ERGONOMICS

Lumanlan, Ma. Lourdes

Mercado, Julie Anne
Manahan, Fernan
Dimabuyu, Jomar

BSIE SECTION 6
INTRODUCTION
Mt. Samat Meeting Room
Anthropometry

Fig 1.: Mt. Samat Meeting Room

 A meeting room is a room in a building, such as an office building, set aside for
the use of people to hold meetings.
 In Molex, Mt. Samat room is used for daily meetings and trainings
approximately from 1 to 4 hours. Ease of use of this room plays a significant role
in planning and learning and other activities.
 We chose to study and improve the ergonomics of the room to gain comfort
during meetings and trainings as we, ourselves are aware of the discomfort that
the room has brought to some employees that conducts long meetings.
ASSESSMENT
 With our initial assessment, one major movement in the meeting is
viewing the presentation. Different types of employees are considered
with the factors such as height, sitting height, eyesight, sitting posture etc.
to identify the major issue.

Fig 2.: Different posture of employees during Fig 3.: Posture of employees with regards to the
viewing of presentation TV height.
Ergonomic Problems
Encountered
sample size = 30 admin personnel

Ergonomic problems during Sum of 1, 2

Item 1 2 3 4 5
prolonged meetings and 3
A Eye problems 6 10 4 5 5 20
B Back pain 8 2 2 14 4 12
C Shoulder and muscles pain 1 1 3 10 15 5
D Pain at elbow 0 1 1 3 25 2
E Pain at wrist 0 0 0 0 30 0
F Pain on legs joints 0 0 0 0 30 0
G Hand pain 0 0 0 0 30 0
H Neck pain 20 5 3 2 0 28
I Fatigue joint and muscle pain 15 6 2 2 5 23
J Headache 13 7 4 2 4 24
K Neck or shoulder tension 22 7 0 1 0 29

Most seriously (1); less seriously (2); seriously (3); not sure (4); not at all (5).
Table 1: Ranking of 30 different people based on what they’ve encountered during prolonged meetings

 30 admin personnel were interviewed for the common ergonomic problems

encountered by them during prolonged meetings.
 Serious (3) less serious (2) and most serious (1) conditions were computed on
the right column to summarize the most problem encountered.
Ergonomic Problems
Encountered

NOTE: Problems defined “A-K” are defined in the previous slide

Chart 1.: Pareto of the ergonomic problems encountered

 The pareto chart shows the problems encountered by the admin. The major
identified problems are such as neck or shoulder tension, Neck pain, Headache,
fatigue joint and muscle pain, Back pain, shoulder and muscles pain and pain at
elbow which make 80–20% as the rule of Pareto Chart.
Analysis
Neck, Trunk and Legs Analysis

Viewing angle is
adjustable

 Current REBA Calculations shows risk on head twisting and bending.

 An improvement for the meeting room is necessary.
Analysis
Room Measurements Analysis
TV Size: 55 inches

45 deg Twisting of the neck

sideward = 90 deg
Too Far
148in
10 in

30 deg

39in

Too Near Just OK

(Typical distance for viewing TV)Crutchfield.com

70in

NOTE: Seats are

not adjustable for
unknown reasons
Room size: 16X17.5 ft

Fig 4.: Assessment of the current situation of the room

 To verify the problem, investigation has been done from minimum to maximum
distance.
 With the measurements, major factor to consider is the attendee height
 With this data a very big possibility of discomfort and injuries might be
encountered in the long run.
Improvement Actions

Anthropometry

 An improvement is necessary since we considered the difference of

people attending meetings in Mt. Samat Room.
 Anthropometry is considered to evaluate the correct improvements to be
done.
Improvement Actions
Anthropometric Data
Seated Position (measurements in inches)
Thigh Buttock Knee
Eye Height Elbow Rest Knee Height Popliteal
Sample Height Sitting Clearance Distance
Sitting Height Sitting Sitting Height Sitting
Height Sitting
1 48 44 30 6 20 21 14
2 55 50 37 6 24 24 18
3 52 48 34 7 23 23 16
4 49 45 31 7 21 21 14
5 56 51 38 7 26 26 19
6 49 45 31 8 21 22 13
7 53 49 35 6 24 24 18 Eye Height Sitting
8 48 44 30 7 20 20 13
9 55 50 37 6 26 24 20
10 52 48 34 6 25 22 19
11 51 46 33 6 24 21 18
12 50 45 32 7 20 22 13
13 51 46 33 7 21 23 14
14 49 45 31 7 20 19 13 Height Sitting
15 48 43 30 8 20 19 12
Buttock Knee
16 50 46 32 7 19 22 12
Distance Sitting
17 51 45 33 6 21 20 15
Elbow Rest
18 52 46 34 6 24 22 18 Height Knee Height Sitting
19 52 47 34 8 22 23 14 Sitting
20 47 43 29 6 19 19 13 Thigh Popliteal Height
Clearance Sitting
21 51 48 33 7 20 22 13
Height
22 50 46 32 6 22 21 16
23 52 48 34 7 23 24 16
24 49 45 31 8 19 20 11
25 48 44 30 8 20 19 12
26 51 47 33 8 21 20 13
27 50 45 32 8 21 20 13
28 49 44 31 6 18 19 12
29 48 43 30 7 20 19 13
30 51 46 33 7 22 20 15
Table 2: Anthropometric measurements of the meeting attendees

 Anthropometric measurements is done on 30 meeting attendees.

