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HUMAN FACTORS IN ENGINEERING & DESIGN

Chapter IV: Workspace & Arrangement Topics: Anthropometry Use of anthropometric data Workspace dimensions Work surfaces Principles of seat design Location of components

Anthropometry
Importance: It is the study of human body dimensions which come in different sizes & builds. Todays requirement makes one to spend more time sitting at control panels, computer terminals, library, classrooms, Television etc. ill-designed seat results in life-long injuries.

Anthropometry
Engineering Anthropology is concerned with dimensions, to the design of things people use

Body measurements of 2 types: - Static dimensions measurements taken when body is fixed /static position sitting, standing. : varies with age, gender, ethnic divide, occupation & living conditions. - Dynamic (Functional) dimensions measurements taken when body is engaged in some physical activity reaching across, running. Arm reach is dependent not only on arm length but also shoulder movement, trunk rotation, bending of back etc. Somatography studies the front, top & side views of body members in an dynamic act.

Use of Anthropometric data


Primary areas of application:

Workspace design Design of Tools, Equipment & Machinery Design of Clothing Consumer Product Design Design of Work Environment People at large design must accommodate a broad spectrum of people. Design for specific group require collection of data concerning that group Country, age, handicapped

Principles of application
of Anthropometric data
1. Design for Extreme Individuals:

Design for the maximum (high) value & minimum (low) value of a design feature to accommodate almost all ( 5 95 %) persons in the population. Max door height : 7 to allow people to pass through. Any person beyond 7 coming through is very remote 9 door (for 100%) is thus not justifiable.

Principles of application
of Anthropometric data
2. Design for Adjustable Range:

Certain features of equipment / facilities can be designed so that they can be adjusted to the individuals who use them. To cover 5% females to 95 % males 100 % may lead to technical difficulties in design.

Principles of application
of Anthropometric data
3. Design for the Average: In non-critical features of equipment / facilities can use average values of anthropometric data on people where extreme adjustability is not possible. Often this is used to avoid complicity of anthropometric data. There is however no average individual A person may be average only on one or two body dimensions. Eg.: Ticket Counters, Height of Anvil in a Forging shop

Work Space Dimensions


Work Space: Is a 3-dimensional space within which an individual works called as Work Space Envelope. Out-of-Reach Requirements: Distance required for preventing a person from reaching hazardous / barrier. Clearance Requirements: Minimum space required to move through a tight space or perform work in a confined area.

Work Space Envelope: Seated Personnel


Limit for work space envelope for a seated personnel depends upon the Functional arm reach. Functional arm reach depends on: Direction of arm reach Any restraint that may be present Task to be performed

Work Space Envelope: Seated Personnel


Effect of Direction of Reach & presence of restraints: Study on persons reasonably representative of adults in terms of height & weight on reveals that The measured functional arm reach at various lateral angles from a seated position (- 450 left to +1200 right) and at various levels (- 600 below to +900) above from the seated point & grip center - hand.

Work Space Envelope: Seated Personnel


Effect of Direction of Reach & presence of restraints: Movements were traced under restrained (shoulders held back against the seat) and un restrained condition. The envelope formed by the trajectories at each level were traced and found to be different for males & females.

Effect of Direction of Reach & Presence of Restraints: Traced at 35.4 level; Similarly, such envelopes could be drawn at different levels ( 600 to + 900 levels)

Work Space Envelope: Seated Personnel


Effect of Manual activity or task: Envelope boundaries are determined by the nature of the activity If an individual has to operate the following trace are appropriate: A push-button: Finger tip trace A knob: Thumb-tip trace (reduces by 2) A hand-grasp: Palm trace (reduces by 2).

Work Space Envelope: Seated Personnel


Effect of Apparel:
Clothing / apparel restricts the movements and

the distance that they can reach, thus effecting the size of the envelope. Winter clothing reduces the envelope by 2 on truck drivers.

Work Space Envelope: Standing Personnel


Standing Reach is a matter of body equilibrium. Reach effected by weight carried on the reaching hand (reduces reach), reach is increased by increasing the base of feet else one topples over as CG shifts from the base of support provided by the feet. Convenient Reach is the distance within arms reach without undue exertion (in front shoulder).

