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The ergonomics of laser scanner checkout systems
The communication aid, the Lightspot Operated Typewriter, is designed for patients who have left only some motor control of the head. A report is given on: ( 1) the functional and ergonomic properties of the LOT; (2) the training programme; (3) the class of patients who can benefit from the LOT; (4) the procedure of supply by the Med-Care System; and (5) the maintenance, service and industrial production. The LOT has been developed to meet minimum requirements for communication for the group of physically severely disabled persons with no other usable function than the head motions.
Workplace layout and equipment design 15.2.20 (85704) Caple, D.,et al Mail delivery vehicle. An ergonomic study (Fordonsutformning for Bilbrevbaring. En Ergonomisk Studie). (In Swedish.) National Board of Occupational Safety and Health (Arbetarskyddsstyrelsen), Stockholm, Investigation Report No 1981 : 29, 56 pp. The present study deals with ergonomic features of vehicles used for the delivery of mail. A description of present working conditions for drivers showed that a reduction of workload would be gained from improvements of the workplace design. Special studies were made of stepping heights, the dimensions and function of the door and the positioning of the steering wheel and letter tray in the car. On the basis of this study and earlier research on ergonomic features of machines, recommendations have been made for the ergonomic design of the postal car. Recommended ergonomic values should, to a large extent, also be applicable to other distribution vehicles used for similar functions. 15.2.21 (85708) Wilson, J., and Grey, S. The ergonomics of laser scanner checkout systems. In: Proceedings of the Ergonomics Society's Conference 1983, Edited by K. Coombes. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London 1983, pp 5 7 - 6 2 . Several aspects of the work of laser scanner check-out operators have been examined in a series of studies. Two areas of concern have been investigated in particular and are reported here. A study was made of comfortable reach profiles for scanning, comparing these with the actual reach required by the present scanner position. The present layout was found to be inadequate for smaller potential operators. The second
study was of cashier satisfaction with job characteristics and work context. Satisfaction with these was low for both laser scanner and electronic cash register operators and the former group were signficantly less satisfied with work context factors. Difficulties experienced by laser scanner operators may be attributed to operational problems and specific deficiencies in workplace design rather than to inadequacies in laser scanning as a concept. 15.2.22 (85713) Dixon, A.H., Williams, J.F., and Jonbert, P.N. Safety requirements of bus seats and seat anchorages. Australian Department of Transport, Office of Road Safety, Dickson, Australia, Report No CR 25, 1982, 234 pp. Literature on bus safety was surveyed with emphasis on seat design, seat standards and injury mechanisms together with a study of accident statistics. Existing standards were investigated and the local manufacturing industry surveyed. Accidents were attended and studied with particular emphasis on seat and seat anchorage damage. A testing programme was carried out on a representative sample of seats currently in use in Australia to determine seat back force deflection characteristics, energy absorbing properties and anchorage strengths. Inter-alia it was concluded unlikely that any of the seats tested would have satisfied all of the requirements of the current overseas bus seat standards.
15.2.23 (85717) Bergovist, H., e t al Ergonomics aspects of water mixers for domestic use. A study of user acceptance and energy and water consumption in relation to the desigi, of shower heads and water mixers. In: Proceedings of the Ergonomics Society's Conference 1983, Edited by K. Coombes. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London, 1983, pp 2 1 - 2 3 . Manufacturers of shower equipment have developed water mixers and shower heads specially designed to reduce water and energy consumption. Energy-saving effects are used as important arguments in marketing these products. However, little is known about how energy-saving developments affect acceptability to the user. This study concerns the relationships between user acceptance, water and energy consumption and a number of physical characteristics of water mixers and shower heads. One of the aims of the study has been to determine whether changes in the design of shower equipment can result in the
saving of water and energy without necessitating changes in user behaviour, or functioning at a level below that acceptable to the user. The study is one of a series, sponsored by the Swedish Board for Technical Development and the National Swedish Board for Consumer Policies, concerning ergonomic factors relevant to the design of taps, water mixers and showers. Previous studies within this project have concerned symbol design, forces that can be applied by healthy and disabled hands to different types of taps, and preferred directions of movement for controlling water temperature and flow. A study of precision of movement for healthy and disabled hands for different types and orientations of controls is in progress. 15.2.24 (85723) Fulton, E.J. Lawnmower accident investigation. Institute for Consumer Ergonomics, University of Technology, Loughborough, 1982, 88 pp. In February 1981 the Institute for Consumer Ergonomics was asked by the Department of Trade to carry out an investigation of accidents involving domestic lawnmowers. The aim was to provide information about the nature of these accidents and to identify ways in which their number and severity could be reduced. This report represents the findings from the investigation which was carried out in three main stages. (1) an accident follow up study to provide information about the circumstances of accidents and to discover what user activities and lawnmower features were associated with them, (2) ergonomics assessment and user trials to examine what aspects of these activities and lawnmower features are potentially hazardous and to what extent features on currently available lawnmowers incorporate aspects of potentially hazardous design, and (3) combining information from (1) and (2), to identify design measures which may eliminate or reduce the effect of hazards. The first section of the report provides a rationale and background to the study. Results from the accident study are summarised in Section 2. Findings from the hazard assessment of features on currently available mowers, and design criteria which aim to overcome them, are given in Section 3. The final section summarises and discusses the recommended criteria for design and discusses several areas, which have not been dealt with in the investigation but which deserve attention. 15.2.25 (85727) Williams, J.C., and Vitalis, A. Human factors and the design of an
