Semm3931

Industrial Engineering Laboratory

Ergonomics

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

JOHOR BAHRU

SEMM3931

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

ERGONOMICS

Prepared by: Received by:

Name: Name:
Signature: Signature:

Date: Date:

Version : 03
Revision : 24/11/2020

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Industrial Engineering Laboratory
Ergonomics

1. Title
Ergonomics

1.0 INTRODUCTION

International Labor Organization (ILO) defines ergonomics or human factors as the use of biological
science and relating it to engineering science to achieve optimum compatibility between human
and his work. The benefit is measured in terms of human efficiency, comfort and safety.

Ergonomics or human factors deals with human being and interaction with products, equipment,
facilities, and environment. It focuses on human being and how the design of product, workstation
and the environment influences people. Ergonomics then seeks to change these things and the
environments to better match the capabilities, limitations and the needs of people.

Unsuitable work methods and work environment can cause physical and mental pressure and stress
to workers. This may affect human efficiency, safety and health. Ergonomics tries to solve this.

Ergonomics has two major objectives:

i. To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency with which work and other activities are carried
out.
ii. To enhance certain desirable human values including improved safety, reduced fatigue and
stress, increased comfort, greater user acceptance, increased job satisfaction, and improve
quality of life.

1.2 ERGONOMICS ENVIRONMENT

Many ergonomic problems occur due to the effect of workplace environment. This include thermal,
noise, vibration and illumination. The effects need to be optimized so as to reduce stress on workers.

Environment stress can affect eyesight due to unsuitable illumination, hearing loss due to prolong
exposure to loud noise, muscular skeletal problem due to vibration and repetitive work and heat
stress due to extreme thermal environment.

The experiments conducted in Industrial Engineering Laboratory involve environmental factors such
as the effect of noise (Experiment 1) and Illumination (Experiment 2).

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EXPERIMENT 1
1. Title
Noise

2. Objectives

i. To measure noise exposure of workers for drilling work.

ii. To identify the permissible time exposure according to Occupational Safety and
Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994) and Factories and Machineries Act (FMA 1967).
iii. To suggest improvement for current situation in order to increase the comfort ability
of workers.

3. Equipments /Apparatus

Sound level meter, dosimeter, earmuff, drilling machine and measurement tape.
Supporting documents:
i. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994)
ii. Factories and Machineries Act (FMA 1967)
iii. Factories and Machineries Regulation 1989
iv. Guideline for Control for Occupational Noise 2005

4. Theory

A sound source radiates power and it results in a sound pressure. In this sense, the sound power
is the cause and the sound pressure is the effect. In other words, the sound pressure is what
we hear. If the pressure is too high with prolong exposure, one will be exposed hearing damage
and stress. Noise is any unwanted sound.

In ergonomics study, sound level is to be measured in decibel or abbreviated as dB(A). The ‘A’
refer to a filter that is adapted to the physiology of human ear. Table 1 shows the effect of
noise on human.

Table 1 Effect of noise pressure

Effect of noise pressure to human
Noise level 1 Noise level 2 Noise level 3 Noise level 4
20….65 dB(A) 65….90 dB(A) 90….120 dB(A) >120 dB(A)
Clear hearing loss
Disturbing and Vegetative disorder, After longer-term
after very short time
annoying constriction of blood noise exposure
of exposure

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psychological vessel, poor blood permanent hearing

reactions possible circulation of skin damage
Occupational Safety and Administration (OSHA) has established permissible noise exposure which
depends on the duration of exposure shown in Table 2(a) and (b). The exposure to any sound level
above 80 dBA causes the listener to incur a partial dose. If the total daily exposure consists of several
partial exposures to different noise levels, then the several partial dose are added to obtain a
combined exposure using the following formula;

D = 100(C1/T1 + C2/T2 + ……………..Cn/Tn) ≤ 100

where : D = Noise Dose

Cn = Time spent (hours) at specified noise level

Tn = Time permitted (hours) at specified noise level (Refer Table 2)

You need to refer to Factories and Machineries (Noise Exposure) Regulation 1989 to calculate the
permissible noise exposure. , 1983).

The noise dose is then converted to an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level using the
following formula:

TWA = 16.61 log (D/100) + 90

TWA is the sound level that would produce a given noise dose if a person is exposed to that sound
level continuously over 8 hours workday. Thus, a worker may be working in a safe environment
based on the permissible noise exposure (Table 2) but the cumulative effect of this exposure based
on TWA may proof otherwise.

A noise dose of 50% (TWA = 85 dBA) is the action level and 100% (90 dBA) is the permissible
exposure level.

Table 2 Permissible noise exposures according to OSHA

Sound level (dBA) Permissible Time (hour)
80 32
85 16
90 8
95 4
100 2
105 1
110 0.5
115 0.25
120* 0.125*
125* 0.063*
130* 0.031*
* Exposure 115 dBA are not permitted regardless of duration; but should they exist, they are to
be included in computations of the noise dose. (Source OSHA, 1983).

