MODULE 5

Ergonomics and Facilities Planning for the Hospitality Industry

LESSON: ERGONOMIC INTERIOR DESIGN

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the student can:

1. Define what is interior design,

2. Discuss the ethics of ergonomic interior designs,
3. Discuss the different facilities and workstation.

Content

Interior design, a part of environmental design and closely related to the architecture, is the
planning and design of man-made spaces. The functional applications of ergonomic intuition to
home design are essential. Ergonomically-minded interior design created living spaces that
promote “ easier” living, not only “ happier” to live in, but also because of this convenience.

"The Universal Design File: Designing for People of All Ages and Abilities," Story, Mueller, and
Mace outlined seven principles of what has come to be known as "Universal Design" in North
America, and "Inclusive Design" or "Design for All" in other parts of the world. Having evolved
since the 1970s, this approach to design seeks to create environments that are "usable by all
people to the greatest extent possible."

Seven Principles of Ergonomic Design:

1. Equitable use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
2. Flexibility in use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and
abilities.
3. Simple and intuitive use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s
experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to
the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of
accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low physical effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a
minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and space for approach and use: Appropriate size and space is provided for
approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user’s body size, posture, or
mobility.

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It is not difficult to see how living spaces which strive to embody these qualities would not only
be easier to use, but would most likely increase home productivity. Imagine, for example, a living
room which utilized thoughtfully-designed lighting fixtures, placed such that they illuminate
adequately the areas of interest within the room. Chairs, tables, and footstools would be easy to
relocate, thereby making the space amenable to a wider range of uses, while each furniture
piece would be able to accommodate persons of every size and ability.

5 Ethics of Ergonomic Interior Designs

What makes a good and wholesome interior design? What do you think? Is it the aesthetic? Is
it efficiency? Is it comfort? Or is it all of those elements combined?

Ergonomic design is basically a fancy term for user-friendly. It entails that most of the interior
design that is ‘ergonomic’ must be comfortable for the user in terms of psychology, physiology
and anatomy.

Briefly, the best interior design should be comfortable, efficient and aesthetically pleasing at the
same time. It cannot value one of these elements than the other, if not, the space would be
ergonomically incomplete.

1. Flexible planning

Flexible planning is a room’s adaptability to adjust at a moment’s notice. This means that you
cannot have some fixed base-walls that make up the blueprint of your space. Instead, create
spaces that are very flexible with the function. Modular plans are a great ergonomic design
venture. So prior to bringing the idea to your consultant, some basic research on them.

2. Comfort of movement

One of the things that you should always prioritize in an ergonomic design is the ease and
comfort of movement. Yes, your space is probably going to be small; but this does not mean
that you get to compromise on the ease of movement. Trust that it is going to help you live in
comfort in the long run, because who wants to live in cramped, small spaces anymore?

3. Focus on aesthetics

Physical comfort is very important, but what about psychological comfort? You cannot have a
home that is very efficient and functional, but has mediocre aesthetics. It is automatically going
to affect your mind in a negative way. So always consider the aesthetics of a space very carefully
and do not place function over form. Remember that both are equally important for you.

4. Physiological comfort

Spaces that are designed for the physical comfort of the body are the best. Did you know that
there is an entire book called the Time Savers Standards that tell you how much space you
require for the ease and comfort of the human body in all architecture and interior design
ventures? So always consider the minimum and maximum requirement of space usage before
finalizing your home layout.

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 5. Functional comfort

Imagine this; you have to retrofit a study room in a space that was previously used as a store.
Doesn’t sound hard, right? But what if that store is super large or super small? What if you cannot
retrofit your dream study shelf in that amount of space? This is what defines the functional
comfort of a space. You have to be very careful about designing these elements to make the
most of your space!

Ergonomics and Facilities Management

Ergonomics should be a preventive strategy. Managers must incorporate the elements of

human-factors design if the environments they create are to be safe, user-friendly, and OSHA
compliant. Ideal office design goes beyond the transient qualities of style to accommodate the
vicissitudes of life, such as aging, injury, disease, and disability. Facility managers should
collaborate with tenants, designers, and vendors to include ergonomics in workplace designs.
In addition, such collaboration should be employed when attempting to balance costs,
technologies, and the needs of workers. All involved should try to provide adaptable and flexible
environments that also meet production and safety objectives.

Where ergonomics-related problems do arise, they may directly affect profitability and
productivity. Tenant workers and facility employees who suffer from RSIs produce less, cost the
tenant money in workers’ compensation payments, and may initiate actions leading to OSHA
penalties and litigation. These factors can cause a tenant to default on lease payments or, worse
still, close business entirely. In addition, if the general workspace is not initially designed to
mitigate RSIs, managers of the leased space may incur liabilities as a result of OSHA litigation.
For example, if a workplace is created without adequate lighting, the building owner or manager
may be subject to legal action by occupants who claim to suffer from RSIs such as eyestrain
and neckstrain.

Managing Ergonomic Stressors

Many items found in the work environment can create potential risks and hazards if their
locations and uses are not considered carefully. For example, slips, trips, and falls on frayed
rugs, thresholds, and uneven or slippery surfaces are the number one recognized office “near
misses.” A “near miss” is an OSHA target statistic that refers to the accident that almost happens.
Tripping over extension cords, being cut on sharp edges, and having a top-heavy file cabinet tip
over are also recognized office hazards.

