Presentation on Ergonomics of Sewing

Workstation (Single Needle Lockstitch

Machine)
By Satadeep Datta
 Introduction
• The clothing industry is generally seen as
a safe place to work. Compared to other
industries, there are relatively few serious
accidents in apparel plants.
• Sewing involves repeated movements of
the shoulder and arm, a static position of
the spine and lower extremities, as well
as the inclination forward while the job is
done throughout the working hours.
• The risks that clothing workers face
come from more subtle hazards whose
effect accumulates over time.
• The Structure of technological operation is
mostly (65%) related to handling of
materials within support hand technological
grips.
• The very processing on a machine (sewing
grip) is performed during the machine or
machine-hand time(25%) whereas 10% of
the time is used for non production work.
• While Designing the workspace in the
process of sewing it is necessary to achieve
dimensional harmony of the human-
machine system .
• Poor ergonomic conditions in combination
with adverse psychological and social
circumstances can cause various diseases,
such as:
1. Emotional symptoms- psychological
tension, uncertainty, anxiety and
depression.
2. Psychosomatic diseases- respiratory,
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, the loss or
the increase in appetite and sleep.
 Promote Lumber Lordosis
• While • When one is
standing sitting with the
erect, the thighs at 90
lumber degrees, the lumber
portion of region of the back
the spine is flattens out and
naturally may even assume
curved an
inward outward
(concave), bend(convex), that
that is, it is is, it becomes
lordotic. kyphotic.

• It is seen that a 2 inch thick lumber support with a seat back

rest angle of 90 degrees have a marked impact on maintaining
lumber lordosis.
 Minimize Disc Pressure
• Unsupported sitting, i.e. not using a
back rest, increases disk pressure
considerably over that experienced
while standing. Nachemson and
Elfstrom (1970), for example, found
that unsupported seating in an upright,
erect posture(forced lordosis) resulted
in a 40% increase in pressure
compared to standing.
• Unsupported seating in a forward
slumped posture increases pressure by
90% compared to standing.
• Andersson (1987) reports that using of
a reclined backrest has a marked effect
with considerable reduction in
pressure by reclining backrest from
vertical 90 to just 100 to 110 degrees.
 The movement from left to right requires a strain that is partly static(taking
and passing a cutting part) and partly dynamic, and each is accompanied by a
slight bending and turning of the body in the waist area.
 PROBLEMS FACED DURING SEWING (WORKSTATION-RELATED)

CHAIRS
• Swivel chairs for workstations are
approved in accordance with the DIN
68877 standard. These chairs are
adjustable in height, seat tilt, and backrest
position and their backrest is padded.
• They facilitate the necessary work and
support the worker’s spine. One must
bear in mind the size of the worker when
determining the height of the chair and
the position of the treadle.
• The chair should allow workers to lean
forward and backwards easily. The
worker should have adequate leg room
under the worktable so that he/she can
change the position of the legs easily. The
feet should be flat on the floor or the
worker should be provided with a
footrest – this will eliminate pressure on
the thighs and knees.
 THE ERGONOMIC WAY
Treadle & Leg Room
• Many sewing tables have a moveable
treadle fixed on a traverse. Using screws the
treadle can be mounted to the front or rear.

• Even with a medium sized operator, it may

be necessary to move the traverse to the far
edge of the table in order to permit the
worker to have a comfortable leg position.

• Sufficient space under the table allows the

worker to move their feet to an optimal
position and thereby avoid excessive bending
of the upper body.

• Hence, components such as the motor,

operating devices or drawers should not be
installed under the table top because they
project into the leg area
 FRONT/BACK POSITION OF PEDALS
The front/back position of pedals should be
adjusted when the operator is sitting at the
machine in a position that provides a clear view of
the work at hand and does not impede movements.
The (front/back location of the pedal partly
depends on the height of the chair. The front/back
adjustment is correct when:
• thighs are approximately horizontal (with a
horizontal seat):
• knees are at an angle of approximately 120
degrees.
Footrest
When operators activate the sewing Pedal with one
foot. It is recommended to install a footrest beside
the sewing pedal which should be:-
• The same height and at the same angle and
front/back position as the Pedal.
• Wide enough.
• Solidly fixed with a non-skid surface.
Working Aid for Sewing Machines
Working Aid
When using scissors or thread cutters,
Avoid: making strenuous movements with the
wrists (flexing or bending)
■ Applying excessive pressure on fingers or
palm
■ Rubbing the skin on rough or sharp parts of
the tools. To avoid strenuous movements of the
wrists, choose scissors or cutters designed to
keep wrists straight during use ;
■ Perform cutting operations in an area with
enough room to allow work with straight
wrists.
To avoid excessive pressure on hands: adapt
the size of the handle to the size of the
operator’s hand, provide a choice of left-
handed and right-handed scissors
TABLE HEIGHT
Maximum and minimum height of the
work table of a flatbed sewing machine for
a large person in the sitting position
(where high standards of accuracy are
necessary with short viewing distances)
and for a short person (where less
accuracy is required and larger viewing
distances).
• The height of many sewing tables is
adjustable by turning a screw.
However, a table frame with electronic
infinite adjustment of the height is
more comfortable. The height of the
table should allow the worker to sit in a
comfortable upright position.
• If the table is too low, workers will
have to hunch forward, putting strain
on the back, neck and shoulders. If the
table is too high, workers will have to
raise their shoulders to get their arms
high enough to work. This posture puts
strain on the neck, shoulder and arms.
Sit and Stand workstation design
Electrically height adjustable,
highest quality, sit-
down/stand-up workstation,
with sample set-up (power
outlet strip, task light, tiltable
surfaces, swing arm, footrest,
etc.)
Therefore, frequent changes of
position during a work task as
well as varying our tasks,
reduces stress
and eliminates strains and
activates different groups of
muscles. Movements such as
these reduce fatigue and tension
and enable regeneration.
Adjustable workstation with Armrest
Most garment industry have a
combination of natural and
artificial lighting.

1. Rough work and Assembly:

300 lx
2. Medium bench and machine
work: 500 lx
3. Fine bench and machine
work: 1000 lx.
Sewbo
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