Requirements Document
for
Automated Flight Service Station
Operational and Supportability
Implementation System Workstation Replacement
Approved by: ___________________________
Date: _________________
Acting Director, Air Traffic System Requirements Service,
ARS-1
Submitted by: ___________________________ Date:
_________________
Program Director for Requirements Development, ARR-1
- Focal Point
- Charles Young
- ARR-100
- TEL: (202)-366-4381
- FAX: (202)-493-0745
-
- Federal Aviation Administration
- 800 Independence Avenue SW
- Washington, DC 20591
Table of Contents
- 1.0 BACKGROUND
- 2.0 OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
- 2.1 Operations
- 2.2 Maintenance
- 2.3 Quantities and Location
- 2.4 Schedule Constraints
- 3.0 TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
- 3.1 Operational and Functional
Requirements
- 3.2 Product Characteristics and
Performance Requirements
- 4.0 PHYSICAL INTEGRATION
- 4.1 Real Estate - N/A
- 4.2 Space
- 4.3 Environmental - N/A.
- 4.4 Energy Conservation - N/A
- 4.5 Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning
- 4.6 Grounding, Bonding, Shielding,
and Lightning Protection
- 4.7 Cables
- 4.8 Hazardous Materials
- 4.9 Power Systems and Commercial
Power - N/A
- 4.10 Telecommunications - N/A
- 4.11 Special Considerations
- 5.0 FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION
- 5.1 Integration With Other NAS (and
Non-NAS) Elements
- 5.2 Software Integration - N/A
- 5.3 Spectrum Management - N/A
- 5.4 Standardization - N/A
- 6.0 HUMAN INTEGRATION
- 6.1 Human/Product Interface
- 6.2 Employee Safety and Health
- 6.3 Specialized Skills and
Capabilities -N/A
- 7.0 SECURITY
- 7.1 Physical Security - N/A
- 7.2 NAS Information Security - N/A.
- 7.3 Personnel Security - N/A
- 8.0 IN-SERVICE SUPPORT
- 8.1 Staffing - N/A
- 8.2 Supply Support
- 8.3 Support Equipment
- 8.4 Technical Data
- 8.5 Training and Training Support
- 8.6 First and Second Level Repair
- 8.7 Packaging, Handling, Storage,
and Transportation
- 8.8 Disposal
- 9.0 TEST AND EVALUATION
- 9.1 Critical Operational Issues
- 9.2 Test and Evaluation.
- 10.0 IMPLEMENTATION AND TRANSITION
- 11.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE
- 12.0 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
- 12.1 Software Configuration
Management - N/A
- 12.2 Hardware Configuration
Management
- 12.3 Facility Configuration
Management - N/A
- 12.4 Documentation Configuration
Management
13.0
IN-SERVICE MANAGEMENT
- Appendix A Human
Factors Design Guidelines
1.0 BACKGROUND
Flight Service Specialists provide flight
planning and weather briefing services to general aviation pilots. The Specialists provide
these services at 61 Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) throughout the contiguous
United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Specialist performs the flight
planning and weather briefing functions from five major functional positions within the
AFSS. These five positions are of different configurations that are comprised of one or
more computer systems, pa variety of data entry devices, display and peripheral devices,
software/firmware, communications equipment, and reference documents. The equipment is
installed in a workstation. Some of the equipment is "bracket-mounted" and some
is "panel mounted". The existing workstations and the layout and positioning of
the equipment within the workstations do not meet human factors requirements.
2.0 OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
2.1 Operations
Flight Service Position Descriptions: The flight service
functions provided by Flight Service Specialists to general aviation pilots can be grouped
into five functional positions. Each functional position has unique equipment
configurations due to the functional requirements of that position. The five functional
positions are as follows:
PREFLIGHT The specialist operates this position to
provide essential preflight (weather and flight planning) information to pilots. The
specialist interfaces with the flying public via a telephone communication system to
deliver preflight information.
FLIGHT DATA The specialist operates this position to
transmit flight plans, Notice(s) to Airman (NOTAMs), weather observations and coordinates
arrival and departure information to destination airports.
FLIGHT WATCH The specialist operates this position to
provide essential weather and aeronautical information for airborne aircraft. The
specialist uses air-to-ground communications and weather radar equipment to provide this
service to the flying public.
