A Methodological Approach to the Study of Ergonomic Loads in the Clothing Industry

Presents a special methodological approach to the study of stress and strain at work, in order to reduce excessive workload by allowing extra time for the operation. In the study three methods were used: activity sampling; job analysis and evaluation; and measurement of workplace conditions. Also, a method was used which gives criteria and grades for research and evaluation of stresses at the workplace. These are physical stress (dynamical and statical); thermal; visual; noise stress; stress caused by contact with aerosols; gases; vapours; stress caused by monotony. They are measured as ecological, physiological and comfort indexes. It is clear that stress factors enable the evaluation of most physical work. The application scope for our model of defining the ergonomic coefficient was the clothing industry. The defined ergonomic coefficient represents a smaller addition to standard time than the strain and the environmental coefficients used at present.