7th Edition

Fitting the Human Introduction to Ergonomics / Human Factors Engineering, Seventh Edition

By Karl H.E. Kroemer Copyright 2017

    This new edition undergraduate introductory textbook follows the motto of the previous versions: "Solid information, easy-to-read, easy to understand, easy to apply." The aim remains the same: "Human engineering" workplaces, tools, machinery, computers, lighting, shiftwork, work demands, the environment, officers, vehicles, the home – and everything else that we can design to fit the human. The new edition is up-to-date in content and language, in data and illustrations. Like previous versions, this book is for students and professionals in engineering, design, architecture, safety and management and to everybody else who wants to make work safe, efficient, satisfying, and even enjoyable.

    Preface xiii

    About the Author xvii

    The first page 1

    Section I

    The human body

    1 Body sizes 5

    1.1 Our Earth’s populations 5

    1.2 Measurements 5

    1.3 No “average person” 11

    1.4 Designing to fit the body 27

    Summary 29

    Fitting steps 30

    Further reading 30

    Notes 31

    2 Mobility 33

    2.1 Work in motion 33

    2.2 Body joints 35

    2.3 Designing for mobility 43

    2.4 Workspaces 44

    vi Contents

    Summary 51

    Fitting steps 51

    Notes 51

    3 Muscular work 53

    3.1 Physiological basics 53

    3.2 Dynamic and static efforts, strength tests 58

    3.3 Fatigue and recovery 62

    3.4 Use of muscle strength data in design 63

    Summary 67

    Fitting steps 67

    Notes 67

    4 Body strength 69

    4.1 Static and dynamic strength exertions 70

    4.2 Maximal or minimal strength exertion 72

    4.3 Hand strength 73

    4.4 Foot strength 76

    4.5 Whole body strength 78

    4.6 Design for use preferences 79

    Summary 83

    Fitting steps 83

    Further reading 84

    Notes 84

    Section II

    The human mind

    5 How we see 87

    5.1 Our eyes 88

    5.2 Seeing the environment 90

    5.3 Dim and bright viewing conditions 97

    Summary 102

    Fitting steps 102

    Further reading 102

    Notes 103

    Contents vii

    6 How we hear 105

    6.1 Our ears 105

    6.2 Hearing sounds 107

    6.3 Noise and its effects 113

    Summary 123

    Fitting steps 124

    Notes 124

    7 How we sense objects and energy 125

    7.1 Sensing body movement 125

    7.2 The feel of objects, energy, and pain 127

    7.3 Designing for tactile perception 130

    Summary 134

    Fitting steps 135

    Notes 135

    8 How we experience indoor and outside climates 137

    8.1 Human thermoregulation 137

    8.2 Climate factors: Temperatures, humidity, drafts 143

    8.3 Our personal climate 145

    8.4 Working in hot environments 148

    8.5 Working in cold environments 150

    8.6 Climate effects on mental tasks 153

    8.7 Designing comfortable climates 153

    Summary 154

    Fitting steps 155

    Notes 156

    Section III

    Body and mind working together

    9 Mental activities 161

    9.1 The brain–nerve network 161

    9.2 Taking up and processing information 170

    9.3 Making decisions 175

    9.4 Actions and reactions 178

    viii Contents

    Summary 181

    Fitting steps 182

    Notes 182

    10 Hard physical work 185

    10.1 Physiological principles 185

    10.2 Energy consumption 186

    10.3 Heart rate as a measure of work demands 191

    10.4 Limits of human labor capacity 193

    10.5 Designing heavy human work 197

    Summary 198

    Fitting steps 198

    Notes 200

    11 Light and moderate work 201

    11.1 Physiological and psychological principles 202

    11.2 Tiredness, boredom, and alertness at work 205

    11.3 Suitable postures at work 208

    11.4 Accurate, fast, skillful activities 211

    Summary 217

    Fitting steps 218

    Notes 219

    12 Task load and stress 221

    12.1 Task load 221

    12.2 Mental workload 224

    12.3 Distress 225

    12.4 Underload and overload 227

    12.5 Psychophysical assessments of task loads 228

    Summary 231

    Fitting steps 232

    Notes 232

    Contents ix

    Section IV

    Organizing and managing work

    13 Working with others 235

    13.1 Getting along with others 236

    13.2 Motivation and behavior 238

    13.3 Task demands, job rewards 242

    Summary 244

    Fitting steps 245

    Notes 245

    14 The organization and you 247

    14.1 The human is in the center 247

    14.2 Organizational strategy 249

    14.3 Organizational structure 250

    14.4 Organizational conduits 252

    14.5 Organizational regulations and rules 252

    14.6 Organizational culture 253

    14.7 Individual thoughts, feelings, and behavior 254

    14.8 A good place to work 256

    Summary 257

    Fitting steps 258

    Notes 259