INFLIGHT The specialist operates this position to
provide weather and aeronautical information for airborne aircraft. The specialist uses
telephone and air-to-ground communication equipment to provide this service to the flying
public.
SUPERVISORY This is a management position which is
used to perform essential duties for facility operation. The supervisor sometimes uses
this position to perform the duties of a Flight Service Specialist
This document establishes the human factors, physical
dimensions and flight service equipment configuration requirements for the flight service
workstations.
Specifically this document describes:
The human factors requirements for the overall workstation
design.
The human factors requirements for the positioning and
layout of the flight service equipment within the workstations.
The physical dimensions and equipment configuration
requirements for the functional positions.
2.2 Maintenance
The workstation service life is 10 years. It is intended
that the workstations will be continue to be used within the AFSSs unless the design
becomes obsolete due to as yet undefined future flight service equipment replacements.
Generally, equipment of this nature does not require any periodic or corrective
maintenance other than routine housekeeping.
2.2.1 Periodic Maintenance
The workstations shall require no periodic maintenance other
than general housekeeping requirements of FAA Order 6000.15.
2.2.2 Corrective Maintenance
Workstation corrective maintenance shall be limited to that
which can be performed on-site by Airway Facilities personnel.
2.3 Quantities and Location
Approximately 1500 workstations will be required to replace
the existing Model 1 Full Capacity (M1FC) workstations at the 61 AFSSs, the William J.
Hughes Technical Center, and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. A chair which meets
the requirements of Appendix A, section 9.4 shall be procured for each workstation.
2.4 Schedule Constraints
As directed by ADA-1 on May 15, 1998, the workstations must
be installed to support the deployment of the Operational and Supportability
Implementation System (OASIS) at the second OASIS operational site. According to the OASIS
implementation schedule this will occur in March 1999. Remaining workstations will be
installed at the AFSSs in time to support OASIS deployment at those sites. The OASIS
implementation schedule reflects installation at 3 AFSSs per month through December 2000.
3.0 TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
3.1 Operational and Functional Requirements
3.1.1 Workstations shall provide adequate clearance to allow
full range of motion for the OASIS video display terminal (VDT) when mounted on the
OASIS-provided swivel base.
3.1.2 Workstation task lighting shall be operator adjustable
in intensity and orientation.
3.1.3 Operators chairs shall be adjustable in seat
height, arm rest height, chair back angle.
3.1.4 Workstations shall provide for operator adjustment of
OASIS keyboard position, height, and tilt.
3.1.5 The workstations shall require no periodic maintenance
other than general housekeeping requirements of FAA Order 6000.15.
3.1.6 The workstation corrective maintenance shall be
limited to that which can be performed on-site by Airway Facilities personnel.
3.2 Product Characteristics and Performance
Requirements
3.2.1 AFSS OASIS workstations shall provide reading/writing
work surface that allows the specialist to review an open, 3" binder containing
8�" x 11" loose leaf pages, while writing on an 8�" x 11" writing
tablet.
3.2.2 Preflight and Inflight workstations shall provide
bookshelves adequate for storage of 6 - 3" binders containing 8�" x 11"
loose leaf pages.
3.2.3 Supervisory workstations shall provide bookshelves
adequate for storage of 8 - 3" binders containing 8�" x 11" loose leaf
pages.
3.2.4 Workstations shall use non-reflective surfaces to
reduce glare and reflections.
3.2.5 Workstations shall use a layout designed to reduce
distractions and noise between adjacent positions as well as shorten reaching distances
for the operator.
3.2.6 Workstation surfaces shall provide for the elimination
of routine electrostatic discharge.
4.0 PHYSICAL INTEGRATION
4.1 Real Estate - N/A
4.2 Space
Physical Dimensions:
Preflight workstations shall not exceed 74"H x
50"W x 44"D
Flight Data workstations shall not exceed 74"H x
50"W x 44"D
Flight Watch workstations shall not exceed 74"H x
50"W x 44"D
Inflight workstations shall not exceed 74"H x
100"W x 44"D\
Supervisory workstations shall not exceed 74"H x
100"W x 44"D
4.3 Environmental - N/A.
4.4 Energy Conservation - N/A
4.5 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
The workstations shall provide ventilation for the equipment
identified in section 5.1.
