Experimental study on comfort ranges of manual operation in standing position

Abstract

The experimental study was conducted to assess the comfort ranges for manual operation in standing position. Twenty healthy young people (10 males and 10 females) were recruited as study subjects. With the example of an index finger push-button operation, the acceptable height ranges (approximately 800–1200 mm) of manual operation in standing position were determined by the experiment. Specifically, the five experimental heights from 800 mm to 1200 mm were set up with the step interval being 100 mm. In the operating plane (workstation), the 50 mm vertical and horizontal spacing buttons were arranged, respectively. The acceptable operating regions of the test height table can be obtained through statistical analysis of the forefinger push-button operations of all study subjects. Thus, the corresponding comfort ranges of manual operation on other experimental height planes can be replicated. The study results yielded certain practical values of mounting position for manual devices in the ergonomic design and assessment.