Work Space Envelope: Standing Personnel


Out-of-Reach Requirement: (99% males) Barrier kept between person & object to prevent person reaching the object. It depends upon the height of the barrier and the height at which the object is placed. Barrier height could be reduced when the object height is lessened.

Work Space Envelope: Standing Personnel


Clearance Requirement: Is the minimum space necessary for a person to just fit into restricted or awkward spaces

Work Space Envelope: Standing Personnel


Out-of-Reach Requirement:

Clearance Requirement:

Work Surfaces
Are areas within the Workspace envelope Control panels, work tables, desks etc Generally, studied under 2 categories: 1. Horizontal Work surface Area 2. Work Surface Height: a) For Seated b) For Standing c) For Standing or Sitting

Work Surfaces
1. Horizontal Work surface Area:

This area is used by Seated or Sit-Stand personnel. Activities lie within the convenient arms reach (without undue exertion).
Certain normal areas & maximum areas were proposed by Squires (1956) & Barnes (1963): Normal area: Area reached by sweep of forearm while upper arm hangs in natural position on the side. Maximum area: Area that could be reached by extending the arm from the shoulder.

1. Horizontal Work surface Area:


Barnes (1963) & Squires (1956) model:

Design by Squires is a bit shallow, but reduces the stress on elbow joint. Wherever feasible it is better to use a slanted surface to reduce trunk movement, better posture lesser bending of neck.

Work Surfaces - Work Surface Height:


a)For Seated Personnel: Work surface height is the height of the upper surface of the table from the floor. Writing on desk Working Height is the height at one is working from floor.
Wash veg in sink (lower than work surface height)

Work surface height if, Too low back to bend too far : Back ache Too high - Shoulders to be raised above relaxed posture : Discomfort to shoulder & neck.

Work surface height


Seated Personnel:

Arm posture: Upper arm & elbows at 900 is comfortable for repetitive jobs& assembly work. Table top : 27 30 Thigh clearance: 26.2 from underside of desk

Work Surfaces - Work Surface Height:


a)For Standing Personnel: Critical features of height for standing personnel is same in respect of elbow height & nature of work to be performed. Table / Work surface to be made adjustable to suit the requirements by either using platforms for smaller users or adjust the table mechanically /hydraulically/electrically.

WORK SURFACE HEIGHT - STANDING

Precision Work
(Elec. Circuitry)

Light Work
(Small assembly)

Heavy Work
(Involving weight & pressure)

Work Surfaces - Work Surface Height:


a)For Standing or Sitting Personnel: It may be desirable to provide an opportunity to perform a job in either standing or sitting or use the postures alternatively if need be.
Hand Rest: In level with table top Desk Top, not longer than reach

120 - 240 Work surface Angle Height Adjustable

Foot rest while sitting

Principles of Seat Design


Chairs to be given importance as improper design leads to back strain. Each person finds a specific design most comfortable chair. Best approach is to provide people a few good designs to choose from.

Principles of Seat Design


1. Promote Lumbar Lordosis: While standing erect, the lumbar portion of the spine, (lower back), naturally curved inwards termed Lordotic. Natural lordosis aligns the vertebrae in almost a vertical axis through the thigh. A person sitting such that thigh is at 900 to axis, the lumbar region is flattened out or even assumes a outward bend (convex) termed as Kyphotic. Lumbar Kyphosis results in increased pressure on discs. Discs are between the vertebrae of the spine.

Promote Lumbar Lordosis:


Standing Sitting

Lumbar Support

Kyphotic Outward Arch (Convex)

Promote Lumbar Lordosis:

Promote Lumbar Lordosis:


Andersson (1979), found that using a 2 thick lumbar support had a marked impact on maintaining lumbar Lordosis with a seat back rest angle of 900. When the seat back rest angle was changed to 1100 , & lumbar support used, spine resembled closely to a curve of standing person. Lumbar support need not match inward arch of the lower back completely. A forward tilting seat increasing angle between hip & upper torso provides relaxed posture. Inclined tables enhances relaxed postures.