4.6 Grounding, Bonding, Shielding, and
Lightning Protection
Grounding, bonding, shielding, and lightning protection
shall be in compliance with FAA-G-2100 and FAA-C-1217.
4.7 Cables
Workstations shall provide bottom entry for cable access
from beneath a raised floor.
4.8 Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials shall not be used excluded from in the
AFSS OASIS workstations and operator chairs.
4.9 Power Systems and Commercial Power
- N/A
4.10 Telecommunications - N/A
4.11 Special Considerations
The AFSS OASIS workstation installation shall comply with
seismic requirements specified in Volume 2 of the Uniform Building Code, Structural
Engineering Design Provisions, 1997FAA-STD-032.
5.0 FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION
5.1 Integration With Other NAS (and
Non-NAS) Elements
5.1.1 The workstations shall use modular construction
features to allow future equipment replacement or rearrangement without modification to
the workstation structure.
5.1.2 Equipment Configuration
a. The Preflight workstation shall provide space for the
installation of the following equipment:
- 2 - OASIS monitors positioned side-by-side (20"H x
19"W x 21"D;wt 20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - standard 101-key keyboard (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 - OASIS pointing device/mouse (7" x 7")
- 1 - OASIS Pentium class PC (18"H x 7"W x 17"D;
20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - BCS Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) (9"L x
6.75"W x 3.5"D; 1.5 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - Headset Jack Panel (6"W x 3"H x 9"D;1 lb.)
- b. The Flight Data workstation shall provide space for the
installation of the following equipment:
- 2 - OASIS monitors positioned side-by-side (20"H x
19"W x 21"D;wt 20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - standard 101-key keyboard (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 - OASIS pointing device/mouse (7" x 7")
- 1 - OASIS Pentium class PC (18"H x 7"W x 17"D;
20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - BCS Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) (9"L x
6.75"W x 3.5"D; 1.5 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - Headset Jack Panel (6"W x 3"H x 9"D;1 lb.)
- Weather Observation Equipment
- 1 to 2 - 15" monitors (16"H x 16"W x
18"D;wt 20 lb.)
- 1 to 2 - standard 101-key keyboards (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
c. The Flight Watch workstation shall provide space for the
installation of the following equipment:
- 2 - OASIS monitors positioned side-by-side (20"H x
19"W x 21"D;wt 20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - standard 101-key keyboard (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 - OASIS pointing device/mouse (7" x 7")
- 1 - OASIS Pentium class PC (18"H x 7"W x 17"D;
20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - BCS Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) (9"L x
6.75"W x 3.5"D; 1.5 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - Headset Jack Panel (6"W x 3"H x 9"D;1 lb.)
- 2 - ICSS 24-frequency panels (Denro 6"x 18" or
Litton 11.3" x 18.8";wt 35 lb.)
d. The Inflight workstation shall provide space for the
installation of the following equipment:
- 2 - OASIS monitors positioned side-by-side (20"H x
19"W x 21"D;wt 20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - standard 101-key keyboard (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 - OASIS pointing device/mouse (7" x 7")
- 1 - OASIS Pentium class PC (18"H x 7"W x 17"D;
20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - BCS Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) (9"L x
6.75"W x 3.5"D; 1.5 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - Headset Jack Panel (6"W x 3"H x 9"D;1 lb.)
- 4 - ICSS 24-frequency panels (Denro 6"x 18" or
Litton 11.3" x 18.8";wt 35 lb.)
- 1 - Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (3"H x 4"W
x 12"D; wt 3 lb.)
-
- Analog Wind Equipment
- Speed gauge (4" round; wt 12 lb. )
- Direction gauge (4" round; wt 12 lb.)
- Weather Observation Equipment
- 1 to 2 - 15" monitors (16"H x 16"W x
18"D;wt 20 lb.)
- 1 to 2 - standard 101-key keyboards (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 - Airport Lighting Equipment (18" x 12"; wt 20
lb.)
- 1 to 6 - Direction Finding Equipment (24" x 8"; 20
lb.)
- 2 - Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service panels
(5" x 4"; wt 10 lb.)
