UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TECHNOLOGY

CAMPUS STUDENTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH

EXISTING BUS STOP BENCH

This report is submitted in accordance with the requirement of Universiti Teknikal

Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering

Technology (Product Design) with Honours

by

ABDUL MU’IZ BIN ABDUL HAMID

B071210202

910306-04-5133

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

2015

DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled “Anthropometric Characteristics of Technology

Campus Students and Their Relationship with Existing Bus Stop Bench” is the

results of my own research except as cited in references.

Signature : ………………………………………….

Author‟s Name : …………………………………………

Date : …………………………………………

APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Engineering Technology of UTeM as a

partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering

Technology (Product design) with Honours. The member of the supervisory is as

follow:

………………………………

(Project Supervisor)

i

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to study and comparing the current bus stop bench

design in Technology Campus, UTeM according to anthropometric data collected.

Also to re-design the improvement of the bus stop bench in Technology Campus that

satisfies the ergonomics characteristics, if necessary, in order to improve

productivity, health safety and comfort of the students in the bus stop. The three

method need to be used to achieve the objective which of them are gather all the

anthropometric data from 30 male and 30 female of students and measure the current

bus stop, seconds is to compare the result with current bus stop and analyze the data

collected by using RULA analysis and the last but not least is to design new

improvements on bus stop using CATIA software. Optimizing the anthropometric

data for bus stop design can be complex tasks because it will give affect the student

discomfort, such as limited spaces, more than one seat in the same time in the bus

stop bench and the number of design parameters which is 20 variables that must be

put into consideration. This problem has recently been made much easier to solve as

a result of the development of some design principles like design for clearance,

design for reach and design for adjustable range. Because of the nature of the

selected workstations, the three design principles need use. The significance of the

findings is anthropometric data have been collect will be use as the database in

Technology Campus for the futher study in ergonomics science.

ii

ABSTRAK

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji dan membandingkan reka bentuk

tempat duduk perhentian bas yang sedia ada berdasarkan data antropometri yang

dikumpulkan. Selain itu, untuk reka bentuk semula penambahbaikan tempat duduk

perhentian bas Kampus Teknologi yang memenuhi ciri-ciri ergonomik, jika perlu,

bagi meningkatkan produktiviti, keselamatan kesihatan dan keselesaan pelajar di

perhentian bas. Tiga kaedah perlu digunakan untuk mencapai objektif dimana

pengumpulan semua data antropometri daripada 30 orang pelajar lelaki dan 30 orang

pelajar perempuan serta mengukur perhentian bas semasa, kedua ialah untuk

membandingkan hasil yang diperolehi dengan perhentian bas semasa dan

menganalisis data yang dikumpul dengan menggunakan analisis RULA dan akhir

sekali adalah untuk reka bentuk peningkatan baru di perhentian bas menggunakan

perisian CATIA. Mengoptimumkan data antropometri bagi reka bentuk perhentian

bas boleh menjadi tugas yang kompleks kerana ia akan menjejaskan ketidakselesaan

pelajar, seperti tempat terhad, lebih daripada satu orang duduk dalam masa yang

sama di bangku perhentian bas dan bilangan parameter reka bentuk ialah sebanyak

20 pembolehubah yang perlu dimasukkan sebagai pertimbangan. Masalah ini telah

dibuat serta lebih mudah untuk menyelesaikan akibat daripada pembangunan

beberapa prinsip reka bentuk seperti reka bentuk untuk pelepasan, reka bentuk untuk

jangkauan dan reka bentuk untuk pelbagai laras. Oleh kerana sifat normal kerja

dipilih, tiga prinsip reka bentuk perlu digunakan. Kepentingan penemuan adalah data

antropometri telah mengumpul akan digunakan sebagai pangkalan data Kampus

Teknologi untuk kajian lanjut dalam bidang sains ergonomik.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Firstly, Alhamdulillah thanks to Almighty Allah S.W.T for giving me the

opportunity and spirit to accomplish this project successfully. From the beginning of

this project, I have an opportunity to learn and get extra knowledge about this project

especially knowledge that related to design for ergonomics workstation.

