CC607 CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECT

PROPOSAL

IN COMPLIANCE LEADING TO AN AWARD OF

DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING(DIPLOMA KEJURUTERAAN AWAM)

PROJECT MEMBERS

1. RHUBENTHIRAAN A/L KELUNDAPYAN 01DKA09F1066

2. HARITHARAN A/L MANIAM 01DKA10F1086

CLASS DKA4C

JULY SESSION 2012

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERINGUNGKU OMAR POLYTECHNIC, PREMIER POLYTECHNIC

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

 

THE ERGONOMIC ASPECT OF GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY TO REDUCE THE OPERATING DEFECTS

1.0 Introduction

Ergonomics in the United Kingdom arose out of World War 2 when scientists were asked to

determine the capabilities of the soldier in order to maximise efficiency of the fighting man

(Pheasant, 1991). In the United States, ergonomics arose out of psychology and cognitive

function in the aviation industry and was termed „human factors‟. Today these terms are

used interchangeably.

There are no outstanding differences in between the human factor and ergonomics in the

United Kingdom and the United States certainly not from a conceptual standpoint, although

there are obvious differences in scale between the two. Human factor and ergonomics

started 1917 in World War 1 when the Department of Scientific Industrial Research and the

Medical Research Council were asked to investigate industrial conditions, particularly of

munitions workers. As a result, the Industrial Fatigue Research Board was established to

perform research on the topic. In 1929, the name was changed in accordance with an

expanded scope of work (hours of work, training, accidents, lighting and ventilation, and

design of machinery)(The History of Human factors and Ergonomics by David Meister, Page

159,2009)

Ergonomics considers the whole work system, and the effects of the system on human and

system performance (see Figure 1.0).

Ergonomics has three domain areas: Physical ergonomics, Cognitive ergonomics and

Organisational ergonomics.

Societal and Cultural Environment

Input OutputOrders/ Good/

Planning Services

Adapted from Stevenson (1999)

Figure 1.0 - Ergonomics: The Systematic Study of the Human at Work

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

After research and monitoring made, we find out that, the background of the project are:

The arrangement of Geotechnical laboratories’ tools are not in a proper position.

Thus, it creates difficulties in terms of movement space, air ventilation, insufficient

of experimental tools and etc.

Students face difficulties when carrying out lab work or classes in Geotechnical

laboratory under Civil Engineering Department

1.2 AIM OF THE PROJECT

The aim of the project is to reduce the operating defects of geotechnical laboratory using the

ergonomic aspect.

Worker

Workplace Environment

Organisation Structure & Job Design

Workstation

External Environment – Legislation, Economy, Standards

1.2.1 Objective One

Identify the problems faced by students when going to Geotechnical Lab under Civil

Engineering Department.

.

1.2.2 Objective Two

Solutions for the problems that identified in the Geotechnical Lab which is under Civil

Engineering Department

1.3 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT

The project is important to the students and lecturer for carrying out classes or

experiments in Geotechnic Laboratory with fewer defects.

1.4 THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

1.4.1 Identify the effective arrangement of Geotechnic Laboratory, so that the problem

faced by students is solved.

1.4.2 Produce a suggested Auto Cad Plan of Geotechnic Laboratory arrangement.

1.4.3 Produce video regarding the plan of Geotechnical Laboratory.

2.0 Literature Review

It is commonly thought that ergonomics is a new concept. If the truth be known, however,

ergonomics has been around for a very long time. The word "ergonomics" may be fairly new,

but the basic idea of ergonomics and the concepts that surround it are far from new.

Since the beginning of time, man has searched for ways to do things differently - methods to

do things quicker, more efficiently and at the same time, reduce as much physical and

emotional stress as possible. It is a fact that man has become more knowledgeable through

the centuries and he has been able to use this to help make life easier and less stressful,

while accomplishing more than ever. (Tomer Harel, EasyPublishTM , 09Dec2009)

2.1 A MATTER OF DEFINITION

The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) define that “ Ergonomics (or human factor) is

the discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other

elements of a system and the profession that uses the theory, principles, data and methods

to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Ergonomist

contribute to the design and evaluation tasks, jobs, products, environments and system in

order to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people”( Cristopher

M.Schlick, 2009, Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelber,

page 93)

The word ‘ergonomics’ is derived from an Ancient Greek word meaning ‘rules’ or ‘study of

work’. It is also referred to as ‘human factors (in design)’. Ergonomics is concerned with

appropriate design for people - the design of systems, processes, equipment and

environments so that tasks and activities required of them are within their limitations but also

make the best use of their capabilities. Therefore the focus of the design is on the person or

a group of people. This is often termed “user-centred design”.