- 2 - Transcribed Weather Broadcast panels (5" x 4";
wt 10 lb.)
e. The Supervisory workstation shall provide space for the
installation of the following equipment:
- 2 - OASIS monitors positioned side-by-side (20"H x
19"W x 21"D;wt 20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - standard 101-key keyboard (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 - OASIS pointing device/mouse (7" x 7")
- 1 - OASIS Pentium class PC (18"H x 7"W x 17"D;
20 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - BCS Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) (9"L x
6.75"W x 3.5"D; 1.5 lb.lbs.)
- 1 - Headset Jack Panel (6"W x 3"H x 9"D;1 lb.)
- 4 - ICSS 24-frequency panels (Denro 6"x 18" or
Litton 11.3" x 18.8";wt 35 lb.)
- 1 - Engine Generator Switch Panel (10" x 12"; wt 10
lb.)
- 1 - Door Security/Closed Circuit TV/door toggle switch
(10"H x 10"W x 18"D; wt 15 lb.)
- 1 - Voice Recorder Monitor panel (10" x 12" x
6"D; wt 1 lb.)
- ICSS Management Information System
- 1 to 2 - 15" monitors (16"H x 16"W x
18"D;wt 20 lb.)
- 1 to 2 - standard 101-key keyboards (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- 1 to 2 CPUs (18"H x 7"W x 7"D, wt 20 lb.)
- ICSS Resource Management Equipment
- 1 - monitor (15" x 17"; wt 20 lb.)
- 1 - standard 101-key keyboard (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
- Weather Observation Equipment
- 1 to 2 - 15" monitors (16"H x 16"W x
18"D;wt 20 lb.)
- 1 to 2 - standard 101-key keyboards (18"W x 2"H x
6"D, wt 1lb.)
5.2 Software Integration - N/A
5.3 Spectrum Management - N/A
5.4 Standardization - N/A
6.0 HUMAN INTEGRATION
6.1 Human/Product Interface
6.1.1 The workstations shall meet the human factors design
guidelines established in Government and industry guidelines including ANSI, Uniform
Federal Accessibility Standards, and the Americans with Disabilities Act and Appendix A, Human
Factors Design Guidelines. In the event of conflict, Appendix A, Human Factors
Design Guidelines, shall take precedence.
6.1.2 The positioning of the flight service equipment within
the workstations shall meet the human factors requirements established in Government and
industry guidelines including ANSI, Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, and the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
6.1.3 The workstations shall provide maintenance access to
allow equipment removal and installation from both the front and rear of the workstation.
6.2 Employee Safety and Health
6.2.1 Workstations shall comply with FAA Order 3900.19A,
Chapter 1, Paragraphs 7e.
6.2.2 Workstation maintenance and operations procedures
shall meet the requirements of Title 29 CFR Part 1910, General Industry Standards,
and Title 29 CFR Part 1926, Construction Standards.
6.2.3 Workstations shall be designed to permit removal and
replacement of installed equipment by one person.
6.2.4 The installation of any equipment into the
workstations shall be OSHA compliant.
6.3 Specialized Skills and Capabilities
-N/A
7.0 SECURITY
7.1 Physical Security - N/A
7.2 NAS Information Security - N/A.
7.3 Personnel Security - N/A
8.0 IN-SERVICE SUPPORT
8.1 Staffing - N/A
8.2 Supply Support
8.2.1 The AFSS OASIS workstations shall be delivered with
initial site and depot spares required to facilitate repair and restoration. as determined
by accepted analytical methodologies approved by the FAA. The Logistics Information System
(LIS) will be the standard means of requisition and item management.
8.2.2 A support plan shall be developed which describes the
plans for obtaining, cataloguing, receiving storing and issuing items of supply shall be
documented in the workstation support plan.
8.3 Support Equipment
No new specialized tools or support equipment shall be
required for the maintenance of the workstations without prior approval of the cognizant
ATS organization.
8.4 Technical Data
8.4.1 An analysis shall be performed to determine the
technical data requirements (e.g. manuals, drawings, installation procedures) needed to
support the workstations over its intended lifecyle.
8.4.2 A support plan shall be developed which describes the
plans for obtaining and distributing the required workstation technical data.
8.5 Training and Training Support
8.5.1 Air Traffic Training - N/A
8.5.2 Airway Facilities Training
8.5.2.1 Training shall be conducted to provide AF
technicians with the knowledge and skills required to perform required on-site maintenance
on the workstations.
