Productivity, or quality of work as the decisive factor in marketing ergonomics? Design considerations for a new ergonomic welding-table.
Quality tools should be designed from the starting point of adjusting tasks and equipment to human possibilities and limitations. Companies should consider an investment in ergonomic equipment as a profitable addition to indispensable productive machinery. As an example to support this statement, the authors describe the health risks of welders and the possible solutions. As the result of investigations a list of requirements was drafted for a product that would have less of the disadvantages of the products mentioned. The designed product, the 'ergonomic welding-table', aims to be a quality tool for welders working at small and medium-sized tasks. The product consists of a cabin (2.35 m wide) with a built-in ventilator for very efficient welding-fume extraction (90%-95%). Welders can set their preferred working height at any time. Another advantage is the option of performing the welding task while standing or sitting. The results of user-evaluation among welders and purchasers indicates considerable satisfaction.
van der Veen
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Regensburg
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D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014896:Welding / Q000295:instrumentation*