Checklist 6
Chapter 6, The Ergonomic Approach
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Summary checklist (yes = correct; no = incorrect)
PROJECT FACTORS (CHAPTER 6)
General
1.	Are users involved in the project?
2.	Are ergonomic requirements introduced as early as possible in the project?
3.	Are conventional methods used for project management?
4.	Is the planning flexible?
5.	Is it understood that cooperation implies responsibility?
Initiative Phase
6.	Has who is involved in the project been defined?
7.	Is the project supported by those who are involved?
8.	Do team members agree on the code of conduct?
9.	Are false expectations on the part of the user avoided?
10.	Are the limits of the project stated?
11.	Is the course of the project described at the onset?
 Problem Identification Phase
12.	Is the data processing established at the start?
13.	Is more than one analysis technique selected?
14.	Are existing documents surveyed at the start?
15.	Is it assured that the analysis does not influence the result?
Selection of Solutions Phase
16.	Is it understood that textbooks, software, and other tools do not provide the complete answer?
17.	Are users allowed to work with a prototype?
18.	Are indirect users taken into account?
Implementation Phase
19.	Is an implementation strategy selected beforehand?
20.	Are tests realistic?
21.	Are all users trained?
22.	Is the implementation supported by the provision of good manuals?
23.	Do users have a role in organizational changes?
24.	Are users convinced of the improvements?
Evaluation Phase
25.	Are the same techniques of data collection maintained?
26.	Can teething problems sort themselves out?
27.	Is there awareness for the possibility of habit formation?
FACTORS RELATED TO WORK ORGANIZATION, JOBS, AND TASKS
(CHAPTER 5)
Tasks
28.	Are tasks described in a neutral way?
29.	Has a conscious decision been made about allocating tasks to a person or to a machine?
Jobs
30.	Does the job consist of more than one task? 
31.	Do those involved contribute to problem solving? 
32.	Is the cycle time longer than one-and-one-half minutes? 
33.	Is there alternation between easy and difficult tasks? 
34.	Can those involved decide independently how the tasks are carried out? 
35.	Are there adequate possibilities for contacts with others? 
36.	Is the information provided sufficient to control the task? 
Work Organization
Flexible Forms of Organization
37.	Are hierarchical work organizations replaced by more flexible structures:
38.	Are housing conditions flexible?
39.	Are working times flexible?
Autonomous Groups
40.	Is the assignment to the group clear?
41.	Does the group consist of 7-12 members?
Coaching Management Styles
42.	Is the role of the manager more coach than boss?
FACTORS RELATED TO POSTURE AND MOVEMENT (CHAPTER 2)
