Publicação
Study on the influence of common working postures on individuals’ comfort and anthropometric data
| Resumo: | Work occupies a large portion of peoples’ lives. The intrinsic factors associated with work, such as the difficulty of the tasks to perform, can themselves cause much stress to the workers. When the extrinsic factors, such as the environment or the working conditions, are also inadequate, working becomes even more difficult. These negative issues may limit workers’ performance and put their comfort and health at risk, compromising the quality of their task, performance and productivity. Therefore, considering ergonomics interventions in every job is crucial. Issues where interventions are most certainly needed are the working postures, namely, by studying how they affect the human body and how they limit the work activities. As such, the main purpose of the research carried out in this thesis was to assess the influence that both sitting and standing working postures have on the changes of workers’ anthropometric data, as well as to assess their perceived comfort. The path taken to accomplish this goal required additional smaller objectives to be accomplished as well. First of all, it was necessary to select the best way to collect the necessary data. To do this, two anthropometric data collection techniques were compared – the traditional manual anthropometry and the 3D anthropometry. When put side by side, it was possible to see a significant difference between the two data acquisition methods for almost all body measurements. However, it was concluded that these differences could be caused by many factors, such as the involuntary body sway or the pressure exerted by the equipment, and not necessarily mean that the methods are inadequate. Indeed, the precision and reliability tests showed that both methods are good. Nevertheless, the 3D data, obtained with the specific body scanner used in this study, should only be used for applications that are not very demanding. Then, came the analysis of the body modifications that occur with each working posture. A pilot study was performed that tried to identify the changes that happen in the human body during a day of work (e.g. leg swelling and decrease of stature, much reported in the literature). From the obtained data, it was possible to verify that the modifications really do happen, but at a very small scale. After this, the study evolved to the quantification of the instant modifications of the body when common dynamic postures are assumed. At this point, the results obtained prompted a new focus on the discomfort felt by workers caused by the improper work-wear. A questionnaire filled by active workers with different types of work requirements demonstrated that there are many postures that are limited because of the clothes worn. It is the lower part of the garment that they felt more uncomfortable with but it is the upper part that is more restrictive. This helped to make clear the need to act and to create a product that can make people feel less restricted and more comfortable. As such, two prototypes of a shirt with simple alterations were made, one had the application of an elastic mesh in the armhole area and the other had the application of the same mesh on the back area. The tests performed to validate these prototypes showed that, when compared to a regular model designed for the static standing posture, the compression forces decreases and the stretch ability increases, meaning that they provide more flexibility and fewer limitations of movements. With all the objectives accomplished it can be said that the results and findings obtained with this thesis can bring many contributions to the scientific community, alongside with important practical information that can be used worldwide by companies or individual people. |
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| Autores principais: | Lopes, Sara Tatiana de Almeida Bragança de Miranda e |
| Assunto: | ergonomics anthropometry working postures health comfort work-wear ergonomia antropometria posturas de trabalho saúde conforto vestuário de trabalho |
| Ano: | 2016 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | tese de doutoramento |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade do Minho |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho |
| Resumo: | Work occupies a large portion of peoples’ lives. The intrinsic factors associated with work, such as the difficulty of the tasks to perform, can themselves cause much stress to the workers. When the extrinsic factors, such as the environment or the working conditions, are also inadequate, working becomes even more difficult. These negative issues may limit workers’ performance and put their comfort and health at risk, compromising the quality of their task, performance and productivity. Therefore, considering ergonomics interventions in every job is crucial. Issues where interventions are most certainly needed are the working postures, namely, by studying how they affect the human body and how they limit the work activities. As such, the main purpose of the research carried out in this thesis was to assess the influence that both sitting and standing working postures have on the changes of workers’ anthropometric data, as well as to assess their perceived comfort. The path taken to accomplish this goal required additional smaller objectives to be accomplished as well. First of all, it was necessary to select the best way to collect the necessary data. To do this, two anthropometric data collection techniques were compared – the traditional manual anthropometry and the 3D anthropometry. When put side by side, it was possible to see a significant difference between the two data acquisition methods for almost all body measurements. However, it was concluded that these differences could be caused by many factors, such as the involuntary body sway or the pressure exerted by the equipment, and not necessarily mean that the methods are inadequate. Indeed, the precision and reliability tests showed that both methods are good. Nevertheless, the 3D data, obtained with the specific body scanner used in this study, should only be used for applications that are not very demanding. Then, came the analysis of the body modifications that occur with each working posture. A pilot study was performed that tried to identify the changes that happen in the human body during a day of work (e.g. leg swelling and decrease of stature, much reported in the literature). From the obtained data, it was possible to verify that the modifications really do happen, but at a very small scale. After this, the study evolved to the quantification of the instant modifications of the body when common dynamic postures are assumed. At this point, the results obtained prompted a new focus on the discomfort felt by workers caused by the improper work-wear. A questionnaire filled by active workers with different types of work requirements demonstrated that there are many postures that are limited because of the clothes worn. It is the lower part of the garment that they felt more uncomfortable with but it is the upper part that is more restrictive. This helped to make clear the need to act and to create a product that can make people feel less restricted and more comfortable. As such, two prototypes of a shirt with simple alterations were made, one had the application of an elastic mesh in the armhole area and the other had the application of the same mesh on the back area. The tests performed to validate these prototypes showed that, when compared to a regular model designed for the static standing posture, the compression forces decreases and the stretch ability increases, meaning that they provide more flexibility and fewer limitations of movements. With all the objectives accomplished it can be said that the results and findings obtained with this thesis can bring many contributions to the scientific community, alongside with important practical information that can be used worldwide by companies or individual people. |
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