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Protecting the tractor driver from low-frequency ride vibration
Recommendations for the ergonomic design of workposts at computer terminals; stress factors of computer terminal work (eye strain, immobile posture, etc); visual task and lighting; work posture required working space; design and layout principles (adjustable seat, table, keyboard, screen, printer, disadvantages of bifocal lenses, lighting levels and contrast, etc); model workpost (job analysis, choice of location, position of screen in relation to keyboard, to printer, to telephone, etc). Checklist for setting up these workposts. 9.1.31 (72835)
Peters, T. Work studies at the office - A handbook on occupational health and ergonomics in offices (Arbeitswissenschaft fur die Buropraxis - Ein Handbuch der BuroMedizin und -Ergonomie). (In German.) Friedrich Kiehl Verlag GmbH, Ludwigshafen, Germany, 2nd Ed, 1976, 540 pp; abstr in CIA Abstracts (CIS 77-861). This manual considers the problems arising in workplace design and work organization in offices, taking into account the complex relations between work studies and occupational medicine, and between technical design and the organization of office work. Brief comments on the importance of ergonomics in office work, and a number of definitions, are followed by sections devoted to: mental and physical health problems; human organs particularly subject to stress, their functions and possibilities of health impairment; adaptation of work organization to man, including hours of work and rest breaks; adaptation of furniture and equipment to the worker; adaptation of work environment to man (ergonomics and occupational medical aspects: air conditioning, lighting, acoustics, individual and open-plan offices); adaptation of human working capacity to conditions of work in offices. Appendices: extracts from regulations, directives, rules, standards, etc in force in the Fed Rep of Germany; ergonomics check-list (440 items); psychological tests. 9.1.32 (72836)
Robinson, J., Piccione, D., and Lamers. G. Locomotive cab design development. Volume I. Analysis of locomotive cab environment and development of cab design alternatives. Interim report Oct 1974 - Apr 1976. Oct 1976, 203 pp; abstr in Government Reports Announcements (Report No PB-262 976/4GA). The report presents an analysis of the line haul freight engineers working
and living environment, the resultant locomotive cab design on a delineation of functional requirements found in current line haul operations together with those additional requirements which could arise during the next 1 0 - 1 5 years. The recommended design is the result of a detailed human factors engineering analysis of these requirements according to state-of-theart criteria and system design practices. Substantial engineering analysis was devoted to the recommended design; this included disciplines of cost, occupant protection, component and subsystem reliability, and system safety analysis.
design of such furniture and to evaluate any such changes. Presentations are made of the methods adopted for this investigation (selection of subjects, techniques of observation and analysis etc), the results obtained from measurement and observation, and the conclusions. 9.1.35 (72849) Pfanth, M.J., and Miller, J.M. Work surface friction coefficients: A survey of relevant factors and measurement methodology. Journal of Safety Research, Jun 1976, 8.2, 7 7 - 9 0 ; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 77-606).
9.1.33 (72837)
Seminara, J.L., Gonzalez, W.R., and Parsons, S.O. Human factors review of nuclear power plant control room design. Summary report. Nov 1976, 39 pp; abstr in Government Reports Announcements (Report No PB-261 847/8GA). Human factors engineering is an interdisciplinary speciality concerned with influencing the design of equipment systems, facilities, and operational environments to promote safe, efficient, and reliable operator performance. The human factors aspects of five representative nuclear power plant control rooms were evaluated using such methods as a checklist guided observation system, structured interviews with operators and trainers, direct observations of operator behaviour, task analyses and procedure evaluation, and historical error analyses. The human factors aspects of design practices are illustrated, and many improvements in current practices are suggested. The study recommends that a detailed set of applicable human factors standards be developed to stimulate a uniform and systematic concern for human factors in design considerations.
The coefficient of friction between a shoe sole and the floor surface determines floor surface slipperiness and the potential risk.Factors that affect the coefficient of friction are grouped into work surface factors, human factors and task factors. Several methods to measure floor friction are tabulated and discussed (horizontal track, pendulum machines, slip resistance testers, subjective evaluation), and some factors affecting the value of the data are pointed out. Some important factors for the establishment of a safe coefficient of friction are studied in the light of the literature: the task and forces involved psychopliysiological factors, floor conditions and materials, shoe design and sole material, floor coating. Recommended minimum safe friction coefficients in the literature are between 0.2 and 0.5. Further research areas are outlined.
Noise 9.1.36 (72899)
International Labour Office, Geneva. Protection of workers against noise and vibration in the working environment. ILO, Geneva, 1977, 74 pp.
