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1.7.1 Equipment and Facilities
Criteria of judgement of design features of
physical equipment and facilities: comfort, work performance, safety,
physical effects. Human body measurements are clearly relevant to the
design of equipment or facilities for human use. Such equipment is of
three kinds: spaces into which men fit, whether for work, rest or
protection; tools or controls which men use; and protective clothing and
devices (e.g. helmets, masks, goggles, parachutes) which men wear.
Although many basic body measurements like stature, sitting height and
weight are generally applicable, each of the three different kinds of
end product mentioned above requires some distinct measurements.
Clothing design, for example, utilises several body circumferences,
special limb lengths (spine-shoulder-fingertip; crotch height), and
details of the head, face, hands and feet.
1.7.2 Spaces
One of the applications of anthropometric
data is the design of work spaces, including the work-space envelopes.
The limits of the work-space envelope for seated personnel are
determined by functional arm reach, which is influenced by such factors
as the presence of any restraints, apparel worn, angle of back rest and
especially by the direction of arm reach and the nature of the manual
activity to be performed. Improper postures caused by poorly designed
facilities and methods bend the spine and increase the pressure between
the vertebrae. The discs serving as cushions between the vertebrae are
then subject to wear and tear (pathological degeneration) which
constitutes one of the main reasons of backaches of workers.
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