Promote Lumbar Lordosis:

Promote Lumbar Lordosis:

Principles of Seat Design


2. Minimize Disc Pressure: The discs between the vertebrae can be damaged due to excessive pressure through: Unsupported sitting Supported sitting upright, erect position (forced lordosis) increases disc pressure by 40 % than while standing. Unsupported sitting in forward slump increases pressure by 90 % than while standing.

Principles of Seat Design


3. Minimize Static Loading of Back Muscle:

The muscular activity while sitting or standing (static) is measurable by using Electro Myo Graphs.
Muscle activity is reduced by reclining the back rest by 1100.

Principles of Seat Design


4. Reduce Postural Fixity:
Postural fixity means sitting in one position for long

periods without significant movements. Eg.: Using computer for long hours eyes on screen & hands on keyboard. Discs between the vertebrae in the spine require changes in pressure to receive nutrients & remove waste products they do not require blood supply. Fixity results in degenerative process in the disc. Swelling in legs, cramps shoulder ache are other fallouts of restricted blood flow due to postural fixity. Best alternative is provide for standing, stretch outs.

Principles of Seat Design


5. Provide for Easy Adjustability: Adjustability fundamental for good design. User to be aware of the adjustments for optimum use
Guidelines for increasing ease of making adjustment: Controls to be reachable from seated work position. Adjustments require the use of one hand. Few motion required for use of controls. Tools not necessary. Controls should provide immediate feedback. Operation of controls to be consistent & logical.

Principles of Seat Design


Body Part Desirable Posture All Small variations of all postures to be possible. Head - straight & balanced Neck vertical, Eye level horizontal. Design Implications Workspace to allow for these minor changes Main display unit should be at eye level or slightly below.

Head, Neck

Principles of Seat Design


Body Part
Trunk

Desirable Posture

Design Implications
Provision of back rest & appropriate location of display & controls. Provision of arm rest & hand controls.

More or less vertical with normal spinal curvature to minimize muscle activity of back. Upper Upper arm vertical Limb Forearm horizontal Wrist palm downwards & inwards

Lower Thigh horizontal Size, height & slope Limb Lower leg obtuse angle to of seat thigh Provision for: Foot 900 to lower leg. adjustment for foot rest & foot controls

Physical Place & Arrangement Location of Components


Component physical entity such as controls, articles, equipments, books etc. lowest level entity being arranged in space. Eg.: While arranging office furniture, desk is a component. Each to be accommodated in defined area.

Principles of Arranging Components


Every component to be ideally located optimally.

Optimum location is decided by human capabilities & characteristics sensory, anthropometric & biomechanical.
Placing a control in a optimum position may separate it from the display to which it is related. Hence a trade-off is required.

Principles of Arranging Components


Guidelines in arranging components: 1. Importance Principle: Importance refers to the degree to which the component is vital to the achievement of the objectives of the system. Importance is determined by the judgment made by experts in the operation of the system. Important locations. components placed in convenient

Principles of Arranging Components


Guidelines in arranging components: 2. Frequency-0f-Use Principle: Frequently used components be placed in convenient locations. Eg.: Xerox machine near the typist. 3. Functional Principle: Grouping of components according to their functions grouping of displays, controls or machines which are functionally related. Eg.: Temperature indicators and temperature controls may be grouped together.

Principles of Arranging Components


Guidelines in arranging components: 4. Sequence-0f-Use Principle: Patterns of relationship or sequences occur in the operation of an equipment or performing a task. The components will be so arranged to take care of this sequence. Eg.: Placing of hand tools based on operation of dismantling sequence.

Principles of Arranging Components


No single guideline can or should be applied consistently across all situations. The basis should be rational & judgmental. Study on 200 students by designing Control Panel layouts using the above 4 principles yielded a trend on Mean time (Performance) based on Level of application of the principles. Result: Sequence-of-use principle effective as task seems to be requiring sequential operation. But, under different conditions the design principles changes.