Among the many factors that contribute to the deterioration of the working environment, noise and 9.1.34 (72844) vibration have an important place. Ward, J.S., and Mabey, M.H. This code of practice, adopted at a Support for European Standard on meeting of experts convened by the optimum dimensions of office ILO, sets out the principles that furniture. TRC Report No T77-2941; Loughborough University of Technology, should be followed for the control of workplace noise and vibration, and Human Sciences Department, contains the information required for Loughborough, Report, Mar 1977, the establishment of control programmes 83 pp; abstr in R and D Abstracts. for individual plants. Examines the activities and related postures of male and female office workers representing a range of occupational groups and a range of body sizes, in order to determine the suitability in terms of comfort and 9.1.37 (72909) convenience of their current office Stayner, R.bl., and Hilton, D.J. furniture, and if necessary, to propose Protecting the tractor driver from lowmodifications and improvements in the frequency ride vibration. TRC Report
Vibration
Applied Ergonomics
March 1978
43
No T77-3658; National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, Report 1975, 9 pp; abstr in R and D Abstracts. Results are presented of vibration levels measured on farm tractors which support the suggestion, based on medical evidence, that vibration is excessive and contributes to the high incidence of spinal disorders amongst many tractor drivers. Analysis of the dynamics of tractor vibration shows that levels can only be reduced satisfactorily by the introduction of a suspension system. A suspension for a driver's cab has been developed which has proved to have an acceptable ride under farm conditions. The suspension uses only passive elements, but it is suggested that for some construction equipment active suspension, and possibly wheel suspension, may be needed.
Work organisation 9.1.38 (72986) Carpentier, J., and Cazamian, P. Night work. Its effects of the health and welfare of the worker. International Labour Office, Geneva, 1977, 82 pp. Is night work medically harmful to the worker? If it is, is it more harmful to women than to men? What are the effects of night work on the worker's family life? What is the impact of night work on the life of the community? Does the practice of night work call for further regulation? These are some of the questions which James Carpentier and Dr Pierre Cazamian examine in this timely study of the physiological, psychological and medical effects of night work and its economic, family, social and ergonomic aspects. In publishing the book, the International Labour Office - whose concern for the welfare of those who work at night dates back to some of the earliest international labour Conventions and Regulations - has had in mind, inter alia, the steady increase in the number of night workers in both the developed and the developing countries, and the urgent need for an authoritative review
44
Applied Ergonomics
March 1978
of the present state of knowledge of temporal and biological phenomena.
Motivation and attitudes 9.1.39 (73006)
Morgan, J.B., and Hale, M. Work organisations and attitudes in garage workshops. Institute of the Motor Industry, Education Trust Fund, Brickendon, Hertfordshire, Jun 1977, 159 pp. The objective of this project was to identify those factors of garage organization which contributed towards efficiency, working satisfaction and flexibility in order to provide the necessary knowledge upon which changes in work organization may be made. This report is based upon two interim reports, Hale (1975) and Morgan (1977), which were submitted to the Institute of the Motor Industry Education Trust Fund in 1975 and 1977 respectively. The first study was carried out in eight garages where questionnaires and interviews were administered to workshop personnel. The main conclusions of this report were that mechanics were dissatisfied with their pay and that the bonus systems as operated in many garages had various adverse effects including competition for jobs and conflict with management. The main research study carried out between 1975 and 1977 was undertaken in 15 Midland garages where structured interviews were held with mechanics, apprentices, service managers, receptionists and foremen. In this study special attention was given to the different payment systems for three reasons. The first interim report had indicated some adverse effects of the bonus schemes. Secondly the existing payment systems were causing immediate concern because the decline in service work in some cases was preventing the attainment of bonus earnings. Thirdly, any modifications to existing jobs are likely to be influenced by, and may determine, the system of payment. An age survey
questionnaire was also distributed to 500 garages. The main findings of this study were that mechanics were dissatisfied with their pay and considered their earnings to be inequitable when compared to other groups of workers. A process of selection or adaptation seemed to be operating in that mechanics, whether on day-rate or bonus, expressed a preference for their present payment system. The main sources of discontent over the bonus schemes were loss of bonus earned on individual jobs and over the allocation of work. As a result of the ways in which work was allocated, mechanics felt their earnings were dependent upon the jobs they received, rather than the effort they made.
Experimental design and statistical techniques 9.1.40 (73120)
Willmert, K.D., and Potter, T.E. An improved human display model for occupant crash simulation programs. Technical Report Jul 1975 - J u n 1976. Apr 1976, 24 pp; abstr in Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports (Report No AD-A026719; MIE-018. Presented is an improved threedimensional display model of a human being which can be used to display the results of three-dimensional simulation programmes that predict the positions of an occupant during impact of a vehicle. The model allows the user to view the occupant from any orientation in any position during the crash. The display model assumes the usual break up of the body into rigid segments which is normal for occupant crash simulation programmes, but the shapes of the segments in the display model are not necessarily the same as those used in the crash simulation. The display model is proportioned so as to produce a realistic drawing of the human body in any position, joints connecting the segments are also drawn to improve realism.
