ABSTRACT
However, currently the amount of data on the size and shape of industrial workers is limited. Most of the data used by safety and ergonomics researchers are based on data drawn from studies of military personnel that are quite different from the average workforce populations. As anthropometric characteristics vary according to several factors (e.g. gender, age and race), creating anthropometric databases that reflect the full variation of the population typically requires considerable resources (time, know-how, funds, equipment and workforce, etc.). Nevertheless, nowadays, there are a growing number of anthropometric databases attempting to represent the characteristics of entire populations (Barroso et al., 2005). However, as the study of Hsiao et al. (2002) concluded, there are even significant anthropometric differences among occupational groups, meaning that, for example, a truck driver and a firefighter are, or can be,
1 INTRODUCTION
People spend most of their lives at work, therefore it is extremely important that the work environment is healthy, safe and comfortable in order to avoid occupational injuries and/or diseases. Optimising workplace design is also a central factor in insuring workers’ efficiency and safety on the job. User-centered design approaches, where ergonomic principles and anthropometrics are considered, should be preferred (Wichansky, 2000). This type of design aims to minimize the stress imposed on the users and to eliminate harmful postures. When their workplaces are inadequate users may experience Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD). Workers’ WRMSD are very prejudicial for companies since they are one of the major causes of reduced work capacity, absenteeism or productivity losses (Escorpizo, 2008). Hence, user-friendly workplaces are decisive in workers’ welfare. In order to design this type of work environment, it is essential to have a full understanding of the human body and to create workplaces which are suitable for users taking into consideration different body dimensions and different activity requirements.
