstation
layout and postural requirements
Submitted by superadmin on Mon, 10/22/2012 - 14:45
HP Activity Categories:
Design of working environment and human-machine interfaces [1]
Resource Type:
Guideline
Abstract:

This part of the ISO 9241 specifies the ergonomic principles of user requirements for the
design of working position equipped with display units in office environments. It is mainly
concentrated on the technical design of furniture and equipment of working positions. It
specifies the ergonomics requirements for a Visual Display Terminal workplace which will
allow the user to adopt a comfortable and efficient posture.

References

Developer and source:

ISO – International Organisation for Standardization

Year of development / publication, updates etc:

1998

General Description

Purpose:

Part 5 of ISO 9241 deals with the ergonomic guidelines related to office tasks that use Visual
Display Terminals (VDTs). The guidelines take into consideration user requirements, design
factors and the acquisition of workstation equipment. The aims of the document are to ensure
optimal workplace design and usability at VDT workstations.
The purpose of this standard is to promote and enhance performance and comfort while
minimizing risks to users’ safety and health. Users of VDTs in office work typically adopt a
range of postures (seated with leaning, upright or reclining torso, standing or a combination of
both). Workplaces which accommodate such usage can encourage movement, promote
comfort and reduce physical, mental and visual problems.

This standard is intended for use by product and workstation designers and implementers.

Type (e.g. observation, questionnaire, interview, checklist, measurement instrument, etc.):

Guidance material

Technical description of method or tool etc

Description of the content/study:

This part of ISO 9241 specifies ergonomic guiding principles that apply to the design of
workstation equipment used for display screen work. The norm comprises of several chapters.
It includes:

Definitions of the relevant terms

General guiding principles, like task analysis, flexibility and adjustability, maintenance.
The standard emphasises that the design of the workplace needs to be preceded by an
analysis of the tasks that it is intended to support. This information will help identify the
different tasks that are carried out and the relative contributions of the different
components that support the tasks, which in turn will help users adopt a comfortable and
healthy working posture.
Design requirements and recommendations
The main body of the norm deals with the requirements and recommendations for the
design of VDT workstations that will ensure comfortable and efficient use. The
specifications are derived from five guiding principles: versatility-flexibility; fit; postural
change; user information; and maintainability-adaptability. The specifications themselves
cover: posture; ease of adjustment; support surfaces; seating; additional support
elements (such as document holders and footrests); and the layout of the workstation in
the workspace. In particular, the general principles and requirements specified in ISO
9241-5 apply to specifying technical design of furniture and equipment constituting the
workplace. The most important things to consider in determining appropriate workstation
layout and design are:
seat and work surface
line of sight angle
work surface height
knee clearance
forearm inclination and positioning
elbow height
Work surface height recommendations for fixed height work surfaces, and height-adjustable
work surfaces are given. Horizontal and lateral clearance considerations are addressed.
Important anthropometric dimensions for determining design of sitting and standing VDT
workplaces are shown.

Conformance
is achieved if fulfilling the requirements described in the norm and applied to the
intended user population.
Measurements, which describe in particular how some of the design requirements can
be fulfilled.
Appendix A: Anthropometric data of intended user population is included for the design
and selection of working positions (seated and standing).

Technical requirements for using the method, tool, etc:

The norm is available as paper version or electronically as a PDF document. No special

technical requirements are necessary for applying the norm.

Measure/Response Type:

not applicable

Results obtained and interpretation:

not applicable

Evaluation

Advantages:

The norm provides a good overview of the factors which need to be considered when
designing Visual Display Terminals for the office.

Recommendations are provided and anthropometric data is included.

Disadvantages:

The norm is somewhat generic and HF expertise is required to interpret and apply the given
recommendations.

Alternative Methods:

Other published ergonomic standards and guidance, drawn also from other domains, provide
additional information which the control room designer may find helpful.

Usability (ease of use, efficiency, effectiveness)

Ease of use:
high
Efficiency:
medium
Effectiveness:
medium
Constraints concerning conditions of use:

ISO 9241-5 does not specify dimensions of workstation components because of the variation
in body size among user populations.

Reliability:

not applicable

Validity:

not applicable

Required effort (to conduct & to analyse):

not applicable

Level of HF expertise needed (required user qualification)

Advanced HF knowledge is required to understand, interpret and apply the recommendations

provided.

Medium: limited level of expertise required, some training required

Other expertise needed (required user qualification):

This standard is intended for use by product and workstation designers and implementers.
The standards provide a source of reference, but designers without HF experience may
encounter difficulties applying the guidelines/recommendations.

Cost Information

The norm can be purchased online at iso.org. All ISO publications are protected by copyright.
Therefore and unless otherwise specified, no part of an ISO publication may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
microfilm, scanning, without permission in writing from the publisher.

The cost is 116 CHF (June 2012) which equates to approx. 95 € therefore it is considered as

Very low: (<100 €) low costs to purchase or free license, no special devices necessary
Experiences of use by SESAR partners (including references):

not available

Reported and/or published experiences of use (including references):

not available

Applicability to lifecycle phase (E-OCVM):

The guideline is of relevance after scope and feasibility are analysed and the decision for
building a certain system has been made. Thus the guideline applies for V3.

Application Area:

Though this norm is intended for office work with VDTs, it offers many principles and
recommendations which can be applied to ATC centres as well.

Keywords:

ISO, guidelines, requirements, posture, anthropometry, workspace, workstation, VDT,

Short Description:

This part of the ISO 9241 specifies the ergonomic principles of user requirements for the
design of working position equipped with display units in office environments. It is mainly
concentrated on the technical design of furniture and equipment of working positions. It
specifies the ergonomics requirements for a Visual Display Terminal workplace which will
allow the user to adopt a comfortable and efficient posture.

Login
Powered by Drupal

Source URL:http://webprisme.cfmu.eurocontrol.int/ehp/?q=node/1573

Links
[1] http://webprisme.cfmu.eurocontrol.int/ehp/?q=taxonomy/term/96