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Product safety assessment
News VDU glare reduction Glare Filter Ltd are introducing a range of screens for VDUs which are claimed to eliminate the glare and reflection from the surface of cathode ray tubes. The screens reduce surface glare while enhancing character contrast and improving screen readability. They are constructed of light absorbent black nylon fibres which are woven in an extremely regular square weave pattern which results in a honeycomb effect, trapping and absorbing the light which causes glare and reflection. The screen can be inserted between the bezel and the tube or directly adhered to the tube surface. Because it fits snugly to the CRT following the curvature, the whole screen can be viewed without distortion or hazing. The resolution is better and the characters clearer because they are viewed directly through the pores of the mesh with no etched or coated surface to cause blurring. The contrast is enhanced by the black matrix effect and the characters are given a sharper outline. The screens do not fingerprint and are maintained by wiping with a cloth. For further information contact Glare Filter Ltd, 20 Eastwick Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey. (Tel: Walton on Thames (09322) 46551).
A Norwegian ergonomic system
arise as a result of failure of foreseeable misuse are all factors determining whether equipment can be regarded as safe. Further information from ERA Technology Ltd, Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SA (Tel: Leatherhead (03723) 74151).
Kerb-climbing wheelchair Reported in Design magazine for July was the Canadian industrial designer Douglas Bali's electric kerbclimbing wheechair which can cope with 230 mm kerbs or a 25 ° slope. The final prototype has two doublewheeled rotating arms which enable the chair to be raised 250 mm so that the passenger can work at a counter or talk comfortably to someone standing. It is also claimed that the wheelchair can cross rough terrain. The left and right sets of wheels are powered separately to assist manoeuvring in tight corners, especially when the removable, pneumatic front wheel is replaced by the small caster option. The chair is more compact than the standard wheelchair, being 580 mm wide and either 710 mm or 940 mm long. The upholstered seat provides spinal support and comfort in both upright and reclining positions, and it can be removed and used to carry the passenger.
Product safety assessment ERA Technology Ltd has introduced a new service to assist manufacturers and others who require safety assessments of electrical and electronic products, and particularly industrial products, where these are not fully covered by established approvals schemes. The need for such a service has been expressed to ERA by many companies who are conscious of their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, equipment is safe for its intended conditions of use. The service will concentrate initially on providing independent evaluation, and producing reports for designers, manufacturers and distributors on the adequacy of the safety provisions made. Assistance will also be available for the preparation of user instructions, maintenance schedules and repair documentation. The way in which equipment is put into service, used and maintained, and the hazards which may Wheelchair in 'raised' position
Statistics show that every fifth Norwegian suffers from muscular/ skeleton diseases, one-third of all registered illnesses are muscular/skeleton diseases, approximately 60% of sick leave in industry is caused by muscular/ skeleton diseases, and in Norway in 1976 the total cost for sick leave was estimated to $2 billion, of which muscular/skeleton diseases accounted for more than $1 billion. In order to reduce and prevent muscular/skeleton diseases, Standard Telefon og Kabelfabrik A/S (a Norwegian subsidiary of ITT) started in 1974 research and development of an ergonomically correct working station. The result is called System Ergonom, which consists of three main elements: •
The table which can be electrically raised/lowered to desired height, with angle adjustment of table top. • The chair with individual height and angle adjustments of seat, back and armrests.
•
The light fittings with asymmetrical and non-reflective light adjustable in area and intensity.
The combination of these three elements gives a flexible working station and for each individual operator an ergonomically correct working position independent of the operator's physical capacity. Static strain in the muscular/skeleton system is avoided and thereby the primary cause for diseases is removed. System Ergonom has been in operation since 1975 and results have been closely monitored by Statens Arbeidsfysiologiske Institutt (Institute of Work Physiology). The results show that: • Sick leave decreased by more than 50% (from 23% to 11%). •
Yearly turnover of employees went down from 40% in 1974 to 5% in 1980.
•
40% of employees who had been given early retirement or transferred to other jobs due to muscular/ skeleton diseases, could be given back their old jobs on full time.
The chair seat is adjustable from horizontal by 15 ° forwards and 5 ° backwards. Seat height adjustment is 4 0 0 - 6 0 0 mm. The back is height and depth adjustable, the angle between seat and back is opened when the seat is tipped forward. The back has spring
Applied Ergonomics March 1981
57
A Norwegian ergonomic system
arise as a result of failure of foreseeable misuse are all factors determining whether equipment can be regarded as safe. Further information from ERA Technology Ltd, Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SA (Tel: Leatherhead (03723) 74151).
Kerb-climbing wheelchair Reported in Design magazine for July was the Canadian industrial designer Douglas Bali's electric kerbclimbing wheechair which can cope with 230 mm kerbs or a 25 ° slope. The final prototype has two doublewheeled rotating arms which enable the chair to be raised 250 mm so that the passenger can work at a counter or talk comfortably to someone standing. It is also claimed that the wheelchair can cross rough terrain. The left and right sets of wheels are powered separately to assist manoeuvring in tight corners, especially when the removable, pneumatic front wheel is replaced by the small caster option. The chair is more compact than the standard wheelchair, being 580 mm wide and either 710 mm or 940 mm long. The upholstered seat provides spinal support and comfort in both upright and reclining positions, and it can be removed and used to carry the passenger.
Product safety assessment ERA Technology Ltd has introduced a new service to assist manufacturers and others who require safety assessments of electrical and electronic products, and particularly industrial products, where these are not fully covered by established approvals schemes. The need for such a service has been expressed to ERA by many companies who are conscious of their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, equipment is safe for its intended conditions of use. The service will concentrate initially on providing independent evaluation, and producing reports for designers, manufacturers and distributors on the adequacy of the safety provisions made. Assistance will also be available for the preparation of user instructions, maintenance schedules and repair documentation. The way in which equipment is put into service, used and maintained, and the hazards which may Wheelchair in 'raised' position
Statistics show that every fifth Norwegian suffers from muscular/ skeleton diseases, one-third of all registered illnesses are muscular/skeleton diseases, approximately 60% of sick leave in industry is caused by muscular/ skeleton diseases, and in Norway in 1976 the total cost for sick leave was estimated to $2 billion, of which muscular/skeleton diseases accounted for more than $1 billion. In order to reduce and prevent muscular/skeleton diseases, Standard Telefon og Kabelfabrik A/S (a Norwegian subsidiary of ITT) started in 1974 research and development of an ergonomically correct working station. The result is called System Ergonom, which consists of three main elements: •
The table which can be electrically raised/lowered to desired height, with angle adjustment of table top. • The chair with individual height and angle adjustments of seat, back and armrests.
•
The light fittings with asymmetrical and non-reflective light adjustable in area and intensity.
The combination of these three elements gives a flexible working station and for each individual operator an ergonomically correct working position independent of the operator's physical capacity. Static strain in the muscular/skeleton system is avoided and thereby the primary cause for diseases is removed. System Ergonom has been in operation since 1975 and results have been closely monitored by Statens Arbeidsfysiologiske Institutt (Institute of Work Physiology). The results show that: • Sick leave decreased by more than 50% (from 23% to 11%). •
Yearly turnover of employees went down from 40% in 1974 to 5% in 1980.
•
40% of employees who had been given early retirement or transferred to other jobs due to muscular/ skeleton diseases, could be given back their old jobs on full time.
The chair seat is adjustable from horizontal by 15 ° forwards and 5 ° backwards. Seat height adjustment is 4 0 0 - 6 0 0 mm. The back is height and depth adjustable, the angle between seat and back is opened when the seat is tipped forward. The back has spring
Applied Ergonomics March 1981
57