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As such, these hazards are considered environmental as opposed to human-factor related. They
should receive attention quickly because they affect everyone equally and are easily controlled.
Some standard risks that a facility manager should consider when assessing ergonomic
stressors in the workplace include:

• Workstation design: Improper placement of office equipment and materials can result
in worker strain and discomfort. The design of an office and the density of space are
critical to efficiency. Having a central location for shared services (copiers, library, and
office supplies) reduces the steps—and therefore the stress—taken to accomplish these
tasks. The shorter the distance to resources, the more productive workers can be.

• Workstation furnishings: Office furniture must be carefully selected to provide the most
flexibility and adaptability for workers.

• Lighting: Light sources should be chosen to reduce glare and to improve the contrast on
working surfaces (paper or furniture), not on computer screens. Computer monitors
should be adjusted to increase displayed contrast, brightness, and character resolution.
No work areas should be over-illuminated.

• Noise: High-speed printers, shredders, copiers, fans, and other office equipment
contribute to background noise. Some experts feel that these noises may adversely affect
the quality of the work environment. Equipment should be masked or isolated whenever
its operation makes it difficult to carry on a normal conversation. (Normal speech is usually
between sixty and seventy decibles.)

Furnishings and Standards

To manage ergonomic stressors properly, it is important to remember not only that the
workstation should fit the worker, but also that workers must be trained to set up adjustable
furnishings correctly. Adjustable features should be easy to use or they may be ignored.

Your employees may request that you adhere to one or both of these standards: ANSI/HFS 100-
1988 (American National Standards Institute/Human Factors Engineering for Visual Display
Terminal Workstations), currently under revision; or ISO 9241-5 (International Organization for
Standardization), titled “The Ergonomic Requirements for Office Work with Visual Display
Terminals.” The following aspects of those standards apply specifically to workstation
furnishings, particularly for office areas that house computers and related equipment.

Desks and tables: The height of desks and tables should be adjustable. Many typing desks or
tables are designed to be lower to allow for the body-neutral position. Desks and tables should
allow for height, depth, and width clearance of legs and feet. This is important for both standing
and seated postures. If it is not possible to adjust the desk or table height, use an adjustable
chair to achieve the proper alignment.

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Work surfaces: The work surface should be a size that allows personnel to comfortably reach—
forward and to both sides—in order to perform their work. The work surface should also be large
enough to accommodate files, equipment, machines, instruments, and tools.

Keyboard and mouse trays: Adjustable keyboard trays that slide in and out from underneath
the desk or table are common sources of ergonomic problems. The tray should allow the user
to maintain neutral alignment of the wrist to the keyboard and mouse. Ideally, the surface for the
mouse is adjusted approximately one inch below the keyboard. This prevents shoulder and wrist
strain.

Chairs: Although many types of chairs and seats are available, the main features to look for are
adjustability and ease of use. Seat pans should adjust in height, depth, length, and angle. The
lumbar support should fit the lower back. The chair should be on a five-caster base for stability
and have the correct “roll” for the contact surface; for example, not too fast on cement or rubber
surfaces. Ideally, armrests should be adjustable from side to side, allowing the worker to move
easily in and out of their chair and workstation. They should likewise move up and down to
accommodate forearms. They should be removable for some applications. On some chairs, neck
rests are advisable for computer users who multi-task and must view many panels of instruments
and computer screens at the same time. This is common in quality labs and at security stations.

Footrests: Be careful not to allow shorter workers’ feet to dangle. Angled footrests can be
purchased to alleviate this problem. In addition, the desk or tabletop should have a wide enough
opening to allow ample legroom and posture adjustments.

Special devices: Equally important is accommodating necessary aids, such as a headset or

speakerphone, to minimize head and neck movement during high-intensity phone demand with
concurrent keyboard operation.

Other accommodations: If workers must stand for long periods, it is advisable to provide an
energy-absorbent floor surface to reduce worker fatigue. Stools may also help, provided they
are sufficiently high. A bar rail on a standing workstation allows the worker to rest his or her feet
alternately. This reduces hip, knee, and foot fatigue.

Effects of an Ergonomics Program

The goals of an ergonomics program are to protect jobs and assets and to guard against liability.
Although it is unwise to use economic factors and convenience issues to sway decisions about
managing your ergonomics program, it is critical to understand the potential bottom-line effects
of particular actions or conditions.

Consider that for every dollar spent on ergonomics, the return on investment is tenfold, as
reported by the Insurance Association of America. Further, properly addressing ergonomics
helps to retain valued employees. The application of ergonomics to the office environment is
critical to the success of any business mission. The direct benefits of an ergonomics program
are:

• reduced occupational illness and injury

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 • reduced number of lost workdays
• reduced number of workers’ compensation claims
• reduced premium payments for workers’ compensation insurance
• reduced number of complaints of discomfort
• reduced instances of eyestrain
• reduced incidents of localized pain

The indirect benefits of an ergonomics program include:

Effects on productivity:

• Projects are completed.

• Client deadlines do not lapse.
• Client relations stay positive.
• Workers are more productive.
• Effects on cost:

The cost of producing a piece of work does not increase because there isn’t a need to replace
the previous worker and train a new one.

Insurance costs do not go up.

Regulatory liability is reduced.

References:

https://renopedia.sg/5-ethics-of-ergonomic-interior-designs/

https://www.fmlink.com/articles/ergonomics-and-facilities-management/

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ERGONOMICS AND FACILITIES PLANNING FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY-HPC321
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