Ergonomic Design Principles - Case Study “Computer Laboratory"

Ergonomics mini-projectGroup #18

Workstation:

• Computer Laboratory (Production/Mechanical Building)

Under the Supervision of:

• Dr. Reem Al-Kadeem• Eng. Hadi fors• Eng. Aliaa Mohammed Abdel-Whaed

contents

Introduction. Workstation Description. Workstation Assessment. Workstation Measurements. Workstation Analysis. Conclusion.

“

”Introduction

Esraa Fathy

Esraa Fathy

“

”

Why do we Need Ergonomics? what ergonomics does and reason for using ergonomic

study?

Esraa Fathy

Human Centered Design Process:

Collect information

Define system requirements

Design and supply facilities

Specify physical devices

(Measure,Analyze,Improve,Control)

To design a usable system, designers needs a description of the users

Esraa Fathy

Workspace Design:

Discipline of creating an environment that brings people together to do their jobs in the most effective way.

Esraa Fathy

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”Workstation Description

1.Workshop Laboratory.2.Mechanical building Laboratory.

1. Workshop Laboratory

Working area

Desk.

Chair.

Projector.

Board.

Air conditioning.

shelf.

Workstation layout:

Esraa Fathy

Users Students Instructors Lab-technicianGender Males & Females Males & Females Males & FemalesAge Range 18 to 24 24 to 40 29Working Hours Av. 1.5 hours/week From 8:00 to 2:00 PM From 8:00 to 2:00 PM

Rest Periods

10:00 till 10:10 AM11:40 till 11:50 AM01:20 till 01:40 PM03:10 till 03:20 PM



Years of Experience No experience (0-6) Years 8 Years

Instructors:Ensure that students have access to and assistance in the use of computer technology. Assumes full responsibility for the operation, safety and security of the computer labs. Hires, trains and supervises student help, work-study that use the computer labs.

Technicians:To monitor, maintain, install, and support networked servers, computer systems, and peripheral equipment; provides network support functions, and assists faculty, staff, and students in an academic lab environment.

Undergraduate Students:Attending group lectures, sections and training seminars.Excel/Word processing and Data entry.

Information about users, tasks and operations:

1. Workshop LaboratoryEsraa Fathy

1. Workshop Laboratory Working Environment:

Esraa Fathy

2. Mechanical building laboratory: Workstation layout:

Nihal Wahed

Undergraduate Students.

Master and PHD Students.

Professors.

Other External Users.

Users of the Work Station:

2. Mechanical building laboratory:Nihal Wahed

Master and Ph.D.'s Students:Using some programs helping them in studies.

Professors: - Presenting courses or lectures using the projector and the smart board.- Using the 3-D printer or the 3-D scanner. - Using some Engineering Software Programs.

Other External Users:Using some special programs or using the (3-D printer/Scanner)

Laboratory Users’ Job Description:

2. Mechanical building laboratory:

Nihal Wahed

The Data Show (Projector), the White Board, the computer (monitor, CPU system unit, keyboard, and mouse) and Chairs are placed on a stable working surface with adequate room for proper arrangement.

All jobs are done sitting or standing.

2. Mechanical building laboratory: Working Environment:

Nihal Wahed

Nihal Wahed

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”Workstation Assessment


Checklist selection

While choosing the checklist, we considered that it should cover all possible points of discomfort that may affect the working environment.

Alaa Farag

Sample:2 Instructors (Eng. Mousafa Yakout, Eng. Mohammed Alaa)4 Students

Summary of responses:most of users agreed that the chairs needs to be replaced because it’s neither adjustable nor provide support back. Some of the users mentioned that chairs also need redesign and material change. For the keyboard and mouse, users said that it only needs small modifications to meet their comfort. Consigning the working surface, everyone agreed that it’s a complete disaster. There isn’t enough area of anything.

1. Workshop Laboratory

Alaa Farag

A B C D E0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Chair

A B C D E0

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.5

KeyBoard and mouse

A B C D E0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Work Surface

A B A B0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Others

Breaks Acces-sories

Data analysis & observation:1. Workshop Laboratory

Alaa Farag

Agree Disagree

Sample:2 Technicians3 Students

Summary of responses:Based on team observations we all agreed the lab. equipment are up-to-date “except that there is no air conditioning” but the layout of the lab needs to be rearranged to use the most out of it.


