Combined physiological and anthropometrical databases as ergonomic tools

The purpose of this study was to establish an ergonomic basis for the integration of female personnel at military workplaces. The results of anthropometrical and physiological measurements of 1337 male and female subjects (aged 18-25 years) are presented. The empirical design included classical and functional body measures of high ergonomic relevance. Additionally, the isometric forearm-flexor and knee-extensor forces of the subjects were tested as representative variables for their physiological suitability. With regard to biometric and strength parameters, the present results clearly show only small overlaps between the sexes. Rating the 5th percentile of the male subjects as an exclusion value, the anthropometrical variables (sitting and standing body height measures, shoulder breadth, hand length and breadth etc.) show that 29% up to 72% of the women do not match this criterion. The situation becomes even worse when strength parameters are taken into consideration: Only 26% (knee extensors) respectively 3% (forearm flexors) of the females generate higher forces than the corresponding 5th percentiles of their male counterparts. The application of the database established in this survey aims at the integration of female personnel at all kinds of military workplaces; our data account for a combination of anthropometrical and physiological variables. In contrast to former systems based on isolated percentile tables, the results of our investigation make multivariate queries possible in optimization processes. This type of combined database is to be considered a useful tool for the evaluation of workplaces and personal equipment, for general ergonomic considerations and for personnel planning purposes to prevent applicants from occupational harm.