workplace design- supriya shubham

8/10/2019 Workplace Design- Supriya Shubham

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ERGONOMICS

ASSIGNMENT-1

ARTICLE ON WORKPLACE DESIGN

SUBMITTED TO

DR. RAJANI JAIN

SUBMITTED BY

SHUBHAM ARYAN

SUPRIYA NANDA

B.F.TECH (A.P.)-VII


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1.ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES THAT

CONTRIBUTE TO GOOD WORKPLACE

DESIGN

The goal for the design of workplaces is to design for as many people as

possible and to have an understanding of the ergonomics principles of posture

and movement which play a central role in the provision of safety, healthy and

comfortable work environment. Posture and movement at work at the work

will be dictated by the task and the workplace, the bodys muscles, ligaments

and joints are involved in adopting posture, carrying out a movement and

applying a force. The muscles provide the force necessary to adopt a posture

or make a movement. Poor posture and movement can contribute to local

mechanical stress on the muscles, ligaments and joints, resulting in complaints

of the neck, back, shoulder, wrist and other parts of the musculoskeletal

system.

Here under are the ergonomic principles that provide possibilities for

optimising tasks in the workplace:

ERGONOMIC

PRINCIPLE

DESCRIPTION

Joints must be in a

neutral position

In the neutral position

the

muscles and ligaments,

which

span the joints, are

stretched

to the least possible

extent

Keep work close to the

body

If the work is too far

from the

body, the arms will be

outstretched and the

trunk

bent over forwards

Avoid bending forward The upper part of thebody of

an adult weighs about

40kg

on average. The further

the

trunk is bent forwards,

the

harder it is for the

muscles

and ligaments of the

back tomaintain the upper body


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in

balance

A twisted trunk strains

the back

The upper part of the

body of

an adult weighs about

40kgon average. The further

the

trunk is bent forwards,

the

harder it is for the

muscles

and ligaments of the

back to

maintain the upper body

in

balanceAlternate posture as

well as movements

Twisted postures of the

trunk

cause undesirable stress

to the

spine

Avoid excessive

reaches

It is necessary to limit

the

extent of forward and

sideways reaches to

avoidhaving to bend over or

twist

the trunk

Avoid carrying out

tasks above shoulder

level

The hands and elbows

should

be well below shoulder

level

when carrying out a task

Limit the weight of a

load that is lifted

There are guidance

weightlimits for both males

and

females

Use mechanical aids Many lifting accessories

are

available to help lift and

move loads


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Avoid carrying loads

with one hand

When only one hand is

used

to carry a load, the body

is

subject to mechanical

stressUse transport

accessories

There are a large

number of

accessories such as

roller

conveyors, conveyor

belts,

trolleys and mobile

raising

platforms, which

eliminate or

reduce manual handling.


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2.RISK ASSESSMENT ON THE

WORKPLACE

Risk assessment is a process which involves gaining a detailed understanding of atask being carried out, collecting all relevant technical details of the task, identifyingif there are risk factors/hazards present, exploring what options or solutions areavailable to reduce or eliminate the risk factors/hazards and putting a plan in place tointroduce agreed control measures.There are a number of steps in the manual handling risk assessment process and theseare described briefly below:

Step 1: Identify the Manual Handling Tasks that need to be assessed

A list should be put together of all tasks being performed on site where

manual handling activity is a key component of the task.

Step 2: Develop a risk assessment scheduleA plan should be put in place that will identify what tasks are going to be

assessed and when the assessments are going to be carried out. Involving staff

in the planning and implementation of the risk assessment process can be an

important way of increasing the likelihood of success of the process.

Step 3: The Risk Assessment ProcessThere are a number of key stages in this process and these are briefly

discussed below.

Task Observation and descriptionThe objective at this stage is to gain a detailed understanding of how a task is

performed and to identify the sub tasks that contribute to the completion of the

overall task.

Collect Task DataA well-documented manual handling risk assessment will have good quality

information about the task, which will include technical information and

general information.

Examples of technical information include data on load weights, physicalmeasures of a work area, dimensions of a load, number of manual lifts in a

task, light levels, noise levels.

Here under are the most common risks due to unfavourable economic conditions

AWKWARD POSITIONS

Activities requiring frequent or prolonged work over shoulder height can beparticularly stressful.


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FORCEFUL EXERTION

Tasks that require forceful exertions place higher loads on the muscles,tendons and joints. Increasing force means increasing body demands such asgreater muscle exertion. The weight of a load that has to be lifted, the heightthat the load has to be lifted and the frequency of lift are all factors thatcontribute to the level of exertion on the muscles and joints.