Applied Ergonomics
June 1984
145
Workplace layout and equipment design 15.2.20 (85704) Caple, D.,et al Mail delivery vehicle. An ergonomic study (Fordonsutformning for Bilbrevbaring. En Ergonomisk Studie). (In Swedish.) National Board of Occupational Safety and Health (Arbetarskyddsstyrelsen), Stockholm, Investigation Report No 1981 : 29, 56 pp. The present study deals with ergonomic features of vehicles used for the delivery of mail. A description of present working conditions for drivers showed that a reduction of workload would be gained from improvements of the workplace design. Special studies were made of stepping heights, the dimensions and function of the door and the positioning of the steering wheel and letter tray in the car. On the basis of this study and earlier research on ergonomic features of machines, recommendations have been made for the ergonomic design of the postal car. Recommended ergonomic values should, to a large extent, also be applicable to other distribution vehicles used for similar functions. 15.2.21 (85708) Wilson, J., and Grey, S. The ergonomics of laser scanner checkout systems. In: Proceedings of the Ergonomics Society's Conference 1983, Edited by K. Coombes. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London 1983, pp 5 7 - 6 2 . Several aspects of the work of laser scanner check-out operators have been examined in a series of studies. Two areas of concern have been investigated in particular and are reported here. A study was made of comfortable reach profiles for scanning, comparing these with the actual reach required by the present scanner position. The present layout was found to be inadequate for smaller potential operators. The second
study was of cashier satisfaction with job characteristics and work context. Satisfaction with these was low for both laser scanner and electronic cash register operators and the former group were signficantly less satisfied with work context factors. Difficulties experienced by laser scanner operators may be attributed to operational problems and specific deficiencies in workplace design rather than to inadequacies in laser scanning as a concept. 15.2.22 (85713) Dixon, A.H., Williams, J.F., and Jonbert, P.N. Safety requirements of bus seats and seat anchorages. Australian Department of Transport, Office of Road Safety, Dickson, Australia, Report No CR 25, 1982, 234 pp. Literature on bus safety was surveyed with emphasis on seat design, seat standards and injury mechanisms together with a study of accident statistics. Existing standards were investigated and the local manufacturing industry surveyed. Accidents were attended and studied with particular emphasis on seat and seat anchorage damage. A testing programme was carried out on a representative sample of seats currently in use in Australia to determine seat back force deflection characteristics, energy absorbing properties and anchorage strengths. Inter-alia it was concluded unlikely that any of the seats tested would have satisfied all of the requirements of the current overseas bus seat standards.
15.2.23 (85717) Bergovist, H., e t al Ergonomics aspects of water mixers for domestic use. A study of user acceptance and energy and water consumption in relation to the desigi, of shower heads and water mixers. In: Proceedings of the Ergonomics Society's Conference 1983, Edited by K. Coombes. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London, 1983, pp 2 1 - 2 3 . Manufacturers of shower equipment have developed water mixers and shower heads specially designed to reduce water and energy consumption. Energy-saving effects are used as important arguments in marketing these products. However, little is known about how energy-saving developments affect acceptability to the user. This study concerns the relationships between user acceptance, water and energy consumption and a number of physical characteristics of water mixers and shower heads. One of the aims of the study has been to determine whether changes in the design of shower equipment can result in the
saving of water and energy without necessitating changes in user behaviour, or functioning at a level below that acceptable to the user. The study is one of a series, sponsored by the Swedish Board for Technical Development and the National Swedish Board for Consumer Policies, concerning ergonomic factors relevant to the design of taps, water mixers and showers. Previous studies within this project have concerned symbol design, forces that can be applied by healthy and disabled hands to different types of taps, and preferred directions of movement for controlling water temperature and flow. A study of precision of movement for healthy and disabled hands for different types and orientations of controls is in progress. 15.2.24 (85723) Fulton, E.J. Lawnmower accident investigation. Institute for Consumer Ergonomics, University of Technology, Loughborough, 1982, 88 pp. In February 1981 the Institute for Consumer Ergonomics was asked by the Department of Trade to carry out an investigation of accidents involving domestic lawnmowers. The aim was to provide information about the nature of these accidents and to identify ways in which their number and severity could be reduced. This report represents the findings from the investigation which was carried out in three main stages. (1) an accident follow up study to provide information about the circumstances of accidents and to discover what user activities and lawnmower features were associated with them, (2) ergonomics assessment and user trials to examine what aspects of these activities and lawnmower features are potentially hazardous and to what extent features on currently available lawnmowers incorporate aspects of potentially hazardous design, and (3) combining information from (1) and (2), to identify design measures which may eliminate or reduce the effect of hazards. The first section of the report provides a rationale and background to the study. Results from the accident study are summarised in Section 2. Findings from the hazard assessment of features on currently available mowers, and design criteria which aim to overcome them, are given in Section 3. The final section summarises and discusses the recommended criteria for design and discusses several areas, which have not been dealt with in the investigation but which deserve attention. 15.2.25 (85727) Williams, J.C., and Vitalis, A. Human factors and the design of an
Applied Ergonomics
June 1984
145