Case Study of Ergonomics Project
Study on Hospital Cleaners
Project Duration :5 weeks
Tools Used :Figma , Illustrator , Photoshop
My Team :2 Designers
Domain :Healthcare
My Contribution
As a UX design student, I contributed to an ergonomics project by conducting field research, desk study, user interviews, persona study, and obtaining permission from the hospital to conduct my research. I also collaborated with my partner , communicated with stakeholders, and documented the project. My contributions helped to gather valuable data about the ergonomic needs of nurses and other healthcare workers, and I used this data to create recommendations for improving the ergonomic design of their workplace. My work helped to make the workplace safer and more comfortable for healthcare workers.
Understanding the Project
About
As a vital component of our college project, aimed at comprehending the significance of field study and applying the principles of ergonomics, our esteemed professor tasked us with conducting an in-depth examination of hospital cleaners. Our objective was to gain insights into their challenges and subsequently devise an innovative product that would serve as a solution, addressing their specific needs and concerns effectively. This endeavor enabled us to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, fostering a deeper understanding of the real-world implications of our design choices.
Project Highlights
3 weeks allocated for field study and desk research, followed by an additional week dedicated to product design. Finally, 1 week was set aside for user testing and subsequent redesign.
Project Tags
Chapter 01
Research
Understanding the Background
Background
Cleaning is an occupation that is carried out worldwide in many different environments. Among them Hospital Cleaning workers/staff often have low occupational skills and belong to the less advantaged educational and socioeconomic groups. Due to the high physical work demands and low cardiorespiratory fitness, these cleaners have the risk to have various musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or cardiovascular diseases.
Objective
The objective of this study was to examine the job of hospital janitors and assess the ergonomic risk factors by analyzing factors such as age, causes, strengths, physical and cognitive issues, and discomfort. The data was analyzed using different methods to determine appropriate interventions as solutions.
Need of the Study
Maintaining a clean environment is crucial for human health. Poor environments can negatively impact people’s well-being, as dirt and disease often go hand in hand. Cleaning is a universal task performed across various sectors, both indoors and outdoors, in both private and public settings. Hospitals, in particular, play a vital role in providing cleaning services encompassing a wide range of activities such as dirt removal, dusting, surface maintenance, mopping, deep cleaning, glass and washroom cleaning, machine cleaning, spillage clearance, and trash disposal. The risks faced by cleaners depend on their tasks and the premises they work in.
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics can be defined simply as the study of work. More specifically, ergonomics is the science of designing the job to fit the worker, rather than physically forcing the worker’s body to fit the job.Adapting tasks, work stations, tools, and equipment to fit the worker can help reduce physical stress on a worker’s body and eliminate many potentially serious, disabling work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Ergonomics draws on a number of scientific disciplines, including physiology, biomechanics, psychology, anthropometry, industrial hygiene, and kinesiology.
Research
01 / checklist
Checklists can be useful tools for ascertaining whether hazards exist or action needs to be taken. However, they cannot cover all aspects of an issue and there may be issues not covered by the checklist. The following list highlights some of the key issues relating cleaners.
02 / Pilot Testing
For the Pilot study we visited and observed 12 swippers in hospital in Pune and get the brief idea about how hospital swippers do cleaning, what are their comforts and discomforts they experience.
Following is the sample questionnaire I used for my pilot testing:
1. Name/ Age/ Height ?
2. Work experience?
3. What all jobs do you have to do?
4. How many hours is your job?
5. Which is the most stressful job?
6. Which is the least stressful job?
7. Do you have any discomforts?
8. Are you very tired at the end of the day?
9. What is your sleep cycle?
10. Do you have work once you go home?
11. What are the daily obstacles in your job?
12. Which body areas pain?
13. What do you do to prevent the body pain?
Following is the sample questionnaire I used for my pilot testing :
1. Name/ Age/ Height ?
2. Work experience?
3. What all jobs do you have to do?
4. How many hours is your job?
5. Which is the most stressful job?
6. Which is the least stressful job?
7. Do you have any discomforts?
8. Are you very tired at the end of the day?
9. What is your sleep cycle?
10. Do you have work once you go home?
11. What are the daily obstacles in your job?
12. Which body areas pain?
13. What do you do to prevent the body pain?
03 / User Study Questionnaire
After conducting pilot study we got the some major points of their comfort and discomfort ,problems regarding their health issues. So we revised our questionnaire by adding more detailed questions and studied various tests and scales to examine my respondents in an appropriate manner. For our user study, sample space was 30 respondents. We visited 6 different private hospitals.