Ergonomics is a science; it is a rigorous, user-centred approach to research and design. It is

also a philosophy and a way of thinking. It is applied widely in areas such as aviation and

other transport systems, sport, education, public facilities, the home, recreational equipment

and facilities and in the workplace generally. In fact, the whole community benefits from

ergonomics design.

The word operate can be defined as to function or cause to function(The Free Dictionary),  to

perform a function : exert power or influence(Merriam-Webster). By the way the word defects

is defined as an imperfection that impairs worth or utility(Merriam-Webster), the lack of

something necessary or desirable for completion or perfection; a deficiency( Free Dictionary).

2.2 CURRENT ISSUES

2.2.1 Desk at workplace to work while standing(Farhad Manjoo, April 21, 2010)

The GeekDesk, left, and the Elevate Adjusta workstation by Anthro both allow employees to stand while doing tasks. The desks also can be quickly lowered for the person who would rather sit.

Medical researchers have found that people who stand at work tend to be much healthier

than those who sit, and there’s a large online subculture of stand-up fanatics who swear that

getting rid of your chair will change your life. “I needed something more flexible. Then I

discovered the adjustable-height desk. These so-called “sit/stand” models are equipped with

an electric motor that lets them shift from chair height to person height at the push of a

button. Unfortunately, they’re regarded as specialty furniture. Sit/stand desks tend to be

expensive, hard to find and not very easy to test in person. That’s too bad. I got my hands on

an adjustable-height desk a few weeks ago, and I can’t stop raving about it.” Said the writer.

2.2.2 Current Research in Ergonomics

Sampling over 8,200 workers a Canadian study tries to relate back problems and physical as

well as psychosocial issues in the workplace. The study found that high physical exertion

was an independent predictor of back problems in both sexes. For both men and women, low

social support at work and high job insecurity were independent predictors of restricted

activity due to musculoskeletal disorders. Conversely, chronic back problems contributed to

explanation of high job strain among women and high physical exertion among men.

Restricted activity due to musculoskeletal disorders contributed to explanation of high job

insecurity in both sexes. (By R. Michael, October 15, 2001)

Working in a forensic laboratory is no different; in fact there is a good chance to spend many

hours at a computer workstation entering data and researching databases. Now, with digital

forensics becoming so important, extracting evidence from laptops and cell phones is

commonplace and computer work keeps increasing. As we continue to become bound to our

keyboard, mouse, and monitor chances of developing pain in the neck, wrists, back, and

shoulders grow with each passing minute, hour, and day. By setting up our computer

workstation optimally and paying attention to a few key elements of positioning and

alignment we can greatly reduce our chance of an ergonomic injury such as carpal tunnel

syndrome or repetitive stress injury. Having a clear picture of the proper posture in mind, we

now turn our attention to the hardware—the technological tools of the computer workstation

—and how to set these up to facilitate our posture model. The three pieces that we use to

interact with our workstation are the keyboard, the input device (e.g. mouse or trackball), and

the monitor. By aligning these components properly we can ensure that our posture remains

optimal and our body stays injury-free. (Vince McLeod, CIH, November 03, 2010)

2.3 SUGGESTION MADE BY OTHERS ON ERGONOMIC ASPECT

Laboratory ventilation

Washington State Department of Labour and Industries has set full shift (eight-hour) and

short-term (fifteen-minute) permissible exposure limits (PELs) for many chemicals to prevent

adverse health effects in workers (See Section 5.A.1). Local exhaust ventilation systems

(such as fume hoods) may be needed in order to control airborne contaminants and reduce

exposure levels to these acceptable limits. For assistance in measuring chemical exposures,

contact EH&S at 206-543-7388.

1. Laboratory Design

a. Room Air Pressure

Room air pressure should be negative to the hallway so that accidental

releases are kept in the lab and not released into the hallway and the

building.

2. Vents

Do not block or cover supply and exhaust vents. Occupant changes to lab ventilation

may compromise the safety features of the laboratory and local exhaust systems

such as fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, etc.

3. Fume Hoods

A fume hood is ventilation equipment that vents separately from the building’s

heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The primary means of

controlling airborne chemical exposure is a fume hood. Fume hoods should be used

when working with toxic compounds or compounds with a boiling point below 120°C.

(However, some aqueous solutions may be an exception to this rule.) It may be

necessary to use a closed system such as a glove box or bag for highly hazardous

chemical materials.

