CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMERY AND CONCLUSIONS

Introduction
Word “ergonomics” is derived from greek word ,Ergon meaning work,
nomos-meaning natural. Ergonomics has been defined as the study of
the anatomical, psychological and physiological aspects of man in his
working environment with the objective of optimizing human safety,
health, comfort and efficiency. This science deals with man- machine
and environment inter relationship to get maximum output.

Figure no -- : Man - machine and environment inter

relationship

PRODUCT USER
(MACHINE) (MAN)

ENVIRONMENT

Thus both man and machine are considered together as a

functioning entity, a man – machine system. .We can replace man by
use of machine to prepare product. Hence environment relationship

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(figure 1) brings about better output from given input, considering

different physical, anatomical, physiological, and psychological limits of
human being. The subject is aimed at designing a safer system
following the natural laws/ limits of man. It further helps from the misuse
of human energy while operating any product or while working under
certain environment aggregate of Interactive components operating
together to perform a function.
In simple words “A system is an entity that exists to carry out some
purpose. The basic concept of ergonomics is the system comprise of
Man, Machine and Environment. This relationship helps us to know
more about the user or man and environment in which he or she works
and uses the machine. Through this relationship one can find out the
problems related to the work area and the machine. In home there is a
need to redesign equipment, furniture and buildings in minimum cost so
that human body is safer. In home along with man and machine
(equipments, furniture’s etc) additional actors like temperature, humidity of
work places, lighting, and ventilation also affects the efficiency in work and
reduce the total output.

Workers spend maximum time in his working place or working

environment and if the work place is designed incorrectly, the very
immediate person will be affected due to faulty designing of work place.
If planning and designing is not done properly, the housewife or worker
will have inconvenience to carry out the household work and she may
take extra energy to carry out work. If the house is not designed
according to the needs of human body it can increase the human cost
of work with much decrease of work output. Similarly if the designs of
work surface and the furniture used in the home are not according to
the need of human body, it increases the work cost remarkably along
with the other physiological problems.

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This shows that in an ergonomically designed house,

appropriately designed furniture and equipment are very important for
work improvement. The closer the relationship of man-machine
environment more the output and lesser is the cost or vice versa. Good
posture during work does not impair the body and it also reduces
physiological cost of work and fatigue to minimum, whereas poor body
posture during work for long period may damage the spinal column and
the occurrence of the pain damages the human body and a long range
effect on the development of the whole family.
Ten principles for the arrangement of work (Di Martino & Corlett ,1998):

1. The worker must be able to maintain an upright position and

forward facing posture during work (Gallwey & O’Sullivan,2001) ,(Di
Martino & Corlett ,1998).
2. Where vision is a requirement of the task, the necessary work
points must be adequately visible with the head and trunk upright or
with just the head inclined slightly forward (Gallwey &
O’Sullivan,2001),(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).
3. All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several
different but equally healthy and safe postures without reducing
capability to do the work (Gallwey & O’Sullivan,2001) ,(Di Martino &
Corlett ,1998).
4. Work should be arranged so that it may be done, at the workers’
choice, in either a seated or standing position. When seated, the
worker should be able to use the back rest of the chair at will,
without necessitating a change of movements (Gallwey &
O’Sullivan,2001) ,(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).
5. The weight of the body, when standing should be carried equally on
both feet (Gallwey & O’Sullivan,2001) ,(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).
6. Work should not be performed consistently at or above the level of
heart; even the occasional performance where force is exerted
above heart level should be avoided ,(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).

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7. Rest pauses should allow for all loads experienced at work, and the
time interval between successive rest periods,(Di Martino & Corlett
,1998).
8. Work activities should be performed with the joints at about the mid-
point of their range of movement. This applies particularity to the
head, trunk and upper limbs ,(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).
9. Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be by the largest
appropriate muscle groups available and in a dissection co-linear
with the limbs concerned ,(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).
10. Where a force has to be exerted repeatedly, it should be possible to
exert it with either arm, or either leg, without adjustment to the
equipment ,(Di Martino & Corlett ,1998).

Medical aspects of postural efforts :

Postural efforts not only decrease performance and productivity, but in

the long run they also affect well-being and health. In fact, if postural efforts
are repeated daily over a long period, more or less permanent aches will
appear in the limbs concerned, and may involve not only the muscles but also
the joints, tendons and other tissues. Long-lasting postural efforts can lead to
deterioration of joints, ligaments, tendons and other parts of the connective
tissues.

Ergonomic principles to avoid postural efforts:

A major objective in the design and layout of jobs, workplaces,

machines and tools should be to minimize static efforts due to inadequate
posture. To reach this objective, two principles must be taken into
consideration.

