2. GROUP MEMBERS
Bak Fong Ning
Eunice Chua
Lam Man Pan Anna
Tan Yu Jie
Tong Ji Feng
Xia Dong
3.
4. SCOPE (PART 1)
What Reason for Flowchart on
Definition:What
Ergonomics using ergonomics
is Ergonomics?
does? Ergonomics? study
Background
Introduction of
What regulator Symptoms of information of
ergonomics
says? poor ergonomics ergonomics
hazards
hazards
Summary list of
Risk factors and
ergonomic
measurement
hazards
5. SCOPE (PART 2)
How to improve What you can do
Budgets for the How to pick your
work to improve Indoor
control items perfect chair?
ergonomically? Air Quality?
Designing How to adjust the
What are the
productive seating classroom and Does ergonomics
practical
in classroom and laboratory to fit work?
solutions?
laboratory you?
What is the References
design furniture Conclusion
for change?
6. WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
The branch of science that is concerned with the achievement of
optimal relationships between workers and their work
environment
Ergonomics
Worker Work environment
7. WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
Deals with the assessment of the human’s capabilities and
limitations
Work and environmental stress
Static and dynamic forces on the human body structure
Vigilance
Fatigue
Design simulation and design of workstation and tools
8. WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
A multidisciplinary science which draw heavily from other fields of
study like:
Mathematics
Biological science
Psychological science
Physics
9. WHAT DOES ERGONOMICS DO?
Goal: To adapt work to individuals rather than individuals to work
By developing knowledge that results in efficient adaptation of
work methods to the individual physiological and psychological
characteristics
10. WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR
ERGONOMICS?
Achieve an optimal relationship between people and their work
environment.
Reducing occupational injury and illness reduction,
Containing workers' compensation costs,
Improving productivity of the workers,
Improving work quality,
Reducing absenteeism
Complying with the government regulations.
13. BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF
ERGONOMICS HAZARDS
Occur when type of work, body position and working conditions put
strain on one’s body
Hardest to spot because strains on a person’s body or harm from
these hazards not always immediately noticed
Short-term exposure result in "sore muscles" the next day or in days
following exposure
Long term exposure result in serious long-term injuries
14. INTRODUCTION OF ERGONOMIC
HAZARD
Workplace conditions that pose risk of injury to the
musculoskeletal system of worker
Includes repetitive and forceful movements, vibration, temperature
extremes, and awkward postures that arise from improper work
methods and improperly designed workstations, tools, and
equipment
15. Examples of Ergonomic hazards :
Poor lighting
Improperly adjusted workstations and chairs
Frequent lifting
Poor posture
Awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive
Repeating the same movements over and over
Having to use too much force, especially if you have to do it
frequently
16. SYMPTOMS OF POOR
ERGONOMICS
Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) are a class of
musculoskeletal disorders involving damage to the nerves of the
hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, and back.
The more frequently occurring occupationally induced disorders in
this class include carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
CTDs are caused when workers are required to perform keyboard-
intensive tasks without breaks or alternative work.
17. WHAT REGULATOR SAYS?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the federal
government lists ergonomics as a key factor in preventing
musculoskeletal injuries in the workspace.
OSHA expresses concern over poor design of furniture that does fit
the task, and ineffective safety devices: anything that might
precipitate an injury.
Stress through prolonged sitting can be resolved to a great extent
with an increased awareness of correct posture.