4. Perchloric Fume Hoods

Procedures using concentrated perchloric acid (>70%) or which heat any amount or

concentration of perchloric acid must be performed in a closed system or within a

specially designed perchloric acid fume hood with wash down systems to prevent

the accumulation of explosive perchlorates in the hood and ducting. For assistance

in locating a perchloric acid fume hood, call EH&S at 206-543-0465

5. Glove Boxes

Glove boxes generally operate under either positive or negative pressure to the lab,

depending on the process or material used. Positive pressure glove boxes are used

when you are trying to protect your material from contamination. Negative pressure

glove boxes are used to provide increased operator protection. Glove boxes should

be thoroughly tested before each use and there should be a method of monitoring

the integrity of the system (such as a pressure gauge).

6. Cold Rooms, Warm Rooms and Environmental Chambers

a. Room Design

Controlled environment rooms generally are completely enclosed with no

fresh air and heating/cooling and other environmental systems independent

from the building. Rooms large enough to enter should be designed or

retrofitted with doors that allow anyone trapped inside to get out easily. The

electrical system within environmental rooms should be independent of the

main power supply so that people are never left in these areas without light.

b. Chemical Use

Controlled environment rooms usually re-circulate the air using a closed air-

circulation system. Hazardous chemicals must not be stored in these rooms

because ambient concentrations of volatile chemicals can accumulate to

dangerous levels. Flammable solvents should not be used in controlled

environment rooms. Ignition sources in these rooms could ignite vapours.

Avoid using volatile acids in cold rooms because vapours can corrode the

cooling coils, leading to possible refrigerant leaks. If solid carbon dioxide (dry

ice) is placed into a cold room, its sublimation will raise the carbon dioxide

levels within the room, possibly to dangerous levels. Use extra precautions if

you must use or store dry ice in these spaces.

Other facility conditions

1. General Laboratory Environment

Floors and Walkways

I. Flooring - Floors should be level, with no protuberances which could cause a

tripping hazard. Openings in the floor should be covered if possible or else

protected or guarded to prevent falls. Carpets, mats, and rugs (if present)

must be secure. Material spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible.

II. Obstructions - Equipment and supplies should not be placed where it would

impede exit, either during normal operations (such as a file drawer which may

open into an aisle) or in case of equipment failure (such as chemical reactions

escaping a fume hood placed at the entrance to a room). Hoses and electrical

cords should be strung along the ceiling instead of crossing aisles on the floor.

2. Plumbing Systems

Place a strainer or mesh pad over all sink drains to prevent objects falling into them

plumbing. Piping systems and plumbing connections in a room should be labelled.

Such plumbing systems may include sewage lines, potable water lines, non-potable

water systems, cryogenic and pressurized gases, or other systems. All personnel

should know what to do in case of a leak in any system. If experimental procedures

will require connecting laboratory apparatus to any plumbing, personnel must also

know how to avoid improper connections (i.e., avoiding mistakes such as connecting

to the wrong system or making an inappropriate cross-connection). Public Health

regulations require additional safe guards to the plumbing system when connecting

chemical equipment or experiments to potable water systems. Check with EH&S and

Facilities Services prior to any connections to potable water systems.

3. Lighting

I. Light Fixtures – Light fixtures should be operational and diffusers should be

installed. If emergency lighting and exit signs are not functional, immediately

initiate a work request with your servicing Facilities Services organization

II. Lighting Intensities – Light intensities should be adequate for the tasks being

performed. If lighting seems inadequate when all fixtures are working,

consider obtaining additional fixtures, especially if the laboratory arrangement

is temporary. If this will not resolve the problem, please call EH&S at 206-543-

7388. In a few cases, increased lighting may be required to reduce potential

hazards from activities such as laser use or ultraviolet light applications. In

these unusual situations, contact EH&S Radiation Safety at 206-543-0463

4. Noise and Vibration

When possible, equipment that produces irritating noise and vibration should be

replaced with equipment designed to produce less noise and vibration. If equipment

in the area is producing noise levels that require people to raise their voices to be

heard while standing next to each other, potentially hazardous noise levels are being

produced. These levels can be evaluated by contacting EH&S at 206-543-7388.

Equipment should not be purchased which produces noise levels greater than 80

dBA without specific written approval from EH&S (206-543-7388). A formal hearing

protection program may need to be implemented for the installation and use of such

equipment.

5. Electrical Hazards

Even small electrical currents passing through the body may cause injury or death.

Observe the following precautions to reduce electrical risks.

Permanent Wiring and Outlets

Request permanent wiring be installed for situations when you would be using

extension cords for periods longer than 8 hours. All building electrical repairs

and wiring must be done by Facilities Services. If conduits appear damaged or

cover plates over electrical outlet boxes are damaged or missing, please

report that information to the Building Coordinator for forwarding to Facilities

Services or directly contact your supporting Facilities Services organization.