1. All workplace dimensions (including tools) should be suited to the

body size of the operator as well as to biomechanical requirements;
thus postural efforts can be minimized.
2. Postures must be adopted which will allow as many muscles as
possible to contribute; thus the muscles will be most efficient and
most skillful.

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These principles are essential for the assessment of :

 Adequate work heights

 Comfortable head positions.
 Adequate vertical and horizontal grasping space.
 Adequate operating space for the legs.

Anthropometry and the design of workplaces

There are many tasks which oblige people to remain sitting or standing
in a fixed position for long periods. Activities such as machining, driving or just
sitting at a desk or computer terminal are typical. The posture adopted by the
person is determined by the need to reach controls or to keep the eyes in
positions from which the task can be seen.

Often people get used to unsuitable working arrangements and are

unaware of the need to change even when they could benefit from it. Thus
people will sit in unsuitable chairs for long periods of time, working at a table
whose height is not properly related to either the person or the chair. They will
tolerate having to stretch uncomfortably to reach cupboard handles.

It is necessary to foresee difficulties of posture, reach and visibility

early in the design process to make realistic and effective changes. It is
relatively easy to spot faults in workplace layout when the equipment and
furniture is in use, but by then it is too late to make alterations.

Time and facilities must be allowed for a systematic search for the
following kinds of information.

 Reaching and seeing requirements for adequate human performance

 The total space that could be made available to the operator for all
feasible arrangements of the equipment.

The design of seating:

With continuous technological advances, people at work are
progressively being relieved of the need to generate force and power

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themselves. In addition more and more people are using computers and
computer – based equipment in offices and similar environments. The results
of these developments is that many people remain seated for a large part of
the day, whether they are inspecting goods, operating computers. There is
thus a considerable interest in the design of seating, and in identifying those
features of a seat which contribute significantly to the enhancement of its
comfort and efficiency.

Before discussing some of the main features of seat design, it should

be emphasized that no seat, however carefully designed, can of itself ensure
overall comfort, and efficiency for long periods of time. This is because the
design of the seat should always be made in relation to the other equipment
used by the sitter, and the nature and duration of the tasks performed. The
human body is not designed to stay in a seated position for long periods of
time, and requires occasional relief from this position as well as the freedom
to shift position slightly during the time seated. There have been many reports
and investigations of the problems of stress and strain experienced by typists
and computer operators, good seating design can help to reduce the number
and severity of these problems, but it is also vital to consider the other
equipment in the workplace (in order to maintain a good posture) and the
design of the work/ rest schedules to allow some change from continuous
sitting. Seating also has certain disadvantages. A seating posture causes the
abdominal muscles to slacken and curves the spine, as well as impairing the
functions of some internal organs, especially those of digestion and
respiration. Seating still also imposes a strain on the principal support areas of
the body, and in the buttocks, the effects of heavy tissue pressure can
progress from discomfort to intolerable pain.

Causes of postural disorders:

The bent backs and necks and hunching the shoulders when sitting at
a high desk causes fatigue and pain in the shoulders and neck.

sitting postures: Three sitting postures can be distinguished: a forward, an

upright, and a backward reclining posture; forward or backward postures
means the back slopes forward or backward respectively. A forward posture is

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essentially a working posture, while a backward posture is one of the rest and
relaxation.

Spinal column when lying, sitting and standing : A comfortable, normal

spinal attitude, with no strain on the vertebral (lying down) is achieved by
having the lumbar vertebral nearly straight, and preferably a flat back. Sitting
down with a 90 angle at the hip joint results in a similar spinal posture. For
e.g. the car seats, that the backrests should slope well backwards at the level
of the shoulder backs and should project forwards in the lumbar region.

Static activity fo the back muscles : A suitable back rest is essential is

avoid strain in the back muscles. The forward sitting posture is a distinctly
restful attitude. Because the back muscles are relaxed and the weight of the
upper body is borne by the bones, inter vertebral discs and ligaments.

