Citation

Drury CG, Hsiao YL, Joseph C, Joshi S, Lapp J, Pennathur PR. Ergonomics 2008; 51(3): 290-307.

Affiliation

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo: SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14221, USA. drury@buffalo.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00140130701628790

PMID

18311608

Abstract

A classification of the literature on the effects of workplace posture on performance of different mental tasks showed few consistent patterns. A parallel classification of the complementary effect of performance on postural variables gave similar results. Because of a lack of data for signal detection tasks, an experiment was performed using 12 experienced security operators performing an X-ray baggage-screening task with three different workplace arrangements. The current workplace, sitting on a high chair viewing a screen placed on top of the X-ray machine, was compared to a standing workplace and a conventional desk-sitting workplace. No performance effects of workplace posture were found, although the experiment was able to measure performance effects of learning and body part discomfort effects of workplace posture. There are implications for the classification of posture and performance and for the justification of ergonomics improvements based on performance increases.

Language: en