Ergonomics for Business

Jayadeva de Silva Introduction to Ergonomics Usually it includes characteristics, customs, habits and limitations It is always possible to design the task, the environment and the tools to be compatible with physical characteristics Mismatch could result in disastrous consequences Objectives of this session are.. a) To introduce the subject. b) To start thinking about ergonomics. c) To start thinking about the coursework. d) To do some simple ergonomics. e) To introduce the ergonomics approach its breadth of coverage f) To understand the guiding principles and theory of ergonomics. g) To present the systems nature of ergonomics and the centrality of human beings. We shall discuss the following: a) Human factors, b) Ergonomics vs. Human factor, c) History, d) Functional Perspective, e) Task analysis. f) Sequence of use. g) Frequency of use, h) User centered focus

What is Ergonomics? Ergonomics ( For an Example Human Factors in the United States) has many definitions -Aims to study the fit between people and the things they do in order to improve performance, well-being, safety and health. - Prevents bad things (errors, stress etc.), -Creates good things (performance, satisfaction) -Typically applied at work, but can be applied for leisure, home or in public areas (e.g. sport). -Can be applied to many aspects of our lives Scope of Ergonomics The scope of ergonomics is immense. -Consider all the tasks people perform from the mundane to the critical - Opening a jam jar, internet banking, using a mobile phone, surgery, flying a plane, office work, manual work, skilled work. -Consider where these tasks take place - At home, in the library, on a train, at work in nuclear power stations, tanks or hospitals. -Where its hot, cold or noisy, during the day or night. Alone or in teams. -The tasks and environments are endless. More on Ergonomics The only scientific subject that focuses on the interaction between people and the things they do. Takes a human or user-centred approach Involves the application of scientific principles, methods and data drawn from a variety of disciplines. It considers physical, psychological, organisational and environmental factors knowledge base. Applied to practical problems ideally in the early stages of task design to prevent problems Also employed to analyse tasks after problems have been identified.

Who employs agronomists? Transport , Rail, aerospace. Government & agencies - Defence industry, HSE Nuclear Large companies consumer products (Nokia, Phillips, BT) and worker health (BP, Shell) Universities & research centres Consultancies supporting all the above Usually degree in Psychology or Ergonomics Ergonomics Knowledge Base To evaluate interactions between tasks and people we must understand: The human - the anatomical, physiological and psychological characteristics of people the ergonomics knowledge base. Psychology is fundamental part of this knowledge psychology major factor in physical issues (i.e. pain) The task ergonomics methods such as task analysis. History History Social Issues Knowledge of the history helps us understand the scope and aims. 1920s experiments into human behaviour at the Hawthorne Works in the USA. Hawthorne Effect - often used as evidence for the importance of social factors, rather than physical factors in worker performance. Worker performance improved when lighting levels were changed, for better or worse. Conclusion being that attention from the researchers had motivated the workers to work harder, demonstrating psychosocial issues at work. History WWII Interest in the worker accelerated by outbreak of WWII
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Rapid development of new technologies. Training could not always fit the man to the job therefore fit the job to the man. Pressure of war brought psychologists into contact with humanmachine interaction problems. Sir Frederick Bartlett investigated the effects of stress and fatigue on pilots using a flight simulator. This increased the knowledge of individual differences and informed the psychology of human performance.

