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A physiological evaluation of time standards for warehouse operations as set by traditional work measurement techniques
1 2 - 1 4 June 1986, Edited by W. Karwowski. North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1986, pp 3 9 7 - 4 0 4 . Finger temperatures were measured in 53 professional musicians before and after the performance of three musical tasks. Each subject filled out a Profile of Mood State questionnaire. This paper demonstrates the effect of both biomechanical - i e, musculoskeletal patterning - and psychological factors on musicians' hand temperature. An understanding of these relationships would help preventing 'cold hand' symptoms, so common among musicians. Biofeedback regulation of muscle tension, using hand temperature as an index, is suggested. 18.4.12 (103352)
Garg, A. A review of physiological evaluation of time standards for strenuous work. In: Trends in Ergonomics/Human Factors Ill, Proceedings of the Annual International Industrial Ergonomics and Safety Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1 2 - 1 4 June 1986, Edited by W. Karwowski. NorthHolland, Amsterdam, 1986, pp 5 4 5 553. There are currently two groups of individuals studying assessment of physical work load. These are industrial engineers and analysts trained in traditional work measurement techniques, and work physiologists. The paper reviews the acceptable levels of physiological responses for an 8-hour workday, and compares these with the physiological responses at the recommended work loads based on traditional work measurement techniques. It is concluded that the two disciplines disagree strongly. Work loads based on traditional work measurement techniques significantly exceed the acceptable energy expenditure of a 5 kcal/min and/or heart rate of 110 beats/min. There is some evidence to believe that these work rates may result in increased incidences of injury and illness. Integration of physiological techniques with conventional practice is recommended. 18.4.13 (103353)
Asfour, S.S., Ayoub, M.M., Genaidy, A.M., and Khalil, T.M. A database of physiological responses
to manual lifting. In: Trends in Ergonomics/Human Factors Ill, Proceedings of the Annual International Industrial Ergonomics and Safety Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1 2 - 1 4 June 1986, Edited by W. Karwowski. North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1986, pp 8 0 1 - 8 0 9 . An experiment was conducted to study the metabolic and cardiovascular responses to manual lifting tasks. The
344
Applied Ergonomics
results showed that oxygen consumption and heart rate increased with the increase of load, frequency, height range, box length and box width. A comprehensive database of metabolic and cardiac costs was developed to provide an easy and useful tool to the design of manual lifting tasks. 18.4.14 (103357)
Garg, A., Hagglund, G., and Mericle, K. A physiological evaluation of time standards for warehouse operations as set by traditional work measurement techniques, liE Transactions, 1986, 18.3,235-245. This research studied physiological stresses to grocery order selectors. Sixty-three male workers from three different warehouses participated in the study. Oxygen uptake and heart rates were continuously recorded while the subjects performed their routine work. Performance levels of the workers were determined using the traditional work measurement techniques employed by the warehouses. The duration of the observations ranged from 12 to 65 min (mean 34 rain) depending on the size of the order and the pace of the worker. The mean performance levels (allowed time per order/actual time per order * 100) were 119, 111 and 98% and the corresponding mean metabolic rates were 6'2, 6"0 and 8-3 kcal/min and the mean heart rates were 110, 122, and 133 beats/min in warehouses 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Approximately 24, 30 and 64% of the male workers failed to meet the 100% performance index in warehouses 1, 2 and 3, respectively, while their average energy expenditure rates were 6-3, 5"4 and 8"4 kcal/min. There was no significant correlation between the energy expenditure and performance index and the heart rate and performance index. In terms of the physiological cost of work performed, there were inconsistencies within a warehouse and large differences between warehouses. Physiological requirements of the order selector's job are discussed.
aided system was developed to overcome deficiencies in information presentation. Interfaces to biomechanical static strength, reach and elemental time prediction models perform analysis and present results as 2-D guideline graphs and 3-D layouts of the operator and workspace. System demonstrations with engineers from industry suggest that the formats were effective in facilitating ergonomics insight and improved design solutions. 18.4.16 (103378)
Winters, J.A., and Chapanis, A. Thumb push forces exertabte by freestanding subjects. Ergonomics, 1986, 29.7,893 9 0 2 This study assessed the maximum pushing force that could be exerted by free-standing subjects, using thumbs only, on a small surface located in one of three horizontal positions at nine heights ranging from 13"5 to 169"9 cm above the floor. Each of t02 subjects made nine force exertion trials. Data are given on the cumulative percentages of subjects who could exert various forces at each of the 27 locations. An analysis of variance showed a highly significant effect due to location of the surface and highly significant interactions of location of the surface and trial presentation direction (top-down or bottom-up); of location of the surface and trial presentation pattern; and of location of the surface, trial presentation direction and trial presentation pattern. Maximum forces are exerted at about waist height and are increasingly reduced with increasing distances above and below the optimum location. Right-sided access to pushing surfaces is favoured over left-sided aCCeSS.
18.4.17 (103379)
Andersson, G.B.J., Schuttz, A.B., and Ortengren, R. Trunk muscle forces during desk work.
Ergonomics, 1986, 29.9, 1113---1 I27.
