Ergonomics Lab

Subject code: ID3703 Thursday: 8 AM-10 AM

 List of experiments

1 • Hand Anthropometry Measurement.

2 • Hand strength measurement.

3
• Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA).

4 • Documenting the Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA).

5 • Problem Identification Matrix (PIM).
6
• Static Standing Anthropometry.

7 • Documentation of Anthropometry Statistics.

8 • Estimation of body fat by using skinfold thickness.

9 • Finger and Hand Pressure Measurement.

10
• Postural analysis with RULA tool

11 • Postural analysis with REBA tool

12 • Recommended weight lift estimation with NIOSH equation
2
 Exp.1 Hand Anthropometry Measurement

 Anthropometric data is one of the essential requirements in machine and

equipment design that are user friendly, safer, and encourages higher
performance and productivity.
 Lack of properly designed machines and equipment may lead to low work
performance and high incidence of work related injuries and MSDs .
 Hand anthropometry is useful in the determination of different design
parameters for hand tools, equipment and machines, for better efficiency and
human comfort
 Tools used: Anthropometer
 An anthropometer is a device designed for measuring the dimensions of the
human body.
 The tool is usually used for determining the length of a section of the body
such as an arm or head, not for determining the circumference.

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 3

 Tools:
Small Anthropometer: Large Anthropometer:
The Small Anthropometer has a range  The Large Anthropometer has a range
of 0 to 30cm in 0.1cm increments. of 0 to 60cm in 0.1cm increments.

(a) (b)

Fig 1. Usage of (a) Small anthropometer (b) Large anthropometer

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 4

S.No. Name of dimension Description/image for Right hand Left hand
measurement
1 Internal precision
grip length

2 Hand length
3 Palm length
4 Hand breadth at
metacarpals
5 Hand breadth at base
of thumb

Maximum hand breadth across

6 thumb

7 Hand depth at metacarpal 3

Hand depth at thenar pad

8

9 Wrist thickness
 Exp.2.Hand Strength Measurement

 Handgrip is a measure of strength of several muscles in the hand and forearm

 Hand grip strength is a physiological variable that is affected by a number of
factors including age, gender and body size among others.
Tools used: Hydraulic hand dynamometer, Hydraulic Pinch Gauge
 The hand dynamometer can be used to measure grip strength.
 The finger pinch gauge can be used to measure pinch strength.

 Fig 2.1 Hydraulic pinch gauge  Fig 2.2 Hydraulic hand dynamometer
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 6
S.No. Treatment Power grip Precision grip Power grip Precision grip
strength (N) strength (N) endurance (s) endurance (s)
1. 1. 1. 1. 1.
Arm out-stretched
2. 2. 2. 2.
(aligned with body)
3. 3. 3. 3.

Average

2. 1. 1. 1. 1.
Arm out-stretched 2. 2. 2. 2.
(horizontally in
front of the body) 3. 3. 3. 3.

Average

3. 1. 1. 1. 1.
Arm out-stretched
2. 2. 2. 2.
(45 degrees from
the body) 3. 3. 3. 3.

Average

4. 1. 1. 1. 1.
Elbow bent 90
2. 2. 2. 2.
degrees (in front of
the body) 3. 3. 3. 3.

Average
7
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
 Exp.3. Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA)

 A hierarchical task analysis provides an understanding of the

tasks users need to perform to achieve certain goals.
 Select a product of your choice in the lab and conduct a
hierarchical task analysis of the product using a hierarchical task
flow diagram

1. Order book

1.1 Locate 1.2 Add book to 1.3 Enter payment 1.4 complete 1.5 confirm
book shopping basket details address order

Fig 3. Hierarchical task analysis for ordering a book

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 8

 Exp.4.Documenting the Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA)

 This session is to be employed for documenting the information reported

during the last activity.

1. Task ID
2. Description
3. Possible failure description
4. Consequences
5. Failure rating (1-7)
6. Existing solutions to resolve the failures identified
7. Difficulty in implementing existing solutions (1-7)
8. Possible design intervention to resolve the failures identified
9. Difficulty in implementing design intervention
10.Additional comments

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 9

 Exp.5. Problem Identification Matrix (PIM)

 The Problem/Opportunity Matrix is a tool to help you organize your thoughts

around the products and services you offer and how they serve specific needs in
your target audience
 Organization of human capabilities into groups allows establishing problem
identification matrices (PIMs). They show systems requirements on one axis and
human capabilities (and especially limitations therein) on an orthogonal axis.
 At the intersections of these axes, symbols indicate discrepancies. These symbols
show which features of a given design (say, of a public announcement system or of
controls in a truck) pose problems for persons with certain types of impairments

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 10

Example : a communication system

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 11

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 12
 Exp.5. Static Standing Anthropometry
 This Study aims at understanding the various basic anthropometric landmarks,
dimensions in standing posture it also involves measuring techniques and equipment
used and to provide same reference data to acquaint with the data set in Indian
population context in various ranges of percentile and respective ratio value between
parameters and height.