Improvement Actions
Anthropometric Data
Eye Height Elbow Rest Thigh Clearance Knee Height Buttock Knee Popliteal
Sample Height Sitting
Sitting Height Sitting Height Sitting Distance Sitting Height Sitting
1 47 44 30 6 20 21 14
2 48 50 37 6 24 24 18
3 48 48 34 7 23 23 16
4 48 45 31 7 21 21 14
5 48 51 38 7 26 26 19
6 48 45 31 8 21 22 13
7 49 49 35 6 24 24 18
8
9
49
49
44
50
30
37
7
6
20
26
20
24
13
20  Table 3 presents the
10 49 48 34 6 25 22 19
11
12
49
50
46
45
33
32
6
7
24
20
21
22
18
13
descriptive statistics for
13 50 46 33 7 21 23 14
14 50 45 31 7 20 19 13 measured anthropometric
15 50 43 30 8 20 19 12
16 51 46 32 7 19 22 12 data for meeting attendees
17
18
51
51
45
46
33
34
6
6
21
24
20
22
15
18
(samples)
19 51 47 34 8 22 23 14
20 51 43 29 6 19 19 13
21 51 48 33 7 20 22 13
22 52 46 32 6 22 21 16
23 52 48 34 7 23 24 16
24 52 45 31 8 19 20 11
25 52 44 30 8 20 19 12
26 52 47 33 8 21 20 13
27 53 45 32 8 21 20 13
28 55 44 31 6 18 19 12
29 55 43 30 7 20 19 13
30 56 46 33 7 22 20 15
Max 56 51 38 8 26 26 20
Min 47 43 29 6 18 19 11
Mean 50.57 46.07 32.57 6.87 21.53 21.37 14.67
STDEV 2.24 2.15 2.24 0.78 2.15 1.90 2.52
5th 47.55 43 29.55 6 18.55 19 11.55
50th 51 46 33 7 21 21.5 14
95th 56 51 38 8 26 26 20
Table 3.: Descriptive statistics for measured anthropometric dimensions for meeting attendees
Improvement Actions
Anthropometric Data

Minitab 18

 Anthropometric measurements (data) are not well distributed. For all collected
data for meeting attendees, the distribution curves are hereby presented by as
the means to examine the shape and spread of all collected anthropometric data.
Improvement Actions

Determinant criteria for choosing an adjustable seat

Criteria Determinant
Features Anthropometric measure Design dimension
(adjustable desk)
5th percentile (female)
to the 95th percentile
Seat surface height Popliteal height 399–512 (mm) (male) of popliteal
height + 25 mm for
shoes allowance.

Buttock popliteal length 50th percentile (male) of

Seat depth 450 (mm)
(Buttock Knee Distance) Buttock popliteal length

95th percentile (female)

Seat width Hip breadth, Sitting 430 (mm)
of Hip breadth
50th percentile (male) of
Back rest width Hip breadth, Sitting 420 (mm)
Shoulder breadth
5th percentile (female)
Backrest height above
Sitting Shoulder height 500 (mm) of Sitting Shoulder
seat
height
Literature review
Backrest angle – 110°
suggestions
5th percentile (female)
Arm rest height Elbow rest height 155 (mm)
of elbow sitting height
Improvement Proposals
What should I consider when selecting a chair?

A basic rule of ergonomics is that there is no such thing as an "average" person. However, providing a chair specifically
designed for everyone is not practical. The only solution is to provide workers with fully adjustable chairs that can accommodate a
maximum range of people (typically around 90 percent of the population; workers falling in the ranges of 5% of the shortest and
the tallest will need custom-made chairs).
Choose a chair with:
•Controls that are easy to operate from sitting position.
•A seat that adjusts for both height and tilt.
•A seat that does not put pressure the back of thighs or knees.
•A seat with a front edge that curves towards the floor.
•Breathable, non-slippery fabric on the seat.
•A backrest shaped to support the lower back.
•A stable five-point base.
•Wheels or casters suitable for the type of flooring.
•A swivel mechanism.
•Armrests that can be adjusted to the elbow height when your upper arms are hanging down and your forearms are at
about a 90 deg angle to the upper arms.
•Armrests that do not interfere with free movements within the workstation.
Improvement Proposals

Proposals to Meet The Ergonomic Requirements

 Enclosed in red are the additional features for the proposed chair in Mt.
Samat meeting room.
Improvement Proposals

Proposals to Meet The Ergonomic Requirements

Standard Viewing Distance

30 deg
11 feet

7 feet
30 deg

 Replacement of straight to U-type meeting table

 With the U type meeting table, we will be able to meet the minimum distance
and maximum distance for viewing requirements
 Horizontal viewing angle will also be met based from the proposal lay-out
Improvement Proposals

Proposals to Meet The Ergonomic Requirements

Adjustable TV mounting to meet

the viewer’s vertical angle
viewing requirements

Viewing angle is
Viewing angle is adjustable
adjustable

 Vertical viewing angle is adjustable with the adjustable TV mounting

design at 7 Feet nearest to 11 feet farthest viewing distance.
Assessment Results of
Proposed Actions
Neck, Trunk and Legs Analysis (Recomputation)

 Computed REBA with the proposed Improvement shows a -3 improvement

which falls under LOW or maybe necessary.
 There is still a room for improvement in the future.
CONCLUSION

 The gathering of anthropometric data as well as workplace health and safety

assessment is a much needed and worthwhile pursuit in light of the increasing
incidence of work-related illnesses and injuries.
 The gathered data from this report will hopefully be applied in the ergonomic
design of workstations, tools, equipment, layout designs and interventions that
are uniquely well-suited for Filipino workers.
Reference:
Anthropometric measurements for ergonomic design of students’ furniture in India
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098616304578
Thank You