In this opportunity, I would like to thank to my supervisor Mr. Khairum Bin

Hamzah and Mr. Mohd Fa'iz Bin Wahid for giving me the guidance and opinion in

accomplishing this project. Secondly, I would like to thank to my mother Joriah Binti

Hashim for giving me the moral support for my success. Lastly, to all lecture and

friends whosoever help me in accomplishment this project either directly or

indirectly.

iv

DEDICATION

To my beloved father and mother:

Allahyarham Abdul Hamid Bin Aman

Joriah Binti Hashim

To all my siblings:

Norfarizah Binti Abdul Hamid

Nornadiah Binti Abdul Hamid

Abdul Muqsit Bin Abdul Hamid

To my supervisor and advisor:

Mr. Khairum Bin Hamzah

Mr. Mohd Fa'iz Bin Wahid

Mr. Mohd Qadafie bin Ibrahim

v

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstract i

Abstrak ii

Acknowledgement iii

Dedication iv

Table of Content v

List of Tables viii

List of Figures ix

List of Abbreviations, Symbols and Nomenclature xi

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2 Problem Statement 2

1.3 Objective 3

1.4 Scope of Work 3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.0 Introduction 4

2.1 Ergonomics 4

2.1.1 Overview of Ergonomics 4

2.1.2 Application of Ergonomics 6

2.1.3 Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) 7

2.1.4 Risk Factors 8

2.1.4.1 Contact Stress 8

2.1.4.1 Awkward Postures 9

vi

2.2 General Principles for Ergonomic Workstation 11

2.2.1 Clearance 11

2.2.2 Reach 12

2.2.3 Adjustability 14

2.3 Areas of Ergonomics 15

2.3.1 Bus Stop 15

2.3.2 Seat Area 17

2.3.3 Standing Area 19

2.4 Anthropometry 20

2.4.1 Anthropometric Data 21

2.4.1.1 Structural Anthropometric Data 21

2.5 Simulation Analysis (CATIA) 23

2.5.1 RULA Analysis 23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 25

3.1 Introduction 25

3.2 Research Methodology 25

3.3 Method Description 27

3.3.1 Gathering Anthropometric Data 27

3.3.2 Comparing the Result and Analyse 28

3.3.3 Design the Improvement 28

3.4 Procedure 29

3.5 Equipment 33

CHAPTER 4: RESULT AND DISCUSSION 35

4.1 Introduction 35

4.2 Human Body Measurement Analyse 35

vii

4.2.1 Calculation Formula 36

4.3 The Survey Analysis 41

4.3.1 Current Bus Stop Bench Surface 43

4.3.2 Injuries Discomfort on the Bus Stop Bench 47

4.3.3 Bench Features Improvement 48

4.4 Comparing the Existing Bus Stop Bench 49

4.4.1 Accommodation of People 50

4.4.2 Posture on Existing Bus Stop Bench 52

4.5 RULA Analysis to Make Improvement 54

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 58

5.1 Conclusion 58

5.2 Recommendation 59

REFERENCES 60

APPENDICES 63

viii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1: List of anthropometric variables. 29

Table 3.2: List of anthropometric measuring tools that using in this project. 34

Table 4.1: List of anthropometric data for male students 39

Table 4.2: List of anthropometric data for female students 40

Table 4.3: Comparing anthropometric criteria to design the bus stop bench 49

Table 4.4: People accommodation in percentile range 51

ix

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: The ergonomics interface for human and machine at a work/task

environment. 1

Figure 2.1: An example of ergonomics designed bus stop in Dubai (2009). 5

Figure 2.2: The postures that deviate significantly from neutral positions (Janet

Horvath, 2012). 10

Figure 2.3: Shows some clearance dimensions (Bridger, 2003). 12

Figure 2.4: Shows some maximum allowable dimensions. 13

Figure 2.5: Shows an ergonomic bus stop concept design by Marting Necas, 2008. 16