8.5.2.2 The training shall be conducted on-site during the
implementation of the workstations at the AFSS.
8.6 First and Second Level Repair
of the AFSS OASIS workstations shall be performed by AF
maintenance personnel.
8.6.2 Second Level (depot) Maintenance - N/A
8.7 Packaging, Handling, Storage, and
Transportation
8.7.1 Packaging, handling, storage and transportation shall
be in accordance with ASTM-D3951, Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging.
8.7.2 Workstations shall be capable of being stored under
the following conditions:
- Temperature range: -10� to 50� C
- Relative Humidity: Up to 100% (including condensation due
- to temperature changes)
- Altitude: 0 to 50,000 feet above sea level
8.8 Disposal
8.8.1 A disposal plan shall be developed in accordance with
FAA Order 4800.2C.
8.8.2 The disposal plan shall describe disposal of the
existing M1FC workstations being replaced by the AFSS OASIS workstations shall be
accomplished as part of the workstation replacement effort.
8.8.3 The disposal plan shall describe the future disposal
of the AFSS OASIS workstations.
9.0 TEST AND EVALUATION
9.1 Critical Operational Issues
Testing shall be conducted to ensure that functional
performance requirements can be met in a operational environment, and to resolve the
following Critical Operational Issues (COI):
Note: Test planning and
conduct will involve all the stakeholders.
COI 1: Do AFSS OASIS workstations allow proper
interface and operation of equipment and systems?
COI 2: Do AFSS OASIS workstations disrupt or degrade AFSS
operations?
COI 3: Do AFSS OASIS workstations provide the required level
of maintainability?
COI 4: Can AFSS OASIS workstations and installed equipment
be maintained without disruption or degradation of current AFSS operations?
COI 5: Do AFSS OASIS workstations Computer Human Interface
(CHI) characteristics effectively and suitably support AT and AF operations?
COI 6: Is AF training sufficient to allow effective
operation and maintenance of the AFSS OASIS workstations?
9.2 Test and Evaluation.
Evaluation of the AFSS OASIS workstations shall be conducted
in accordance with Acquisition Management System (AMS) test and evaluation guidance.
9.2.1 The Weather/Flight Service Systems Integrated Product
Team (IPT) will lead the evaluation to verify contractual, operational requirements and
COIs.
9.2.2 The evaluation shall verify that the workstations meet
all requirements such as, but not limited to, Title 29 CFR, Title 40 CFR, and other
applicable orders and directives.
10.0 IMPLEMENTATION AND
TRANSITION
10.1 The workstation removal and installation process and
associated activities shall be described in a Program Implementation Plan (PIP) developed
in accordance with FAA-STD-036.
10.2 The PIP shall contain information on the removal and
installation strategies and plans, the disposition of the M1FC consoles, removal and
re-installation of the flight service equipment, funding, and impacts to the facility and
personnel.
10.3 The PIP shall include a Generic Site Implementation
Plan (GSIP) which contains a list of activities to be completed, identifies the personnel
or organizations responsible for completing each task, and provides a schedule for
activities.10.1 A Program Implementation Plan (PIP) shall be developed in accordance with
FAA-STD-036.
10.2 The PIP shall describe removal of the flight service
equipment from the existing M1FC workstations, removal of the M1FC workstations from the
site, installation and checkout of the replacement AFSS workstations and the
re-installation of the flight service equipment within the replacement workstations.
10.3 The PIP shall describe the plans for the transition
from the existing M1FC workstations to the AFSS replacement workstations in a manner that
will cause minimal disruption of AFSS flight service operations.
11.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE
11.1 Quality conformance evaluations as described in
FAA-G-2100 shall be conducted to verify that the workstations are in accordance with the
specified requirements.
11.2 Quality conformance evaluations shall include, but are
not limited to, visual inspections and functional evaluations.
[No requirement should be entered into
this section of the initial Requirements Document that is solution-specific or would
unduly restrict the search for solutions to mission need.]
Define quality assurance requirements. Examples include
contractor status reporting, metrics, an in-plant QRO, independent verification and
validation, vendor quality assurance plans, or a documented process for software
development. Specify whether a Capability Maturity Model assessment of the software
development processes of potential suppliers is required. Identify whether and what ISO or
FAA quality standards are invoked.