Three basic sitting positions can promote a healthy posture: the torso
may be positioned slightly forward, upright, or slightly reclining and
always with both feet resting comfortably on the floor or on a footrest
18. ERGONOMIC ANALYTICAL TOOLS
Provide job prioritization for intervention, quantification of activities
associated with increased risk of injury, or recommendation for a
load weight limit for lifting
Used by examiner to determine which analytical tool is best for
evaluation of the identified risks based on the understanding of
the tool’s application, strengths and weaknesses
19. 1. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
Assesses the risk of cumulative trauma, disorder through
posture, force, and muscle-use analysis
2. Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS)
Provides intervention, prioritization based on posture and loads
3. Repetitive Motion Evaluation
Analyses posture, repetition, and discomfort to reveal the
performance of high risk motions
20. 4. Observation Analysis of the Hand and Wrist
Quantifies hand exertions associated with risk factors of pinch
grip, high force, wrist flexion/extension/ulnar deviation, power tool
exertion, and use of hand to strike object
5. Utah Back Compressive Force Model
Evaluates the risk of low back injury for a one-time lifting task
based on lumbar disc compression
6. Utah Shoulder Moment Model
Evaluates the risk of shoulder injury for a onetime lifting task
comparing task moment to an individual's capacity
21. 7. NIOSH Work Practices Guide (1981)
Evaluates the risk of a lifting task based on NIOSH parameters
8. Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (1994)
Evaluates the risk of a lifting task based on expanded NIOSH
parameters
9. Liberty Mutual Tables
Based on psychophysical experimentation, determines the
maximum acceptable weight for a lifting/lowering task,
push/pulling task, and carrying task given selected job
characteristics. Tables are accessible from the Lifting/Manual
Material Handling Job Review and Analysis Options
22. 10. Amsterdam Master's in Medical Anthropology (AAMA) Metabolic
Model
Evaluates the risk of physical exertion strain for a task
11. Anthropometry Analysis
Determines proper workplace dimensions for various body sizes
12. Detailed Checklist For Computer Video Display Terminals (VDT)
Workstation Risk Analysis
Presents the recommended characteristics of a VDT workstation
23. POTENTIAL ERGONOMICS HAZARD
(BLK 34-06-02)
Improper design of computer workstation
Excessive overhead lighting
Improper design of facilities (tables and chairs)
Lifting and moving of tables or chairs
Long period of time standing
Long period of time sitting
Continuous writing with hand or typing on a laptop/computer
Tripping of electric cord
Unclean air conditioner and ventilators
25. ENGINEERING CONTROL
Improper design of computer workstation
Use of foot rest
Position the chair and desk such that the knee and forearms are
90° angles, with wrist straight and feet flat on the floor or foot rest
Position the computer such that the top of the screen is at or just
below the eye level, and the viewing distance is a safe distance
away from the user eyes
Excessive overhead lighting
Use of adjustable tasks lights ambient lighting
Use of anti-glare whiteboard
26. Improper design of facilities
Use of flexi-chair (changing seat inclination) or rocking
mechanisms (swivel chair with height adjustment)
Use of height adjustable working table or inclined top
Long period of time sitting
Use of adjustable stool with a backrest
Adjust the chair height such that the feet rest comfortably on the
floor or foot rest
27. Long period of time standing
Use of anti-fatigue mat
Continuous writing with hand
Use of better grip pen
Tripping of electric cords
Use of cable protector or floor cord cover
Unclean air conditioner and ventilators
Install new unit ventilators and air handlers or regular cleaning
and maintenance of ventilation system
28. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
Lifting and moving of tables and chairs
Request for help when lifting or moving heavy objects
Long period of sitting and standing, and continuous writing with
hand
Taking short breaks in between the work schedule
29. POTENTIAL ERGONOMICS HAZARD
(BLK 35 LABORATORY)
Long period of time sitting
Long period of time standing
Repetitive pipetting
Improper design of facilities (fume hoods, biosafety cabinet, laboratory
workbenches)
Improper design of computer workstation
Moving of heavy objects
Stress
Compact work surface
Excessive overhead lightings
Personal laboratory equipment
30. POSSIBLE CONTROL MEASURES
Engineering control
Administrative control
Personal protection equipment (PPE)
Work practice controls
31. ENGINEERING CONTROL
Long period of time sitting
Use of adjustable lab stool with backrest
Adjust chair height such that the feet can rest comfortably on the
floor or footrest
Tilt the chair seat forward to prevent leaning
Keep frequently used items within arm reach
Long period of time standing
Use of anti-fatigue mat
Place one foot on a small stool and alternate to reduce pressure
to the back
32. Repetitively pipetting
Elevate chair according to working height
Use of light-weight pipette or electronic or latch-mode pipette
Use of multi-finger control
Use thin-walled pipette tips
Work the pipette with arm close to body to reduce strain on
shoulder
33. Improper design of facilities (fume hoods, biosafety cabinets and laboratory
workbenches)
Position materials in fume hood as close as possible to avoid extended
reaching
Apply padding for arm and wrist to rest
Lights in fume hood must be working properly. Replace bulbs when
necessary
