Anthropometric Mismatch Evaluation for Female Clerical Office Workers

This study investigates the anthropometric compatibility between office furniture and female clerical workers at Public University XYZ (XYZ), with a focus on identifying mismatch patterns and proposing ergonomic design improvements. A comprehensive assessment was conducted by comparing the anthropometric measurements of all clerical staff (N = 12) with the existing workstation dimensions, including desk height, seat height, seat depth, backrest height, and seat width. The evaluation was performed using established anthropometric matching criteria to determine the level of compatibility across multiple ergonomic parameters. The findings reveal a systematic mismatch, with seat depth identified as the most critical issue, showing a 100% mismatch rate across all respondents. Desk height also demonstrated a high level of incompatibility (75%), indicating that the fixed workstation design does not align well with users’ seated elbow height. Moderate mismatches were observed for both seat height and backrest height (50% each), while seat width showed relatively good compatibility with minimal mismatch cases. These results highlight that none of the respondents achieved full compatibility across all evaluated dimensions, reflecting a broader inadequacy of the current workstation design. While individual parameters such as seat width performed reasonably well, the overall mismatch profile indicates that fixed-dimension furniture is insufficient to accommodate anthropometric variability even within a relatively homogeneous user group. The dominance of seat depth and desk height mismatch underscores the need for prioritised design intervention. Ultimately, this study establishes important baseline data on anthropometric mismatch among female clerical workers in Malaysia, providing practical insights for ergonomic workstation design. The findings support the adoption of adjustable and percentile-based furniture design to enhance user comfort, reduce musculoskeletal risk, and improve workplace well-being in similar office environments.

Anthropometric mismatch, Office ergonomics, Clerical workers, Workstation design

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). Anthropometry and work: An overview. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/anthropometry/about/index.html [cdc.gov] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Gorce, P. (2025). Theoretical and applied ergonomics: A new open access journal. Theoretical and Applied Ergonomics, 1(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/tae1010001 [mdpi.com] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. International Labour Organization (ILO). (2011). Anthropometry. In Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety. https://iloencyclopaedia.org/part-iv-66769/ergonomics-52353/physical-and-physiological-aspects/item/486-anthropometry [iloencyclopaedia.org] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (2017). ISO 7250-1: Basic human body measurements for technological design—Part 1: Body measurement definitions and landmarks. https://www.iso.org/standard/65246.html [webstore.ansi.org] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Castellucci, H. I., Catalán, M., Arezes, P. M., & Molenbroek, J. F. (2016). Evaluation of the match between anthropometric measures and school furniture dimensions. Work, 53(3), 563–572. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-152233 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Fitrianto, T. R., Rahmat, B., Nugroho, A. R., Prakoso, G., Afifah, A. S., Anggiriani, S., & Juwitasari, D. (2025). Evaluation of office chair design from ergonomic and anthropometric perspectives. J@ti Undip: Jurnal Teknik Industri, 20(3), 148–154. https://doi.org/10.14710/jati.20.3.148-154 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Gorce, P. (2025). Theoretical and applied ergonomics: A new open access journal. Theoretical and Applied Ergonomics, 1(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/tae1010001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Hasan, N. H., Zulkifly, S. S., & Ali, N. M. (2020). The risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among business service workers. NIOSH Malaysia Journal. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Hasri, H., Rajendran, K., Mostafa, N., & Muhamma, N. E. S. (2024). Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers. International Journal of Future Medical Research, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i04.25385 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Hoe, V. C. W., Urquhart, D. M., Kelsall, H. L., & Sim, M. R. (2018). Ergonomic interventions for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and neck among office workers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (10), CD008570. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008570.pub3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Lopes, M., & Lages, M. (2026). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Prevalence and contributing risk factors. Exploration of Musculoskeletal Diseases, 4, 1007117. https://doi.org/10.37349/emd.2026.1007117 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Saha, A. K., Jahin, M. A., Rafiquzzaman, M., & Mridha, M. F. (2024). Ergonomic design of computer laboratory furniture: Mismatch analysis utilizing anthropometric data of university students. Heliyon, 10(14), e34063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34063 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Varte, L. R., Rawat, S., Singh, I., & Majumdar, D. (2015). Testing the furniture dimension match levels with anthropometry among working women. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 6(2), 122–124. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijoem.2015.526 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Saha, A. K., Jahin, M. A., Rafiquzzaman, M., & Mridha, M. F. (2024). Ergonomic design of computer laboratory furniture: Mismatch analysis utilizing anthropometric data of university students. Heliyon, 10(14), e34063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34063 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Varte, L. R., Rawat, S., Singh, I., & Majumdar, D. (2015). Testing the furniture dimension match levels with anthropometry among working women. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 6(2), 122–124. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijoem.2015.526 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study