Quality assurance requirements for services requirements
typically relate to ensuring the quality of the services to be provided.
12.0 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
12.1 Software Configuration Management - N/A
12.2 Hardware Configuration Management
A workstation configuration management plan shall
be developed that describes the process that will be used to control and document the
configuration of the workstations.
12.3 Facility Configuration Management -
N/A
12.4 Documentation Configuration Management
The configuration management of documentation delivered with
the workstation (e.g. drawings, manuals, etc.) shall be addressed in the workstation
configuration management plan.
13.0 IN-SERVICE MANAGEMENT
The product baseline for the AFSS OASIS workstations shall
be updated as a result of technology refreshment, P3I, upgrade Engineering
Change Proposals (ECPs), NAS Change Proposals (NCPs), and Requests for Deviation and
Waiver (RDW).
Appendix A Human
Factors Design Guidelines
The following sections are excerpted from:
Wagner, D., Birt, J. A., Snyder, M. D., & Duncanson, J.
P. (1996). Human factors design guide: For the acquisition of commercial-off-the-shelf
subsystems, non-developmental items, and developmental items (DOT/FAA/CT-96/1).
Atlantic City International Airport: Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center.
Please refer to that document for further explanations,
exhibits, and definitions. These sections provide guidance as to the procurement of
commercial-off-the-shelf workstations and furniture for the Operational and Supportability
Implementation System (OASIS).
9.4 Common working positions.
To size and design
workplaces, designers draw upon anthropometric information about the population of users.
Data for design use representing common working positions and mobile working positions are
found in this section. These data supplement the fundamental anthropometric data found in
section 14 of the Human Factors Design Guide (HFDG).
9.4.1 Static dimensions for common body positions.
Static
body positions along with 5th and 95th percentile criteria are given in exhibit 9.4.1 of
the HFDG. Clearance dimensions shall not be less than that for the 95th percentile male;
nor shall limiting dimensions be greater than the dimensions for the 5th percentile
female.
9.4.4 Seated workplaces.
In this section, a
discussion to help exploit the advantages of the seated position is followed by general
guidelines for ensuring seating compatibility with tasks. The section includes guidelines
for office seating design, and for seat cushion, armrest, and footrest design. Designers
can exploit the following advantages of seated positions:
Seated positions reduce workload by helping maintain the
body position and carry body weight.
Seats provide comfortable positions that promote long-term
focused attention on activities and information in the nearby workspace.
[item not relevant]
[item not relevant]
Seating limits reach with both arms and hands.
Seating can be designed to swivel and move on rollers to
extend visual, reach, and communications access.
The main disadvantages of seated work positions are that
seated workers can apply less arm forceand smaller arm movements than standing workers. In
addition, seated workers have more accessibility to equipment and are able to move about
to reduce fatigue and boredom.
9.4.4.1 Seated workplace guideline.
Workplace seats
should provide support for and stabilize the workers body. The seat should permit
visual, reach, and communications access so the intended work tasks can be performed
efficiently and without interference. Neither the shape of the seat nor the materials used
in the seat should prevent the worker from adjusting body position in the seat for task
activities or for comfort.
9.4.4.2 Seat compatibility.
Seats should be
compatible with the work tables, benches, desks, workstations, equipment, tools, controls,
and displays that are necessary to the tasks.
9.4.4.3 Swivels and rollers.
For most jobs and tasks
that do not require heavy work and where seated positions are appropriate, swivel
capability and caster rollers are desirable for seat ingress and egress and task
performance throughout the workplace.
9.4.4.4 Seating dimensions.
General seated workplace
dimensions are given and illustrated in exhibit 9.4.4.4 of the HFDG. Seat designs and
selections should meet or exceed minimum values, should provide adjustment ranges, and
should provide fixed and preferred values when these are compatible with the population
and tasks to be performed.
9.4.4.5 Knee space.
The preferred knee space, as
shown in exhibit 9.4.4.4, should be 640 mm (25 in) in height. Where equipment packaging
permits, knee space and associated leg space should be attained by sloping the workstation
surface under the working or writing surface. A footrest will increase the needed knee
space.