Major Finding from the Quentionnair
1)Shoulder and neck pain are more significant compared to other body parts, accounting for 27% and 23% respectively.
2) Wrist pain is also observed.
3) Among their routine activities, dry mopping and wet mopping are the main repetitive tasks they perform regularly.
04 / REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment)
This ergonomic assessment tool uses a systematic process to evaluate whole body postural MSD and risks associated with job tasks. It is a better tool for the whole body (static, dynamic, unstable or rapidly changing postures). This tool was designed for easy use without need for an advanced degree in ergonomics or expensive equipment.
In the profession of hospital swippers ,REBA is the most useful technique for us as they are doing many works like dusting , cleaning, mopping etc
Field Result Assessment of REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment)
As we can see the results of REBA all the final scores lied in range of 7 to 11. ie 11 And as per the given table in REBA chart it is clearly mentioned ,they were having MSD and further assessment was necessary and needed to be done.
As we can see the results of REBA all the final scores lied in range of 7 to 11. ie 9 And as per the given table in REBA chart it is clearly mentioned ,they were having MSD and further assessment was necessary and needed to be done.
As we can see the results of REBA all the final scores lied in range of 7 to 11. ie 10 And as per the given table in REBA chart it is clearly mentioned ,they were having MSD and further assessment was necessary and needed to be done.
As we can see the results of REBA all the final score does not lie in range of 4 to 7. ie 5 And as per the given table in REBA chart it is clearly mentioned ,they were having MSD and further Medium assessment was necessary and needed to be done.
As we can see the results of REBA all the final scores lied in range of 7 to 11. ie 7 And as per the given table in REBA chart it is clearly mentioned ,they were having MSD and further assessment was necessary and needed to be done.
05 / Body Mapping
This ergonomic assessment tool uses a systematic process to evaluate whole body postural MSD and risks associated with job tasks. It is a better tool for the whole body (static, dynamic, unstable or rapidly changing postures). This tool was designed for easy use without need for an advanced degree in ergonomics or expensive equipment. Body Mapping is a tool used to pinpoint problems workers are having, and then using this information to figure out what in the workplace is causing the problems It is always considered easier for people to pinpoint areas through a visual chart than it is using words to show exactly where it hurts.
Major Finding from the Body Map
Through the Study we observed the maximum pain in neck and shoulder. And other painpointed were upper arm, Waist and calves.
06 /Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was developed from a project funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The aim was to develop and test a standardized questionnaire methodology allowing comparison of low back, neck, shoulder and general complaints for use in epidemiological studies. The tool was not developed for clinical diagnosis.
07 / Borg RPE and Heart Rate
The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is a way of measuring physical activity intensity level. Perceived exertion is how hard you feel like your body is working. It is based on the physical sensations a person experiences during physical activity, including increased heart rate, increased respiration or breathing rate, increased sweating, and muscle fatigue. Although this is a subjective measure, a person’s exertion rating may provide a fairly good estimate of the actual heart rate during physical activity* (Borg, 1998).
A high correlation exists between a person’s perceived exertion rating times 10 and the actual heart rate during physical activity; so a person’s exertion rating may provide a fairly good estimate of the actual heart rate during activity (Borg, 1998). For example, if a person’s rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is 12, then 12 x 10 = 120; so the heart rate should be approximately 120 beats per minute. Note that this calculation is only an approximation of heart rate, and the actual heart rate can vary quite a bit depending on age and physical condition.
The heart rate was manually monitored by pressing two fingers on the respondent’s wrist and the no. of beats within 60 secs were measured.
Major Finding from this tests
Maximum responses for perceived exertion range from 13 to 15 i.e Somewhat Hard – Hard. The maximum value is 15 The minimum value is 9
The heart rate was not always measured during or after exertion; so the numbers have come much lower than expected.
08 / Strength Testing
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, individuals who should avoid strength testing include beginners, the elderly, those with hypertension, and individuals with joint problems. Strength testing is best suited for advanced, healthy participants who regularly engage in intense, heavy strength training.