Peters, T. Work studies at the office - A handbook on occupational health and ergonomics in offices (Arbeitswissenschaft fur die Buropraxis - Ein Handbuch der BuroMedizin und -Ergonomie). (In German.) Friedrich Kiehl Verlag GmbH, Ludwigshafen, Germany, 2nd Ed, 1976, 540 pp; abstr in CIA Abstracts (CIS 77-861). This manual considers the problems arising in workplace design and work organization in offices, taking into account the complex relations between work studies and occupational medicine, and between technical design and the organization of office work. Brief comments on the importance of ergonomics in office work, and a number of definitions, are followed by sections devoted to: mental and physical health problems; human organs particularly subject to stress, their functions and possibilities of health impairment; adaptation of work organization to man, including hours of work and rest breaks; adaptation of furniture and equipment to the worker; adaptation of work environment to man (ergonomics and occupational medical aspects: air conditioning, lighting, acoustics, individual and open-plan offices); adaptation of human working capacity to conditions of work in offices. Appendices: extracts from regulations, directives, rules, standards, etc in force in the Fed Rep of Germany; ergonomics check-list (440 items); psychological tests. 9.1.32 (72836)
Robinson, J., Piccione, D., and Lamers. G. Locomotive cab design development. Volume I. Analysis of locomotive cab environment and development of cab design alternatives. Interim report Oct 1974 - Apr 1976. Oct 1976, 203 pp; abstr in Government Reports Announcements (Report No PB-262 976/4GA). The report presents an analysis of the line haul freight engineers working
and living environment, the resultant locomotive cab design on a delineation of functional requirements found in current line haul operations together with those additional requirements which could arise during the next 1 0 - 1 5 years. The recommended design is the result of a detailed human factors engineering analysis of these requirements according to state-of-theart criteria and system design practices. Substantial engineering analysis was devoted to the recommended design; this included disciplines of cost, occupant protection, component and subsystem reliability, and system safety analysis.
design of such furniture and to evaluate any such changes. Presentations are made of the methods adopted for this investigation (selection of subjects, techniques of observation and analysis etc), the results obtained from measurement and observation, and the conclusions. 9.1.35 (72849) Pfanth, M.J., and Miller, J.M. Work surface friction coefficients: A survey of relevant factors and measurement methodology. Journal of Safety Research, Jun 1976, 8.2, 7 7 - 9 0 ; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 77-606).
9.1.33 (72837)
Seminara, J.L., Gonzalez, W.R., and Parsons, S.O. Human factors review of nuclear power plant control room design. Summary report. Nov 1976, 39 pp; abstr in Government Reports Announcements (Report No PB-261 847/8GA). Human factors engineering is an interdisciplinary speciality concerned with influencing the design of equipment systems, facilities, and operational environments to promote safe, efficient, and reliable operator performance. The human factors aspects of five representative nuclear power plant control rooms were evaluated using such methods as a checklist guided observation system, structured interviews with operators and trainers, direct observations of operator behaviour, task analyses and procedure evaluation, and historical error analyses. The human factors aspects of design practices are illustrated, and many improvements in current practices are suggested. The study recommends that a detailed set of applicable human factors standards be developed to stimulate a uniform and systematic concern for human factors in design considerations.
The coefficient of friction between a shoe sole and the floor surface determines floor surface slipperiness and the potential risk.Factors that affect the coefficient of friction are grouped into work surface factors, human factors and task factors. Several methods to measure floor friction are tabulated and discussed (horizontal track, pendulum machines, slip resistance testers, subjective evaluation), and some factors affecting the value of the data are pointed out. Some important factors for the establishment of a safe coefficient of friction are studied in the light of the literature: the task and forces involved psychopliysiological factors, floor conditions and materials, shoe design and sole material, floor coating. Recommended minimum safe friction coefficients in the literature are between 0.2 and 0.5. Further research areas are outlined.
Noise 9.1.36 (72899)
International Labour Office, Geneva. Protection of workers against noise and vibration in the working environment. ILO, Geneva, 1977, 74 pp.
