Ergonomics - Case Study
- Submitted by: markag
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- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 03/12/2011 12:32 PM
- Pages: 10
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Identification of the causes and proposed solutions
1) “An old rock & roll tune blasted from the hi-tech sound system” – according to Dalton & Behm (2007), music has equivocal effect on cognitive performance, meaning that it can facilitate performance of tasks which demand concentration and attention on one hand (especially moderate/low volume), but to be as distracting as noise during comprehension tasks on the other. However, Dalton & Behm conclude that loud volume intensities, both noise (unwanted sound) and music impair human performance during simple vigilance tasks. Given this information it is possible to infer that the excessively high volume in the club might have had some effect on the waitress’/barkeeps’ vigilance and attention, which resulted in serving the wrong liquid to the customers.
Solution: Reduce the DB of the music to the recommended threshold of 85, and hold regular inspections to oversee it is done.
2) “Aqua and red hues reflected in the polished chrome (highly reflective material) furniture” – Parsons (2000), in his review of environmental ergonomics principals, points out that light can affect human performance at general tasks, but stresses glare as the main cause of distraction. Some important parameters in that regard include the contrast between an object and its background, size of the object and luminance of the object. Faulty design of these parameters may result in disability glare and veiling reflections which also contribute to poor detail inspection ability. The Eko-Klene was the same colour as the water melon drink (pink) and when coupled with the colour of the lighting background (red) and the adverse effect it might have had on visual performance (waitress couldn’t discern fine details for example) one may assume that lighting design inside the club contributed to the disastrous outcome of the incident.
Solution: To reduce glare by Lowering the luminance of the glare source; this could be done by using translucent...
1) “An old rock & roll tune blasted from the hi-tech sound system” – according to Dalton & Behm (2007), music has equivocal effect on cognitive performance, meaning that it can facilitate performance of tasks which demand concentration and attention on one hand (especially moderate/low volume), but to be as distracting as noise during comprehension tasks on the other. However, Dalton & Behm conclude that loud volume intensities, both noise (unwanted sound) and music impair human performance during simple vigilance tasks. Given this information it is possible to infer that the excessively high volume in the club might have had some effect on the waitress’/barkeeps’ vigilance and attention, which resulted in serving the wrong liquid to the customers.
Solution: Reduce the DB of the music to the recommended threshold of 85, and hold regular inspections to oversee it is done.
2) “Aqua and red hues reflected in the polished chrome (highly reflective material) furniture” – Parsons (2000), in his review of environmental ergonomics principals, points out that light can affect human performance at general tasks, but stresses glare as the main cause of distraction. Some important parameters in that regard include the contrast between an object and its background, size of the object and luminance of the object. Faulty design of these parameters may result in disability glare and veiling reflections which also contribute to poor detail inspection ability. The Eko-Klene was the same colour as the water melon drink (pink) and when coupled with the colour of the lighting background (red) and the adverse effect it might have had on visual performance (waitress couldn’t discern fine details for example) one may assume that lighting design inside the club contributed to the disastrous outcome of the incident.
Solution: To reduce glare by Lowering the luminance of the glare source; this could be done by using translucent...