Requirements in the design of furnitures for sitting :

1. The seat should be so designed that the sitting posture can be

changed frequently. It should have enough free movement for
forward and upright postures to be changed periodically to a
reclining posture supported by a back rest.
2. To avoid complete kyphosis and strain on the back, working seats
should be provided with back-rests for the lower part of the back
which will effectively support the spinal column and relieve the back
muscles of the strain of static effort.
3. The upright a posture with lordosis of spinal column will quickly lead
to muscular fatigue and must be avoided as a posture for prolonged
sitting.
4. The intermediate sitting posture with a straight lumar region and
slight forwards curvature of the upper body is a useful posture in
which the back muscles are relaxed and the weight of the upper
body is borne solely by the vertebral, the inter vertebral discs and
the ligaments. This posture should be adopted from time to time
during work.
5. The optimal distribution of force in the discs can be achieved if both
seat and back rest are inclined backwards. The optimum angle

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should be considered particularly in the design of the leisure seating

(i.e. arm chairs etc.)
6. The seats that are intended for rest and recuperation must provide
a high level of comfort, with corresponding muscular relaxation.
Studies have shown that the pelvis, scacram and buttocks
are the most sensitive parts when the body is in the seated position,
and play a decisive part in the comfort for sitting postures.

From above all it can be concluded that Ergonomics is mainly

aimed to design safer and better user product environment system,
following the natural laws and limits of man. The manufacturers and
designers must use it in a proper way so hat even low cost furniture
fulfills basic ergonomic requirements. The customers are generally
unaware of the ergonomic problems. It is the responsibility of the
furniture designers to redesign the furniture that will save human energy
while they are working under certain environment.

Justification of the study

Research justification refers to the rationale for the research, or the reason
why the research is being conducted, including an explanation for the design
and methods employed in the research. Traditionally in research conducted
within any paradigm, researchers have been expected to provide an
explanation about why the research is necessary. To explain the overall
purpose, aims, and objectives, a rationale is constructed and may illustrate
how the research endeavor addresses gaps in the existing knowledge base,
contributes a new dimension or perspective, or generates theory about a
phenomenon that has not been explored previously. Another aspect of
research for which one might sometimes find justification in any description is
the choice of methods employed to generate data; for example, the
explanation for selecting interviews, focus groups, or participant observation
(Given . 2008).
A number of studies have been conducted in India and Yemen and Abroad
regarding the designing of the living room areas to increase the efficiency of
the ergonomic Investigation in the Interior Design. But there is not a single

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study pertaining to the designing of living room space considering

anthropometric measurement of Yemeni population and their 95 th 50th and 5th
percentile measurement to increase their efficiency and to make them
comfortable with the improved design. Hence present study is planned to
redesign living room space and furniture according to the concept of
ergonomics which will help them making efficient use of equipment, furniture
and living room space for performing task.
The present study is just a step towards the contribution in reservation of
various aspects by studying indeed various aspects of interiors of residential
buildings and identifying the style of construction and decorations used in the
houses the people can be made aware of their living room.
The present study finding will be useful to the researchers and the
ergonomist, interior designer and furniture designer in Yemen as there is no
data bank of anthropometric measurements of Yemen population. It will also
serve as a base for comparison of measurements given in “Time and saver
and Human dimension in interior design”.

Research aims.

The study aimed at developing design of living room in the residential

buildings in Hodeida city according to the requirements of the users or the
people who would be living in.
However design aims to facilitate the fulfillment of special needs and life
objectives of users into their environments. In fact, “good design directly
impacts the quality of life” (Brawley, 2001).With this objective the present
study was set as follows:

a) General Objective:

The primary goal of this study is to develop criteria for designing living
room space that accommodates residents and to redesign living room
that is shared by them, considering their measurement of human body
dimensions. Based on environment and Ergonomic Investigation in the
Interior Design of living room in Hodeida city improvements would be

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planned and suggestions to the occupants would be given for safe

living.

b) Specific Objectives:

The aims of the present study were as follows:

1) To study the anthropometric measurements of residents of Hodeida

city.
2) To Study existing living room Interior Design of selected residential
buildings in Hodeida city.
3) To identify issues and problems associated with space and furniture
activities.
4) To use assessment information in order to redesign living room
furniture for people who used the living room.
5) To create a prototype of living room space that is well designed and
allows residents in residential building at Hodeida city who used the
living room space to enhance ergonomics comfort.

METHODOLOGY

The present study is combination of descriptive study specially classified

under survey study and redesigning of living room using 3Dmax computer soft
ware.
1. Research Design
In conformity with the objectives of the study, descriptive study with survey
was planned and systematically carried out to gather data on background
characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and problem faced in existing
design of furniture in living room were studied. On the basis of anthropometric
measurements redesigning of living room using 3Dmax computer soft ware
was carried out
1.1Research Tool: The interview schedule was divided into two major parts:
Part I dealt with the ergonomic issues.
Part II with the architectural design. The tool consisted of three sections:

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 Section A: General questions on race, income, number of living room

user, user anthropometry measurements, types of furniture, and
methods of transport.
 Section B : The users’ requirements - consist of two parts, i.e.
(i) Design of living room - questions on location of house, type of
furniture in living room.
(ii) Dwelling unit - questions on number of furniture, size of
furniture.
 Section C: assessments points of selected different part of sofa and
respondents opinion about the furniture and furniture redesign of living
room at Hodeida residential building.