Biomechanical, Physiological, and Anthropometric Factors
Biomechanical Factors
43.	Are the joints in a neutral position? 
44.	Is the work held close to the body? 
45.	Are forward-bending postures avoided? 
46.	Are twisted trunk postures avoided? 
47.	Are sudden movements and forces avoided? 
48.	Is there a variation in postures and movements? 
49.	Is the duration of any continuous muscular effort limited? 
50.	Is muscle exhaustion avoided? 
51.	Are breaks sufficiently short to allow them to be spread over the duration of the task?
Physiological Factors
52.	Is the energy consumption for each task limited? 
53.	Is rest taken after heavy work? 
Anthropometric Factors
54.	Has account been taken of differences in body size? 
55.	Have the right anthropometric tables been used for specific populations? 
Factors Related to Posture
56.	Has a basic posture been selected that fits the job?
Sitting 
57.	Is sitting alternated with standing and walking? 
58.	Are the height of the seat and backrest of the chair adjustable? 
59.	Is the number of adjustment possibilities limited? 
60.	Have good seating instructions been provided: 
61.	Are the specific chair characteristics dependent on the task? 
62.	Is the work height dependent on the task? 
63.	Do the heights of the work surface, seat and feet correspond? 
64.	Is a footrest used where the work height is fixed? 
65.	Are excessive reaches avoided? 
66.	Is there a sloping work surface for reading tasks? 
67.	Is there enough legroom? 
Standing 
68.	Is standing alternated with sitting and walking? 
69.	Is work height dependent on the task? 
70.	Is the height of the work table adjustable? 
71.	Has the use of platforms been avoided? 
72.	Is there enough room for the legs and feet? 
73.	Are excessive reaches avoided? 
74.	Is there a sloping work surface for reading tasks? 
Change of posture 
75.	Has an effort been made to provide a varied task package? 
76.	Have combined sit-stand workplaces been introduced? 
77.	Is a Balans chair used once in a while in seated work? 
78.	Is a pedestal stool used once in a while in standing work? 
Hand and arm postures 
79.	Has the right model of tool been chosen? 
80.	Is the tool curved instead of the wrist being bent? 
81.	Are hand-held tools not too heavy? 
82.	Are tools well maintained? 
83.	Has attention been paid to the shape of handgrips? 
84.	Has work above shoulder level been avoided? 
85.	Has work with the hands behind the body been avoided? 
Factors Related to Movement 
Lifting 
86.	Have tasks involving manual displacement of loads been limited? 
87.	Have optimum lifting conditions been achieved? 
88.	Has care been taken that any one person always lifts less, and preferably much less, than 23 kg? 
89.	Have lifting situations been assessed using the NIOSH method? 
90.	Are the weights to be lifted not too small? 
91.	Are the workplaces suited to lifting activities? 
92.	Are handgrips fitted to the loads to be lifted? 
93.	Does the load have a favorable shape? 
94.	Have good lifting techniques been used? 
95.	Is more than one person involved in lifting? 
96.	Are lifting accessories used? 
Carrying 
97.	Is the weight of the load limited? 
98.	Is the load held as close to the body as possible? 
99.	Are good handgrips fitted? 
100.	Is the vertical dimension of the load limited? 
101.	Is carrying with one hand avoided? 
102.	Are transport accessories being used? 
Pulling and Pushing 
103.	Are pulling and pushing forces limited? 
104.	Is the body weight used during pulling and pushing? 
105.	Are the trolleys fitted with handgrips? 
106.	Do the trolleys have two swivel wheels? 
107.	Are the floors hardened and even? 
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS (CHAPTER 4)
