Human Factors and Ergonomics Flashcards

An employee in a newly designed office reports persistent eye strain and headaches. The workstation is equipped with a new adjustable chair and desk, and the computer screen is positioned an arm's length away. Which environmental factor should the facility manager investigate FIRST as the most likely cause?

Answer: Glare from overhead lighting or windows on the computer screen.

Glare from light sources reflecting off a computer screen is a primary cause of eye strain, visual fatigue, and headaches in an office environment. While other factors can cause discomfort, glare directly impacts the visual task of viewing a monitor.

In facility design and space planning, the application of anthropometry is primarily concerned with which of the following?

Answer: The measurement of human body dimensions to optimize design for comfort and efficiency.

Anthropometry is the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. In architecture and facility management, this data is used to ensure that spaces, furniture, and equipment are designed to fit the human form, enhancing comfort, safety, and productivity.

A facility manager is overseeing the renovation of a public-facing lobby. Which of the following design elements best exemplifies the principles of Universal Design?

Answer: A main entrance featuring a level threshold and automatic sliding doors.

Universal Design aims to create environments that are usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for specialized or separate adaptations. A level entrance with automatic doors benefits everyone, including people with wheelchairs, strollers, luggage, or temporary injuries, without segregating users. The other options represent accessible design, which provides specific adaptations rather than integrated, universal solutions.

A company's productivity has noticeably dropped after moving into a new open-plan office, with employees frequently complaining of distractions and an inability to concentrate. Which ergonomic intervention would be MOST effective in directly addressing this specific issue?

Answer: Implementing a sound masking system and adding acoustic panels to walls and ceilings.

The primary issue described is auditory distraction, a common problem in open-plan offices. Sound masking systems introduce unobtrusive background noise to reduce the intelligibility of speech, while acoustic panels absorb sound to decrease reverberation and noise levels. These interventions directly target the root cause of the complaints.

To improve the patient and visitor experience in a large, multi-building hospital campus, a facility manager leads a project to implement a new color-coded signage and wayfinding system. This initiative is a direct application of which sub-discipline of ergonomics?

Answer: Cognitive Ergonomics

Cognitive ergonomics is concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system. Wayfinding and the design of intuitive signage directly involve how people perceive, process, and use information to navigate their environment.

When selecting lighting for a quality control area where technicians perform detailed visual inspections of colored textiles, which lighting metric is MOST critical for ensuring task accuracy and reducing worker fatigue?

Answer: Color Rendering Index (CRI)

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects compared to a natural light source. For a task that depends on accurate color perception, a high CRI is the most critical metric to ensure inspectors can correctly identify defects and color variations, thereby improving accuracy and reducing eye strain.