Making Shared Workspaces More Effective

A shared workspace at the San Diego Unified Port District lacked the ergonomic features to support the work done there. Employees, clients, and visitors experienced frustration and inefficiencies while using it.

The Approach

PSE used ergonomic standards, guidelines and data to assess the properties of workstations, traffic patterns, floor plans, and work flow.

We conducted structured interviews with workers and recorded naturalistic observations of them while they performed various tasks.

The Solution

PSE documented the ergonomic shortcomings of the shared workspace, emphasizing the incompatibilities between current workspace design and the tasks performed in it.

PSE recommended workstation redesigns, incorporating ergonomic standards and guidelines, which were tailored to several specific tasks and user groups.

Benefits

Recommendations will enhance the use of this shared workspace in several ways:

Increased ease of use
Improved worker satisfaction and productivity