bpk180wk7 legislation and anthropometry

Who is responsible for Occupational Health in the workplace?

Everyone has responsibility, but the primary responsibility lies with the employer.

Employers must provide a safe workplace, training, supervision, and controls.

Supervisors must ensure safe work practices are followed.

Workers must follow procedures and report hazards.

Joint Health & Safety Committees support hazard identification and improvement.

Outline the scope of the 3 divisions in WorkSafeBC and show where ergonomics is relevant.

WorkSafeBC has three main divisions:

Prevention Services – inspections, regulations, consultation.

Ergonomics is directly relevant here: inspectors review MMH, workstation design, risk assessments.

Claims & Rehabilitation Services – adjudicates claims, manages return-to-work.

Ergonomics helps ensure safe modified duties and injury rehabilitation.

Assessments & Finance – employer premiums, industry categories.

Ergonomics indirectly affects premiums through injury reduction.

How does a WorkSafeBC claim get initiated, adjudicated, and awarded?

Initiated: Worker reports injury → employer files report → healthcare provider submits form.

Adjudicated: Case manager gathers evidence (medical notes, workplace info). Determines if injury is work-related.

Awarded: Benefits (wage loss, treatment, rehab, RTW planning) are approved if claim is accepted.

What does the WorkSafeBC Ergonomics legislation require?

It requires employers to:

Identify risk factors for MSI (posture, repetition, force, vibration).

Assess MSI risks.

Implement controls (engineering, administrative).

Educate workers about MSI risks.

Monitor effectiveness of controls.

What is Bill 14?

Bill 14 expanded Workers’ Compensation coverage for mental disorders, including psychological injuries from workplace bullying, harassment, and traumatic events.

✨ Anthropometry Section

Describe some areas of application of anthropometry besides Ergonomics.

Clothing design

Automotive design

Consumer product design (chairs, tools)

Architecture (doorways, stair heights)

Military equipment sizing

Medical field (prosthetics)

People vary in size based on various characteristics. Describe variation due to three.

Age: Children vs adults vs elderly differ in height, mobility, and strength.

Sex: Males and females show population-level differences in stature and limb length.

Ethnicity: Body proportions, stature, and limb lengths vary across populations.

Give examples of the three different types of anthropometric data.

Structural (static): Standing height, arm length.

Functional (dynamic): Reach distance, lifting height.

Strength: Grip strength, lifting capacity.

How are anthropometric measures gathered?

Manual measurement tools (stadiometers, calipers, tape measures)

3D scanning technology

Motion-capture systems for dynamic measures

Large population surveys (NHANES, military datasets)

Describe what is meant by the term “percentile.” What does it mean to be 75th percentile in stature?

A percentile indicates the value below which a certain percentage of the population falls.
A 75th percentile stature means:

That person is taller than 75% of the population

And shorter than the tallest 25%

Describe each element in the percentile calculation equation.

Equation:
P = M + (Z × SD)
Where:

P = percentile value

M = population mean

Z = Z-score for the desired percentile

SD = standard deviation

To calculate a percentile: use P = M + (Z × SD)
To calculate what percentile a dimension falls into: use Z = (X – M)/SD

Calculate a 25th percentile popliteal height for females using slide 23 dataset (mean 40.5 cm, SD 2.1 cm).

25th percentile Z-score = –0.675
P = 40.5 + (–0.675 × 2.1)
P = 40.5 – 1.4175
P ≈ 39.1 cm

List the 7 steps for applying anthropometric data and explain each.

Identify the user population – Who will use the design?

Identify the relevant body dimensions – Determine which measures matter for the task.

Define population percentiles – Choose limits to accommodate (usually 5th–95th).

Select the percentage to accommodate – Decide based on safety, fit, cost.

Determine constraints – Cost, space, adjustability limits.

Apply data (design the system) – Use anthropometric equations to size features.

Evaluate the design – Test with users and revise.

What is a “relevant body dimension” and how is it determined?

The specific body measurement required to perform a task (e.g., elbow height for desk design).
Determined by analyzing:

Task requirements

Postures

How the user interacts with the equipment

What considerations must be made in Step 4: selecting the percentage of population to accommodate?

Safety requirements

Cost vs inclusivity

Adjustability options

Special populations (children, PPE users, workers with disabilities)

Why is it not recommended to design for the average value?

Because the “average” person does not exist. Designing for the mean excludes ~50% of the population and can create unsafe or unusable products.

Give an example (other than lecture) of “letting the large male fit.”

Designing a bus driver's doorway so the largest male body size can safely enter and exit without shoulder contact. If large males can fit, smaller individuals will also fit without restriction