Affiliations: Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Nis,
Nis, Carnojevica, Serbia | "ASA-CO" d.o.o. Company, Cacak, Serbia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Evica Stojiljkovic,
Faculty of Occupational Safety in Nis, University of Nis, Carnojevica 10a, 18000 Nis, Serbia.
Tel.: +381 69 14 87 031; E-mail: evica.stojiljkovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Adequate application of the static and dynamic
anthropometric measures of pre-school children in ergonometric design of
children's playground equipment should eliminate all dangers and difficulties
in their use. Possibilities of injuries, insecure movements, discomfort able
positions and some other dangerous actions may be minimized; and safety and
health protection of pre-school children will be increased. OBJECTIVE: Children's playground represents a significant space of activity for pre-school
children. Therefore, it is necessary to apply ergonomic principles which
contribute to the adjustment of the playground elements to children's anatomic
features. Based on the results presented in this paper, new constructions were
designed and new playgrounds were installed in Serbia. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were children from three pre-school age groups: Junior age group
(3–4 years of age, 17 children), Medium age group (4–5 years of age, 22
children), and Senior age group (5–6 years of age, 26 children). METHODS: Thirty-one static anthropometric measures (12 in standing position,
11 in sitting position, 7 related to dimensions of hand, foot an head, with
body weight and shoe size) and 15 dynamic anthropometric measures (7 in
standing position, 6 in sitting position and 2 dimension of foot and hand) were
defined for the study. Measurements were taken using an anthrop-meter, a
flexible measuring tape. Equations for ergonomic design of children's
playground elements were also defined. RESULTS: Basic statistical data of
static and dynamic anthropometric measurements of the pre-school children are
presented in this paper, as well as the statistical calculation of the
corrective anthropometric measurements. Measurements were performed in
"Poletarac" kindergarten, part of the pre-school institution "Radost" in
Cacak. Elements of playground equipment in "Bambi" kindergarten in Kragujevac
(the Indian tent "wigwam", gate-house, swing and carousel) were designed and
built using these parameters. CONCLUSION: Based on the obtained results,
several playgrounds were designed, manufactured and equipped with the
appropriate items.
Keywords: Ergonomics for children, static anthropometric measures, dynamic anthropometric measures, pre-school children