REPETITIVE MOTIONS

If motions are repeated frequently (e.g. every few seconds) and for prolonged

periods such as an eight hour shift, fatigue and muscle strain can accumulate.Effects of repetitive motions from performing the same work activities are

increased when awkward postures and forceful exertions are involved.

FIGURE 1.1 MAXIMUM LOADS SUGGESSTED TO

BE PICKED BY BOTH MALES AND FEMALES


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3.GENERAL CONSOLES WHILE

DESIGNING THE WORKPLACE

Workplace and associated equipment designs shall systematically incorporate the

effects of tasks, performance capabilities, physical dimensions, and viewing

dimensions for maintainers and for operators. The physical dimensions of

workplaces and equipment shall conform to the anthropometric and

biomechanical characteristics of the specific population of users for whom the

system is being designed and to the characteristics of the tasks to be performed.

3.1 SIT AND STAND CONSOLES

The task performance of a user working with consoles is influenced by

1) the contours and slopes of the console panels, 2) the parallax in

viewing displays, 3) the location of displays and controls, and 4) the

adequacy of the space to support the console operator.

FIGURE 3.1 SIT AND STAND CONSOLES


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Each console configuration should be selected to accommodate the

following task-related variables:

a. visibility over the top of console,

b. user mobility (e.g., sit, sit-stand, or stand requirements),

c. control and display demand for panel space (for example, display legibility,control accessibility),

d. volume of space necessary for leg room and essential equipment beneath thewriting surface, and

e. communications demands of the tasks.

3.2 SEATED WORKSTATIONS

Designers can exploit the following advantages of seated positions:

a. Seated positions reduce workload by helping maintain the body

position and carry body weight.

b. Seats provide comfortable positions that promote long-term focused

attention on activities and information in the nearby workspace.

c. Seating can help establish stability to accommodate fine eye-hand

coordination tasks.

d. Seating can be designed to accommodate powerful exertions on

pedals.

e. Seated workers have more accessibility to equipment and are able to

move about to reduce fatigue and boredom,

f. Seating can be designed to swivel and move on rollers to extend

visual, reach, and communications access.

The main disadvantages of seated work positions are that seated workers can

apply less arm force and smaller arm movements than standing workers. In

addition, seating limits reach with both arms and hands.

Here under are the considerations to be made while designing the workplace

for seating job


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JOB/TOOLS CONSIDERATION

Swivels and rollers For most jobs and tasks that do not require heavy work and where

seated positions are appropriate, swivel capability and caster rollers

should be provided for seat ingress and egress and task performance

throughout the workplace.

Seating dimensions Seat designs and selections should meet or exceed minimum values,

provide adjustment ranges and fixed and preferred values when these

are compatible with the population and tasks to be performed.

Knee space height The preferred knee space should be around 640 mm.

Attaining knee space Where equipment packaging permits, knee space and associated leg

space should be attained by sloping the console surface under the

working or writing surface.

Seat cushioning Seats should be cushioned whenever workers must remain seated for

more than an hour at a time, or for more than 20% of their working

time.

The use of armrests Workplace seating should provide armrests so that the elbows can

support some upper body weight, unless the rests would be incompatible

with the tasks.

Footrests Whenever workers must sit for extended periods in seats higher than

460 mm (18 in) or work with work surfaces higher than 760 mm (30 in),

they should have a footrest. Footrests can provide support and add to

comfort for seated jobs. They may be attached to the chair or separateitems positioned on the floor.

Temporary seats Where space limitations and task frequency warrant, a temporary swing

away seat should be provided with preferred dimensions of 380 mm (15

in) diameter, 460 mm (18 in) floor to seat top dimension with an

adjustability of plus or minus 50 mm (2 in). Exhibit 10.2.2.13 illustrates

a swing away seat.


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FIGURE 3.2 DIAGRAM FOR ADJUSTABLE SEATS

FIGURE 3.3 ARRANGEMENT OF THE

WORKSTATION


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3.3 DESIGN AND ARRANGEMENT OF MULTI-

