NCJ Number
64475
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 110-124
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE SCIENCE OF ERGONOMICS IS INTRODUCED, AND ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES ARE APPLIED TO A COMPUTERIZED POLICE COMMAND CENTER.
Abstract
ERGONOMICS FURNISHES METHODS FOR SCIENTIFICALLY DESIGNING, EVALUATING, AND CORRECTING ENVIRONMENTS. USING THE EXAMPLE OF A RECENTLY MODERNIZED WEST GERMAN CONTROL CENTER, ERGONOMIC EXPERTS EVALUATED WORKING CONDITIONS IN TERMS OF ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS. THE ANALYSIS INCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH THE CENTER'S 12 EMPLOYEES (WHO WERE WORKING 6-HOUR SHIFTS AROUND THE CLOCK), MEASUREMENTS OF THE CLIMATE IN THE ROOM (HUMIDITY, TEMPERATURE), NOISE AND LIGHTING, AND SOMATOGRAPHY (A METHOD FOR GRAPHICALLY REPRODUCING THE HUMAN BODY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON POSTURE AND ANATOMICAL-ANTHROPOMETRICAL CONDITIONS). THE TASKS FULFILLED BY THE POLICE OFFICERS DID NOT INCLUDE STRENUOUS PHYSICAL LABOR; HOWEVER, IT REQUIRED GREAT MENTAL ALERTNESS IN ACCEPTING AND TRANSMITTING INFORMATION, AND IN MAKING QUICK AND COMPLEX DECISIONS. THE NECESSARY PUSHING OF CONTROL BUTTONS AND CODING OF INFORMATION INVOLVED THE CONSTANT EXERTION OF THE SAME MUSCLES. USING EVALUATION CHARTS, THE STUDY DETERMINED THE OPTIMUM PHYSICAL ROOM CONDITIONS--FOR EXAMPLE, A MODERATE TEMPERATURE IN VIEW OF THE LIGHT PHYSICAL EXERTION REQUIRED. THE SOMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT ARM AND SHOULDER MUSCLES (IN PARTICULAR THE DELTOIDS) WERE STRAINED AND THAT THE BODY POSTURES NEEDED IMPROVEMENT. IN PARTICULAR THE TOUCHING OF PHOTOCELLS AT THE TV SCREEN REQUIRING THE STATIC EXTENSION OF THE ARM WAS MOST STRESSFUL. THE OVERALL ERGONOMIC EVALUATION INCLUDED A LIST OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFECTS AND SUGGESTED A REARRANGEMENT OF ELEMENTS (IN PARTICULAR, THE SCREENS). IT IS ARGUED THAT THIS TYPE OF ANALYSIS SHOULD PRECEDE ANY REMODELING OR INNOVATION IN PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTS. THE ARTICLE PROVIDES REFERENCES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)