Related Experiment Videos
Work-related symptoms and checkstand configuration: an experimental study
1Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-7027.
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Supermarket checkout counter height and item queuing length significantly impact cashier comfort and reduce upper-extremity cumulative trauma disorder risk. Adjusting these factors, considering individual checker height, is advisable for ergonomic workplace design.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics
- Occupational Health
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Supermarket cashiers face high risks of upper-extremity cumulative trauma disorders.
- Workstation design is a critical factor in preventing these injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of checkstand configuration on cashier comfort.
- To identify optimal ergonomic settings for supermarket checkstands.
Main Methods:
- Forty-two experienced cashiers performed tasks on an experimental checkstand with adjustable counter height (high/low) and queuing area length (near/far).
- Comfort was assessed using seven ordinal symptom scales across four randomized conditions.
- Statistical analysis examined the effects of counter height, queuing length, and individual subject height.
Main Results:
- Both counter height and queuing length significantly influenced cashier symptom levels.
- Individual cashier height moderated the effects of checkstand configuration on comfort.
- Specific configurations led to greater or lesser symptom reporting.
Conclusions:
- Checkstand design, including counter height and queuing length, can be optimized to improve cashier comfort.
- Modifications to posture and task frequency loading are beneficial.
- Individualized adjustability of workstations is recommended for mitigating injury risk.