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5. Methodology

i. This experiment consists of the measurement of sound level in three (3) different
situations.
ii. Windscreen should always be used when measurements are made outdoor or in a dusty
environment.
iii. To ensure validity of measurement obtained, background noise must be low enough and
sound level meter should be held at arm length or mounted on a tripod to minimize
disturbances of the sound filled due to the operator’s body.
iv. For the purpose of this laboratory exercise, you may do both experiments concurrently.
However, in the normal procedure, the measurement should be done using sound level
meter first to produce noise area mapping.
v. After confirming the noise level is over 85 dB(A), then only need to do personal
monitoring using dosimeter.
Procedure for using noise measuring equipment:

Sound Level Meter Dosimeter

Windscreen
Procedure: Procedure:
Set the range selector switch to the appropriate
measuring range for the proposed measurement. a) Turn on the dosimeter.
(a) Set the detector response switch as follows; b) Clip the dosimeter on your shirt and ensure
“Fast” : for relatively steady sound levels the microphone is positioned as high on your
“Slow” : for relatively fluctuating sound shoulder as possible and away from your
levels neck.
(b) Select “Man” mode c) Read the dose measurement and fill in the
(c) Switch the power switch “ON” table provided in your lab sheet. Take three
(d) Note the displayed value times of reading and calculate the average.
(e) Press the reset button,
(f) Measure the same sound source for the
second time
(g) Turn the power switch “OFF”
(h) Go through step (a) to (e) again for 2 other
sound sources.
You are required to measure noise level at three different operating environments which are;
i) Hair dryer
ii) Vacuum , and

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iii) Hand drill

6. Result

i. Determine independent variable and dependent variable for the study. Develop a suitable
table that shows three situations of noise and permissible time.
ii. Discuss how contour mapping can be prepared ( students need to search internet or
references book)

7. Discussion

i. Based on the result, relate the average noise level with the permissible time of
exposure (T) in Factories and Machineries (Noise Exposure) Regulation 1989.
Comment on the noise contour mapping.

ii. Compare between Sound Level Meter and Dosimeter in terms of their application for
noise measurement.

iii. Let say in his daily work, a worker is exposed to 5 hours of noise in first situation, 2
hours in second situation and 1 hour in third situation. Calculate the daily noise
dose and TWA.

iv. Based on the effect of noise pressure in Table 1, comment the results in (c) and
suggest two control measures that should be taken to reduce exposure to noise.

v. Discuss what are the possible aspects that may affect the validity of the
measurement obtained?

vi. How the experiment could improve in order to obtain more accurate results.

8. Conclusion

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9. References
EXPERIMENT 2

1. Title
Illumination

2. Objectives
To measure average illumination at different distances with respect to an artificial light
source

3. Equipments/Apparatus

i. Lux meter
ii. Task area platform
iii. Measuring tape/string
iv. Lab rubber stoppers

Figure 1: Lux meter

Figure 2: Task area platform (30cm x 30 cm)

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The Testo 545 is a portable lux meter. The illumination level is measured in “lux”. Illumination
(E) refers to the amount of light falls upon a certain object.

4. Theory

The sun is our main source of illumination in many aspects of daily life. However, in certain
circumstances artificial illumination is used. When an environment involved artificial illumination it
is important to make sure that the illumination is designed to give satisfactory illumination level for
the user.

Illumination is important because it deals with visibility level, colour and glare. In measuring
illumination level, there are several types of quantities units involved. The units are shown in
Table 1.

Table 1: Types of illumination unit

Candela, cd Measuring the luminous intensity

Candlepower, Measuring the luminous intensity of a light source as
expressed in candelas
Lumen The light from of point source of one candela failing on an
area of 1 square ft at a distance of 1 ft
Lux 1 lumen per square meter

5. Methodology

Case A: with 50% lights in the lab switched off, and the curtain pulled back, and natural light enters
the room.

i. Record the time and outdoor weather condition

ii.Make sure the task area platform is placed at between 76-80 cm from the floor
iii.Measure the illumination level at all points (1 – 4) on the task area platform at location A
iv. Make sure to place the lux meter sensor facing upward. Make sure that nothing is blocking
the sensor while measuring
v. Select suitable range when using the lux meter (e.g. 300 lux, 1000 lux, or 3000 lux)
vi. Calculate the average illumination level

Case B: Find one location B within the lab that you believe will give a better illumination level than
location A.

i. Mark the position of location B on the lab floor plan (refer to Figure 3).
ii. While at location B, follow steps (b) to (e) just like at location A.
iii. Calculate the average illumination level.

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DOOR

Figure 3: Lab floor plan (please indicate location B on the plan)

Case C: while at location B, find a way to gradually increase the average illumination level. This can
be done by gradually moving the task area platform in the right direction using the appropriate
equipment given.

i. For every gradual movement of task area platform, calculate the average illumination level
and the distance from light source to the task area platform
ii. Stop when the average illumination level is double of the original illumination level at
location B. This new position is designated as location C.

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6. Result

Draw appropriate tables, with the appropriate independent and dependent variables to
record the data collected for each case.

Data from Case A:

Data from Case B:

Data from Case C

7. Discussion

i. What are the purposes of an assessment of the lighting condition in a workplace?

ii. Suppose the work at location A involves a very fine work such as hand engraving or
inspection of fine machinery and assembly, is the illumination level adequate? Cite
the relevant standard to support your answer.

iii. Are there any differences of illumination level between location A, B and C? If yes,
what are the reasons for those differences?

iv. Based on data in Case C, construct a graph of the illumination level against the
distance (from light source to the task area platform). Attach the graph to this lab
sheet. What conclusions can be drawn from the graph?

v. If you would move the task area platform two times further away from light, by what
fraction would the light change?

8. Conclusion

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9. References

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