MEM634 ERGONOMIC DESIGN

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
1. To conduct an ergonomic design study in an active workplace.
2. To apply the theories and knowledge gained through lectures, to a real occupational setting.
PROJECT GUIDELINES:
1. Student shall form a team of maximum 5 persons per group.
2. Select an active workplace. Examples would be a restaurant, an administrative office, a hypermarket,
a lab, a workshop, a hospital ward, a production department of a factory and the like.
3. Explain the total requirements of ergonomic principles and practices in the establishment. (One
student can choose only one of the topics from A to E below).
A. Determine and select the premise appropriate to carry out an ergonomic design study.
Identify and describe issues in that workplace that would necessitate you to carry out an
ergonomic study to solve those problems. Examples of issues would be noisy work
environment, indoor air quality [toxic gases], musculoskeletal disorders, manual handling
problems, occupational safety & health problems or extreme occupational temperatures [too
hot or too cold] or others.
B. Compare the existing processes or work design or practices with the established ergonomic
design principles and theories.
Describe the daily and routine normal operations of the work procedures in the premise. You
can get information through direct observation, survey questionnaire, interview, report,
production or work flowchart, safety procedure, awareness/training program, inspection
procedure or others.
C. Determine the extent of the ergonomic issues/ problems in the work procedures and activities
that indicate urgency of an ergonomic intervention.
Some occurrences in the premise are indicators for requiring ergonomics countermeasures.
Focus on 3 indicators such as cases of production or work operations problems, injury or
accident, low back pain or body pain, occupational illness or diseases, workers or
management complaints or others.
D. What are the ergonomic, safety and health problems that have occurred or may occur and
what are the steps taken to avoid repeat occurrence?

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List 3 more ergonomic, safety and health issues that may occur at the premise. Study their
preventive procedure, identification/evaluation, analysis of the causes, consequences/
hazards, remedies, prevention procedure, PPE required or others.
E. What are the costs of practicing the proper ergonomic design principles that you have
suggested for the facilities and compare with the cost of downtime /repair / rectification /
compensation / legal expenditures due to an accident or injury?
Calculate the economics of implementation of your recommended ergonomics
countermeasures. What are the saving and return on investment? Include the cost of
personnel, equipment, education, enforcement, supervision, maintenance, support & cost of
neglect or others.
Each student shall write and present one of the above themes; the explanation should be supported
with relevant technical diagrams/drawings/tables of data/photos/charts/information/references.
PROJECT ASSESSMENT:
Group Report

20 marks

Individual Presentation

10 marks

Introduction
Content of A/B/C/D/E
Figures/Tables
Discussion/Conclusion
Format/Organization
Reference/Citation

%
10
10x5
10
20
5
5
100%

Presentation material
Figures/Tables/Charts
Presentation style

%
40
30
30
100%

RUBRICS (PROJECT REPORT)

Weak (0-20)
Satisfactory (40-60)
None
Described
No details
Technically described
None
Imprecise
Brief
Explained
Poor
Acceptable
None
Some

Excellent (80-100)
Citation + reference
Technically thorough
Photo + diagram
Detailed + informative
Structured
Adequate

RUBRICS (PRESENTATION)
Weak (0-20)
Satisfactory (40-60)
Insufficient
Average
None
Some
Feeble
Clear

Excellent (80-100)
Thorough
Abundantly
Fluent

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