Among the many factors that contribute to the deterioration of the working environment, noise and 9.1.34 (72844) vibration have an important place. Ward, J.S., and Mabey, M.H. This code of practice, adopted at a Support for European Standard on meeting of experts convened by the optimum dimensions of office ILO, sets out the principles that furniture. TRC Report No T77-2941; Loughborough University of Technology, should be followed for the control of workplace noise and vibration, and Human Sciences Department, contains the information required for Loughborough, Report, Mar 1977, the establishment of control programmes 83 pp; abstr in R and D Abstracts. for individual plants. Examines the activities and related postures of male and female office workers representing a range of occupational groups and a range of body sizes, in order to determine the suitability in terms of comfort and 9.1.37 (72909) convenience of their current office Stayner, R.bl., and Hilton, D.J. furniture, and if necessary, to propose Protecting the tractor driver from lowmodifications and improvements in the frequency ride vibration. TRC Report
Vibration
Applied Ergonomics
March 1978
43
No T77-3658; National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, Report 1975, 9 pp; abstr in R and D Abstracts. Results are presented of vibration levels measured on farm tractors which support the suggestion, based on medical evidence, that vibration is excessive and contributes to the high incidence of spinal disorders amongst many tractor drivers. Analysis of the dynamics of tractor vibration shows that levels can only be reduced satisfactorily by the introduction of a suspension system. A suspension for a driver's cab has been developed which has proved to have an acceptable ride under farm conditions. The suspension uses only passive elements, but it is suggested that for some construction equipment active suspension, and possibly wheel suspension, may be needed.
Work organisation 9.1.38 (72986) Carpentier, J., and Cazamian, P. Night work. Its effects of the health and welfare of the worker. International Labour Office, Geneva, 1977, 82 pp. Is night work medically harmful to the worker? If it is, is it more harmful to women than to men? What are the effects of night work on the worker's family life? What is the impact of night work on the life of the community? Does the practice of night work call for further regulation? These are some of the questions which James Carpentier and Dr Pierre Cazamian examine in this timely study of the physiological, psychological and medical effects of night work and its economic, family, social and ergonomic aspects. In publishing the book, the International Labour Office - whose concern for the welfare of those who work at night dates back to some of the earliest international labour Conventions and Regulations - has had in mind, inter alia, the steady increase in the number of night workers in both the developed and the developing countries, and the urgent need for an authoritative review
44
Applied Ergonomics
March 1978
of the present state of knowledge of temporal and biological phenomena.
Motivation and attitudes 9.1.39 (73006)
Morgan, J.B., and Hale, M. Work organisations and attitudes in garage workshops. Institute of the Motor Industry, Education Trust Fund, Brickendon, Hertfordshire, Jun 1977, 159 pp. The objective of this project was to identify those factors of garage organization which contributed towards efficiency, working satisfaction and flexibility in order to provide the necessary knowledge upon which changes in work organization may be made. This report is based upon two interim reports, Hale (1975) and Morgan (1977), which were submitted to the Institute of the Motor Industry Education Trust Fund in 1975 and 1977 respectively. The first study was carried out in eight garages where questionnaires and interviews were administered to workshop personnel. The main conclusions of this report were that mechanics were dissatisfied with their pay and that the bonus systems as operated in many garages had various adverse effects including competition for jobs and conflict with management. The main research study carried out between 1975 and 1977 was undertaken in 15 Midland garages where structured interviews were held with mechanics, apprentices, service managers, receptionists and foremen. In this study special attention was given to the different payment systems for three reasons. The first interim report had indicated some adverse effects of the bonus schemes. Secondly the existing payment systems were causing immediate concern because the decline in service work in some cases was preventing the attainment of bonus earnings. Thirdly, any modifications to existing jobs are likely to be influenced by, and may determine, the system of payment. An age survey
questionnaire was also distributed to 500 garages. The main findings of this study were that mechanics were dissatisfied with their pay and considered their earnings to be inequitable when compared to other groups of workers. A process of selection or adaptation seemed to be operating in that mechanics, whether on day-rate or bonus, expressed a preference for their present payment system. The main sources of discontent over the bonus schemes were loss of bonus earned on individual jobs and over the allocation of work. As a result of the ways in which work was allocated, mechanics felt their earnings were dependent upon the jobs they received, rather than the effort they made.
Experimental design and statistical techniques 9.1.40 (73120)
Willmert, K.D., and Potter, T.E. An improved human display model for occupant crash simulation programs. Technical Report Jul 1975 - J u n 1976. Apr 1976, 24 pp; abstr in Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports (Report No AD-A026719; MIE-018. Presented is an improved threedimensional display model of a human being which can be used to display the results of three-dimensional simulation programmes that predict the positions of an occupant during impact of a vehicle. The model allows the user to view the occupant from any orientation in any position during the crash. The display model assumes the usual break up of the body into rigid segments which is normal for occupant crash simulation programmes, but the shapes of the segments in the display model are not necessarily the same as those used in the crash simulation. The display model is proportioned so as to produce a realistic drawing of the human body in any position, joints connecting the segments are also drawn to improve realism.