Retail Workstation Design with the Introduction of Prop Seats

Abstract

Workstation design and re-design can have many objectives. Sometimes it is to identify and resolve ergonomics risk factors, sometimes it occurs due to changes in the corporate mandate or job objectives and sometimes it is initiated because of the opening of new facilities. This is an example of the design and re-design of workstations in a telecommunications retail environment based on a) risk factors identified during ergonomics assessments of existing stores, b) general ergonomics guidelines, and c) the changing business mandate and objectives of the stores.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the involvement of the Human Factors department in the design process, and to discuss some of the outcomes (pros and cons) regarding the workstations and in particular, the use of prop seats.