Ergonomic Design: Industrial and Office Checklists for More Ergonomic Workstations

Good ergonomic design reduces MSD risk factors and boosts productivity. Use these ergonomic design checklists to build more ergonomic workstations.

Introduction

Management commitment to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention involves both reactive and proactive workplace ergonomics. To this point, we have discussed an ergonomic improvement process that is reactive in nature.

Although evaluating and improving existing work task and process design is important, certainly the most cost-effective approach to workplace ergonomics is to establish a robust proactive program. A proactive design approach to ergonomics emphasizes primary prevention of MSD through recognizing, anticipating and eliminating risk factors in the ergonomic design and planning stages of new work processes.

Can you answer “yes” to the following questions? If not, you have some work to do in making your ergonomic improvement process proactive.

Have engineers responsible for work process design received special training on MSD prevention and ergonomics?
Are the ergonomics specialist and/or ergonomics team involved in new process development and design?
Do engineering specifications exist for new and modified equipment, jobs, and processes?
Is ergonomics specification approval required prior to capital expenditure and/or implementing new work production processes?
Are affected employees involved in the design process?
Is consideration given to affected upstream and downstream production processes?

The following ergonomic design checklist is designed to help engineers and those involved in process design evaluate what is needed and should be considered for a good ergonomic workstation design.

This checklist is unable to anticipate all variables and complexities and all possible combinations of people, work tasks, equipment, and work environment. Please recognize these limitations. However, use of this ergonomic design checklist, along with an understanding of the principles of ergonomics, will give you guidance on ergonomic workstation design to maximize productivity and minimize employee fatigue and discomfort that could eventually lead to an MSD.

Industrial Ergonomics Design Checklist

Ergonomic Lifting and Material Handling Design

Can the vertical height of material handling be designed to be adjustable to the optimal handling heights for each worker? If not, are workers able to accomplish manual material handling tasks in an acceptable vertical range as determined by the NIOSH Lifting Equation?
Are mechanical lifts and turntables used where feasible?
If adjustability is not practical, are the material handling and lifting tasks performed in a vertical height above the knees and below shoulder level?
Can the horizontal distance between initial and final points of lifting tasks be decreased? Or, can the start of the lift be moved closer to the worker’s body? When reaches exceed 16″, lifting and holding should be replaced with sliding if possible. Or, a mechanical lifting or assist device should be considered. If sliding or a mechanical assist is not feasible, the vertical height should be no greater than the optimal height. In many cases lowering the vertical height to the lower end of the acceptable vertical range can significantly reduce the stress on the arms when excessive reaching is required.
Can the shape of any containers be changed to allow material handling with the load held close to the body?
When objects are to be lifted and transferred between two points in the sagital plane (front to back), can the distance be adjusted to where no twisting without an opportunity to pivot is required? Critical distances are 24 to 48 inches; repeated lifting with 180 degree twisting and turning without foot pivoting should be avoided in this critical distance range.
Can hoists, cranes, conveyors, work carts, or other types of material handling devices be used for transporting heavy and bulky components within and between workstations?

Ergonomic Workstation Design

Can the worker be seated or can a sit/stand option be provided? Consider a seated or sit/stand workstation for high repetition and low force work with minimal reaching and movement requirements.
Is the height of the work surface adjustable?
For standing workstations, is the hand working height for normal assembly tasks between 36” and 48” (optimal fixed height = 42”)?
For standing workstations, is the hand working height for smaller precision assembly tasks between 40” and 52” (optimal fixed height = 46”)?
Can workers perform job demands with arms and elbows close to the body and wrists in a neutral position? Are there any physical obstructions that increase the reaching requirement?
Are seated workers provided with a good ergonomic chair or stool with adjustability, lumbar support and swivel features?
Can sustained static muscular work be avoided? Can elbow, wrist, arm, foot, and backrests be provided where needed to avoid static work?
Are materials supplied in a logical sequence?
Is there proper lighting for the task? Is task lighting provided where needed?
Are anti-fatigue mats provided for standing workstations?
Is the space adequate for the smallest and largest worker for reach and clearance?

Ergonomic Hand Tool Design

Are hand tools operable with straight wrist position?
Are hand tools powered where feasible?
Are hand tools counter balanced if weight is excessive? (Power grip tools should weigh < 4.0 lb., precision grip tools should weigh < 1.0 lb.)
Are hand tools equipped with handles shaped to contact as much of the hand and finger as possible? Do tools have a grip span between thumb and forefinger of less than three inches? (Optimal power grip span is 1.25 inches for males and 1.75 inches)
Are hand tools designed to eliminate sharp edges or ridges that might impair circulation or exert pressure on the nerves, and to eliminate pinch points?
Are hand tools designed to keep vibrations, torque, and “kick” within limits outlined in the Ergonomics Plus HAV evaluations and control guide?
Are hand tools designed to direct any cold air exhaust away from the hand?
Are hand tools designed to keep noise level within OSHA approved limits?

