Tech 045 Safety & Allowances
Tips
What is an "ergonomic injury"?
Input
from the recent ergonomics forums demonstrated to OSHA that there are a wide variety
of opinions on how the Agency should define an ergonomic injury and that the
definition adopted by OSHA depends on the context. Ergonomic injuries are often
described by the term "musculoskeletal disorders" or
"MSDs." This is the term of art in scientific literature that refers
collectively to a group of injuries and illnesses that affect the
musculoskeletal system; there is no single diagnosis for MSDs. As OSHA develops
guidance material for specific industries, the agency may narrow the definition
as appropriate to address the specific workplace hazards covered. OSHA will
work closely with stakeholders to develop definitions for MSDs as part of its
overall effort to develop guidance materials.
The
following facilities layout safety-related allowances are not all-inclusive,
but are provided to help you in your layout assignments in Tech 045. Refer to
your books, other appropriate materials, or consult the instructor for any
allowances not included here.
1) Work height = elbow height
+/- 2 inches
2) Operator space = 3 feet X 3
feet (or 3 feet X width of workstation)
3) Operator space should be 3
feet off the aisle for safety
4) Having 3 feet from side to
side of operator allows parts to be placed comfortably next to the operator
5) If two people are working
back to back then allow 5 feet between stations
6) Workstation square footage =
length X width of workstation
7) Allowance for aisles, work
in process etc. = workstation space X 150%
8) Width of aisles running into
trailers = 8 feet
9) A semitrailer = 8 feet X 40
feet
10) Small offices for clerks =
100 square feet per person
11) Access foe machine maintenance = 2 feet around
the machine
12) Parking for small cars = 8 feet X 15 feet per car
13) Paring for medium car = 9 feet X 17.5 feet per
car
14) Parking for large cars = 10 feet X 20 feet per
car
15) Single lane driveways = 11 feet wide
16) Double lane drive ways = 22 feet wide
17) A parking lot = 250 square feet per number of
parking spaces needed
18) Personnel and security offices = 200 square
feet per office
19) About one personnel person per 100 employees
20) About 1 security person per 300 employees
21) Locker rooms = 4 square feet per employee
22) Allow one toilet for every 20 employees
23) One toilet = 15 square feet
24) One washbasin = 15 square feet
25) Entryway for toilet = 15 square feet
26) One urinal = 9 square feet
27) The number of washbasins = number of toilets
28) Restroom should not be farther than 200 feet
from employees
29) Lunchrooms = 10 square feet per person
30) Drinking fountains should not be farther than
200 feet from employees
31) Each drinking fountain = 3 feet X 5 feet, or
15 square feet
32) One way aisle for fork trucks = 4 feet wide
33) Two-way aisle for fork trucks = 10 or (4+4+2)
feet
34) First aid rooms = 6 feet X 6 feet per room
35) 500 employees justifies one nurse
36) One nurse would require a 400-square foot area
for patients needs
37) Lounges are 25 square feet per driver or user
38) Locker rooms should be = 4 square feet per
employee
39) Warehouse size = size of product X quantity
manufactured daily X number of days supply
40) tool room or maintenance room = sum of all
equipment in it X 200%
41) Office space needs = number of office
personnel X 20 square feet
42) Office space for general managers & senior
executives = 200 300 square feet
43) Office space for managers = 150 250 square
feet
44) Office space for supervisors = 100 200
square feet
45) Office space for accountants = 75 150 square
feet
46) Office space for engineers 100 150 square
feet
47) Office space for clerks = 75 100 square feet
48) Overall office space determination = 200
square feet X number of personnel
49) For desks in one row, there should be 6 feet
from the front of one desk to the front of the one behind it
50) For desks in two or more where ingress and
egress are confined to one side, 7 feet should be allowed from the front of one
desk to the front of the desk behind it
51) If employees are back to back, allow a minimum
of 4 feet between chairs
52) Inside aisles within desk areas should be from
3 to 5 feet wide
53) Intermediate aisles = 4 feet wide
54) Main aisles = 5 feet wide
55) A workspace consisting of a desk, chair, and
shelf space = 50 75 square feet with a 2-foot allowance on the length and
width
56) Reception area = 10 square feet per visitor
57) Private offices = 100 300 square feet per
office
58) The scale of layout = Ό per foot or 1/8 per
foot
59) Desks should face the same direction
60) Smaller aisles for office
layout = 3 5 feet
61) Larger aisles for office layout = 6 8 feet