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E L S E V I E R International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 15 (1995) 473-474

Industrial Ergonomics

Book reviews

Human Force Exertion in User-Product Interac- tion Background for Design, by B.J. Daams. Delft University Press Delft, Netherlands.

The above 344-page paperback is the second issue in the Physical Ergonomics Series of the Delft University Press publications. The purpose for which this publication was undertaken is an urgent one. Also the inherent implication for ergonomics is that it has to be re!evant to design. The author, therefore, sets out on a sound foot- ing. Her goal of establishing a two-dimensional atlas of the force application capability will be a useful exercise. However, it is not entirely clear why the author did not initiate a three-dimen- sional globe rather than a two-dimensional atlas, as we all experience in our everyday lives the frequency and significance of three-dimensional capabilities. In this regard this publication has a profound conceptual drawback. Whereas it is conceded that not everything can be done in one attempt, significant information is available even in some of the works cited by the author to articulate this strategy. A complete omission of the idea has seriously limited even the usefulness of the information presented. The author has assembled a reasonable compendium of informa- tion pertinent to her stated purpose, though it is considerably incomplete.

The material presented in the guise of a book is in fact a commercial version of a doctoral thesis. This book may serve a useful purpose for advanced graduate students as an example of what lies ahead for them. Of course, every thesis is expected to be different. It is, therefore, not implied that graduate students follow this model. However, examples help in formulation of ideas,

strategies and format. Thus, this book has a po- tential to serve a useful purpose for graduate students. Unfortunately it is lacking for the rest in the field of ergonomics. It is apprehended that the expectations of most will not be met by the treatment of the content of this publication.

Invariably books in ergonomics do not present only the information most pertinent for applica- tion. They also deal with the aspects of rationale, limitations, and physiological, psychological or mechanical behaviour as the case may be. How- ever, this book is application driven with insuffi- cient treatment of underlying scientific principles. This may leave the potential users in the serious difficulty of either inappropriate application or not being able to extrapolate and apply some of the information already available. Due to these limitations, this book should probably be consid- ered as a design manual for industrial designers rather than a book in the "physical ergonomics" series.

Caution must be exercised even by the design- ers because the treatment of the material in this book is project specific and not subject compre- hensive. An incomplete review of literature by missing out some comprehensive bodies of work has left significant gaps. Several times indirect references have been cited. The author did not take the trouble to go to the original sources. Some references cited in the text are not found in the bibliography. Tables numbered in the text could not be located. The author takes the posi- tion that posture does not influence the force generation capacity (page 82). She also claims that no such verification studies have been re- ported. This is entirely incorrect. Such informa- tion has been even presented in ergonomic text-

0169-8141/95/$09.50 © 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved SSD! 0169-8141(94)00061-1

474 B.J. Daams / International Journal of lndustrial Ergonomics 15 (1995) 473-474

books which the author has cited in her bibliogra- phy. Several papers have been published from 1988 to 1993 in Applied Ergonomics, Ergonomics, the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics and other sources, which the author has entirely missed. In the same vein, the author derives a wrong and dangerous conclusion on page 98. Though this is one example of the problem in the book, it is not the only one.

Finally, extensive reproduction of information and illustrations from other works are printed in this book. However, I did not see any statement of permission obtained to reproduce these. The attractive-looking paperback book is available from Delft University Press, Delft, The Nether- lands.

Shrawan Kumar Book review editor

Employment and the Workplace-Equipment for Disabled People, edited by J. Barrett, P. Her- riotts, G.M. Cochrane (Medical Editor) 1994. Headington, Oxford: The Disability Information Trust, 158 pp.

This is an ambitious book, which addresses the major issues relating to the employment of dis- abled people in Great Britain. It is one of the series of books entitled "Equipment for Disabled People". The organization of this book is practi- cal and applied, and that makes this book reader-friendly. The readers are introduced to prices of equipment, equipment for work and training, benefits and allowances, grants and other sources of funding in the introduction.

The first half of this book begins with common questions which may occur to anyone who is seeking employment opportunities.

"How do you go about getting a job?" This chapter presents the stages involved in getting a job which includes job application, preparation of curriculum vitae, what to expect in the job inter- views etc. This is a practical chapter which is informative for disabled persons who are seeking new job opportunities or employers who are con- sidering hiring disabled employees. In particular, The summary of legal aspects of employment of disabled should be of interest to everyone. Each

chapter ends with a case study which illustrates how a disabled individual can succeed in a work- force.

The chapter on "What can you do as an em- ployer?" provides a brief description of consider- ations for an employer when recruiting a person with disabilities. "Disability and work place" and "Getting to work" are both short chapters. There are sources of intormation regarding general guidance on job matching, work design, health, safety, mobility and transportation. However, these are quite brief.

The second half of this book deals with more specific areas such as "Building design", "Furni- ture", "Communication equipment" and "Com- puter technology".

The chapter on building design is written with a special consideration to wheelchair users. It is subdivided into accessibility access between floors, staff facilities, fixtures and fittings. The informa- tion provided here is substantiated with a list of relevant regulations in Great Britain. The furni- ture chapter pays special attention to seats, ta- bles, desks, work benches, footrests, arm and wrist supports and desk equipment. The informa- tion on the recommended standard, modification and adjustment of furniture are of special interest to occupational therapists, employers, disabled individuals.

The communication equipment and the com- puter technology chapters describe advantages of using new technologies to remove the barriers to employment. The variety of special input and output methods described would be of interest to occupational therapists, disabled individuals and employers alike.

In summary, I consider this book to be user- friendly. Careful attention was paid in this book to the accuracy of information. However, the readers may be cautioned that the technology and the price of goods change rapidly.

Masako Miyazaki, M.Sc. (Experimental Medicine)

Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Occupational Therapy

University of Alberta 208 Corbett Hall

Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 2G4