Assessment of Environmental Factors Ergonomics and Thermal Comfort: A Study at Discrete Manual Automotive Assembly Line

Abstract

The aims of study were to investigate the effects of ergonomics and thermal comfort during the cycle of process works in workplace. The selected workplace was handling the restoration of trouble report. The environment examined was the radiant temperature (oC), humidity (%), wind speed (m/s), air temperature (oC), illuminance (lux), sound (dB) and CO2 (ppm) of the surrounding workstation area. The environmental factors were measured using thermal comfort apparatus, which is capable to measure simultaneously those mentioned environmental factors. The time series data of fluctuating level of factors were plotted to identify the significant changes of factors. Then the thermal comfort of the workers was assessed by using ISO Standard 7730 and thermal sensation scale by using Predicted Mean Vote (PMV). Further Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) is used to estimate the thermal comfort satisfaction of the occupant. Finally the PMV were plotted to present the thermal comfort scenario of workers involved in related workstation. The thermal comfort assessment of this workplace which is hot following by thermal sensation and likely to be dissatisfied by the occupant. The result indicated that the activity level and clothing more influenced comfort to the occupants. The workstation must be minor improvement to improve productivity.