PERSON CONSOLES

Several primary and support factors shall be used in selecting among

alternative team console arrangements

Functions and resultant tasks for personnel, hardware, and software

components that are necessary for process monitoring and controlling

(these functions and tasks must cover normal, degraded, and

emergency modes of system operations),

Necessary team communication interactions and team links with

external command and control components of the system,

Numbers of personnel necessary to handle the expected high workloadlevels,

Common viewing requirements and individual visual access

requirements,

Maintenance access for control or processing subsystems,

Supervisory viewing requirements, ongoing supervisory processcontrol responsibilities, supervisory space and access requirements,

and supervisory information and communications requirements,

Management, maintenance, and operating concepts and policies,

Architectural and facility engineering constraints,

Requirements and space constraints associated with primaryequipment, controls and displays, computer, printout or readout

devices, and closed-circuit monitoring devices, illumination, acoustic,

and environmental requirements associated with primary tasks,

Primary work surface areas for writing and reading,

Primary storage areas and surfaces for documents, procedures, tools,

spares, and supplies,

Secondary supervisor office privacy requirements,

Security requirements,

Visitor provisions and traffic areas,

Personnel conveniences such as restrooms, kitchen, snack, drinking

water, and personal belonging storage, and


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Support storage for additional documentation and other housekeeping

needs.

3.4 STANDING WORKSTATIONS

Standing workstations are used for routine, frequent, or short term jobsor tasks for which the worker needs to be able to face different

directions or to move from one position to another. The designer can

exploit the following advantages of a standing position when they are

compatible with the tasks to be performed:

When standing, workers can apply more muscular arm force andmake larger arm movements than when seated. These forces may be

applied to levers or valves.

Standing workers can move to see and use components in areas that

would be inaccessible to seated users.

Standing workers can move about to reduce fatigue and boredom.

FIGURE 3.4 PATTERNS FOR MULTI-PERSON CONSOLES


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Standing workers can use flat working surfaces without knee room,

thus saving space.

e. A standing workstation is not as dimensionally constrained as that of

the seated operator. Equipment that standing operators view or adjust

may be placed anywhere around them as long as it is at the properheight.

3.5 EQUIPMENTS AND LAYOUTS

3.5.1 Traffic Areas

Traffic area and traffic flow design should be based upon

a. a consideration of task-based activities in and around workstations,

b. location of workstations and traffic areas so that they interfere

minimally with each other,

c. a consideration of the necessary movements of equipment in the

work and traffic areas,

d. a consideration of normal traffic conditions, worst cases, and

emergency conditions, and

e. a consideration of means by which to avoid collisions and tomaximize traffic efficiency.

Layout to minimize traffic and congestion.Equipment and workstations shall be located so as to minimize

congestion in workflow or worker movement and to minimize

interference with and from personnel traffic areas.

Equipment groupingEquipment should be grouped so that no other type of technician has

to remove equipment or components before the proper technician can

obtain access to make replacements or repairs.

Floor space for work and passageFloor space shall be planned and designed to ensure the following:

a. floor space for work areas and for aisle space do not occupy the same

space and, thus, the work and passage do not interfere,


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b. material and equipment handling tasks are to be used in sizing work

and aisle spaces; necessary turning space for materials and equipment is

included,

c. the work and aisle space can be kept clean,

d. storage space for material and equipment does not interfere with

work or passage

e. floor work and aisle space are free of protruding nails, splinters,

holes, loose boards, or other loose materials,

f. permanent aisles and passageways are appropriately marked,

g. floor loading limits are conspicuously displayed to prevent structural

overloading,

h. free floor space of at least 1.2m (4 ft) is to be provided in front ofeach equipment rack.

Spacing in front of racks and cabinetsClearance from the front of a rack to the nearest facing surface or

obstacle shall be at least 1.07 m (42 in).

Lateral work space. The minimum lateral work space for racks

having drawers or removable equipment shall be as follows (measured

from the drawers or equipment in the extended position):

a. For racks having drawers of removable items weighing less than 20

kg (44 lb), allow 460 mm (18 in) on one side and 100 mm (4 in) on the

other, and

b. For racks having drawers or removable items weighing over 20 kg

(44 lb), allow for two person access (one on each side): 460 mm (18 in)

on each side.

3.6 DESIGN FOR PASSAGEWAYS

In complex systems and facilities, passageways are necessary for

personnel to be able to get to equipment areas and works stations. These

personnel may be required to carry tools and to move equipment through

passageways including over steps and through entrances. This subsection

covers traffic area walkways; special spaces such as catwalks (to be

avoided when possible); platforms and elevators; entrances and exits; and

ramps, stairs, and ladders.


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Corridor width.Corridor widths shall be designed for the peak traffic load expected,

for traffic directions, and for the number of entrances and exits in the

area.

Corridors.To allow personnel to move with tolerable restrictions

Added clearance. Adequate clearance should be allowed forpersonnel wearing bulky clothing and carrying equipment.

3.7 GROUND AND FLOOR SURFACES

Floors

Passageway floors shall be provided with nonskid or other high frictionsurfaces.

WidthThe landing shall be at least as wide as the ramp run leading to it.