9.4.4.6 Seat cushioning.
Seats should be cushioned
whenever workers must remain seated for more than an hour at a time, or for more than 20%
of their working time. Good seat cushioning should:
- have flat, firm shape with enough softness to deform,
- have resilient material under the cushion to absorb shocks,
- support body weight, primarily around the two bony points of
the pelvis,
- tilt backward 5-7 degrees so the seat (rather than the
users muscles) supports the back,
- be shaped to follow the inward curve of the lower back, and
provide adequate support for it, to relieve strain of the back muscles,
- avoid applying pressure under the thighs,
- incorporate perforated or ventilated materials, to prevent
hotness or sweating, and
- allow the sitter to shift positions.
9.4.4.7 The use of armrests.
Workplace seating should
provide armrests so that the elbows can support some upper body weight, unless the rests
would be incompatible with the tasks. Armrests should be undercut to allow space for the
hips and thighs. Exhibit 9.4.4.4 provides fixed armrest dimensions. Removable or
adjustable armrests should be considered when removal is necessary for some primary tasks.
The preferred adjustable range is from 190 to 280 mm (7.5 to 11 in) above the compressed
seat surface. They should be at least 200 mm (8 in) in length. When seated tasks include
the use of a tracking control for frequent or continuous control, the armrest should
support the workers arm in the same plane as the control.
9.4.4.9 Footrests.
Whenever workers must sit for
extended sitting periods in seats higher than 460 mm (18 in) or work with work surfaces
higher than 760 mm (30 in), they should have a footrest which may be designed into the
chair or stool. When footrests are separate items, they should not be allowed to interfere
with traffic.
9.5 Standard workstation design.
Standard workstation
designs are addressed in this section. Recommended configurations for sit, sit-stand, and
stand workstations are given, and horizontal wrap-around and vertically stacked segment
alternatives are provided. Additional workstations for teams that monitor ongoing
processes are addressed in this section.
9.5.1 Sit, sit-stand, and stand workstations.
The
guidelines that follow are to be used to gain the benefits and potential cost savings
inherent in standard workstations, units, and racks. In some cases planned usage may
necessitate unique design solutions.
9.5.1.1 Dimensions for workstation configurations.
Exhibit
9.5.1.1 (a) of the HFDG lists five types of workstations for individuals and gives
dimensions for alternative standard configurations. Selected configurations should conform
to the dimensions listed and illustrated in exhibit 9.5.1.1 (b).
9.5.1.2 Selection of a standard workstation.
Each
workstation configuration should be selected to accommodate the following task-related
variables:
- visibility over the top of workstation,
- user mobility (e.g., sit, sit-stand, or stand requirements),
- control and display demand for panel space (for example,
display legibility, control accessibility),
- volume of space necessary for leg room and essential
equipment beneath the writing surface, and
- communications demands of the tasks.
9.5.2 Horizontal wrap-around workstation alternatives.
Whenever
the panel space required for a seated workstation user exceeds that recommended in exhibit
9.5.1.1 (a), the special purpose horizontal wrap-around workstation presented in this
section may be used. The concept for this alternative is illustrated in exhibit 9.5.2 of
the HFDG.
This panel facilitates placing controls within the reach of
the 5th percentile users.
9.5.2.2 Panel angles.
The left and right segments
should be placed at an angle, measured from the frontal plane of the central segment, so
that these segments can be reached by the 5th percentile stationary operator.
9.5.2.3 Dimensions with vision over the top.
Where
vision over the top is required (thereby limiting vertical panel space), the width of the
central segment shall not exceed 1.12 m (44 in), and that of the left and right segments
shall not exceed 610 mm (24 in).
9.5.2.4 Width dimensions without vision over the top.
Where
vision over the top is not required (that is, where the total workstation height exceeds
the seat height by more than 690 mm (27 in)), the width of the central segment shall not
exceed 860 mm (34 in), and that of the left and right segments, if possible, shall not
exceed 610 mm (24 in).
9.5.2.5 Viewing angle.
The total required
left-to-right viewing angle shall not exceed 190 degrees (see head and eye rotation in
exhibit 7.2.1.6.8 of the HFDG). This angle should be reduced whenever possible through
appropriate control-display layout.
9.5.3 Vertical stacked segments for workstations.
Another
alternative special-purpose workstation applies to the case where seeing over the top is
not required and lateral space is limited. The concept for this individual seated user
workstation is shown in exhibit 9.5.3 of the HFDG.
