“…but is it an ergonomic design?”

What is ergonomics?

“Ergonomic design” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot in the control room furniture manufacturing industry. Ergonomics (or human factors) is the science of optimizing people’s working environment. From an operator’s perspective, it means added comfort and reduced risk of injury. From a corporate perspective, it means injury prevention and fewer workers’ compensation claims per year. In our industry, it’s a term that is sometimes used without proper understanding or application; it’s a placeholder word to communicate, “nothing to see here – you don’t need to scrutinize our design. We’ve checked it and its good!” 

The challenges of ergonomic design for control room furniture

After presenting a design to a customer, I am frequently asked “…but is it an ergonomic design?” The simple answer is, “Yes. Our designers incorporate industry guidelines and best practices to ensure all our consoles are ergonomically designed.”

While this statement is true, it doesn’t fully answer the question. It’s like being asked “is a car safe?” and responding “of course! Cars are loaded with safety features and tested to reduce the risk of injuries to drivers and pedestrians!” This is true but doesn’t address the context of how and where a car is operated.

Likewise, our adjustable workstations are developed with great usability features and designed to minimize potential risk to users as much as possible, but without examining the wider context of how the control room console is being used and the environment it’s in, we can’t affirm that “the ergonomics are good”.

The key to good ergonomics in control centers is understanding the relationship between the operator, their tasks, and their workstation within the context of the space.

The tasks and equipment required for a control room operator’s workstation put them at higher risk for developing musculoskeletal injuries than work for the average office worker. The recipe for musculoskeletal injuries (muscle and joint injuries) is Repetition + duration + posture + force = muscle/joint injury. Control room operators work longer shifts, manage multiple screens, and maintain extended periods of intense focus – demands that far exceed those of the typical office worker. Therefore, greater attention is necessary to ensure good ergonomics are incorporated into all aspects of the control center to reduce the risk of injuries.

Evaluating control room console ergonomics

Scrutinizing whether a console is “ergonomically designed” starts with examining the console’s usability. For example:

  1. Does the workstation allow all operators to vary their posture throughout their shift, including alternating between sitting and standing while working?
  2. Will the operator have enough physical space at the desk to use it comfortably? Example: “Big John is 6’5” – is he going to have enough space to kick his boots out under the desk?”
  3. Are the monitors positioned at the appropriate distance, height, and angle to prevent eye and neck strain? Can the monitors be repositioned easily by the next operator on shift without repetitive and difficulty reaching, pulling, and pushing screens around?
  4. Does the front edge of the worksurface have a soft, rounded leading edge to help prevent contact-related injury?
  5. Is important equipment within easy reaching distance (operator reach envelope)?
  6. Can operators control the operative temperature of the space at their workstation?
  7. Are there any sharp metal edges on the control room console exterior or interior that may cut someone that is performing maintenance on the equipment on or in the console?

These are just some key elements of the control room design and console layout you might need to consider.

Looking for a more comprehensive list?

Defining the necessary clearance under the console

Upright and Reclined Seated Postures

Follow these steps to ensure the console accommodates users of varying sizes, from the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male, when seated upright or slightly reclined.

  1. Height Adjustability – Ensure the console height is adjustable ranging from 20 to 27 inches (50 to 69 cm) near the user. This allows users to align their legs parallel to the floor comfortably.
  2. Minimum Width – The clearance under the console should be at least 20 inches (52 cm) wide. This width provides adequate room for the user’s legs and knees.
  3. Depth at Knee Level – Provide 17 inches (44 cm) of depth at knee level. This ensures users can sit without their knees hitting the console.
  4. Depth at foot level – Ensure there is 24 inches (60 cm) of depth at foot level. This provides sufficient space for comfortable leg positioning.
  5. Foot Clearance – Maintain a clearance of 4 inches (10 cm) in height at the foot level. This prevents obstruction and allows for natural foot movement.
Ergonomic design clearance and measurements for the operator under the control room console

The orientation of the consoles in the room must also be considered for a good ergonomic solution. Operators should be able to maintain good posture when they communicate with other operators and supervisors. Operator posture is an important consideration for the positioning and size of large screen displays as well.

Ergonomic Operator Educational Information

Focusing only on the consoles for ergonomics also misses a critical educational component required for good ergonomics. Here are some relevant tips that can improve operator comfort and performance.

  1. 20-20-20 Rule: For every 20 minutes of screen time, you should spend 20 seconds looking at an object 20 feet away to give the muscles in your eye an opportunity to relax.
  2. Mix up periods of varying posture with sitting and standing throughout your shift. There have been several studies done on the amount of time that is “ideal” for workers to sit and stand during the workday; there is no consensus. If operators are switching from sitting and standing at least every thirty minutes, that is better for them than if they are only sitting or only standing for long periods during their shift.
  3. It’s one thing for a console to have all of the adjustability to accommodate all operators from the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male, but the operators require some instruction so that they know how to adjust their workstations to suit their needs. Click here to find out how to operate your Tresco Console.

The importance of real-world context

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that in real-world applications, good ergonomics can often be constrained by other design and practical considerations. When the footprint of the control room itself is not changing, you have a fixed amount of physical space, with many different factors that impact that space, such as:

  1. The size, quantity, and configuration of monitors on the console
  2. Equipment that needs to be stored on/in the console to run it (computers, hard panel controls, etc.)
  3. Walkway clearances around workstations and doors
  4. Maintenance access for equipment
  5. Sightlines for important things in the room (other operators, video walls, out windows, etc.)
  6. Future expansion space

To better illustrate an ergonomic trade-off, lets take the “equipment” example. If a console has full-sized CPUs stored underneath the worksurface, the equipment bay has to be deeper than if the screens are run off of a thin client; therefore, the operator may get less leg space if the console design doesn’t include enough space for both the large PC and an appropriate amount of leg space for a 95th percentile male.

Control room console design often requires trade-offs and iterations; that is why it’s so important that the design is done by an experienced team that understands ergonomics and the constraints of the space. When the console manufacturer makes a highly customizable product, the number of trade-offs can often be minimized or eliminated.

Conclusion

By working with an experienced design team and conducting a comprehensive Human Factors analysis, you can create a control room environment that prioritizes operator safety, efficiency, and comfort. Reach out to us to learn how we can help optimize your control center’s design.

Evan Turner, Key account Manager at Tresco Consoles

Evan Turner

Key Account Manager

Evan Turner is a Key Account Manager at Tresco Industries, a leading manufacturer of 24/7-use control room furniture. With over nine years of experience in B2B sales and proposal management, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies to deliver tailored solutions for mission-critical environments. Known for his expertise in control room operations and client-focused approach, Evan helps businesses optimize performance and efficiency with innovative furniture solutions.

Need ergonomic advice with a project, get in touch!