Ergonomics

KAN is involved in the following subjects in the field of ergonomic standardization:

• General fundamentals of ergonomics standardization
• Ergonomic design of work equipment
• Lighting
• Work with display screen equipment
• Climate
• Mental stress
  
  

General principles of ergonomics standardization

One difficulty associated with ergonomics standardization in the past was a lack of generic standards on some subjects, at both European and international level. For this reason, KAN has drawn up a guide in conjunction with the Ergonomics Standards Committee (NA Erg) by which the content of ergonomics standards can be structured. The guide has been accepted at European and international level. Since then, the body of ergonomics standards has been the subject of continual structural improvement. Awareness of the ergonomics standards must be increased, however, in order for their application to be promoted. KAN has launched a number of projects in the area of ergonomics for this purpose.

For further information on the subject, see:

• Ergonomics standards search tool:  http://www.nora.kan.de/en/ergo
• Ergonomics tuition modules for designers: http://www.ergonomielernen.de (in German) 
• Guide for the inclusion of ergonomic aspects in standards

Ergonomic design of machinery

Contact: Anja Vomberg (vomberg@kan.de)

KAN is involved in specific projects for promotion of the ergonomic design of machinery. The basic standards governing ergonomics are of particular importance in this area.  

For further information on the subject, see:

• KANBrief 1/11: The ErgoMach programme: ergonomics for all
• KANBrief 3/04: Standardization in the area of “physical strength”
• KAN Report 44 "Anthropometric data in standards"

Lighting

Contact: Dr. Dirk Bartnik (bartnik@kan.de)

Although workplace lighting is part of health and safety of workers at work and the European legal framework does not provide for it to be standardized, at the European level CEN/TC 169, "Light and lighting", is preparing and has prepared standards on workplace lighting. The German foreword must make it clear that national requirements concerning workplace lighting can go beyond the lighting requirements specified in the standard and that, in Germany, the Workplaces Ordinance and any relevant rules and regulations issued by the Berufsgenossenschaft institutions (institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention) apply.

For further information on the subject, see:

• KANBrief 3/04: Workplace lighting: what role can standardization play?
• KANBrief 3/00: Lighting of workplaces

Work with display screen equipment

Contact:  Anja Vomberg (vomberg@kan.de)

Standards that specify product requirements are subject to Article 95 of the EC Treaty. The Display Screen Equipment Directive (90/270/EEC), on the other hand, falls within the scope of Article 137 of the EC Treaty, which deals with workers' health and safety. Nonetheless, the Annex to the Display Screen Equipment Directive does contain minimum requirements for technical characteristics of the working environment and work equipment.  

In order to create a clear distinction between the two areas of regulation, KAN has drawn up a structuring strategy to be used when preparing and revising international and European standards. The national mirror committee (DIN/NI-Erg) presented the strategy to ISO/TC 159/SC 4, which adopted it as the basis for systemising and revising standards.  

For further information on the subject, see:

• KAN position paper on glossiness of computer monitor and VDT casings
• KANBrief 3/99: Current developments in screen work standardization
• KANBrief 3/98: Standardization in the field of screen work
• KAN Report 16: Standardization in the field of work with display screen equipment

Climate

Contact: Dr. Dirk Bartnik (bartnik@kan.de)

Standardization on the subject of "climate" affects occupational health and safety when, for example, it deals with the exposure of the worker to cold or warm ambient conditions. Measuring methods, terminology or ranges which can be endured are specified, and exposure times and rest periods proposed. KAN monitors this field of standardization to ensure that no regulations on occupational medical care or on the stipulation of recovery periods are included in standards, since these are the responsibility of the individual Member States.

Mental stress

Contact: Ulrich Bamberg (bamberg@kan.de)  

As work structures have changed, so have the forms of stress that occur at work. Nowadays, the main form is often mental stress, for example, time pressure or over-demanding tasks, rather than heavy physical work or other types of physical stress. In the field of ergonomics, unlike in colloquial speech, the term "stress" is considered to refer to the whole package of influences on workers at work, whereas "strain" is defined as the impact of the stress on a particular individual. Thus, strain is a human's reaction to stress. That also means that the same type of stress can result in different forms of strain in different people.  

In order to ensure the safety, health and well-being of workers at the workplace, the work, work systems, products and environments should correspond to human beings' physical and mental abilities. Standards concerning mental stress can help to achieve this – as can ergonomics standards in general – if they are consulted by other standards makers, designers, manufacturers and work designers during the actual development phase so that safety is "designed into the product" right from the outset as stipulated by, for example, the Machinery Directive. 

For further information on the subject, see:

• KANBrief 1/01: Special on “Mental stress”
• Articles: Standardization in the field of mental stress – The DIN EN ISO 10075 series of standards