Nihal Ibrahim


A B C D E0

1

2

3

4

5

Chair

A B C D E0

1

2

3

4

5

6

KeyBoard and mouse

A B C D E0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Work Surface

A B A B0

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.5

Others

Breaks Acces-sories

Data analysis:

Nihal Ibrahim

Agree Disagree

Chairs:

The first type is the old one, and it may causes a back pain due to its design

The second type is the new one; it suits all the human body but the material not well enough like the first one

observation:2. Mechanical building laboratory:

Nihal Ibrahim

Lightening:It's not sufficient for all the lab computers, and this may cause an eye pain or headache for the users.

LCD screen:The front half of the lab that can see the screen clearlySuggestion :putting another screen in the back of the lab that allows the second half to see it clearly.

Air conditioning:There is about 46 computer device in the lab, so it needs at least five air conditioners to allow a good performance for the devices and users.

Nihal Ibrahim

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”Workstation Measurements


Measurements

In this task we were supposed to measure both work stations to compare between the measured values and the standard calculated values in order to locate the causes of mostly common Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Nourhan Hany

1. Workshop laboratory

Chair .

Desk.

Devices.

Shelf.

Nourhan Hany

1. Workshop laboratoryNourhan

Hany


Hany

Workshop laboratoryNourhan

Hany


Hany

2. Mechanical building Laboratory

Chair .

Desk.

Devices.

Nourhan Ghanem

2. Mechanical building laboratoryNourhan Ghanem



“

”Workstation Analysis


1. Workshop Laboratory.

item error Workstation hazards

Risk factors WMSD How to overcome

chair Seat pan depth (-6 cm)

Backrest height (-7.5 cm) Width (-5.5 cm)Arm rest (not available)

Poor design Localized pressureAwkward postureStatic posture

Lack of proper leg blood circulationLow back painElbow injury

The chair design needs too many modifications which make it costless if the chairs were replaced with new ones fits to design criteria

Peter Adel



Desk Clearance width (-5.5 cm)(it is designed to fit one and a half units which is physically almost impossible)

Poor design Awkward postureRepetitive motionLocalized pressure

Repetitive strain injuries

Use each desk as a single unit**Buy ergonomically designed keyboards, mouse and mouse pads


Peter Adel



Monitor Visual height (-20 cm) Poor design Awkward postureStatic posture

Eye strain Neck pain and injury

Add a small box under each monitor with a height of 20 cm


Peter Adel



chair Seat pan height (+12.5 cm) Poor design Localized pressureAward postureStatic posture

Lake of proper leg blood circulation

Place a foot rest under each desk to decries the difference

2. Mechanical building laboratoryAhmed Ameen



Desk Surface height (+8 cm) Poor design Awkward postureRepetitive motionLocalized pressure

Repetitive strain injuries

Cut down the (8 cm) from the bottom of the desk “it’s feasible” OR add a drawer for the keyboard and mouse




Board Visual height (+75 cm) Poor design Awkward postureStatic posture

Eye strain Neck pain and injury

The board is adjustable so we only need to readjust it to the proper height


Search findings

Experiment was made immediately after sitting > 6 hours per day:electrical activity in muscles slow down, calorie burning rate drops to 1 calorie per minute (1/3 of what it does while walking)

Experiment was made after year sitting > 6 hours per day:weight gain and high cholesterol for women lose up to 1% of bone mass a year

Alaa Farag

American journal of Epidemiology paper

Stand once an hour

References:

http://www.hfes.org/Web/EducationalResources/booksspecifictopics.html

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/laboratory/OSHAfactsheet-laboratory-safety-ergonomics.pdf

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations

Occupational Ergonomics Principle and Applications by Chapman & Hall.

Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics for Engineers, Second Edition By Mark R. Lehto, Steven J. Landry

An Ergonomics Guide to Computer Workstations by Mary O'Reilly, Brian Finder, Marjorie K. Werrell.

Alaa Farag





Thank you

Group #18