3. Variables of the study

a) Independent variable:
Age of the user of the room
b) dependent variable
Body discomfort experienced by living room user..

Sample selection:
A multistage purposive cum random sampling was done to select sample of
the study. Stratified weighted random sampling was used for drawing sample
for general survey and purposive sampling was used to study room design
and to redesign the room. The sample for survey was selected from Hodeida
city population about 416136 inhabitants (Population, 2004). One percent of
the total population (416) population was selected for anthropometric
measurements and survey. Out of 416 houses holds 40 houses and their
living rooms were studied for furniture arrangements and the problems faced
by the occupants. Ten households were purposively selected for redesigning
the interior of living room where the emphasis was on ergonomic
consideration and anthropometric measurement of Hodaidah city population.

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Analysis of data
The data collected through survey were categorized, coded, and then
tabulated. In this study, the users of living room in residential buildings at
Hodaidah city contributed and answered a research questionnaire and their
living room were redesigned. The coding of the r aw data was carried out
using SPSS (statistical Package for social sciences).It was done to convert
raw data into categories for meaningful analysis of the surveyed data.

Salient finding

Anthropometric measurement of selected population of Hodaidah city.

Anthropometric measurements of respondents were estimated in mm, except
for body weight which is given in KG. Anthropometric measurements of total
416 people including children, female and male between age of 3years to 6
years, 7 years to 10 years, 11 years to 13 years, 14 years to 17 years, 18
years to 40 years and 41 years to 65 years, were taken which comprised of
one percent of total population. 5th, 50th, 95th were calculated with mean and
standard divination all selected body measurements to generate data bank for
Hodaiah city population

Activities carried out in living room.

In majority of the selected house hold entertainment, conversation, receiving

guests, at time eating together are the major activities. For sitting purpose
generally low sitting arrangement with cushion was used. Use of accessories
was limited to center table with flower pot, picture, curtains and carpets.

Because of the traditional sitting arrangement without ergonomic consecration

was inconvenient to the users , maximum percentage(50%) sat on sofa
relaxing backwards. maximum percentage (55%) had low seat height of sofa
which was not comfortable to them. maximum percentage (5%) felt the slope
of the back rest was too much forward maximum percentage (57%) felt that
the length of the back too long. the respondents had workstation where the
design was causing awkward posture. 75,72and 62 percent of the

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respondents did not have arm rest provision, clear visibility for task
performance and adequate program for maintenance of tools and equipment
respectively.

80 percent of respondents had suffered pain or discomfort with living room

furniture. Maximum percentage (47%) felt the pressure on thighs, majority
(62.5%)of the respondents suffered pain on neck while sitting on sofa.
maximum percentage (37.5%) of the respondents who were elderly suffered
from pain years ago, (42.5%) of the respondents had unbearable pain and
had taken medical treatment. maximum percentage (87.5 %) of the
respondents suffered pain on lower back.

On the basis of the discomfort and pain in the body the researcher re
designed the living room of selected house hold in Hodeida city keeping in
mind principles of furniture arrangement, anthropometric measurements of the
people and habits of the people.

Conclusion of the study

From above all it can be concluded that ergonomically designed living
room are safer and better. The manufacturers and designers must use it
in a proper way so that even low cost furniture fulfills basic ergonomic
requirements.

The customers are generally unaware of the ergonomic laws. It is the

responsibility of the furniture makers and designers to redesign the
furniture that will save human energy while they are living in home
environment. Many of the items included in this reference can help
engineers, designers, and others create products and spaces that will
be more ergonomic for the user and increase user comfort. Others can
use this tool for general information and guidelines on ergonomics and
design.

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Recommendations for further studies.

The present study deals with interior design of residences of Hodaidah
city. As this is maiden effort to study interior design and consider it
ergonomically to improve and redesign the living room the researcher
wishes to throw light on some of the untouched aspects so that further
studies could be carried out
1. The study could be extended to all the rooms of the house and could be
studied in detail.
2. Study of different styles of interior design for the city of Hadeidah,
according to the different areas in the province of Hodaidah could be
carried out.
3. The further studies need to be expanded to the anthropometric
measurement of Yemen population and the problems of design for
Yemen in general.
4. A comparative study of problem with living room furniture design can be
carried out among different income group residents from Hodaidah city.
5. A comparative study of problems with living room furniture design
between Indian and Yemen population could be carried out.

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