Use ergonomically designed chairs with proper back support, seat angle and
height adjustability
Use foot rest
Removal of drawers under workbenches
Use turntable to store equipment to avoid extend reaching and twisting
Proper design of stool or benches such that it is not too high for most users to
use
34. Improper design of computer
workstation
Provide fully adjustable seating
Place monitor such that the
top of the screen is near or at eye
level to allow the eye to naturally
gravitate towards the center of the
screen
Provide foot rest for user to
change leg position through the
day
Regular maintenance of workstation, chairs and equipment
Use of padded wrist rest
Ensure that the user shoulder muscles or tendon does not work to reach
forward or out to side, otherwise, further alteration of workstation is
needed
Ensure that the keyboard and input device (mouse) is at the same level
and in front of the computer, and the height of the keyboard and input
device should allow the user to position their forearms and hands parallel
to the floor
Adjust monitor contrast and brightness for maximum personal comfort of
user
35. Moving of heavy objects
Use handling equipment (lifts or hoist) to avoid manual handling
Push instead of pull
Use sliding motion or lateral transfers instead of lifting the load
Decrease the weight of load and allow more frequent trips of moving
lighter load
Pivot the feet instead of twisting the back when lifting the load
Compact work surface
Ensure work surface is large enough to allow free leg movement
Ensure the height of work surface allow the forearms to be parallel to
the floor when working, avoid having shoulder elevated
Excessive overhead lightings
Use a task tamp when needed
36. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
Long period of time sitting and standing, repetitively pipetting,
improper design of facilities (fume hood, biosafety cabinet and
laboratory workbench), improper design of computer workstation,
and moving of heavy objects
Take short breaks in between the work schedule
Moving of heavy objects
Optimize work shift scheduling to minimize extended work load
Ask for more people to assist moving load
38. WORK PRACTICE CONTROL
Repetitively pipetting
Introduce worker education and awareness sessions
Improper design of computer workstation
Early reporting of signs and symptoms of ergonomic concerns
Training for user on ergonomics hazard and control strategies
40. Edge protector – 0.762m
(S$23.24)
Adjustable work benches – 0.762m x 1.524m (S$1249.58)
41. Vinyl Cover seat with adjustable
height (adjustable from 0.508m
to 0.686m in height)
(S$577.19)
Safety fatigue mat – 0.102m x 1.524m (S$738.08)
43. CONTROL ITEMS FOR
CLASSROOM
Floor cord cover – 7.62m (S$49.75)
Fully ergonomics design with
smooth nylon mesh back
and genuine leather seat
pan chair (S$150)
46. HOW TO IMPROVE WORK
ERGONOMICALLY
Know the current working condition of the workplace
Get compared with the legislation or COP
Identify the potential factors which may cause injury to the
workers and list them out
Give suggestions to make changes regarding the unsuitable
factors
When all details of every area in the workplace is considered,
examined and actions have been done, work is improved
ergonomically
Having proper chair-height adjustment can help keep the
wrists in a flat position, and the control of both backrest angle
and seat-pan forward-tilt further aids in relaxation and the
reduction of muscular tension while helping proper hand arm
orientation.
47. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
1. Apply good ventilation system
2. Choose suitable ventilation system. (LEV system for workplace
with gaseous pollutants produced by fixed origins with high
concentration)
3. Monitor the air quality constantly.
4. Clean the duct or other ventilation system components regularly.
48. HOW TO PICK YOUR PERFECT CHAIR?
Chair is the most important piece of furniture.
Without a comfortable, supportive chair, you would not be an efficient worker.
Sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause poor posture and reduce
circulation of the blood, which often results in severe back pain.
An ergonomic chair should provide your back, especially your lumbar region
(lower back) with support.
A quality chair should have an adjustable lumbar support
Users should be able to move the back rest forward, reducing the seat pan
depth, to ensure that people with shorter legs receive proper back support
while still being able to rest their feet on the ground or foot rest.
They should be able to adjust the back support forward or backward to
accommodate the curvatures of the spine and properly support their body
weight.
49. HOW TO PICK YOUR PERFECT CHAIR?
Important that the seat height be adjustable.
A footrest also can help improve comfort for a shorter user who is
working at a fixed-height work surface.
A good ergonomic chair also allows adjustment of both the back-tilt
angle and seat pan depth while seated.
Seat pan (the surface on which you actually sit) should have a soft
front edge, ensuring that there are no pressure points to hurt the
underside of the thighs.
Perfect chair should allow users to sit upright with arms hanging
straight down from the shoulders and with the elbows bent
Allow users to sit flat on the chair with knees bent and feet flat on the
floor or foot rest and it should support the user’s back in an upright
position.
50. HOW TO ADJUST THE CLASSROOM
AND LABORATORY TO FIT YOU?
a) Adjust your chair
Arm position
1. Raise your forearms to be parallel with the floor while maintaining a
90 degrees elbow bend.
2. Adjust your chair to achieve this position. Keep the wrist straight as
an extension of your forearms.
