Ergonomics in the home

The house and housework are as appropriate an area of ergonomics study as in the factory floor, but much less concerted effort has been put into studying the problems of the housewife. It is suggested that investigations to determine the amount of physiological effort (particularly that of muscle activity by techniques such as electromyography), the optimum dimensional accord between equipment and user, and the provision of satisfactory environmental conditions, are needed in order to ensure that the housewife performs her tasks with the minimum of unnecessary effort and maximum satisfaction.