Balinese have built amazing residences and temples by using many tools. The tools are not only effective in a physical sense, also in the value of ethics. One of the tools is gegulak. The nearest same tool in ergonomics is anthropometrics. The gegulak and anthropometrics are used to humans to be humane. Besides gegulak, there is another tool named sikut natar. Lontar Asta Kosali is a kind of Balinese traditional book about material measurement to build a house, and Asta Kosala to build a temple. Even if studied further, this book does not merely determine measuring materials of the housing, but inherent in the spiritual aspects of measurement. Balinese understand that the three main standards are: nista, madya, and utama. They contain the physical and spiritual values. Balinese ancestors have been aware if the land they are living in is a small island, and lacks energy sources. As reflected in the ways of their life, these standards have been persevered on lontar, tools, buildings, arts genealogically and performing ceremonials. Since modernization influences to Balinese life, it has been decreasing many aspects of traditional values. Therefore, the kindness and power from ancient values should be integrated through mind over body. Balinese could be working side by side wisely for the sake of the quality of life.

View full abstract

Comfort is an important characteristic of hearing protectors, perhaps as important as sound attenuation. Different approaches were taken by researchers to study comfort: some did literature searches; others did lab studies, and some others did both: lab and field studies. In general, the lab studies were of short duration, which some researchers claim leads to the same results as those of long duration. When studying comfort of earmuffs, some focused on the force exerted against the head, while others were interested in the pressure. There are also studies regarding the influence of heat and humidity on comfort. Finally, some tried to put together sound attenuation and comfort. Almost all of them made use of questionnaires to quantify the weight of different factors of discomfort. This paper analyzes some of the relatively small number of studies on comfort done in the last 25 years. It is intended to serve as a background document for developing a procedure for ranking hearing protectors on the basis of their physical characteristics.

View full abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal duration of work exposure while sitting in a squatting posture. A simulation study was formulated on work similar to the traditional jewellery manufacturing activity. The task of metal setting was simulated in a controlled environment. Fifteen young adult males participated in this study. The results of 12 participants were included as others discontinued the study for their personal reasons. The study continued for 2 hours. Trunk muscle strength and body part discomfort (BPD) were measured before and after completion of the task. BPD ratings in CR 10 scale were also collected after each 15 minutes of work. The mean age (year), height (cm), weight (kg) and BMI (kg/m²) of the subject were 24.25 ± 2.14, 172.47 ± 3.88, 65.08 ± 4.52 and 21.88 ± 1.33, respectively. Using inferential statistics, a predictive equation was developed to determine the optimal duration of exposure in a squatting position similar to traditional jewellery manufacturing activity. An hour of work with a small break was suggested after considering the study result for the workers who worked in a squatting posture like traditional jewellery manufacturing.

View full abstract