Figure 2.6: The layout dimension of a bus stop (MetroBus, 2010) 17

Figure 2.7: The anthropometric estimates collected for British adults between the age

of 19 and 65 years old (Pheasant, 1987). 18

Figure 2.8: Statistically significant effects of floor and/or shoes on subjective

measures of fatigue. Overall results show floors are the main cause of

discomfort in the legs and lower back. 19

Figure 2.9: Shows common structural anthropometric variables (Bridger, 2003). 22

Figure 2.10: The level and score of MSD risk on RULA analysis (Middlesworth,

2014). 24

Figure 3.1: Flow of the project. 27

Figure 3.2: Posture of user while sitting. 31

Figure 3.3: Posture of user while standing. 31

Figure 3.4: Layout design of existing bus stop in Technology Campus UTeM. 32

x

Figure 3.5: The front view of design of existing bus stop in Technology Campus

UTeM. 33

Figure 4.1: Parts of body measurement 36

Figure 4.2: Pie chart the percentage of student age that using bus stop 42

Figure 4.3: Pie chart of bus stop makes comfortable while seated 43

Figure 4.4: Pie chart of suffered discomfort while seated 44

Figure 4.5: Pie chart of bench is too low or too high 45

Figure 4.6: Pie chart of bench surface can fulfil user comfort. 46

Figure 4.7: Line chart of the rate of discomfort survey 47

Figure 4.8: Line chart of suggested features rating of the bench 48

Figure 4.9: Annotation of anthropometric criteria parts 50

Figure 4.10: RULA analysis of male student 52

Figure 4.11: RULA analysis of female student 53

Figure 4.12: Suggested sitting posture on RULA analysis 54

Figure 4.13: RULA analysis on new improvement bench 55

Figure 4.14: Detail drawing of new improvement bench 56

Figure 4.15: Rendered new improvement bench 57

xi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS AND

NOMENCLATURE

CATIA - Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application

CAD - Computer Aided Design

FTK - Fakulti Teknologi Kejuruteraan

MSI - Musculoskeletal Injury

MSDs - Musculoskeletal Disorders

UTeM - Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

RULA - Rapid Upper Limb Assessment

SD - Standard Deviation

CV - Coefficient of Variance

p - Percentile

µ - Mean or Average

1

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

This project concerns the ergonomics or human factors of a workplace

environment to increase productivity and decrease injury. To study the current bus

stop in Technology Campus UTeM (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka) on

whether they comply with the principles of ergonomics, the most important

characteristic is anthropometric measurements. Ergonomics is the science of fitting

the workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working

population (OSHA).

Figure 1.1: The ergonomics interface for human and machine at a work/task

environment.

2

Commonly, ergonomics is applied to humans and the tools, equipment, and

work methods needed to complete a task. In this case, it refers to an individual using

the bus stop for prolonged periods of time. Anthropometry is the study of the

physical dimensional measurements of humans (Nico et al., 2004). Anthropometric

data consist of the measurements of a Technology Campus student‟s body.

Appropriate use of anthropometry in design can improve well-being, health, comfort,

and safety. This information can also be used to help design an ergonomic bus stop

and can be used for further study about ergonomics science.

1.2 Problem Statement

Anthropometric data can improve the design of things and spaces such as a

bus stop designed for use by Technology Campus UTeM students. An improved

design can increase satisfaction when it comes to comfort, efficiency, usage, and

safety. Application of anthropometry in design can help prevent musculoskeletal

disorders such as lower back and neck pain. However, there is a lack of ergonomics

awareness in Malaysia, especially in facilities at UTeM where the ergonomics

principle is not obeyed. In Technology Campus UTeM, no anthropometric data of

the students have been collected. Moreover, the design structure of the bus stop in

Technology Campus does not follow the anthropometric dimensions among students.

Using a poorly designed bus stop bench, especially one that fails to account for the

anthropometric characteristics of its users, can have a negative influence on human

health.

3

1.3 Objective

This project focuses on the following objectives:

(a) To collect anthropometric data appropriate with ergonomics study

from a sample of Technology Campus students.

(b) To study and compare the current bus stop bench design according to

anthropometric data collected.

(c) To suggest an improvement on the design of the bus stop bench for

Technology Campus student that satisfies the ergonomics

characteristics.

1.4 Scope of Work

This project will focus on identifying the appropriate anthropometric

measurements among Technology Campus UTeM students. The anthropometric data

collected from the sample will be enough to represent all students in Technology

Campus UTeM. In order to ensure the success of this project, a total sample size of

60 students will be taken. This project will also look into risk factors based on

students‟ experiences when using the bus stop facilities at Technology Campus

UTeM. An improved workplace design will be compared to the current design of the

bus stop in Technology Campus UTeM by using RULA analysis to make sure that it

satisfies the ergonomics principle.

