ERGONOMICS

ERGON --> WORK

NOMOS --> LAW
The Laws to be Observed at Work

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 DEFINITIONS OF ERGONOMICS

 Ergonomics is a means of improving working

conditions and reducing illness at work
 Ergonomics attempts to ‘Fit the Job to the Man’
rather than ‘Fit the Man to the Job’
 Ergonomics is concerned with the design of
systems in which people carry out work
 Ergonomics optimizes Efficiency, Health, Safety
and Comfort of people through better designs of
products and work places

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 DEFINITIONS OF ERGONOMICS

 Ergonomics is the application of scientific

principles, methods, and data drawn from a variety
of disciplines to the development of engineering
systems in which people play a significant role.
 The engineering systems to be developed range
from the use of a simple tool by a consumer to a
multiperson sociotechnical system.
 Ergonomics (also called Human Factors or Human
Engineering in the U.S.) can be defined as the
discipline to “study human characteristics for the
appropriate design of the living and work
environment.” - Kroemer et. al., 199 3
 DEFINITIONS OF ERGONOMICS

 Among the basic disciplines are

 Psychology
 Cognitive science
 Physiology
 Biomechanics
 Applied physical anthropometry
 Industrial systems engineering

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS

 Evolution of disciplines
 Directions in Europe
 Directions in North America
 Names for the discipline: “Ergonomics” and
“Human Factors”

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS

 Evolution of disciplines
• Artists, military officers, employers, and sports
enthusiasts were always interested in body build
and physical performance.
• About 400 B.C., Hippocrates described a scheme
of four body types.
• 15th to 17th centuries, Leonardo da Vinci and
Alfonso Giovanni Borrelli master the knowledge
of anatomy, physiology and equipment design;
they were artist, scientist and engineer in one.
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS

 Directions in Europe
• Applied or work physiology assumed great
importance in Europe, particularly during the
hunger years associated with the First World
War.
• In 1920s “psychotechnology” developed, which
involved testing persons for their ability to
perform physical and mental work and related
topics.

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS

 Directions in North America

• Development of “intelligence testing” used to
screen military recruits during the First World
War, and later to screen industrial workers for
assigning them to jobs appropriate to their
mental capabilities.
• Best known findings in industrial psychology are
those yielded by the experiments at the
Hawthorne Works near Chicago in the mid-
1920s. This became known as the Hawthorne
Effect 8
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS
 Names for the discipline: “Ergonomics” and
“Human Factors”
• 13th -14th January 1950, British researchers met in
Cambridge, England to discuss name of a new society to
represent their activities. The term “ergonomics” was
proposed. It was accepted on 16th February 1950.
• This word was coined in 1949 by K.F.H.Murell.
• In Greek, ergon means work and effort, and nomos
means law or surroundings.
• In the U.S., a group of persons convened in 1956 to
establish a formal society. The name Ergonomics was
rejected, and instead Human Factors was selected. The
word Engineering is added to indicate applications.
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS
 Names for the discipline: “Ergonomics” and
“Human Factors”
• In 1992, the Human Factors Society decided to rename
itself as Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
• In Malaysia, the ergonomics society is called the Human
Factors and Ergonomics Society Malaysia (HFEM).
• We also have the South East Asian Network of
Ergonomics Societies (SEANES).
• The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Malaysia
(HFEM) (2010) was established on 8 March 2011.
• It acquired a unique identifier '2010' in its name due to
the fact that the society was only formed after its second
attempt in 2010.
• The first attempt was made in 2007 10
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS
 Names for the discipline: “Ergonomics” and
“Human Factors”
• HFEM is an interdisciplinary non-profit organization
comprising of professionals from the human factors,
ergonomics and human-computer interaction
(HCI) fields.
• The Society promotes the sharing and application of
knowledge concerning the characteristics of humans that
are applicable to the design of products, systems and
services.
• The Society encourages the education and training
of members entering the human factors and HCI
profession.
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WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

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WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

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 WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

Ergonomics is:
 “Higher productivity and a better place to work”
 “The science that saves both lives and dollars”
 “Human engineering where the goal is to optimize
worker well being and productivity”
 “A way of thinking about and planning work so that
it suits the capabilities and needs of the people”

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 WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
Ergonomics is a solution finding method for
questions like these:
How can human body dimensions be applied to car seat
design?
What is the proper height for kitchen counters?
How can traffic lights be programmed for optimal urban
traffic flow throughout the day?
How can stereo receiver displays and controls be coded to
effectively define their respective functions?
How can the material and design of swim suits for
competition be improved for minimal water resistance?
How should computer software and screens work and look
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best to fit human cognitive capabilities?
 WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
 Ergonomics means literally the study or
measurement of Work
 In addition to work as labour for monetary gain,
work also includes
Sports
Leisure activities
Domestic work
Education and training
Health and social services

