What is BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 - Workstation layout and postural requirements about?
The fifth in a multi-part series of standards on ergonomics, BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 covers how to promote and enhance the performance and comfort of people who use workstations by looking at design principles and user requirements.
Who is BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 - Workstation layout and postural requirements for?
BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 would be useful for:
- product and workstation designers;
- implementers;
- ergonomists/human factor specialists;
- occupational health and safety professionals/enforcers;
- manufacturers and designers of related furniture and equipment; and
- office or control centre designers/planners/fitters.
What does BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 - Workstation layout and postural requirements cover?
BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 specifies six ergonomic guiding principles that apply to the user requirements, design and procurement of workstation equipment when using interactive systems with visual displays.
Through these guiding principles and a series of design requirements and recommendations the standard aims to promote and enhance performance and comfort while also minimizing risks to users’ safety and health.
Why should you use BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 Workstation layout and postural requirements?
- Comfort and productivity: BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 advises on the best workstation arrangements to avoid postural issues that negatively impact user comfort and productivity.Compliance: The guidance in BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 (and other parts of this series) supports the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002.
- Up-to-date: The revised guidance in BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 reflects the big changes in work locations and IT devices that have taken place since the standard was last published, offering relevant, up-to-date advice.
- Related designs: The standard can help inform how related furniture and equipment can be designed and manufactured to optimize ergonomics, particularly when it can be used in multiple configurations.
- Potentially cost saving: BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 can be used in the early stages of space planning and layout design to ensure optimal arrangements for users, avoiding the need for potentially costly or time-consuming reconstruction. It can also be used by those re-fitting a workspace to take the needs of specific workers or users into consideration.
What has changed?
BS EN ISO 9241-5:2024 replaces BS EN ISO 9241-5:1998 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs) — Part 5: Workstation layout and postural requirements. The change in title from ‘visual display terminals’ to ‘interactive systems’ reflects both the wide variety of devices now available and the variety of environments in which they're used.
Other changes include:
- The Scope has been slightly re-worded, although this has not changed any relevant goals of the standard.In Definitions, the term “interactive system” is now defined as this was not in common use when the 1988 standard was published.
- In “General considerations” a remark concerning the nature of the task, whether individual or collaborative, has been introduced.
- In clause 4.3 “Fit”, the method to achieve fit has been extended with reference to BS ISO/TR 9241-514:2020 included.
- In clause 5.2.4 “Intermediate postures between sitting and standing – perching” a new subclause on ‘perching’ was added.
- In clause 5.3 “Ease of adjustment” a new paragraph on the ease of adjustment of equipment and or furniture was added to clarify the main goal of the standard.
- In subclause 5.5.3.3 “Movements of the seat pan and back support”, a sentence was added to clarify the ‘user’ that should be able to move throughout the range of the backrest angle (the 5th percentile female through to the 95th percentile male user).
- In subclause 5.5.5 “Arm support” in addition to the existing recommendations on adjustment, a recommendation was added to avoid restrictions to the users working posture/to avoid restrictions in access to the workstation caused by the arm supports.
- In subclause 5.6.4 “Workstations with monitor arm for the visual display unit and height-adjusting accessories”, restrictions concerning the use of monitor arms was rephrased for clarity.
