International Journal of Occupational Hygiene (Oct 2015)
Anthropometric Dimensions of Iranian Male Workers and Comparison with Three Asian Countries
Abstract
Anthropometry is the study of human body dimensions and proportions among different races. In work environments, poorly designed workstations and tools reduce productivity and can lead to fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to determine the anthropometric characteristics of Iranian workers in comparison to three other Asian countries. This cross-sectional study evaluated 400 male workers between the ages of 25 and 55 yr from all ethnicities working at Iran Khodro Automobile Factory. Results showed that the average height of the Iranian worker is 173.73±6.84 cm and the average sitting height 90.79±3.55 (cm). In comparison to Indian and Philippine workers, Iranian workers are 100% and 83% taller, respectively. This data can be useful for designing workplace space (e.g. height), work levels (e.g. elbow height) and peripheral equipment size, such as chairs (e.g. the width of hips and height of thighs).