Ergo Tip of the Month

October 2005

Sandalwood Enterprises is a consulting firm that specializes in Ergonomics, Process Optimization, and Information Management. The Ergo Tip of the Month is offered to our customers and friends for the benefit of the Ergonomics community. If you choose not to receive future editions, contact us at ergotip@sandalwood.com

General Workstation Design Guidelines
How do you define a "workstation"? Factories? Offices? Hospitals? Classrooms? A workstation can refer to any place where work is done - even at home.

What all workstations have in common is the fact that humans work best within their Neutral Working Posture and within their recommended work zones (see graphics below).

The figures above will help identify the appropriate workzone dimensions when designing a workstation. Other key factors, such as quality, productivity and floor space should not be sacrificed. If anything, they should be improved in a well designed work station. Allowing the user to function in their stongest and safest postures can keep the user healthy, safe and productive.

Workstation Design Principles
In order to keep the user close to their neutral posture, apply the following design principles when designing your work area:

  • Design for Reaches: What reaches are involved during the work? By designing for the reach of the 5th percentile female, all but the smallest 5% of the female population will be accommodated.
  • Design for Clearance: Are there any areas where access or clearance may be an issue (i.e. drawer handles)? By designing for the 95th percentile male, all but the largest 5% of the male population will have the clearance to access the needed areas.
  • Design for Adjustability: Wherever possible, it is important to design for adjustability in the work station design. By considering both the 5th percentile female and 95th percentile male, the majority of the population is accommodated.
  • Don't Design for the Average: Designing for the "average" person should be avoided. Doing so only accommodates a small percent of the population.
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