4

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

This chapter covers a fully-referenced review of the relevant literature. This

chapter provides a review of the concept based on previous data from journals and

books. A thorough review of all fields in the case study is distributed in this chapter.

The case study conducted comprises of general definitions, historical data, previous

case studies, and white papers done by experts. This chapter will introduce the

planning and implementation of the whole project from its methodology to the end of

final year project II. It also acts as a citation point to maintain the result and

discussion in final year project II. The literature review of this case study can be used

as a reference point to support the result based on previous data.

2.1 Ergonomics

2.1.1 Overview of Ergonomics

Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with the characteristics of people

when it comes to designing and arranging the things that they use in order to use

those things easily, effectively, and safely. It is also called human engineering or

human factors engineering. It is a combination of two Greek words: ergo meaning

work and nomos meaning law. It involves the study of the human response to

exposure in the work environment; the interaction between humans and the tools,

5

equipment, and work methods needed to complete a task; and fitting the task to the

employee (Cynthia L Roth, 2012). According to Bridger (2003), human factors is the

study of the interaction between people and machines and the elements that affect the

interaction. Its main focus is to improve the performance of systems by:

(a) Designing the user-interface to make it more compatible with the task and the

user. This makes it easier to use and more resistant to errors that people are

known to make.

(b) Changing the work environment to make it safer and more appropriate for the

task.

(c) Changing the task to make it more compatible with user characteristics.

(d) Changing the way work is organised to fulfil people‟s psychological and

social needs.

Figure 2.1: An example of ergonomics designed bus stop in Dubai (2009).

6

2.1.2 Application of Ergonomics

The purpose of ergonomics is to enable a work system to function better by

improving the interactions between users and machines (Bridger, 2003). Better

functioning can be defined more closely as more output from fewer inputs to the

system (greater productivity) or increased reliability and efficiency (a lower

probability of inappropriate interactions between the system components). The

precise definition of better functioning depends on the context. Whatever definition

is used should, however, be made at the level of the total work system and not just on

one of the components. Improved machine performance that increases the

psychological or physical stress on workers or damages the local environment would

not constitute improved performance of the total work system or better attainment of

its goals. Workstation redesign to make workers more comfortable is an incorrect

reason for the application of ergonomics if it is done superficially, for its own sake,

and not to improve some aspect of the functioning of the total work system (such as

reduced absenteeism and fewer accidents due to better working conditions).

According to Bridger (2003), there are two ways in which ergonomics

impacts upon systems design in practice. Firstly, many ergonomists work in research

organisations or universities and carry out basic research to discover the

characteristics of people that need to be allowed for in design. This research often

leads, directly or indirectly, to the drafting of standards, legislation, and design

guidelines. Secondly, many ergonomists work in a consultancy capacity either

privately or in an organisation. They work as part of a design team and contribute

their knowledge to the design of the human–machine interactions in work systems.

This often involves the application of standards guidelines and knowledge to specify

particular characteristics of the system.

Real work systems are arrangement in sequent. This means that the main task

is made up of sub-tasks (the next level down) and is governed by higher-level

constraints that manifest as style of supervision, type of work organisation, working

hours and shift work, etc. (Bridger 2003). If we want to optimise a task in practice,

we rarely redesign the task itself. We either change or reorganise the elements of the

task (at the next level down) or we change the higher-level variables. For example, to

7

optimise a data entry task, we might look at the style of human–computer dialogue

that has been chosen. We might find that there are aspects of the dialogue that cause

errors to be transmitted to the system (e.g. when the operator mistakenly reverses two

numbers in a code, the system recognises it as a different code rather than rejecting

it). Alternatively, we might find there are insufficient rest periods or that most errors

occur during the night shift.

To optimise a task, we first have to identify the level of the task itself (e.g. a

repetitive manual handling task), the next level down (the weight and characteristics

of the load and the container), and the next level up (the workload and work

organisation). To optimise the task we can either redesign it from the bottom up (e.g.

use lighter containers and stabilise the load) or from the top down (e.g. introduce job

rotation or more rest periods) or both. At the same time, we can look at extraneous or

environmental factors at the level of the task but external to it; factors that also

degrade performance (e.g. slippery floors in the lifting example or bad lighting and

stuffy air in the data entry example).

