Case Study
Work design for a REFA technician

The medium-sized company manufactures tools.

The man lost his left forearm from the middle of the forearm after a private accident. Due to the severe disability, he has limited ability to handle objects (e.g., hold and grasp). In addition, his grasping range is restricted due to the missing left forearm.

The man completed further training as a REFA technician for industrial engineering and has been working for the company for many years.

The REFA technician mainly works in an office at a computer workstation. After the accident, he was only able to use the work equipment, such as the keyboard and the hole punch, very awkwardly and with great effort with one hand due to his disability. Even when using the telephone, it was not possible for him to make handwritten notes and entries in the software used at the same time, as he had to hold the telephone. In order to make the workplace suitable for disabled people to carry out their work with only one hand, the following work equipment was provided:

• an electric hole punch and stapler,
• a head set for telephoning and video conferencing, and
• a small field or one-hand keyboard for the computer.

After visiting the toilet, the employee has problems washing and drying his hand. An electric hand dryer and soap dispenser were installed in the restroom in addition to the existing one-handed faucet. The hand dryer and soap dispenser can be activated and used by the employee with one hand via the respective infrared sensor after using the toilet.

The design suitable for disabled people was supported by the Integration and Inclusion Office. Advice was provided by the Technical Advisory Service of the Integration and Inclusion Office.