Ergonomic Visual Displays

Is the display correctly located for good posture, easy arm and foot reach, and clear viewing for all workers?
Can required data be easily and quickly obtained?
Is data readily visible without requiring awkward head/neck postures?
For standing workstations, is the top line of the screen within the acceptable range of 58” – 71” above the standing surface?
For seated workstations, is the top line of the screen within the acceptable range of 35 – 46” above the floor surface?
Is the viewing distance between 18” – 30”?
Is the pointer simple and non-obstructive?
Are displays located near its corresponding control?

Ergonomic Controls

Are controls within easy operating reach and operable with good posture such as wrists neutral and elbows close to the body?
Are push buttons or switches used repetitively for machine start cycle designed ergonomically to eliminate excessive force (greater than 3.4 lb.) and holding time (greater than 1.5 seconds)? If not, can the buttons or switches be replaced with a door switch? If not, can the buttons be replaced with an ergonomic cycle switch that requires no force to activate?
Does the control design conform to function?
Are levers used for continuous adjustment?
Are hand controls used for precision and speed?
Are foot controls used for power?
Is the control function logical? For example, does the leftward control movement give leftward unit movement and vice versa?
Do similar controls have similar functions?
Are controls shape-coded for good grip and easy identification?
Are controls consistent with population stereotypes?
Are controls labeled clearly?
Are controls color-coded between machines, operation, and departments?

Office Ergonomics Design Checklist

Ergonomic Seating Design

Is the chair vertically adjustable and on a five-point base?
Will the chair have an adjustable lumbar (low back) support?
Will the backrest provide adequate support for the back?
Will the seat pan width and depth provide for good fit and comfort?
Will the seat pan surface or cushion provide adequate comfort?
Will the seat pan have tilt adjustability?
Will the seat pan have depth (forward and backward) adjustability?
Will the seat pan have a rounded front to avoid pressure to the back of legs and knees?
When seated, will the knees be positioned no higher than the hips?
Will the feet rest flat on floor or are they supported by a stable footrest?
Will the chair have armrests that support your forearms and do not interfere with swivel or normal movements of the chair?

Ergonomic Keyboard & Mouse Design

Will the keyboard location allow the upper arms and elbows to be positioned close to body (arms not extended outward beyond 45 degrees)?
Will there be weight bearing support for the arms (chair arms or wrist rest) when you are using your keyboard?
Will the keyboard position and angle allow for a neutral wrist posture so hands are in a straight line with forearms (not bent up/down or sideways toward little finger)?
Will the mouse location allow you to keep your upper arm and elbow close to body (arm not extended outward beyond 45 degrees)?
Will there be weight bearing support for the arms (chair arm or wrist rest) when using the mouse?
Will the placement of the mouse allow for a neutral wrist posture so the hand is in a straight line with forearm (not bent up/down or sideways toward little finger)?
Will the arms and wrists rest upon surface areas (arm rests, wrist rests, desktop) absent any sharp or hard edges?

Ergonomic Computer Monitor Design

Will the monitor be placed in a location that eliminates glare on the screen which might cause awkward postures and positions to the read screen?
Will the screen be placed at right angles or away from windows and task lights to avoid glare and bright light directly behind the screen?
Will the screen be placed directly in front of the worker (no twisting of your head or neck)?
Will the top line of screen be at or slightly (0-30 degrees) below eye level?
Will the monitor be located at least arm’s length away from the worker’s eyes?
Will the worker be able to clearly read the screen without bending head, neck or trunk forward/backward?

Other Office Ergonomic Design Considerations

Will there be adequate desktop space available to perform job tasks without twisting, side bending, or reaching?
Will there be enough clearance for the feet, knees, and legs?
Will there be adequate space that allows swiveling of the chair (without leg obstruction) to perform work tasks?
If the job requires frequent telephone use, will a headset provided to use when phone communication is combined with hand tasks such as typing or writing?
If the job requires frequent viewing of documents, will a document holder provided to hold documents in a vertical position at the same height and distance as the monitor?

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Ergonomic Design: Industrial and Office Checklists for More Ergonomic Workstations

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Introduction

Industrial Ergonomics Design Checklist