History Mistakes Mistakes during war and there was a need to resolve them. Radar operators were put on 8 hour shifts until it was found that they were missing contacts. We now know that vigilance declines quickly and tasks need to be designed with this in mind. Mistakes shifted the attention from the machine to the human and after the war Human Factors and Ergonomics groups were formed. Mistakes during war and there was a need to resolve them. Radar operators were put on 8 hour shifts until it was found that they were missing contacts. We now know that vigilance declines quickly and tasks need to be designed with this in mind. Mistakes shifted the attention from the machine to the human and after the war Human Factors and Ergonomics groups were formed. History Technology Technology allowed physical parameters of systems to increase E.g. bigger faster planes, nuclear reactors more complex systems that had to be operated by humans. Ergonomics input vital as errors more critical Ergonomics has a role in preventing disasters - research into such areas as human error. 90s saw web usability and legislation regarding Display Screen Equipment bringing ergonomics principles further into the workplace.
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Hedonomics Recently further goal identified Hedonomics achieving pleasurable use, requires a different perspective Not how to evaluate the user, but how the user evaluates a product. Incorporating user-satisfaction into look and feel of mobile phones Yun et al (2003) Experimental methods to look at effect of shape, colour, size, materials on satisfaction. Paradigms Ergonomics can be applied to all tasks and the environments, organisations they take place in. Some situations more important that others? - Cockpit design of an airliner is of considerable importance. Opening a jam jar is not critical, but can be a practical everyday difficulty to certain populations Well-designed video recorder is less frustrating, but has little, if any, impact on well-being, safety or health Examples reveal paradigms in ergonomics - Designing for individuals versus populations and working in normal versus critical circumstances. DebatesAim to improve health and well-being, but: Does fitting the task to the human mean catering for obesity as the population becomes bigger? Does ergonomics increase efficiency, reduce energy expenditure and contribute to obesity? Hedonomics can ergonomics really aim to go beyond well-being and meet social needs and achieve self-actualisation in the workplace? Principles User Centered Focus Did the design affect performance? Would it lead to fatigue, stress? People are adaptable, but have their limits
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- Driving Mobile Phones Layout Design Used in interface design in order to match machine (controls & displays) to people. Interface should mirror users conceptual model of the task and task characteristics. Based on 4 grouping principles. Importance principle Important controls should be placed in convenient locations. 'Importance' is determined by how critical a piece of controls is in terms of achieving the task or goals of the system. Emergency controls should be placed in readily accessible positions, but not necessarily in the optimum workspace. Aids reach, perception and identification in a panic. Functional Perspective Functional principle Controls should be grouped according to its function. This grouping can be highlighted by the use of colour, labelling, and demarcation lines or simply by placing groups of items in rows. Matches conceptual model, aids LTM, visual search. Sequence of use principle Controls should be arranged to take advantage of any sequences or patterns of use that occur during a task. If a number of controls are normally operated in a particular sequence, then they and their corresponding displays should be arranged on the panel in that order, from left to right, or from top to bottom. Less load on memory, theres a cue.

Frequency of use principle Frequently used controls should be placed in convenient locations, close to or preferably, in front of you. Less physical movement & workload, visual search. Systems Ergonomics Peoples activities are not carried out in a vacuum Interaction between the user and their work often involves equipment or technology. This takes place in some form of workspace, which itself is located in the wider environment and work organisation. All of which affect task performance. Your Evaluation Course work -40% Examination -60% Course work o How does an understanding of cognitive human factors support development of safer, more efficient, and more rewarding workplaces? o Your answer must refer to psychological theories and findings, and illustrate these with practical examples. o These should preferably drawn from your everyday occupational experience o Your answer should be between 1800-2000 words To Do Well Unlikely to find a text book answer. Need a good understanding of theories from cognitive, social psychology. Ability to apply your knowledge to novel situations. The insight to break a task down and relate to psychological theories.
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Marks-Criteria Relevance Organization & Coherence Understanding & Accuracy Critical Evaluation References and Citations Question Describe the advantages and disadvantages of machines and humans within a work system.? Answer guide Functions best performed by Machines Are those requiring:. 1. Prolonged repetition 2. Responses at great speed 3. The application of high forces with precision 4. Simple Yes/No decisions 5. Complex application of simple functions 6. The monitoring of pre specified events 7. The storage and retrieval of coded information Functions best performed by Humans Are those that need:. 1. Complex Judgments or decision making 2. The application of improvisation and flexibility 3. The extrapolation ,Prediction and translation of variables 4. Sensing of patterns, locations in space and/or depth 5. Detection of unusual or unexpected stimuli Question Describe a task you feel that would be appropriate to use a machine and a task you think would be appropriate to use a human for, and explain why?
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