ILO Home
Go to the home page
Site map | Contact us Français | Español

CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)51801
CIS number 89-1032
ISSN - Serial title 0014-0139 - Ergonomics
Year 1988
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Ong C.N., Koh D., Phoon W.O., Low A.
Title Anthropometrics and display station preferences of VDU operators
Bibliographic information Mar. 1988, Vol.31, No.3, p.337-347. Illus. 22 ref.
Abstract The anthropometric dimensions of three major ethnic groups in Singapore were studied on 94 female VDU operators. The postural preferences at the VDU work stations were also investigated. Few anthropometric differences were noted for the Chinese, Malays and Indians. However, when compared to data from Germany and the USA, the three Asian cohorts are smaller in body size. Owing to the smaller body build, the Singapore operators preferred to have a sitting height of about 46cm, and a working height of about 74cm, compared with the 47cm and 77cm, respectively, preferred by European operators. Despite the anthropometric differences, the Singapore VDU operators, like their counterparts in Europe and the USA also preferred to sit in a pronounced backward leaning posture with a slightly open elbow angle. This sitting posture seems to ignore the traditional recommended upright trunk position of 90°.
Descriptors (primary) Singapore; women; anthropometry; visual display terminals
Descriptors (secondary) race-linked differences; Asia; developing countries
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Lighting, colour and vision
Broad subject area(s) Physiology, ergonomics
Browse category(ies) Office work
Visual display terminals (VDTs)
Anthropometry
Ergonomics