    15 Working hours and sleep 261

    15.1 Circadian body rhythms 261

    15.2 Sleep 264

    15.3 Rest pauses and time off work 269

    15.4 Daily and weekly working time 271

    Summary 276

    Fitting steps 277

    Further reading 277

    Notes 277

    x Contents

    16 Night and shift work 279

    16.1 Organizing shift work 281

    16.2 Three basic solutions for shift work 282

    16.3 Shift patterns 284

    16.4 Selecting suitable shift systems 285

    Summary 286

    Fitting steps 287

    Notes 287

    Section V

    Human engineering

    17 Designing the home 291

    17.1 Designing for mother and child 292

    17.2 Designing for impaired and elderly persons 293

    17.3 Access, walkways, steps, and stairs 293

    17.4 Kitchen 294

    17.5 Bedroom, bath, and toilet 295

    17.6 Lighting, heating, and cooling 297

    17.7 Home office 297

    Summary 301

    Notes and more information 302

    18 Office design 303

    18.1 Office spaces 304

    18.2 The physical environment 307

    18.3 Office furniture 317

    18.4 Ergonomic design of the office workstation 322

    Summary 330

    Notes and more information 333

    19 Computer design and use 337

    19.1 Sholes’ typewriting machine with its

    QWERTY keyboard 338

    19.2 From typewriter to computer keyboard 339

    19.3 Human factors considerations for keyboarding 341

    Contents xi

    19.4 Input-related anthromechanical issues 345

    19.5 Possible design solutions 346

    19.6 Design alternatives for keyboards 349

    19.7 Designing for new syntax and diction 350

    19.8 Designing smart software 351

    19.9 Designs that combine solutions 351

    Summary 352

    Notes and more information 353

    20 Workplace design 355

    20.1 Sizing the workplace to fit the body 355

    20.2 On the feet or sitting down? 358

    20.3 Manipulating, reaching, grasping 361

    20.4 Displays and controls 364

    Summary 369

    Notes 370

    21 Load handling 371

    21.1 Material handling strains the body 371

    21.2 Body capabilities related to load handling 372

    21.3 Assessing load handling capabilities 375

    21.4 NIOSH’s lifting and lowering guidelines 378

    21.5 Liberty Mutual’s material handling guidelines 379

    21.6 Designing for easy load handling 381

    Summary 385

    Notes 387

    22 Healthcare for patients and providers 391

    22.1 Patient care and safety 392

    22.2 Care staff performance and safety 392

    22.3 Emergency medical services, paramedics,

    first aid physicians, ambulances 393

    22.4 Design of wheelchairs and hospital beds 394

    22.5 Moving patients 395

    22.6 Medication alerts 397

    22.7 Electronic personal and health records 398

    22.8 Medical devices 399

    22.9 Stress in the workplace 399

    22.10 Safety guidelines, standards, and laws 400

    xii Contents

    Summary 400

    Notes 401

    23 Autonomous automobiles: Emerging ergonomic

    issues 405

    23.1 Road travel by automobile 406

    23.2 Reasons for reengineering road traffic 406

    23.3 Better ergonomics 407

    23.4 New technologies—New ergonomic challenges 410

    Summary 412

    Notes 413

    24 Making work efficient and pleasant 415

    24.1 Using our skills and interests; getting along

    with others at work 415

    24.2 Setting up our own work, workplace,

    and work environment 419

    Summary 424

    Notes and more information 425

    The last page 427

    References 429

    Index 445

    Biography

    Karl H. E. Kroemer is professor emeritus of industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. He was a member of the Committee on Human Factors of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. He was an elected fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and of the Ergonomics Society. Dr. Kroemer earned a BS, an MS, and a PhD in mechanical engineering, from Technical University Hannover, Germany. He has authored or coauthored over 200 publications and articles on various human factors, ergonomics, and physiology topics.

    "Kroemer´s book is a canon in the field of ergonomics. It gives an easy-to-read, but still comprehensive introduction to many of the different aspects of ergonomics. The chapters contain a number of tables, thorough information of relevance for designers and engineers. The book will help designers and engineers to designing systems and environments that fit the human body and mind."
    —Kjell Ivar Øvergård, University College of Southeast Norway

    "This book is definitely a must have for beginners. In addition, it is a great book to have for an update to the most recent topics in ergonomics and human factors engineering. This book provides depth and rigor contents yet it’s easy to understand."
    — Satoshi Muraki, Kyushu University, Japan