6. Confined Spaces

Laboratories may contain equipment (such as large tanks or ovens) or facility

arrangements (such as tunnels, sumps or pits) that laboratory staff may need to

enter. If potentially hazardous exposures may occur in a confined space, the space

will need to be controlled as a permit-required confined space. Special training and

other precautions are required for permit required confined space entry.

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Approaching Method

The way that we going to approach are like carried out by everyone. We would

like to approach by questionnaire and interviews from respondents

3.1.1 Reviewing the curricula

Human – Ungku Omar Polytechnic students.

Time – Approximately 15 weeks

Geographical detail – Geotechnic Laboratory

Gantt Chart of research procedure Week

PROJECT RESEARCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15PHASE 1Study on ergonomic aspectIdentify the problems faced by studentsIdentify the solutions for the problemsPHASE 2Carry out research for secondary dataDistribute and collect questionnaire from Lab users for primary dataPHASE 3Identify the effective suggestion for the lab enhancementDesign solutions and

suggestionsAnalysing dataPHASE 4Drafting of the research paperDocumentation about the researchPHASE 5Prepare slide show/visual aids for presentationcarry out the presentationPHASE 6Review and revise the paper based on the commentsSubmit the research paper

3.2 THE EXPERIENCE

When we usually going to geotechnic laboratory to study and conduct

experiments, we had faced a lot of problems such as space for movement, air

ventilation, lighting deficiencies, noise and vibration. For example, when studying

in the lab we couldn’t hear what does lecturer teaching. This is because the lesser

air movement in the lab. Besides, surrounding noising conditions also plays main

role in affecting the lecturing class. Dust from surrounding which coming from the

lab itself affects air quality inside the lab. This may invite to health problems not

only to students also for lecturers. Consequently, from one of our friends opinion

we could understand that the temperature in the geotechnic lab is higher. This

may lead to less conducive environments for learning process. Optimum

temperature for any kind of work so that an individual fully focus on its work is

about 20°C. So, clearly we could tell that the temperature factor is a defect in our

UOP Geotechnic Lab.

3.3 SURVEY

 Survey methodology is the field that studies the sampling of individuals from

a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the

population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs,

are reported in the news media in democracies. Other types of survey are used

for scientific purposes. Surveys provide important information for all kinds of

research fields, e.g., marketing research, psychology, health professionals and

sociology. a survey may focus on different topics such as preferences (e.g., for a

presidential candidate), behaviour (smoking and drinking behaviour), or factual

information (e.g., income), depending on its purpose. Since survey research is

always based on a sample of the population, the success of the research is

dependent on the representativeness of the population of concern (see

also sampling (statistics) and survey sampling)

Modes of data collection

There are several ways of administering a survey. The choice between

administration modes is influenced by several factors, including 1) costs, 2)

coverage of the target population, 3) flexibility of asking questions, 4)

respondents' willingness to participate and 5) response accuracy. Different

methods create mode effects that change how respondents answer, and different

methods have different advantages. The most common modes of administration

can be summarized as:

Telephone

Mail (post)

Online surveys

Personal in-home surveys

Personal mall or street intercept survey

Hybrids of the above.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Survey Method

Strengths:

Surveys are relatively inexpensive (especially self-administered surveys).

Surveys are useful in describing the characteristics of a large population. No other

method of observation can provide this general capability.

They can be administered from remote locations using mail, email or telephone.

Consequently, very large samples are feasible, making the results statistically

significant even when analyzing multiple variables.

Many questions can be asked about a given topic giving considerable flexibility to the

analysis.

Weaknesses:

A methodology relying on standardization forces the researcher to develop questions

general enough to be minimally appropriate for all respondents, possibly missing

what is most appropriate to many respondents.

Surveys are inflexible in that they require the initial study design (the tool and

administration of the tool) to remain unchanged throughout the data collection.

The researcher must ensure that a large number of the selected sample will reply.

It may be hard for participants to recall information or to tell the truth about a

controversial question.

As opposed to direct observation, survey research (excluding some interview

approaches) can seldom deal with "context."

(http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/survey/com2d1.cfm)

3.3.1 The questionnaire

The method that we going to use to obtain data is by distributing

questionnaire. With about less than 30 questions. opinions and

suggestions on students view could be identified. Thus, it is easier to

carrying the research after the proper details are obtained. Example of

questions that should be in part of the questionnaires are can be in

terms of wh-questions. For example like, how, when, why, where, and

what. These few questions also could responses with enormous

number of answers.

3.3.2 The interview

An interview is a conversation between two people (the interviewer

and the interviewee) where questions are asked by the interviewer to

obtain information from the interviewee with fewer numbers of

respondents; we would like carrying out the interview to the selected

person. By doing interview we could obtain latest and valid information.

Furthermore, gaining information by interview also is easier method.

We just need to try identifying the word.