13
 Exp.6. Static Seating Anthropometry
 This Study aims at understanding the various basic anthropometric landmarks,
dimensions in sitting posture it also involves measuring techniques and equipment
used and to provide same reference data to acquaint with the data set in Indian
population context in various ranges of percentile and respective ratio value between
parameters and height.

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 14

 Exp.7 Documentation of Anthropometry Statistics

Assignment

 Coordinate among the other class members and compile the anthropometric
data collected in previous experiments. Use MS Excel tool to calculate the
following parameters:
 1. Minimum/Maximum
 2. Mean
 3. Median
 4. Percentiles (1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95, 99)
 5. Frequency Distribution

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 15

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 16
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 17
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 18
 Exp 8. Postural analysis with Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool

 Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tool is developed to “investigate the

exposure of individual workers to risk factors associated with work-related
upper limb disorders”
 Does not consider the duration of the task, available recovery time, or hand-arm
vibration.
 Only allows the evaluator to assess one employee’s worst-case posture at one
point in time, requiring the use of representative postures.
 The evaluator should prepare for the assessment by interviewing the worker
being evaluated to gain an understanding of the job tasks, and by observing the
worker’s movements and postures during several work cycles.

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 19

Procedure:

• A single page worksheet is used to evaluate required body posture, force,

and repetition.
• Based on the evaluations, scores are entered for each body region in
 Section A
 for the arm and wrist
 Section B
 for the neck and trunk
• After the data for each region is collected and scored, tables on the form are
then used to compile the risk factor variables, generating a single score that
represents the level of MSD risk.

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 20

Section A

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 21

Step 3-4:
Section B

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 23

Step 12-15:

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 24

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 25
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 26
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 27
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 28
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 29
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 30
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 31
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 32
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 33
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 34
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 35
 Exp:9 postural analysis using Rapid Entire Body Assessment
tool
 This ergonomic assessment tool uses a systematic process to evaluate whole
body postural MSD and risks associated with job tasks.
 A single page worksheet is used to evaluate required or selected body posture,
forceful exertions, type of movement or action, repetition, and coupling .
 Selection of the postures to be evaluated should be based on:
 The most difficult postures and work tasks (determined during worker
interview and initial observation),
 The posture sustained for the longest period of time, or
 The posture where the highest force loads occur.

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 36

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 37
Section A:

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 38

Step 4-6:

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 39

Section B:

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 40

Step 10-13:

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 41

 Exp.10. Recommended weight lift estimation using NIOSH
Lifting Equation
 NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting equation
is a tool to assess the manual material handling risks associated with lifting and
lowering tasks in the workplace.

NIOSH Lifting Equation:

RWL = LC x HM x VM x DM x AM x FM x CM
Task variables needed to calculate the RWL:
H = Horizontal location of the object relative to the body
V = Vertical location of the object relative to the floor
D = Distance the object is moved vertically
A = Asymmetry angle or twisting requirement
F = Frequency and duration of lifting activity
C = Coupling or quality of the workers grip on the object
LC=fixed factor (23 kg)
(M stands for Multiplier)

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 42

 Exp.11. Estimation of body fat measurement using
skinfold thickness

Skinfold Thickness

 In this method, researchers use a special caliper to measure the thickness of a

“pinch” of skin and the fat beneath it in specific areas of the body (the trunk, the
thighs, front and back of the upper arm, and under the shoulder blade). Equations
are used to predict body fat percentage based on these measurements.

Strengths:-

 Convenient.
 Safe.
 Inexpensive.
 Portable
 Fast and easy

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 45

 Fig 11. skinfold caliper

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 46

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 47
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 48
 Exp.12 Finger and Hand Pressure Measurement

 In this study we will measure the pressures applied to and exerted by the finger
and hand will be measured while doing any activity/task

Components of finger tactile pressure sensing (TPS):

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 49

Procedure :

 Plug the Bluetooth dongle into an open USB port on your computer
 Turn the finger TPS electronics power switch on.
 Locate the USB to mini USB cable and plug the small mini end in to the
reference load. A red LED
 Launch chameleon software and choose Eltek wireless finger TPS option
 Wear a finger TPS to right/ left hand
 Grasp the object (water bottle or cup) with comfortable position
 Note down the readings Minimum, Maximum, Average and Total force for
certain time period
 Repeat the procedure for different objects

S.No Name of the Time(s) Minimum Maximum Average Total

activity force(N) force(N) force(N) force(N)

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 50

Applications

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 51