Date: Fri, 10 Mar 1995 09:54:25 CST From: Nick Parker Subject: Re: station information > From: Lynn Spagnesi > Are there a set of standards out there as to monitor height, keyboard > placement/height etc. that one follows? I can't imagine the commerical world > hasn't come up with some. The only applicable US standards are ANSI/HFS 100, and MIL-STD 1472 (military). ANSI/HFS 100 is *very* limited in scope. In the preface it states that it is applicable only to seated operation of textual displays. It does not cover color displays, large displays, non-keyboard input devices (mice, trackballs, tablets, etc), and it does not cover standing postures. It does not cover software or work practices. Keep in mind that it is a standard, and *not* a practical guide on how to set up a work space. The main benefit of this standard is that it defines some common parameters, such as minimum leg clearance envelope, worksurface height, for a small (5th percentile) female, and a large (95th percentile) male. ANSI/HFS 100 was not a ground breaking standard, it simply formalized some existing information. If you'll check the anthropometric reference guides HUMANSCALE or MEASURE OF MAN, you'll see that ANSI/HFS 100 guidelines closely follow the data found in those (older) references. ANSI/HFS 100 is in revision, and supposedly the new version is to be released this year. I receive updates from the ANSI/HFS 100 Canvass Committee, and my guess is that it'll be quite some time before we actually see it. It will be broader in scope, but don't expect any earth shattering developments. OSHA was in the process of formulating ergonomics regulations, but it is highly unlikely (ice is likely to form you know where first) that they will be completed or released. MIL-STD 1472 C is a general human factors reference for the military, and probably won't do you much good. The primary EC (European Community) ergonomic standard is ISO 9241, which is a multi-part standard which covers many aspects of using video display terminals. It is much broader in scope than ANSI/HFS 100. If you are trying to fit a workstation to a particular size person, or to a range of persons, the best place to look for *hard data* is in HUMANSCALE (MIT Press). Other sources of hard data are MEASURE OF MAN (Dreyfuss), HUMAN DIMENSION AND INTERIOR SPACE (Panero, Zelnik) and HUMAN FACTORS DESIGN HANDBOOK (Woodson). Due to its great bulk, the Woodson book also makes a fine boat anchor, speed bump, or battering ram! These types of books are typically used by designers, engineers, and human factors specialists. Practical guides are probably the best type of reference for you. These typically are not original sources of hard data, like the volumes listed above. They are more day-to-day practical books intended to help the individual user or manager. Pascarelli and Quilter's book is often recommended on Sorehand. [I don't have mine here, and I don't remember the exact title.] CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS (Putz-Anderson), and COMPUTERS AND VISUAL STRESS (Godnig, Hacunda) are useful. PEOPLE AND PRODUCTIVITY (Dainoff/Dainoff) has some related information, but I found it to be of limited use. THE ERGONOMICS PAYOFF (Lueder) is a good book. HUMAN FACTORS IN GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS is targeted to users and managers of computerized mapping systems, but much of the information is applicable to any computer system. [Blatant plug alert! -- I have a chapter in that book.] There are many small flyers and guides floating around. Some are good, and some are not. My physical therapist gave me a free flyer on how to properly set up a work space. It was written by the Joyce Institute, and it was very good. > From: adam flint > Another simple rule to foolw when trying to set up your work station is > the 90 Degree Rule. You won't find this one in the books, but it is > what all of the ergonimic advice seems to lean to. It says that your > elbows, knees, hips, ankles, and any other joints that need to be bent > should be at 90 degrees, everything else should be straight- head, back, > wrist, etc. The big thing missing from this recommendation, and from most of the published literature on the subject, is that it is a bad idea to hold this posture (or any other posture) for long periods of time. We need to move. Ideally, your furniture will allow you to work sitting or standing, be infinately adjustable between these extremes, and will allow you to transition between postures in a matter of seconds. -- Nick Parker (nsparker@ingr.com) Mgr Design & Ergonomics Voice: 205-730-6208 Intergraph Corporation Fax: 205-730-6239 Huntsville, AL 35894-0001 Mail Stop: CR2901