9.5.3.1 Panel division.
Where direct forward vision
over the top of the workstation is not required by a seated person and where lateral space
is limited, the panel shall be divided into three vertical stacked segments whose surfaces
are perpendicular to the operators line of sight when the head is moved up or down
slightly.
9.5.3.2 Height.
The center of the central segment
should be 800 mm (31.5 in) above the seat reference point. If feasible, the height of this
segment shall not exceed 530 mm (21 in).
9.7 Accommodating people with disabilities: Accessible
elements and space. The Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook provides
accessibility "guidelines" to be applied during design, construction, and
alteration of buildings and facilities to the extent required by regulations issued by
Federal Agencies including the Department of Justice. The present subsection refers to
those parts of the Handbook that correspond with the workplace topics of section 9. If
acquisitions or modifications include workspace design for jobs that are subject to being
filled by Americans with disabilities, the workspace aspects of the handbook apply. To
comply with the following rules, human factors professionals refer to the handbook itself
to ensure that all relevant topics are applied to specific system or equipment.
9.7.2 Reasonable accommodation of workspace to an
individual. If an individual employee with disabilities is qualified and selected for
a job, Title 1 of the ADA requires "reasonable accommodations" of the job and
workspace to the individual. Modifications of the workspace to permit maneuvering and
reaching controls, shelves, and reference materials should be provided, as necessary.
Appendix A, Section 4.1.1, Application, to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)
requires that wherever a series of individual workstations of the same type (for example,
laboratories, service counters, ticket booths) at least one or five percent of the work
stations should be constructed so that an individual with disabilities can maneuver within
the workspace.
13.4 Illumination.
Criteria for appropriate
illumination cannot be satisfied merely by providing a sufficient amount of light to
perform tasks or by providing emergency lighting (approximately 32 lux) to enable
personnel to operate important controls or to find the exit. The following factors need to
be considered:
- the brightness contrast between each visual task object and
its background,
- the glare from work surfaces and light sources,
- the level of illumination required for the most difficult
tasks,
- the color composition of the illumination source and the
equipment surfaces,
- the time and accuracy required in task performance, and
- the possible variations in operating conditions (such as
outdoor panel blackout operation or outdoor panel visibility under bright sunlight) that
may affect the lighting system, the task, or the personnel.
13.4.1 General.
In addition to the following
illumination guidelines, see the "Lighting Handbook from the Illuminating Engineering
Society", for general lighting design foot-candlefootcandle levels and formulas.
13.4.1.1 General and supplementary lighting.
Both
general and supplementary lighting shall be used as appropriate to ensure that
illumination is compatible with each operation and maintenance task situation.
13.4.1.2 Dimming capability.
A light dimming
capability shall be provided.
13.4.1.3 Illumination in workplaces.
As a general
rule, illumination in workplaces should eliminate glare and shadows that interfere with
prescribed tasks.
13.4.2.1 Lighting level.
The lighting level shall be
measured on the work surfaces, (30 inches above the floor in the absence of work
surfaces), or at visual interfaces, (for example, CRT and panels), where appropriate.
13.4.2.2 Illumination.
Workplace illumination shall
be appropriate to the tasks to be accomplished. See exhibit 13.4.2.2 in the HFDG for
illumination requirements.
13.4.2.3 Glare.
Lighting sources shall be designed
and located to avoid creating glare from working and display surfaces, as viewed from any
normal working position.
13.4.4 Glare from light sources.
One of the most
serious illumination problems is glare from surfaces. Relatively bright light shining into
the observers eyes as he or she tries to observe a dim visual field, and reflected
glare from work surfaces are common causes of reduced performance in visual tasks. Glare
not only reduces visibility of objects in the field of view but causes visual discomfort.
13.4.4.1 Glare from artificial light sources. The
following measures shall be taken to avoid glare from artificial light sources:
- Locate light sources so that they do not shine directly at
personnel. Light sources shall not be located within 60� in any direction from the center
of the visual field.
- If additional lighting is needed, use dim light sources
rather than bright ones.
- Use polarized light, shields, hoods, lens, diffusers, or
visors.
- Use indirect lighting where possible.
- Ensure that the maximum to average luminance ratio does not
exceed 5:1 across the viewing area. Six test readings shall be taken in the work area to
determine the average luminance of the area.
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