Foot support
1. Move your feet forward until your knees are at a 90 to 110 degrees
angle. Your feet should rest firmly on the floor with 3-6 inches
(7.62cm-15.24cm) of leg room between your lap and desk.
2. If you do not have a footrest and cannot adjust your chair height or
your feet don not touch the floor, use a phone book or a 3-ring binder
as a quick and easy footrest.
51. HOW TO ADJUST THE CLASSROOM
AND LABORATORY TO FIT YOU?
Backrest
1. Sit in your chair with the backrest snugly against your lower back.
2. You should be able to place your hand easily between the back of
your knees and the edge of the seat pan.
3. If you cannot do this, you may be able to achieve improved
support by placing a pillow between your seat and lower back to
restore natural curvature.
53. DESIGNING THE PRODUCTIVE
SEATING IN CLASSROOM AND
LABORATORY
Seat Pan Height
Ideally, adjustable 40cm- 53cm from the floor to the top of the seat
pan.
Seat Pan Depth
Maximum seat pan depth 38cm-44cm
Also provide a “waterfall” forward-sloping front edge on the seat
pan
Seat Pan Width
Minimum seat pan width 46cm
54. Seat Pan Slope
Adjustable 0 to -10 degrees
Seat Back Tilt
Minimum range 0 to 15 degrees
Seat Back Height
Minimum seat back height 36cm
55. DESIGNING THE PRODUCTIVE
SEATING IN CLASSROOM AND
LABORATORY
Seat Back Width
Minimum seat back width 30cm
Armrest Height
Between 15cm – 17cm above the centre height of the seat pan
Armrest Length
Minimum armrest length 15cm
Armrest Width
Minimum armrest width 5cm
Armrest separation
Between 46cm and 56cm.
56. WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS?
Maintaining ergonomic seating in workplace
Check whether workstation is set up well. Keyboard, monitor, and
person’s posture should be on straight line to avoid seating
discomforts
To not look up at the screen. Adjust chair to look down at screen
instead
Desktop to be at convenient height with enough space for
computer and papers
Chair to give good support to user’s back with height-adjusting
options
Keyboard and mouse mat to have good-wrist rest
57. Ergonomic seating- elbow angle
Ensure that head and torso
are in-line with head
slightly bent forward, facing
towards the front, and
balanced
Ensure that elbows are
close to body and bent
between 90 and 110
degrees
58. ERGONOMIC SEATING- FOOTREST
Feet supported by a footrest
or relaxing on floor
Ensure back supported fully
while leaning back or sitting
in vertical position
Seat well padded to support
hips and thighs
Ensure that knees and hips
in almost same height with
feet slightly forward
59. WHAT IS THE DESIGN FURNITURE
FOR CHANGE?
Seat design
Basic size and shape of any seat determined largely by
anthropometric considerations:
Seat height should not be greater than popliteal height of a small
user (5th percentile)
Seat depth (from front edge to the backrest) should not be greater
than the buttock-popliteal length of a small user (5th percentile)
Seat breadth between arm rests should give clearance for large
user (95th percentile hip breadth or elbow-elbow breadth plus
leeway). Seat breadth little less than hip breadth for seats without
arm rests
*popliteal: back part of the leg behind the knee joint
60. Backrest designed to support weight of user’s trunk.
Backrest extend upwards, at least into shoulder region of
user
Backrest angle determined by purpose of the seat. Angle of
100° to 110° from horizontal generally suitable for working
chairs and 110° to 120° for rest chairs. Seat surface should
be horizontal in a working chair or tilted backwards (by an
angle of 5° to 10°) in a rest chair
61. Shod feet flat on floor Clearance between thigh and underside of table for
freedom of movement
Clearance between back of legs and front edge of seat
62. Chairs
Should be stable throughout full range of postures that user adopts
Five-point base of support suitable for rotatable chairs
Seat surface should be substantially flat
No part more than 25mm higher than any other
Upper surface of front edge resilient or rounded
Seat to be padded or upholstered
Upholstery materials permeable to air and water vapour
Backrest of office chair should provide:
Adequate support for office worker in lumbar region
Space for bottom and movements of shoulder blades
Permit arm and elbow movement
63. Tables
length of desktop, table or worktop should be some multiple of
100mm and width, some multiple of 50mm
Preferred sizes are as follows:
Length of the desktop Width of the desktop
1200 600
1200 800
1600 800
64. Working posture of person sitting at writing desk determined by:
the height of the seat
the height of the desk
lesser degrees of adjustment adequate in real practice
65. CONCLUSION
Deals with interaction of technological and work
situations with human being
Basic human sciences involved are anatomy,
physiology and psychology
Basic anatomy
Basic anatomy is based on improving physical 'fit'
between people and things they use
Difficult to achieve as need to consider range in human
body sizes across population
66. Physiology
Work physiology addresses energy requirements of the body and
sets standards for acceptable physical work rate and workload, and
for nutrition requirements.
