WORK PHYSIOLOGY

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 Ergonomics uses knowledge of human body and varied
aspects of mind towards creating situations for our own
benefit.

 Whatever function we do with effort it reflects on physiology.

 Physiological Stress is induced sometimes due to wrong

design.

 Training and experience guides skill performance.

 Knowledge of physiological parameters assists in evaluating

design and work method. College
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 • Skill to perform tasks. (Complex
Tasks)
• Manipulating muscles in doing these
tasks means a great impact (skill of
using specific muscle groups)

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• How skilfully
we can use our
muscles, the
performance
outcomes is
related to
that.

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 Work posture and physiological
load
• Appropriate design and correct method of
operation reduces physiological load and thus
result in performance increment.

• When we perform some task, the task demand a

specific postural adaptation.

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 Fire Triangle Triangle of Ergonomic risk
factors

If any of the three is eased out, it would minimise the risk

How can we understand and measure this risk ?

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 Physiological Stress
Measurement

• While operating and using the design, users’ physiological

stress must remain within tolerance limit to ensure safe use
and comfort covering various endurance capabilities.

• Among various indicating parameters cardiovascular

measures, energy requirement in terms of O 2 consumption,
body temperature, muscle electrical activities (EMG) etc.
are normally used
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 Physiological Considerations –
Some Facts

 Limit the energy expenditure in a task –

• Body at Rest 80W

• Without fatigue feeling till 250W (including resting 80W).

For example: writing, typing, ironing, assembling light
materials, operating machinery, a gentle walk or leisurely
cycle riding etc.
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Logo 1 W = 0.06 KJ/min = 0.0143 Kcals/min
 Physiological Considerations –
Some Facts

 Rest is necessary after heavy tasks. Why??

When we perform some heavy task, our energy reserves are

being utilised and to repay that debt we need some time
during which any additional expenditure should not be there.

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 Physiological Considerations –
Some Facts
 Examples of activities demanding in excess of 250W, additional
measures are necessary to avoid exhaustion in the long run. (breaks,
alternation with lighter activities etc.)

 Activity Energy Expenditure

Walking while carrying a load (30kg, 4 km/hr) 370W

Frequent lifting 600W
Running (10km/hr) 670W
Cycling (20km/hr) 670W
Climbing Stairs (30 o , 1km/hr) 960W
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 Physiological Considerations –
HOW TO PREVENT

 Warm up & stretch before activities that repetitive static and

prolonged.

 Take frequent breaks from any sustained posture every 20-30 mins.

 Respect pain-positions or stop painful activity.

 Recognise early signs of inflammatory process and treat early (Design

modifications).
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Logo Addition to Design we can try to modify the tasks. How??
 Physiological Considerations –
MODIFY TASKS
 Alternate activities frequently; rotate heavy and repetitive tasks with
or lighter less repetitive ones.

 If the situation become worse, reassess task setup and look for
alternative methods.

 Avoid repetitive or prolonged grip activities.

 Avoid bending to side.

 Take frequent break to stretch and rest hands.

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 Muscle and its Contraction

 Movements in human body parts are due to widely distributed systems of

muscles, which together make up approximately 40% of the total weight and
their coordinated actions.

 Each muscle consists of a large number of muscle fibers, which may vary
between 5mm to 140mm long according to the muscle size. The diameter of a
muscle fibre is about 0.1 mm. A muscle contains around 100000 to 1 million
such fibers.

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 Muscle and its Contraction

 The fibers of long muscles are sometimes bound together in bundles. At the
end of the muscle all fibers are combined into a tough and neatly non-elastic
tendon. These tendons are firmly attached to the bones.

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 Muscle and its Contraction

 Each muscle fiber contracts with a certain force and the strength of the whole
muscle is the sum of these muscle fiber forces.

 The maximum strength of a human muscle lies between 0.3 and 0.4 N/m 2 of
the cross section; thus a muscle of 100 mm 2 cross section can develop 30 to 40
N.

 Hence a person’s inherent muscle strength depends, in the first instance, on

the cross-section of his muscles.

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 Muscle and its Contraction
(Male and Female)
 Women have, in general, narrower muscles and they exert on an average
about 2/3 rd the force of men.

 Given equal training, women and men can become equally strong per cross
section. There are strong women and weak men also.

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 Muscle and its Contraction

 A muscle produces its greatest

active strength at the beginning
of its contraction, when it is
still near its flexion length. As
the muscle shortens, its ability
to produce force declines.

 While developing any concept

where both the group is
expected to use the system,
Flexion: a bending movement around a joint in a limb (as the
these aspects needs to be knee or elbow) that decreases the angle between the bones of
considered. the limb at the joint
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 Role of Food (How we get
energy)
 A muscle produces its greatest
active strength at the beginning
of its contraction, when it is
still near its flexion length. As
the muscle shortens, its ability
to produce force declines.

 While developing any concept

where both the group is
expected to use the system,
Flexion: a bending movement around a joint in a limb (as the
these aspects needs to be knee or elbow) that decreases the angle between the bones of
considered. the limb at the joint
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