Research on antropometric characteristics of high school students and ergonomic characteristics of high school furniture

In this research anthropometric characteristics of Croatian high school students were measured so that the school furniture on which they spend several hours a day during education can be adjusted to the characteristics. The research was conducted on 300 students in 18 high schools all over Croatia. Sixteen basic anthropometric characteristics were measured as well as basic measurements of eight ergonomic characteristics of furniture used in those schools. Based on the results of the research and based on statistic analysis it was found out that ergonomic characteristics of furniture did not fit today's high school students population. Mostly the problem is the distance between the lower level of the school desk and the height of the school chair, eg. if the height of thighs (average for girls l6 cm, for boys l8 cm) is added to height of lower legs (average for girls 45 and 48 cm for boys), it is obvious that those values significantly exceed the height of the lower level (56 cm) of the school desk. One of the solutions would be to leave out the shelves under the school desks when produced. The other solution would be to produce an adjustable furniture, which could be achieved by telescopic legs for desks and chairs.