Based on Figure 1, the individual in the depicted position is experiencing severe pain in the back and shoulders, preventing them from performing the strength tests. The hand position clearly indicates the inability to exert force due to the intense pain in the neck and shoulder. These observations suggest that the person is suffering from severe neck and shoulder pain.
The individual is undergoing the “Roos test,” which assesses the level of pain in the neck and shoulder. This test involves rotating the neck towards the painful area and slightly bending it downward. If the person is able to complete the test, it indicates the presence of pain, albeit not at a high intensity.
The individual in the illustration is undergoing a test to assess shoulder pain. If the person’s hand falls immediately after applying force, it indicates severe pain. However, if the person can sustain the applied force on the shoulder for a certain period of time, it suggests the presence of pain but not at a high intensity.
Major Finding from Strength Testing
We conducted strength testing on four individuals, administering four different tests. Based on the questionnaire survey, participants reported pain in the neck and shoulder. However, after the strength testing, it appears that the pain intensity is not high.
09 / Time Motion Study
What is the significance of Time Studies for Ergonomists? Provides Ergonomists with more in-depth insights into a job l Assists in identifying the most effective and efficient approaches to task completion l An invaluable tool for comprehending and engaging with the workflow.
Major Finding from Strength Testing
Standard size of hospital rooms is 320 sq feets, According to time motion study we calculated the time motion of one person working on the particular tasks mentioned above.
There were total 10 rooms in the hospital and total 197 min are spending by each person.
Summary
Upon analyzing the data, it was discovered that a majority of the cleaners expressed complaints of fatigue, discomfort, or pain in their lower back, neck, and shoulders. To quantify and substantiate this discomfort, various techniques were employed. QEC Analysis was utilized to assess their exposure to external elements, revealing that the most exposed areas were the back, shoulders, and neck. Despite standing for prolonged periods, the majority of their work involved upper body movements. REBA analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential impact of their dynamic postures on their well-being. The final average REBA score of 11 indicates a “very high risk” and emphasizes the need for prompt change. Lack of awareness and insufficient education regarding effective work safety practices contribute significantly to these issues.
During the time and motion test, it was determined that 80% of the work was repetitive. The average duration of repetitive work, calculated from the time motion analysis, was found to be 197 minutes. This suggests that the pain in their back, neck, and shoulders can be attributed to the repetitive nature of their tasks. Following the administration of strength tests such as the “Roos test,” it was observed that individuals experienced pain in their shoulder and neck. However, as 4 out of 5 participants were able to complete the tests, it indicates that the pain in their neck and shoulder is not of high risk. Consequently, we have decided to develop a solution that addresses their work activities as a whole, aiming to alleviate the pain automatically.
Chapter 02
Product Design
Proposed Interventions and Solutions
Advantages
- Neck & Back support keeps posture correct
- Padded around the shoulder
- Buckle to adjust and tighten while working.
Disadvantages
- Uncomfortable to wear whole day while working
- User may feel warm due to thick padded material.
Advantages
- Belt ensures grip and comfort while working
- Adjustable, so that all height of people can use
Disadvantages
1. Less efficient in solving pain in shoulder and neck
2. Not all equipment can have this belt.
Advantages
- Personalized temperature controller.
- Heat improves blood circulation, hence reduces pain in the effected area.
Disadvantages
- Not comfortable for wearing in hot weather
- Cost could be more.
Final Product Design Idea
The proposed concept involves integrating the dry and wet mops into a single unit. Based on the findings from the time motion study and strength testing, it was determined that the repetitive nature of dry and wet mopping, along with the tasks of carrying heavy buckets and changing water, resulted in neck and shoulder pain for the cleaners. To address this, we have devised a solution where a single mop can be used for both dry and wet mopping by simply flipping the lower portion. Additionally, we have incorporated a water holder within the mop, eliminating the need to carry heavy buckets throughout the cleaning process.
Advantages
- No need to carry heavy water container over all places
- Both sides can be used for cleaning , no need to change the cloths frequently.
- Light weight
- Easy to handle and store
- Adjustable Handle
Disadvantages
- Not convenient for big rooms.
- cloth changing problem still not solved completely
Chapter 03
User Testing
We developed a low-fi prototype of the final product using the available resources in order to gain insights into its functionality and gather user feedback.
Major Finding from User Testing
User testing was conducted to gather feedback on the product. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with 9 out of 10 users expressing their liking for the concept. Additionally, they found it easy to use.