Myoelectric activities of several trunk muscles were measured when subjects performed several common table-work tasks. At the same time, the 18.4.15 (103363) contraction forces of these muscles Evans, S.M., and Chaffin, D.B. were calculated using a biomechanical Using interactive visual displays to model. The measured myoelectric present ergonomic information in activities were transformed from microworkspace design. In: Trends in volt to force data by means of regression Ergonomics/Human Factors llI, Proceedings of the Annual International analysis using a set of calibration experiments over the force range of Industrial Ergonomics and Safety interest. The authors suggest that tile Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, technique is more meaningful than USA, 1 2 - 1 4 June, 1986, Edited by W. relating the myoelectric data to, for Karwowski. North-Holland, Amsterdam, example, a maximum voluntary 1986. pp 17 24. contraction. Loading of the spine was generally low in office table work. The failure to use existing Further, the load levels were only ergonomics reference materials in marginally influenced by such factors industrial workspace design was as table-chair adjustment, manuscript investigated and an alternate computer-
December 1987
Garg, A. A review of physiological evaluation of time standards for strenuous work. In: Trends in Ergonomics/Human Factors Ill, Proceedings of the Annual International Industrial Ergonomics and Safety Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1 2 - 1 4 June 1986, Edited by W. Karwowski. NorthHolland, Amsterdam, 1986, pp 5 4 5 553. There are currently two groups of individuals studying assessment of physical work load. These are industrial engineers and analysts trained in traditional work measurement techniques, and work physiologists. The paper reviews the acceptable levels of physiological responses for an 8-hour workday, and compares these with the physiological responses at the recommended work loads based on traditional work measurement techniques. It is concluded that the two disciplines disagree strongly. Work loads based on traditional work measurement techniques significantly exceed the acceptable energy expenditure of a 5 kcal/min and/or heart rate of 110 beats/min. There is some evidence to believe that these work rates may result in increased incidences of injury and illness. Integration of physiological techniques with conventional practice is recommended. 18.4.13 (103353)
Asfour, S.S., Ayoub, M.M., Genaidy, A.M., and Khalil, T.M. A database of physiological responses
to manual lifting. In: Trends in Ergonomics/Human Factors Ill, Proceedings of the Annual International Industrial Ergonomics and Safety Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1 2 - 1 4 June 1986, Edited by W. Karwowski. North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1986, pp 8 0 1 - 8 0 9 . An experiment was conducted to study the metabolic and cardiovascular responses to manual lifting tasks. The
344
Applied Ergonomics
results showed that oxygen consumption and heart rate increased with the increase of load, frequency, height range, box length and box width. A comprehensive database of metabolic and cardiac costs was developed to provide an easy and useful tool to the design of manual lifting tasks. 18.4.14 (103357)
Garg, A., Hagglund, G., and Mericle, K. A physiological evaluation of time standards for warehouse operations as set by traditional work measurement techniques, liE Transactions, 1986, 18.3,235-245. This research studied physiological stresses to grocery order selectors. Sixty-three male workers from three different warehouses participated in the study. Oxygen uptake and heart rates were continuously recorded while the subjects performed their routine work. Performance levels of the workers were determined using the traditional work measurement techniques employed by the warehouses. The duration of the observations ranged from 12 to 65 min (mean 34 rain) depending on the size of the order and the pace of the worker. The mean performance levels (allowed time per order/actual time per order * 100) were 119, 111 and 98% and the corresponding mean metabolic rates were 6'2, 6"0 and 8-3 kcal/min and the mean heart rates were 110, 122, and 133 beats/min in warehouses 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Approximately 24, 30 and 64% of the male workers failed to meet the 100% performance index in warehouses 1, 2 and 3, respectively, while their average energy expenditure rates were 6-3, 5"4 and 8"4 kcal/min. There was no significant correlation between the energy expenditure and performance index and the heart rate and performance index. In terms of the physiological cost of work performed, there were inconsistencies within a warehouse and large differences between warehouses. Physiological requirements of the order selector's job are discussed.
aided system was developed to overcome deficiencies in information presentation. Interfaces to biomechanical static strength, reach and elemental time prediction models perform analysis and present results as 2-D guideline graphs and 3-D layouts of the operator and workspace. System demonstrations with engineers from industry suggest that the formats were effective in facilitating ergonomics insight and improved design solutions. 18.4.16 (103378)
Winters, J.A., and Chapanis, A. Thumb push forces exertabte by freestanding subjects. Ergonomics, 1986, 29.7,893 9 0 2 This study assessed the maximum pushing force that could be exerted by free-standing subjects, using thumbs only, on a small surface located in one of three horizontal positions at nine heights ranging from 13"5 to 169"9 cm above the floor. Each of t02 subjects made nine force exertion trials. Data are given on the cumulative percentages of subjects who could exert various forces at each of the 27 locations. An analysis of variance showed a highly significant effect due to location of the surface and highly significant interactions of location of the surface and trial presentation direction (top-down or bottom-up); of location of the surface and trial presentation pattern; and of location of the surface, trial presentation direction and trial presentation pattern. Maximum forces are exerted at about waist height and are increasingly reduced with increasing distances above and below the optimum location. Right-sided access to pushing surfaces is favoured over left-sided aCCeSS.
18.4.17 (103379)
Andersson, G.B.J., Schuttz, A.B., and Ortengren, R. Trunk muscle forces during desk work.
Ergonomics, 1986, 29.9, 1113---1 I27.
Myoelectric activities of several trunk muscles were measured when subjects performed several common table-work tasks. At the same time, the 18.4.15 (103363) contraction forces of these muscles Evans, S.M., and Chaffin, D.B. were calculated using a biomechanical Using interactive visual displays to model. The measured myoelectric present ergonomic information in activities were transformed from microworkspace design. In: Trends in volt to force data by means of regression Ergonomics/Human Factors llI, Proceedings of the Annual International analysis using a set of calibration experiments over the force range of Industrial Ergonomics and Safety interest. The authors suggest that tile Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, technique is more meaningful than USA, 1 2 - 1 4 June, 1986, Edited by W. relating the myoelectric data to, for Karwowski. North-Holland, Amsterdam, example, a maximum voluntary 1986. pp 17 24. contraction. Loading of the spine was generally low in office table work. The failure to use existing Further, the load levels were only ergonomics reference materials in marginally influenced by such factors industrial workspace design was as table-chair adjustment, manuscript investigated and an alternate computer-
December 1987