An insight into Ergonomics

ERGONOMICSLevent Çaglar

Senior Ergonomist

Oct 2014

…a multi-disciplinary approachto achieve a good fit between:

People

Equipment they use

Work they do

Environment in which they operate

What is Ergonomics?

An example

An example

Where there are people there are always ergonomics issues

Ergonomics is concerned with everyone; from babies to the elderly.

Schools Offices Factories

Ergonomics encompasses all places

Furniture Ergonomics

Concentrates on:

How well the furniture fits people

Is the furniture fit for purpose?

Safety of furniture/risk of injury

Comfort and well-being of users

Size matters?

Workplace ergonomics Workplace design and assessment for employers

Compliance with Regulations DSE, Health & Safety, DDA Regulations

Ergonomics risk assessments and solutions Furniture specification development for facilities managers and procurement

Testing of furniture to ergonomic standards Ergonomics Product Evaluations Ergonomics input to design & development Research Standards development at BSI, CEN and ISO committees Training, Seminars, Workshops Expert witness service

Activities of FIRA Ergonomics

Workplace design & evaluation

Compliance with Health & Safety Regulations DSE Manual Handling

Ergonomics risk assessments and solutions

Compliance with regulations

Risk assessments

Working with Facilities managers & Procurement

Development of technical /ergonomics furniture specification and evaluation of bids

Furniture selection / user trials

Furniture Spec development & assessment

Furniture Selection Process

Preparation of tender documents

Delivery and Installation

Ordering

Final decision making

Evaluation of shortlisted products

Shortlist Companies/Products

Evaluation of bid documents

Preparation of tender documents

Specification DevelopmentUser Needs Organisational

Needs Special Needs Sustainability Needs

BS EN ISO Standards

Criteria for objective evaluation (Weighted)

Prototype workstations

Controlled user evaluations Real life user trials

Test to existing standards

BS EN 1335 – 1

BS EN 527 – 1

BS EN ISO 9241 – 5

BS EN 1023 – 1

BS EN 1729 -1

NEN, DIN, BIFMA standards etc.

Develop new tests as required

for chair headrests, coat hangers

Monitor arms, laptop stands, document holders

Testing and standards

Measured to ensure that they will dimensionally fit the intended population.

Standards:

BS EN 1335-1

BS EN 527-1

BS EN ISO 9241

Ergonomics testing

Ergonomics Evaluations of products:

Appraisals

Fitness for purpose

Risk analysis - assessment

Ergonomics Excellence Award

Product evaluations

Pushchairs

Highchairs

Bunk Beds

Cot Beds

Luggage

User trials for any product assessment

Risk assessment/product liability

As more and more products become ‘ergonomic’, there is now

a need to differentiate between products claiming to be

ergonomic.

Even though all such products comply with appropriate ergonomics standards.

‘Ergonomic’ products

Launched in order to identify and differentiate those products which excel in ergonomics from

those which only meet the minimum requirements of ergonomic standards.

FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award

BS EN ISO 9241 - 5

FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award

User trials

Pressure mapping of chairs

Ergonomically Excellent Products:

Improve well being, and health & safety of staff

Improve efficiency & productivity of workforce

Increase morale of workforce

Reduce staff turnover & absenteeism

Reduce the number of litigation cases

FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award

Winners of FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award

Sayl ChairHerman Miller

ID Concept ChairsVitra

Orvia ChairsBurgess

M8 Monitor ArmHumanscale

LITE iPad SupportErgonomic Cafe

Axess Ergo Dealer DeskSBFI

Winners of FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award

AeronHerman Miller

NewtonOrangebox

FreedomHumanscale

MovyIntestuhl

Laptop holderHumanscale

Logic 400RH Chairs

Product design & development

Research

2001: Survey of School children in England.

Design Guide

Expert witness service

Activities of FIRA Ergonomics

Main findings were:

Children are still growing 1cm per decade

Main growth is taking place in the legs

2001 Survey of school children in England

www.schoolfurniture.uk.com

FIRA CFG DfES website for guidance

Ergonomics

Educational Furniture

Office Furniture

Domestic/Contract Furniture

Kitchens

FIRA Ergonomics standards activities

General Ergonomics

Ergonomics specific to clients

Furniture Ergonomics

Benefits to users

Health & Safety Regulations

Risk assessments

Manual handling

Training, seminars and workshops

Spinal tracing

Method being developed for mesh back chairs

• To determine effectiveness of lumbar support

• To verify auto adjustment

Spinal tracing

Meet the teamMeet the team

Levent ÇaglarHead of Ergonomics Department – Senior Ergonomist

Sukhneet AsseeDesign Ergonomist

Lorna ReedErgonomist

Matt GodboldErgonomics Assistant