Noise
Guidelines on Noise
108.	Is the noise level below 80 decibels?
109.	Is annoyance due to noise avoided? 
110.	Are rooms perhaps too quiet?
Noise Reduction at Source 
111.	Has a low-noise working method been chosen? 
112.	Are quiet machines used? 
113.	Are machines regularly maintained?
114.	Are noisy machines enclosed?
Noise Reduction through Workplace Design and Work Organization
115.	Is noisy work separated from quiet work? 
116.	Is there an adequate distance to the source of noise? 
117.	Is the ceiling used for noise absorption? 
118.	Are acoustic screens used? 
Hearing Conservation 
119.	Are hearing conservation measures suited both to the noise and to the user? 
Vibration 
Guidelines on Vibration 
120.	Are health and safety risks from vibration avoided?
121.	Are shocks and jolts prevented? 
Preventing Vibration 
122.	Is vibration tackled at its source? 
123.	Are machines regularly maintained? 
124.	Is the transmission of vibration prevented? 
125.	Are measures at the individual level applied only as a last resort? 
Illumination 
Guidelines on Light Intensity 
126.	Is the light intensity for orientation tasks in the range 20-200 lux? 
127.	Is the light intensity for normal activities in the range 250-750 lux? 
128.	Is the light intensity for special applications in the range 750-5000 lux? 
Guidelines on Brightness Differences
129.	Are large brightness differences in the visual field avoided? 
130.	Are the brightness differences between task area, close surroundings, and wider surroundings limited? 
Guidelines for the Color of the Light 
131.	Are too cold and too warm colors for indoor lighting avoided?
Improved Lighting
132.	Is the information easily legible? 
133.	Is ambient lighting combined with localized lighting? 
134.	Is daylight also used for ambient lighting? 
135.	Are direct light sources properly screened? 
136.	Are reflections and shadows avoided? 
137.	Is diffuse light used? 
138.	Is flicker from fluorescent tubes avoided: 
Climate  
Guidelines on Thermal Comfort 
139.	Are people able to control the climate themselves? 
140.	Is the air temperature suited to the physical demands of the task? 
141.	Is the air prevented from becoming either too dry or too humid? 
142.	Are hot or cold radiating surfaces avoided? 
143.	Are drafts prevented? 
Guidelines on Heat and Cold 
144.	Is the exposure to extreme hot or cold environments avoided?
145.	Are materials that have to be touched neither too cold nor too hot? 
Climate control 
146.	Are equally heavy tasks grouped in the same room? 
147.	Are the physical demands of the task adjusted to the external climate? 
148.	Is the air velocity optimal? 
149.	Are undesirable radiation prevented? 
150.	Is the time spent in hot or cold environments limited? 
151.	Is special clothing used when spending long periods in hot or cold environments? 
Chemical substances 
Guidelines on Chemical Substances 
152.	Is the concentration of chemical substances in air subject to limits (TLVs or other)? 
153.	Are carcinogenic substances avoided? 
154.	Are peak exposures prevented? 
155.	Is exposure to mixtures of substances prevented? 
156.	Is the concentration of chemical substances as far below the TLVs as possible? 
157.	Are packages of chemicals appropriately labeled? 
Measures at Source 
158.	Can the source be removed? 
159.	Can releases from the source be reduced? 
160.	Can the source be isolated? 
Ventilation 
161.	Are chemical substances extracted directly at the source? 
162.	Is the air exhaust system efficient? 
163.	Has attention been paid to climate at workplaces where exhaust and ventilation are used? 
164.	Are sufficient air changes provided? 
Measures at the Individual Level 
165.	Are organizational measures possible? 
166.	Is personal protective equipment available? 
167.	Are dust masks used only as protection against coarse dust? 
168.	Are protective clothing and gloves available? 
169.	Is attention paid to personal hygiene? 
FACTORS RELATED TO INFORMATION AND OPERATION (CHAPTER 3)
The User
170.	Is the user population defined as accurately as possible?
171.	Are cultural differences taken into account?
Information
Visual Information
172.	Have texts with only capitals been avoided? 
173.	Have familiar typefaces been chosen? 
174.	Has confusion between characters been avoided? 
175.	Has the correct character size been chosen? 
176.	Are longer lines more widely spaced? 
177.	Is the contrast good? 
178.	Are the diagrams easily understood?
179.	Have pictograms been properly used?
Hearing
180.	Are the uses of sounds reserved for warning signals?
181.	Has the correct pitch been chosen?
182.	Is synthesized speech adjustable?
Other senses 
183.	Are the uses of taste, smell, and temperature restricted to warning signals? 
184.	Is the sense of touch used for feedback from controls?
185.	Are different senses used for simultaneous information? 
Controls for Operation
Fixed Controls
186.	Is a familiar keyboard layout used?
187.	Is the number of function keys limited?
188.	Is the type of cursor control suited to the task?
189.	Is the mouse not used exclusively?
190.	Are touch screens used to facilitate operation by inexperienced users?
191.	Are pedals used only where the use of the hands is inconvenient?
192.	Is unintentional operation avoided?
193.	Are labels or symbols properly used?
194.	Is the use of color limited?
195.	Is the direction of movement consistent with expectation?
196.	Is the objective clear from the position of the controls?
Wireless, Remote and Hands-Free Controls
197.	Are remote controls used to give the user more freedom?
198.	Are hands-free controls avoided for precise data?
199.	Is speech recognition limited to quiet environments?
Dialogues
User Friendliness
200.	Is the dialogue suitable to the user/s task and skill level?
201.	Does the dialogue make clear what the user should do next?
202.	Will the user be in control of the pace and sequence dialogue?
203.	Is the dialogue consistent?
204.	Is the dialogue forgiving?
205.	Is the dialogue suitable for individualization?
206.	Is the dialogue suitable for learning?
Different Forms of Dialogue
207.	Have menus been used for users with little knowledge or experience?
208.	Are the limitations of an input form known?
209.	Has command language been restricted to experienced users?
210.	Is direct manipulation consistent?
211.	Have the disadvantages of natural language been recognized?
Help
212.	Is the type of help suited to the level of the user?
Website Design
213.	Can the behavior of the user on the website be predicted?
214.	Is the presentation of the website independent of the user’s hardware and browser?
215.	Is the content understandable and navigable?
Mobile Interaction
216.	Is mobile interaction used for simple content?
217.	Are screen layout and navigation adapted to the needs of the user?
Virtual Reality
218.	Is an appropriate way of manipulating objects chosen?
219.	Is the playability of a game improved by enlarging the user experience?
CONCLUDING FACTOR
220.	Would you wish to carry out the task yourself?