KANBrief 3/13
Only when the human factor is considered from the outset are safe products and good product standards created. For this reason, ergonomics constitutes a focus of KAN's work. In this issue, we present a selection of current studies and projects with which KAN is making efforts to introduce the necessary knowledge of ergonomics into standards in a comprehensible and user-friendly form.
KAN workshop: standards as an ergonomics tool
New challenges for the DIN Ergonomics standards committee, the results of KAN studies, digital ergonomics, universal design: these topics formed the introduction to a KAN workshop at which over 30 ergonomics experts met in Sankt Augustin on 19 February 2013.
During a brainstorming session, the participants proposed around 50 topics that in their opinion should be addressed by KAN in the future. They considered the topics of demo graphics, mental stress, the user-friendliness of ergonomics standards, process ergonomics and anthropometrics to be key issues. KAN will discuss these topics and where possible implement them in projects.
Further topics were suggested for which KAN will examine whether a need for action exists, for example: ergonomics as an aspect in applications for new standardization projects, involvement in/work on ergonomics committees, reverse analyses from the product back to the standard, U-shaped arrangement of work places, and the height of bottom steps on mobile machines.
KAN study: examples of good practice for the ergonomic design of machines
The provisions of ergonomics standards must be formulated in a user-friendly manner if they are to be given greater consideration in product standards. It is also important that designers be motivated and their awareness raised for the application of ergonomic findings throughout the design process of work equipment. Comprehensible real-case examples of ergonomically designed work equipment are very helpful in the attainment of both aims.
KAN has commissioned a study in order to identify such real-case examples for vehicles on company sites (such as fork-lift trucks and elevating platforms) and for machine tools, and to compile them in a catalogue. The examples could be incorporated into a user-friendly guide produced by ergonomics experts and used to support experts, such as those involved in the standardization of machinery, in the production of detailed safety requirements for certain machines or machine groups.
KAN study: biomechanical stress limits
In general, robots are able to assume tasks only in automatic mode, since they present an excessive danger to persons in the vicinity. Assembly tasks in particular however often cannot be fully automated, since certain discrete steps cannot be performed without human assistance. If working areas shared by human beings and robots are created for this reason, the robots' movements must therefore not present a direct hazard. Since however a small risk of collision remains despite safe controls, the physiological strain potentially arising in this case must be limited such that only very minor, tolerable injuries are able to occur. For this purpose, categories of injury severity must be created for classification of the injury results and criteria.
The KAN study examines the current state of knowledge and further biomechanical principles required for such a classification. The results of this study will in the future enable OSH experts and manufacturers to develop a body of data by which reasoned decisions can be taken during assessment of the mechanical risks, and suitable provisions formulated for standards.
ErgoMach
The ErgoMach initiative, supported by KAN, has the ambitious objective of assuring, by means of a web-based, Europe-wide communication platform, that designers, ergonomics experts, users, purchasers, standards experts, public authorities and prevention specialists share the information needed for the ergonomically sound design of machines. One conference has already been held (in 2011) for this purpose, and a further workshop is planned for March/April 2014.
Dr. Anja Vomberg Corrado Mattiuzzo
vomberg@kan.de mattiuzzo@kan.de