Engineering Ergonomics

and Work Study

Ten Physical Principles
Principle – 1
Keep everything in easy
reach

Long reaches can strain

the body and make work
more difficult, plus waste
time.
A good way to think about
reaches is to visualize the
hemisphere “Swing
reaches” that your arms
make as they are moved.
Measuremnet
Anthropometry – the
measurement of humans
Tables are available
Principle – 2
Work at Proper Heights
• Mismatch in heights between
people
• Working in awkward or contorted
postures
• Cause fatigue, discomfort, and even
injury
• Inefficiencies- people slow down to
compensate for the fatigue and
discomfort
• Genarally work be done at elbow
height
• Heavy work lower than elbow height
• Lighter work above elbow height

• Measurement
• Anthropometry
• Measuring tape
• Common sense
Principle – 3
Work in good postures

• Best postions to work

are those that keep the
body in neutral
• The back in s-curve
• Elbows at sides of the
body
• The wrists in neutral
position
Measuremnet
Goniometer
Electronic goniometer
Principle – 3
Work in good postures

• Best postions to work

are those that keep the
body in neutral
• The back in s-curve
• Elbows at sides of the
body
• The wrists in neutral
position
Measuremnet
Goniometer
Electronic goniometer
Principle – 3
Work in good postures

• Best postions to work

are those that keep the
body in neutral
• The back in s-curve
• Elbows at sides of the
body
• The wrists in neutral
position
Measuremnet
Goniometer
Electronic goniometer
Principle – 4
Reduce excessive forces

Minize the exertion

required to perform a task
Excessive forces load the
muscle, creating fatigue
and even potential for
injury
Measuremnet
Force Guage – push/pull
Force sensing resistors
Electromyography (EMG)
Principle – 5
Minimize fatigue
Overloading a person’s capabilities can
contribute to injuries, accidents, poor
quality and lost productivity
Important type of fatigue is static load,
which is continuous exertion of the same
muscle group over a period of time.
Eliminated by
Fixture and jigs
Straps or handholds to the grip
Modifying handle desigin
Using nozzles on hoses

Measuremnet
Duration of time for a muscle contraction
Heart monitors
EMG
Self rating scales – Borg Scale
Principle – 6
Reduce excessive repetition

Repetitive motions have a

profound impact on the
wear and tear of the body
Minimized by
Machines
Design for motion
efficiency
Most efficient workstation
layouts
Measuremnet
Observing and counting by
directly watching or by
reviewing video tapes
Principle – 7
Provide clearance and
access

Adequate clearance is
needed for head, arms,
torso, knees, and feet.
No obstruction between a
person and items needed
to accomplish the task.
Measuremnet
Common sense
Anthropometric tables
Measuring tapes
Principle – 8
Minimize contact stress

Direct pressure can inhibit

nerve function and blood
flow
Main cause – ill fitting tools
Measuremnet
No convenient analytic
tool
Ask employees – bruises,
calluses, and indentations
or red marks
Principle – 9
Provide mobility and change
of postureds

No single correct posture

for an entire day
Give opportunities to
change positions, move
around or alternate
between sitting and
standing
Measuremnet
Common sense
Principle – 10
Maintain a comfortable
environment

Provide appropriate
lighting
Avoid temperature
extremes
Isolate vibration
Measuremnet
Temperature sensors
Humidity sensors
Noise sensors
Vibration sensors
Thanks