Environmental physiology analyses impact of physical working
conditions - thermal, noise and vibration, and lighting - and sets
optimum requirements accordingly
Psychology
Concerned with human information processing and decision-making
capabilities
Increasing automation, while dispensing with human involvement in
routine operations, increases mental demands in terms of
monitoring, supervision and maintenance
68. Books
Human Factors in Design, contributors Jim Sage, Alan Goodier
Ergonomics: How to design for ease and efficiency, By K.H.E
Kroemer
A resource guide for ergonomics
Guidelines/ Code of Practice/legislation
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
Anthropometry Analysis
Editor's Notes
Use of adjustable lab stool with backrest to provide support and promote food postureElevate chair according to working height to avoid working with arm elevated
Use an electronic or a latch-mode pipette to replace manual plunger-operated pipette as it reduce the need for excessive thumb force and repetitionUse of multi-finger control help to distribute the force among several fingers rather than continuously using the same finger
Use of padded wrist rest for keyboard and input devices to prevent the user wrist from coming into contact with the work surface when the arms are at rest
Ensure mini-breaks in between for every 20 to 30 minutes of usage of computer. Mild hand exercise or stretches could be done during the short breaks
Ensure that head and torso are in-line with head slightly bent forward, facing towards the front, and balancedEnsure that elbows are close to body and bent between 90 and 110 degrees
NotesMr Andrew Ng’s notes on Occupational Ergonomics BooksHuman Factors in Design, contributors Jim Sage, Alan GoodierErgonomics: How to design for ease and efficiency, By K.H.E KroemerA resource guide for ergonomicsA guide to methodology in ergonomics: Designing for Human Use, By Neville A.StantonIntroduction to ergonomics, By R.S. BridgerOccupational ergonomics: Principles and application, By F. Tayyari and J.L. Smith Guidelines/ Code of Practice/legislationOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Anthropometry AnalysisOvako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS)NIOSH Work Practices Guide (1981)Amsterdam Master's in Medical Anthropology (AMMA) Metabolic Model Web-linkshttp://safety.uchicago.edu/tools/faqs/ergonomics.shtml#heading1http://www.safetyoffice.uwaterloo.ca/hse/ergonomics/lab_ergo.htmhttp://safety.dri.edu/LabSafety/Appendix_F.pdfhttp://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/OHS-WSA-handbook-laboratory-workers.pdfhttp://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/HealthAndSafety/Ergonomics/atwork/Pages/lab1.aspxhttp://www.ucalgary.ca/safety/system/files/LabErgonomics.pdfhttp://www-ehs.ucsd.edu/ergo/mcergo/Healthcare_Ergo_Guidelines.pdfhttp://www.oemc.us/necoem/0612Landaub.pdfhttp://www.labmanager.com/?articles.view/articleNo/1070/article/Laboratory-Ergonomicshttp://www.ehow.com/list_7608150_ergonomically-correct-things-classroom.htmlhttp://lohp.org/docs/projects/sash/1teachersandparaeducators.pdfhttp://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/classroom-hazard-hunthttp://umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/bsal/miniu/summer/backpacks.pdfhttp://www.uksafetystore.comhttp://www.safecomputingtips.com/http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/mbergo/schoolguide.htmlhttp://www.ergonomics.org.uk/what-ergonomicshttp://www.beyondtheofficedoor.com/adjustable-height-table.phphttp://ergonomicsnews.usernomics.com/2007_10_01_archive.htmlhttp://designmuseum.org/design/page75806http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/DOD/UFC/ufc_3_120_10.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomicshttp://www.toolingu.com/definition-850150-19154-ergonomic-hazard.htmlhttp://www.valuecreatedreview.com/design.htmhttp://www.ehow.com/info_8292064_safety-issues-laboratory.htmlhttp://www.njsbga.org/Classroom_Safety.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomics#Applicationshttp://www.ergoworkinggroup.org/ewgweb/SubPages/ProgramTools/StudiesAssesRepo/Navy%20Assesments/ErgoRiskRpt_Hospital.pdfhttp://www.singaporeofficefurniture.com/ergonomics-chair