ANTHROPOMETRY

Importance of Anthropometry

Designs that are incompatible with normal anthropometric measurements of a workforce could result in undesired incidents. The misfit of a heavy equipment cabin to a worker could produce operator blind spots that expose workers on foot to struck by injuries. Inadequate length or configuration of seatbelts could lead to non use of seatbelts, which will affect post-crash survivability. Inadequate fit of personal protective equipment cannot provide workers with sufficient protection from health and injury exposures (Hsiao and Halperin, 1998). Existing data on the size and shape of industrial workers is sparse, at best. Because of the lack of anthropometric data for the general worker population, safety researchers have generally had to rely on data drawn from studies of military personnel, most of which was collected during the 1950s through the 1970s. However, substantial anthropometric variability exists among the various U.S. workforce populations, and they are quite different from the average military population. Industrial workers, such as the agriculture, truck driver, and firefighter workforces, are even anthropometrically very different from the average civilian population (Hsiao et al, 2002).

Diverse workforces in many occupations, as well as new roles for women in the workforce, require body size data for designing adequate workplaces, systems, and personal protective equipment. In the past, variance in body dimensions was typically reported as means and standard deviations for various body segments (Roebuck et al., 1975). This approach was successful in generating general, broad parameters for personal protective equipment (PPE) sizing but was deficient in generating the detailed fit information needed for workplace, PPE, and other equipment design.

Technological development in recent years has advanced the basic science of human size and shape studies in 3-dimensional forms (3D), and computer-generated human models are now available for anthropometric analysis. These advances in anthropometric science and computer-based human-form modeling have opened various research avenues for improving workplace and protective equipment design as well as anthropometric fit within complex systems.

Hsiao, H., Halperin, W. E. (1998). Occupational Safety and Human Factors. In William N. Rom (Ed.), Environmental and Occupational Medicine (pp. 923-936). Philadelphia: Raven Publishers.

Hsiao, H., Long, D., Snyder, K. (2002). Anthropometric differences among occupational groups. Ergonomics, 45(2), 136-152.

Roebuck, J. A. (1975). Engineering Anthropometry Methods (Wiley Series in Human Factors). John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Trends in Anthropometry Research

Anthropometric design procedures must take into consideration the large variation in dimensions from person to person and from population to population. In the research area of applied anthropometry, new initiatives have begun to collect 3D anthropometric data that will ultimately result in a better fit between workers and their tools, systems, and work environments.

Research at NIOSH

Partnering with stakeholders, NIOSH has applied the most current 3-dimensional digital scanning technology and developed improved body-shape quantification methods to advance anthropometry research which has provided a variety of enhanced equipment design recommendations.

Anthropometry Research Laboratory
A fleet of whole body scanners, head scanners, hand scanners, FaroArm and traditional anthropometry measurement equipment have been used by the NIOSH Anthropometry Researchers for various equipment safety evaluation and design applications.

Contact Person: Hongwei Hsiao, Ph.D.
Chief, Protective Technology Branch
Phone: (304) 285-5910
Email: HHsiao@cdc.gov

Sizing Firefighters and Fire Apparatus: Safe by Design
This project will establish a large-scale anthropometric database of U.S. firefighters for the design of ergonomically efficient automotive fire apparatus. Ergonomically sound fire apparatus will help reduce the exposure of firefighters to fatal and non-fatal injuries. The database will consist of anthropometric data for 900 firefighters and apparatus workspace data for 195 firefighters, who will be selected as representative of the U. S. firefighter population in age, gender, and race/ethnicity. The database will include traditional anthropometric measurements, digital scans in 5 postures, and fire-truck cab workspace measurements. Results from this study will be applied to the updating of relevant NFPA standards on fire apparatus and the design of fire-engine cabs, seats, restraint systems, egress, and firefighter bunker gear.

Project contact: Hongwei Hsiao, Ph.D.
Protective Technology Branch, Division of Safety Research
(304) 285-5910
Project period: 2008-2012

Improved Truck Cab Design through Applied Anthropometry
The purpose of this project is to establish an anthropometric database of U.S. truck drivers for the design of ergonomically efficient truck cabs to reduce exposure to fatal and non-fatal injury hazards among U.S. truck drivers. The database consists of stratified anthropometric and workspace data for more than 1,300 truck drivers across the United States. The database includes traditional anthropometric measurements for 1,000 truck drivers, as well as digital scans and truck cab workspace measurements for an additional 200 truck drivers. This project engages major U.S. truck manufacturers to develop ergonomically efficient truck cabs. In addition, results from this study can be used to update relevant Society of Safety Engineers (SAE) standards for truck cab occupant environments.

Project contact: Jinhua Guan, Ph.D.
Protective Technology Branch, Division of Safety Research
(304) 285-6333
Project period: 2006–2011

Development of Computer-Aided Face-Fit Evaluation Methods
This project is developing computer-aided face-fit evaluation methods. A nationwide anthropometric survey of the heads and faces of U.S. workers was conducted. Using this data, new respirator fit test panels were developed. Headforms were also developed for testing respirators, safety glasses, and helmets. A new design approach using 3D data will be developed and compared to the traditional approach using facial dimensions. Shape statistics will also be used to capture the variability in the actual shape of the faces. Expected outcomes will be the establishment of new fit test panels for today’s U.S. workers; development of headforms, and incorporation of these panels and headforms into NIOSH and ISO respirator standards.

Project contact: Ziqing Zhuang, Ph.D.
Technology Research Branch, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
(412) 386-4055
Project period: 2001–2011

NIOSH Publications on Anthropometry

U.S. truck driver anthropometric study and multivariate anthropometric models for cab designs
Human Factors: April 2012 / [Epub ahead of print]

Digital 3-D headforms representative of Chinese workers
The Annals of Occupational Hygiene: January 2012 / 56(1):113-122

Digital 3-D headforms with facial features representative of the current US workforce
Ergonomics: May 2010 / 53(5):661-671

Facial anthropometric differences among gender, ethnicity, and age groups
The Annals of Occupational Hygiene: March 2010 / 54(4):391-402

Shape analysis of 3D head scan data for U.S. respirator users
EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing: January 2010 / 2010:248954

NIOSHTIC-2 Search

NIOSHTIC-2 search results on Anthropometry
NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.

Other Pages of Interest

Third National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES III) Anthropometric Procedures Video

NIOSH Pilot Study of Truck Driver Anthropometric and Workspace Dimensions

Scientific Data Documentation: Anthropometric Data (1976-1980)