Principles of Arranging Components


Study on 200 students by designing Control Panel:

Mean Time, Min (Performance)

Frequency Of Use Importance

Functional

Sequence Of Use

Level of Principle Application

Principles of Arranging Components


Study on 200 students by designing Control Panel:

Methodologies for Arranging Components


Arranging components require relevant data and use of methods of applying the data. Step 1: Data collection Basic data: About human beings anthropometric already discussed. Environmental Data: Illumination, Noise, Heat etc. Task Analysis data: Work situation. List of components involved. Includes information relating to: Use of components individually Relationship between components as they are used.

Methodologies for Arranging Components Use of components can be identified and rated as Important, Unimportant, Seldom used and Frequently Used through proper judgement. The relationship between components is termed as Links. Classified as: Communicational Links Control Links Movement Links.

Methodologies for Arranging Components


Communicational Links: Visual: Person to person or Equipment to person Auditory (Voice) : Person to person or Equipment to person or Person to Equipment Auditory (Non Voice): Equipment to person Control Links : Person to Equipment Movement Links (One location to another): Eye Movement Manual / Foot movements or both. Body movement.

Methodologies for Arranging Components


Step 2: Summarize Link Data
Data collected is summarized in the Link Table to understand the relationship between components. Link Table cannot picturize the problem at hand.
U Unimportant, link does not exist

Computer I Computer II Disc I Disc II Operator Printer I Printer II

O E U O O U E E O

X Undesirable to be placed close by O Ordinary Closeness U E Essential to be close E X E U E E X

E
E O

Methodologies for Arranging Components


Adjacency Layout Diagram:
Is a graphical method to co-relate & compare the extent of relationship between components.

Spatial Operational Sequence Diagram (SOS)


SOS graphically / pictorially depicts the actual sequence of operation at the workspace. Useful when there is a set of a operation.

Methodologies for Arranging Components


Step 3: Arranging Components using Link Data: Most common method of arranging components is Trail & Error method more of art than science. Designer draws scale drawings of components & tries to maximize the criteria that conflict one another. Keep most frequently used components in the most advantageous locations. Quantitative technique like Linear Programming technique helps optimizing the criteria of location.

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Although optimal location of components generally depends on situational factors, some generalizations about certain classes of components such as Visual displays, hand controls, Controls that require force & Foot Controls. Visual Displays: Normal line of sight is usually considered to be about 150 below the horizon. Moderate eye & head movements permit convenient visual scanning of an area around the normal line of sight oval shaped area.

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Hand Controls: Optimum location depends on: Type of control Mode of operation Criteria for performance (Speed, accuracy, force)

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Controls that require Force: Controls that can be easily activated, location depends on the ease of reach.

Controls requiring moderate to high force (Levers & Cranks) location depends upon the ability of application of the required force from a given position. Best location for levers & cranks operated continuously, is in front of the sitting or standing operator. Handle to travel at about waist height and in the sagittal plane (vertical plane form front to back).

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Controls on Panels: Control on panels are positioned on locations of reach depending upon relative priorities, frequency, sequencing of use of controls.

Controls on Panels:

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Two-Hand Controls: Some operations require the simultaneous use of controls by both hands. Eg. Metal Forming presses as operator presses the push buttons kept on left & right side the ram begins to descend down for safety reasons. Operators using these push buttons located at eye level activate the muscles 4 times faster than when it is kept at waist level using EMGs Waist level control a better option as it reduces the speed & enhances operator safety.

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Foot Controls: Based on anthropometric data for foot operated (toe & heel) controls certain areas can be considered to be optimal & maximum. Maximum location refers to fairly large amount of leg movement avoided for frequent & continuous use.

The area is different when the control is operated with force termed as optimal area.

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Foot Controls:

General Location of Controls & Displays Within Workspace


Foot Controls:

ASSIGNMENT II Last date for submission: 7th June, 2007


1. Define the following: Production, Productivity, Partial & Total Productivity, Efficiency & Effectiveness. 2. Explain the factors effecting Productivity. 3. What are the methods to improve Productivity? 4. Define Noise and Loss of hearing. 5. What are the effects of noise on Performance? 6. Explain Noise Control using: Control at the Source, Control along the path & Control at the receiver. References: Industrial Engg. Dr. B. Kumar Human factors in Engg & Design Sanders & McCormick

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