Once we make the redesigned task and evaluate the improvements to task

performance, we then check it over time to find the improvements in system

performance.

2.1.3 Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)

MSDs or musculoskeletal disorders are injuries and disorders of the soft

tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage) and the nervous system.

They can influence all tissues, intercept the nerves and tendon sheaths, and most

commonly implicate the arms and back (US Department of Labor, 2000).

The physical stresses that can contribute to or cause MSDs are called risk

factors. Product-related MSDs occur when the risk factors, which relate to

musculoskeletal system pathology such as force, repetition, awkward postures, static

postures, vibration, contact stress, and extreme temperatures, are not minimized or

eliminated. Examples of MSDs include carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis,

8

herniated spinal discs, tarsal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, rotator cuff tendonitis,

DeQuervain‟s disease, trigger finger, and low back pain. According to America &

Mcculloch (2009), musculoskeletal disorders are also known as cumulative trauma

disorders, repetitive strain injury, and occupational overuse syndrome. They describe

a set of pathological conditions that reduce the ordinary function of the soft tissue of

the musculoskeletal system, such as tendons, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and

nerves. The initial symptoms of MSDs may include fatigue, discomfort, and pain. As

tissue damage worsens, other symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, or restricted

motion, may also appear. Usually, in a single incident trauma, traumatic effects occur

instantaneously (for example, cuts, bruises, lacerations, falls, etc) while in

cumulative trauma, the effects develop over time (for example, back pain, carpal

tunnel syndrome, eye strain, etc).

2.1.4 Risk Factors

Bridger (2003) mentions that there are five main risk factors for

musculoskeletal disorders, namely force, awkward postures, repetition, duration of

task, and contact stress. The risk factors involved while using the bus stop is contact

stress and awkward postures.

2.1.4.1 Contact Stress

According to Work Safe BC (2004), regions in the body where the tendons,

nerves, blood vessels, and bones are located close to the surface are the most

sensitive to injury. Exposure to contact stress can influence the risk of injury to blood

vessels, nerves, and soft tissue in the region of exposure. Contact stress concentrate

with increasing force and decreasing contact surface area. These regions include the

sides and back of fingers as well as the sides and centre of the palm, wrist, elbow,

shoulder, hip, and knee.

9

Bus stop users may be exposed to contact stress while sitting or standing. If

there are any jobs at the bus stop that have contact stress risk factors, these jobs must

be assessed for risk of MSI (musculoskeletal injury). Based on Eastman Kodak

Company (2004), contact stress risk factors include the following:

(a) Kneeling on a hard floor or against sharp edges

(b) Leaning against a hard work surface or edge

(c) Holding tools that end within the hand

(d) Handling objects with grooved, sharp, or uneven edges, or objects made of

hard material that presses on the hand

(e) Holding down palm-type control buttons or pressing buttons frequently

(f) Using power tool triggers with sharp edges

(g) Sitting in chairs that are too high (i.e. the worker‟s legs are angled downward)

without adequate foot support.

2.1.4.1 Awkward Postures

Awkward postures refer to positions of the body (limbs, joints, back) that

reverse from the neutral position while performing job tasks (IOWA State

University, 2013). Repeatedly performing tasks in such positions poses increased

stress on the joints and/or spinal discs. As mentioned before, muscles do not work as

efficiently in awkward postures and the muscles must exert more physical effort to

accomplish the task. This increased force contributes to muscle-tendon fatigue and

strain. When a person is performing tasks that involve long reaches, they are exposed

to extreme awkward postures, meaning the positions of their shoulders, elbows

and/or back deviate significantly from more neutral positions. Based on The

University of CHICAGO (2011), awkward postures increase the total exertion

required to complete a job:

(a) The body must apply force to joints and muscles to deviate body parts from

the neutral position

(b) The further the deviation, the more force that is applied

(c) The further the deviation, the less force you are able to apply to your tool

10

(d) Working in awkward postures will cause you to fatigue faster

Figure 2.2: The postures that deviate significantly from neutral positions (Janet

Horvath, 2012).