2. Why Ergonomics?
• A field of study that has contributed to the understanding of work-
related stresses and solutions, anatomy and physiology,
anthropometrics, biomechanics, psychology, and industrial design
and engineering.
• DEFINITION:
• “ The application of a body of knowledge (life sciences, physical
science, engineering etc.) dealing with the interactions between man
and the total working environment, such as atmosphere, heat, light
and sound, as well as tools and equipment of the workplace.”
-Industrial Engineering Terminology (revised edition, 1991)
3. Main Aim of Ergonomics
• “Aims to make sure that tasks, equipment, information and the
environment suit each worker.”
• Increases productivity due to
• Less fatigue,
• Safer working environment (lesser accidents),
• Lesser absenteeism and
• Reduced labor turnover.
4. Factors affecting Ergonomics
• Ageing
• Climate
• Material Handling
– Temperature,
– Humidity, and
• Stress or Strain, and
– Airflow-Ventilation. • Load
• Noise,
• Illumination,
• Vibration and Radiation,
• Work Time/ Shift,
• Work Overload,
5. Area Of Ergonomic Intervention
• Human-machine interface,
• Environment,
• Hardware, and
• Work Posture
6. Human-machine Interface
• Display
• As clear and as easy to read as possible.
• Must meet the needs of the human operating the machine/
equipment.
• Text clarity
• KISS (Keep It Short and Simple) principle.
• The readability should be as per Gunning Fog Index.
• Control- factors to be accounted for
• Force
• Speed
• Grouping
• Accuracy
• Illumination
• Population stereotypes.
7. Environment
• Workplace Layout
• The tendency of operators to work in the hunched posture also
suggests a potential conflict between workstation geometry and
operator dimensions.
• Automation
• can reduce the skill of requirements of a complex positioning and
guiding task .
• also eliminate many high-risk hand and wrist postures and the
frequency of hand movements, thereby reducing the exposure to
common repetitive trauma disorders.
• Manufacturing system
• Modular manufacturing reduces repetitive strain injuries.
• A period of adjustment decreases levels of musculoskeletal
discomfort (due to increase in the variety of movements and improve
postures at the standing workstation).
• Increases morale and workgroup cohesiveness, along with
substantially reduced absenteeism.
8. Hardware
• Seating
• The vast majority of operations are performed in a seated position.
• Right combination of stool and table height is essential for correct
posture- customizing table and stool height combination shows
improvement of performance and reduction of SAM value by 4-12%.
• Attachments, Work-aids & Tools
• Avoids the awkward posture of wrists, hands and fingers throughout
the operation.
• For example- the automated felled seamer for the double
overlapped seam allows the operator to use nearly neutral wrist and
hand postures throughout the operation.
9. Work Posture
• Improvement through training.
• Much of the reported discomfort in the back and neck can be
attributed to the working postures of the seated operators/workers.
• In response to job and workstation characteristics, operators
typically adopt a hunched working posture.
• The tendency of the workers to work in this hunched position can be
attributed to at least three factors
– The visual demand of the work,
– The geometry of the workstation, and
– Inadequate seating (which can be corrected by using right
equipment).
10. Discussed Article
• Office Workers Are At High Risk Of Postural Problems
Costing Businesses Millions
- David McCall, Steelcase, Consultant
PUBLISHING DATE- 23/11/2010
11. Introduction of Steelcase
• Steelcase are global leaders in workspace design and office
interiors, specialising in the world of work, workplace and workers
focusing on ergonomics.
• Over the last 35 years Steelcase has produced some of the most
thorough research in terms of ergonomics and spinal movement
leveraging this knowledge to the development of its high
performance seating and workstation products.
12. About the Article
• Central Focus of The Article
• “Inadequate seating posture and working aids for office workers.”
• Work related "musculo-skeletal disorders" such as back injuries are the most
prevalent, most expensive and the most preventable workplace injuries in the
country.
• Also finger injuries due to continuous work in a fixed posture on the
computers
• Back injuries causes:
• Decrease in employee health resulting increase in employee
absenteeism.
• Decrease in productivity.
• Decreased ability to attract and retain the best talent.
13. Repetitive Strain Injuries And Disorders
1.Back
• Herniated spinal disc.
• The spinal disc is a soft cushion that sits between each vertebrae of
the spine. This spinal disc becomes more rigid with age. In a young
individual, the disc is soft and elastic, but like so many other
structures in the body, the disc gradually looses its elasticity and is
more vulnerable to injury. As the spinal disc becomes less elastic, it
can rupture. When the disc ruptures, a portion of the spinal disc
pushes outside its normal boundary- this is called a herniated disc.
• Symptoms
– Electric shock pain,
– Tingling & Numbness,
– Muscle Weakness &
– Bowel or Bladder Problems
14. Repetitive Strain Injuries And Disorders
1.Back
• Low Back Pain
• This refers to pain in the lumbosacral area of the spine
encompassing the distance from the 1st lumbar vertebra to the 1st
sacral vertebra. This is the area of the spine where the lordotic
curve forms.
• The most frequent site of the low back pain is in the 4th and 5th
lumbar segment.