Level landings.Ramps shall have level landings at bottom and top of each ramp and each

ramp run.

Length.

The landing length shall be a minimum of 60 in (1525 mm) clear.

FIGURE 3.5 PASSAGE DESIGN DEPENDING ON NO. OF PEOPLE


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Ramp changes directions. If ramps change direction at landings, the

minimum landing size shall be 60 in by 60 in (1525 mm by 1525 mm).

3.8 PLATFORMS, ELEVATORS,

INCLINATORS

Hands free work area.Platform design shall permit both of the users hands to be free for

work.

Permissible gaps with equipment.Platform design shall provide a continuous closure between the

equipment and the platform with average conformation within 50 mm(2 in); avoiding gaps greater than 150 mm (6 in).

Protect equipment surface.Contact plates, cushions, bumpers, or pads shall be used, as necessary,

to protect the equipment surfaces.

Platform strength. The platform shall have sufficient strength to hold

the worker(s) in addition to the heaviest tools and equipment expected

plus a safety factor consistent with design practice for the structural

materials.

Open sides of personnel platforms. All open sides of personnelplatforms shall be equipped with guardrails, which have at least two

rails (an intermediate rail and top rail).

Guardrails. The open area of personnel platforms where work is to be

done shall be guarded without interfering with work tasks.

Elevators, inclinators, and hydraulic work platforms. Where these

passage or work aids are needed, the following operating safety

features shall be included:

a. Maximum load signs located where they can be easily seen.

b. Guards used to prevent accidental operations of the lift.

c. An easily reachable capability for manually lowering the platform or

elevator provided when feasible.

3.9 ENTRANCES AND EXITS


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a. Provide ramps, elevators, or equivalent means when maintainers must

carry or transport heavy or bulky equipment.

b. Do not use stairs and steps where the user or maintainer must carry bulky

loads or loads in excess of 13 kg (29 lbs).

c. Do not use ladders when users or maintainers carry equipment because

both hands should be free to grasp and climb ladders.

Ramp landings. Ramps shall have level landings at the top andbottom of each ramp and each ramp run that have the following

features:

a. the landing at least as wide as the ramp run leading to it,

b. the landing with a minimum length of 1.53 m (60 in) clear,

c. when ramps change direction at landings, a minimum landing size of 1.53

m by 1.53 m (60 in by 60 in)


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4.ASSESSING THE WORKSTATION

Before designing the new workplace or making changes in the oldones, the workplace needs to be assessed with a quick overview. The

underlying checklist can be used to evaluate the ergonomic equipment

that one uses

1. Is the workstation adjusted so that your wrist is in a neutral

position, i.e., not bent up or down?

2. If documents are referred to, is there an adequate document

holder?

3. If telephone duties are performed, is a headset, phone rest, or

speakerphone used?

4. Are your most frequently used items within easy reach?

5. Is the top of your monitor parallel to your eyes?

6. Is your monitor screen placed in such a way that light from

windows and overhead lighting does not cause glare? If not, are

glare screens used?

7. Are you able to operate the pointing device without extended,long duration, or repetitive reaching?

8. Is your pointing device (e.g. mouse) on the same plane as the

keyboard and in a comfortable position?

9. Is the seat height adjustable so that the entire sole of your foot

rests on the floor or footrest, and the back of the knee is slightly

higher than the seat of the chair?

10. Does your chair have five or more legs?

11. Are the lighting levels in your workspace comfortable?12. Is your workspace free from excessive heat, cold, vibration, and

noise?

13. Do you take short breaks while key-stroking?


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4.1 WORKSTATION REVIEW AND DESIGN

4.1.1 Analysing the workstationThe workstation is analysed for any discrepancies regarding

inappropriate postures and hence, an ergonomically perfect

workstation is presented.

Also, the presence of an adjustable chair helps you obtain an ideal sitting

posture. Hereunder are the tips to analyse an ergonomic chair.

FIGURE 4.1 REVIEW ARES OF THE

WORKSTATION


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4.1.3 Keyboard & Mouse Adjustments

The keyboard height should allow straight wrists and

90-degree angle between the upper arm and the forearm (angle should

adjust by 20-degrees up or down for individual preference and

periodic adjustment).

The keyboard height and angle should be adjustable (reverse slope).

The keyboard and mouse should have a wrist rest and/or mouse rest

available for support when taking mini-breaks. The standard keyboard should be replaced with an alternative

keyboard (split-key) and alternative mouse (trackball or touchpad) if a

musculoskeletal disorder develops.

The keyboard should be able to support short-cut software

(macros).

