Making Life Meaningful: Designing Workstations for Physically and Cognitively Impaired Adults

摘要

Ergonomic solutions for the workplace are important for any employee but especially important for workerswith disabilities. This project investigates the workstations of physically and cognitively impaired employeesat a state funded work program. Two workstations, a sorting station for coat hangers and a sealingstation for flatware packages, were analyzed for inefficiencies and ergonomic hazards. The hanger stationwas redesigned using anthropometric principles and workstation aids to improve the employees’ capabilityto distinguish and sort the coat hangers. The positioning of the hangers was modified to improve the efficiencyof the employees’ movements by reducing reach lengths. The sealing station was altered by providinga new platform for aligning flatware packages and installing a lever to control the sealer such that thelever motion conforms better to reduce errors and force requirements. Field tests were performed and theredesigns were proven successful in improving the productivity of the employees.