AN EVALUATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FURNITURE AND ANTHROPOMETRIC DIMENSIONS OF SOME COMPUTER USERS IN NIGERIA

摘要

The immediate environment in which jobs take place can influence the way they are performed and the level of productivity achieved. Ergonomics is concerned with this aspect of job design and makes use of different environmental design factors. While the factors are readily available for many advanced economies, they appear to be sparse for developing economies like Nigeria. This work, which is one in series, aims to develop these design factors for Nigeria with major focus on anthropometric dimensions of Information Technology (IT) users. The work investigated the relationship between the relevant dimensions of computer users and the corresponding dimensions of their work stations, especially the furniture. A computer user usually in a sitting position uses furniture (desk and chair) which may not be sufficiently comfortable in terms of height or other design factors that may impact performance. These may not only hinder smooth operations leading to decrease in productivity but could also result in health problems like discomfort in the neck, shoulder, wrist and back pains among others. They could be as a result of work stations interface designed without utilising the anthropometric data of the user population. This research work addressed this problem by examining the level of compatibility between the relevant anthropometric dimensions of computer users and the corresponding dimensions of their work stations, especially the furniture. For this study, data were obtained from two IT centres, the Central Library and the Information and Communication and Technology Unit, of a University in Nigeria. These are designated as Centres A and B respectively. Anthropometric data of the Computer users and their corresponding work stations were obtained. Also a structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the users. Statistical analyses and evaluation were carried out to make appropriate recommendations based on the results obtained. Results showed that existing furniture have the corresponding dimensions of seat height (SH) 51.38, seat depth (SD) 41.34, seat width (SW) 44.18, highest point back support (HH) 40.62; for the table, vertical span below (VS) 60.27, keyboard height (KBH) 65.49, monitor height (MH) 114.12 cm and horizontal knee space (HKS) 69.25cm for station A; while for station B the values were SH 48.3, SD 41.50, SW 41.60, HH 40.50, VS 60.20, KBH 64.50 and MH 110.70 and HKS 23.60 cm, respectively. Common complaints from the users include discomfort in the neck, and shoulder, with wrist and back pains being major. Using the population data at 95% percentile the corresponding dimensions of SH 52.00, SD 54.00, SW 41.00, HH 41.00 and VS 62.00, KBH 72.00, MH 126.00 and HKS77.00 cm would be more fitting. This shows variations of 23.44% SD, 10.06% HKS and -7.76% SW in A and 69.35% HKS, 23.15% SD and -1.46% SW for B. Comparatively, there are higher variations in station B compared to A. An adoption of the modifications would of necessity improve work environment, productivity, standard of living and quality of life.