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Trackball Modification Based on Ergonomic Evaluation

2003; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 47; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/154193120304701028

2169-5067

Ido Morag, David Shinar, Keren Saat, Anna Osbar,

Occupational health in dentistry

A workstation ergonomic study was conducted in Intel's manufacturing plant in Qiryat-Gat, Israel in response to an increasing trend of technicians' complaints regarding wrist discomfort and pain. The study was performed with a sample of 62 technicians, and a comparison was made of the use of the trackball at its current position of 15° (control group) vs. an improved position of 24° (test group). The hypothesis was that the trackball at its current position creates a physical load on the upper part of the body that may lead to wrist discomfort or pain. The study, which took place in a manufacturing area (clean room in the semi-conductor industry) characterized by heavy use of the upper body, showed that the average level of discomfort, as reported by the technicians, was lower in the test group than in the control group. Videotape analysis showed that minor wrist extension was also found in the test group. At the workstations with the improved trackball angle (24°) there was a dramatic decrease in the practice of technicians leaning against the workstation as a supporting device. These results led to an implementation of the new trackball angle in all 900 workstations on the plant-manufacturing floor and became part of the base line for future designs of all Intel's manufacturing plants worldwide.