Application There are many applicat

Application
There are many applications of biomechanics to safety problems. One application is
analysis of resistance forces required for walking on surfaces. The longer the stride, the
greater the frictional forces needed to prevent slipping. In a long stride, compared with a
short stride, the legs extend forward and rearward further and have greater angles from
vertical.
Another application is analysis of repeated motions involved in many jobs. Chapter
13 discussed cumulative trauma disorders (also called musculoskeletal disorders), and
Chapter 15 included a discussion of manual materials handling problems and controls.
One can watch for other indicators of task-related biomechanical problems. Extreme joint flexion, unusual postures, large forces, forces not in line with body motion, vibration, and highly repetitive motions are all indicators of potential ergonomic problems. Table 33-9 is a checklist for ergonomic risk factors.

33-7 WORKPLACE AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN
Principles of Workstation Layout
The application of anthropometry, biomechanics, displays, controls, and other ergonomic
components are integrated into the design of workstations and equipment. There are work-
stations for different postures, primarily standing and sitting. The discussion that follows
includes only selected concepts, principles, and data for workstation design. Sanders
and McCormick4 identify four general principles for workstation layout: importance,
frequency-of-use, functional, and sequence-of-use principles. These principles apply to