15. Repetitive Strain Injuries And Disorders
2.Fingers
• Trigger finger
• Tenosynovitis causes the finger to “stick” in a flexed position, this is
called “stenosing” tenosynovitis which is commonly called “Trigger
Finger”.
16. About the Study
• 200 employees from a state agency that collects sales tax in the USA,
volunteered for one year to participate in the study.
• To qualify each participant had to spend at least six hours a day sitting in their
chair.
• The volunteers were divided into three groups:
• Control group.
• A group that received ergonomic training.
• A group that received ergonomic training and the Steelcase Leap
Chair.
17. Results of the Study
• Remedies Suggested by the Study
– Working aids like Steelcase’s Leap chair, seating posture aid (used for
the study) in a conjunction with a user training show significant
improvements in health and productivity.
– lower pain and discomfort in work environment.
• Showed an increase in the productivity.
– After one year, the Leap chair with training achieved a 17.8% increase
in productivity.
– This number reflects the increase in taxes collected per hour worked.
18. Findings of the Study
• “ Ergonomics is more important than people realise, we spend 84%
of our working time in the seated position and in excess of 80,000
working hours sitting down. This can have a negative effect on the
body and the overall health.”
– Companies may benefit by improving the seating provided to their office workers
along with training on how to use them.
– Training is key as two thirds of office workers do not adjust their chair.
19. Summary of the Study
• Technology and the modern office are the most important and largest
factors affecting the development of ergonomics. The introduction of
computers forced the workers to adopt a static slumped portion, which
increased musculo-skeletal disorders, fatigue and stress. Technology has
moved forward and introduced I -Phones, I-Pads and laptops, mean people
can work anywhere. Back health care needs to be fully understood within
businesses, organisations need to help their employees by providing the
right tools and training to provide the best working environment wherever
they are.
21. Hem Seam (summation of time)
Element 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lifting the 11.30 10.79 11.00 11.12 10.98 11.20 10.85 11.53 11.23 11.21
fabric from the
side table with
left hand
placing it on
sewing table
Folding the 23.06 22.89 23.23 23.43 23.43 22.00 23.06 23.12 23.26 23.12
fabric with
both hands at
½ “ twice
Start edge 29.86 28.69 29.00 28.56 28.50 28.30 28.12 28.57 28.57 28.16
stitch
Trimming the 37.59 37.70 37.80 39.50 37.85 38.10 37.98 37.78 38.09 38.02
thread and
disposing the
sample on the
side table
22. Hem Seam (individual time for each
element)
Element 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 avg
Lifting the 11.30 10.79 11.12 10.98 11.20 10.85 10.85 11.53 11.20 11.21 11.21
fabric from
the side table
with left hand
placing it on
sewing table
Folding the 11.76 12.10 12.23 12.31 12.52 10.80 12.21 11.59 12.03 11.91 12.07
fabric with
both hands
at ½ “ twice
Start edge 6.80 5.80 5.77 5.13 5.00 6.30 5.06 5.50 5.31 5.04 5.32
stitch
Trimming the 7.73 9.01 8.80 10.94 9.35 9.80 9.86 9.16 9.52 9.87 9.40
thread and
disposing the
sample on
the side table
23. Calculations:
• Standard rating – 95%
• Basic time=38X(95/100)
=36.1 sec
• Allowance – 5%
• Standard time = 36.1+1.80
• =37.90 sec
24. Lapped Felt Seam (summation of time)
Element 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lifting the 11.84 12.00 11.73 11.40 11.68 11.42 11.65 11.85 11.59 11.20
fabric from the
side table with
left hand
placing it on
sewing table
Placing the 25.00 25.23 24.89 25.26 24.95 25.18 25.72 25.60 25.43 24.09
fabric on
another at ¼ “
and edge
stitch
Folding & 35.32 35.73 35.12 36.00 35.23 35.19 35.81 35.32 36.12 35.32
turning the 0
sample then
edge stitching
Trimming the 42.13 41.88 42.18 43.10 42.09 43.00 42.13 42.75 43.00 42.63
thread and
disposing the
sample on the
side table
25. Lapped Felt Seam (individual time for
each element of process)
Element 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 avg
.
Lifting the 11.84 12.00 11.73 11.40 11.68 11.42 11.65 11.85 11.59 11.20 11.70
fabric from
the side table
with left hand
placing it on
sewing table
Placing the 13.16 13.23 13.16 13.86 13.27 13.76 14.07 13.75 13.84 13.89 13.55
fabric on
another at ¼
“ and edge
stitch
Folding & 10.32 10.50 10.23 10.74 10.28 10.01 10.09 9.72 10.69 10.23 10.34
turning the
sample then
edge
stitching
Trimming the 6.76 6.15 7.06 7.10 6.86 7.81 6.32 7.43 6.88 7.31 7.06
thread and
disposing the
sample on
the side table
26. Calculations:
• Standard rating- 95%
• Basic time= 42.65X(95/100)
= 40.52 sec
• Allowance- 5%
• Standard time = 40.52+2.02
= 42.54 sec
