The Rules of Work: A Practical Engineering Guide to Ergonomics, Second Edition

197 Pages·2012·36.673 MB·\197

by  Dan MacLeod (Author)

SECOND
EDITION
THE RULES OF WORK
A Practical Engineering Guide
to Ergonomics
SECOND EDITION

THE RULES OF WORK
A Practical Engineering Guide
to Ergonomics
SECOND EDITION
by Dan MacLeod
K14336_FM.indd 3 9/19/12 3:44:41 PM
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2013 by Dan MacLeod
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Version Date: 2012918
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v
Contents:
Author vii
Acknowledgments ix
Preface xi
PartI 111eRulBs
Introduction- Overview ofthefield 3
1. Posture 17
2. Force 21
3. Reach 33
4. Heights 38
5. Motions 42
6. Fatigue 47
7. PressurePoints .52
8. Clearance 55
9. Movement andchange 57
10.Environment 59
11.Applications 62
12.Cognitive Ergonomics 82
13.Work Organization 89
Part1/ MeasulfJmentsandGuldel/nes
Introduction- Why measure? 95
14.Anthropometry 98
15.Exertionand Biomechanics 110
16.Posture 121
17.Motions 125
18.Miscellaneous 130
19.NIOSH LiftingGuide 134
20. Puahing, Pulling, and CarryingGuides 144
21. RapidUpperLimbAssessment (RULA) 146
22. Strain Index 150
23. Time and Physical DemandsAnalysis (fAPDA) 151
24. EmployeeDiscomfortSurveys 152
25.Stodies 154
26. Problem-SolvingProcess 169
References 179
Index 182

vii
AbouttheAuthor
Dan MacLeod is one of the leading practitioners of workplace
ergonomics, widelyrecognized for his down-to-earth approach and
his emphasis on low-cost, low-tech job improvements. He served
as a consultant to employers, trade associations. and unions for
over 35 years, and has developed innovative corporate programs
that have resulted in thousands of ergonomic improvements and
savings of millions of dollars. In all,he has conducted evaluations
in over 1500 workplaces in his lifetime. assessing thousands of
individual tasks.
He was instrumental in the late 1970s in recognizing the
widespread impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In
1982, he authored the first lay lauguage training materials in North
America on workplace ergonomics. He has comprehensive
experience in multiple industries, ranging from offices and
hospitals to underground mining and steel mills. He has worked
with small organizations as well as some of the largest
corporations inthe U.S.
His work has helped change entire industries. In the late
1970s, he pioneered the first workplace ergonomics programs in
car assembly operations. In the 19808.he was heavily involved in
the meatpacklng industry, where he represented the industry in
working with OSHA to develop the Ergonomics Guidelinesforthe
Meatpacking Industry.
Dan is multilingual with broad international consulting expe
rience, especially in China and Mexico. He is a Certified Profes
sional Ergonomist (CPE) and holds master's degrees in both
occupational health and industrial relations. He works as an inde
pendent consultant; see www.danmacleod.com.

ix
Acknowledgments
Conlonl- Everything in this book is based on whatI have learned
working on-site in plants and with client organizations. In the
process, lowe much to many very bright and helpful people
throughout the years, including: Peter Budnick, Jessica Waller,
Mark Weare, Mike Allen, Jeff Ware, Eric Kennedy, Wayne
Adams, Elizabeth Damann, Rob Nerhood Il, Ioe Pallansch, Don
Chaffin, Tom Armstrong, Rob Radwin, Rich Marklin, Don
Bloswick, Stover Snook, Bob Bozzay, Bill Boyd, Lois Hensley,
DonHirsch, TomBray, and Devin Lackie.
Eric Kennedy and Wayne Adams especially provided considerable
support in the initial development of the section on quantitative
methods.
Layonland design - The author.
lIIustntlonl - Michelle Deiber Kumm supplemented previous
drawingsbyMaryNoyes, MarkWatson, and TomNynas.
Coverart- KirklandBray, adapted from LarsNormann.
ToBertrande