FIGURE 4.3 APPROPRIATE POSTURES FOR THE

WORKSTATION


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4.2 LIGHTING

4.2.1 Proper Lighting

Overhead light may cause glare and can be reduced by the use of apanel diffuser (diffuser should direct the light straight down rather than

out across the room).

Lighting with a dimmer control should be used with supplemental task

lighting.

Task lighting is designed to boost lighting levels in a highly localized

area, so that overall lighting can be reduced to cut glare.

Reduce direct sunlight by placing blinds or curtains on all windows.

Cover polished work surfaces with pads or blotters to reduce glare.

Reposition the angle and/or slope of the computer screen to reduce

glare.

A non-glare screen overlay should be considered to reduce unwanted

glare.

Proper Monitor Placement

The monitor should be placed perpendicular to the windows or in sucha location that the windows are not directly in front of or behind the

monitor.

The monitor should be placed on a solid, stable surface directly in front

of your chair and directly over the center of the workstation knee well.

The monitors contrast and brightness controls should be adjusted to

improve the screen image.

The monitor should be placed so that your eyes are at least an arms

length from the screen (approximately 18 28 away from

eyes).

The monitor should be supported so that the top edge of the screen is at

your eye level (lower if you wear bifocals).


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5.WORKPLACE MODIFICATION EXAMPLE

5.1 SYSTEMATIC ERGONOMIC

WORKPLACE DESIGN IN SEWINGWORK

Over several years, an increased level of sickness with corresponding loss

in working hours has been observed in the German sewing industry. The

main group of illnesses found in these industry concern disorders of the

spinal column and of the shoulder and arm. According to investigations

performed by the Textil- und Bekleidungsberufsgenossenschaft (TBBG,

Textile and Clothing Professional Association), these disorders account on

average for more than 34% of all working days lost in this sector. This is aconsiderably higher rate than in other occupational groups. This increased

frequency of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and complaints is

attributable to strain on the musculoskeletal system caused by working at

conventional sewing workstations. Firstly, sewing work involves highly

repetitive actions of the shoulder/arm system. Secondly, there is a high

proportion of static work involving both the spinal column (permanently

maintained forward leaning postures while sitting) and the lower

extremities. In the past, sewing workstations were not designed in

accordance with ergonomics guidelines, and so the height of many sewing

tables still corresponds to those of the foot-operated machines common at

the end of the 19th century. The adjustment room for the worktop and thefoot pedal is often constricted. The same is true for the knee space into

which machine parts often protrude.

The conversion included the following:

An ergonomic spatial arrangement of the workspace and foot pedal

which encourages an upright posture and thus reduces the strain on the

spinal column;

Making it significantly easier to adjust the worktable, thus making it

comfortable to swap between sitting and standing activities;

A complete redesign of the foot space with a pedal release enabling thefeet and legs to move unhindered;

The installation of individually adjustable support pieces for hands and

arms, resulting in a reduction of static strain on the shoulder and neck

muscles.


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FIGURE 5.1 OLD ARRANGEMENT WHICH WERE

NOT AS PER THE ERGONOMIC GUIDELINES

FIGURE 5.2 MORE FLEXIBLE AND SUITABLEWORKSTATION


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REFERENCES

1. SYSTEMATIC ERGONOMIC WORKPLACE DESIGN INSEWING WORK

MEWA Textil-Service AG & Co. Management OHG

2. THE ERGONOMIC DESIGN OF WORKPLACES AND WORKORGANISATION IN A SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE

ENTERPRISEKeulahtte GmbH

3. Workplace Ergonomics Reference GuideComputer/Electronic Accommodations Program

4. WORKPLACE DESIGNHuman factors design standards

5. ERGONOMICS IN THE WORKPLACEHealth and safety authority


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GLOSSARY

Corridors - Walkways that are physically restricted by walls or the like.

Limit stops - mechanical mechanisms designed to restrict a moving object or

part by stopping it at predetermined (limit) positions.

N - A metric term for the force measure called a Newton.

Newton - A one pound force in the English measurement system is equal to

4.4482 Newton (1 lbf = 4.4482 N).

Passageways - Areas across which people must pass for work purposes.

Public entrances - Any entrances that are not loading or service entrances.

Walkways - Areas designated for walking.

Workplaces - An area room or establishment where work is done.

Workstations - A place designed for a specific task or activity from where

work is conducted or operations are directed. Desks, offices, repair benches,

tools, equipment, and computer terminals are examples of these special

accommodations and equipment. Workstations are designed as areas for one

or more workers to use in accomplishing purposeful tasks or jobs.

workplace design- supriya shubham

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