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 ERGONOMICS and DISCIPLINES
• Ergonomics is a Multi-Disciplinary Science
• Ergonomics is also an Inter-Disciplinary Science

 Disciplines In Ergonomics

PSYCHOLOGY PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE -ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK -WORK
-SOCIAL ERGONOMICS

ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS

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 DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS

ECONOMICS LAW MANAGEMENT

PSYCHOLOGY PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE -ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK -WORK
-SOCIAL ERGONOMICS
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ANATOMY OPERATIONS
-ANTHROPOMETRY
RESEARCH
ENVRONMENTAL
-BIOMECHANICS
MEDICINE ENGINEERING

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 DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS

ECONOMICS LAW MANAGEMENT

ARTIFICIAL
INTELIGENCE MANUFACTURING

PSYCHOLOGY PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE -ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK -WORK
-SOCIAL ERGONOMICS
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ANATOMY OPERATIONS
-ANTHROPOMETRY
RESEARCH
ENVRONMENTAL
-BIOMECHANICS
MEDICINE ENGINEERING

WORK
SYSTEMS DESIGN ORGANIZATION

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PROFESSIONS HAVING COMPLEMENTARY ROLES
WITH ERGONOMICS

Safety Civil
Occupational Officer Engineer
Health Officer

Mechanical
Industrial Engineer
Nurse ERGONOMICS

Architect
Physiotherapist

Industrial
Ind. Medical Social
Designer
Officer Psychologist
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 GOALS OF ERGONOMICS

• Explore human interaction with work task and

technology so that we can:

– Amplify human capabilities

– Utilize human abilities

– Facilitate human efficiency

– Avoid overloading or underloading

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 GOALS OF ERGONOMICS
• This understanding will benefit a variety of specialists
and generalists who are concerned with people’s
performance and well-being at work. These include:
– Designer
– Engineer
– Architect
– Ergonomist, human factors specialist
– Industrial hygienist
– Industrial physician
– Occupational nurse
– Manager, whether supervising others or “just oneself”
– Student in any of these areas
– Everybody interested in “humanizing work” i.e. make work safe,
efficient and satisfying.
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 AIMS OF ERGONOMICS

Ensures that human needs for safe and efficient

working are met in the design of work system
To design
Appliances
Technical Systems
Tasks
In such a way to improve
Human Safety
Health
Comfort and
Performance
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BASIC AIMS OF ERGONOMICS

Efficiency in purposeful activity

To achieve desired result without
Waste
Error
Damage to persons
Working situation in harmony with
the activities of the worker
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 Fundamental aim of Ergonomics
• That all man-made tools, devices, equipment,
machines, and environment should advance,
directly or indirectly, the safety , well-being, and
performance of humans.

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DIFFICULTIES IN ACHIEVING THE
AIMS OF ERGONOMICS

Human operator is flexible and adaptable

Large individual differences
Obvious differences: --> Physical size,
strength
Not obvious differences --> Culture, style,
level of skill
Thus a systematic approach and theory are
necessary. There should be measurable
objectives to be checked and remedial
action taken. A detailed study of the science
of ergonomics provides these approaches
and theories. 26
 TWO DISTINCTS ASPECTS OF
ERGONOMICS
• Study, research and experimentation, in which we
determine specific human traits and characteristics
that we need to know for engineering design.
• Application and engineering, in which we design
tools, machines, shelter, environment, work tasks,
and job procedures to fit and accommodate the
human.
• ….including. The observation of actual
performance of human and equipment in the
environment to assess the suitability of the
designed human-machine system and to
determine possible improvements. 27
 BENEFITS OF ERGONOMICS

Improved productivity
Improved product quality
Raised safety level
Health
Reliability
Job satisfaction
Personal development
Increased efficiency
Acceptance of resultant system 28

design
 HUMAN FACTOR ENGINEERING

Human Factors Engineering

Physical and mental work capacity Industrial design

Fatigue Work place design
Body forces, strength and posture Product design
Body sizes Furniture design
Thermal comfort/ heat stress/cold stress Machine design
Vision Ventilation
Hearing Lighting
Perception Acoustics
Information processing Engineering control
Decision making (Chemical & Physical)
Performance and efficiency Building orientation
Adaptation and rehabilitation Maintenance
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Behavior & social relations
 ERGONOMICS CONSIDERS
HUMAN OPERATORS VARIABILITY

An automobile design has to consider

– Range of physical size and strengths of
users
– Seats are comfortable
– Controls readily identifiable and within
easy reach
– Clear visibility front and rear
– Easily read internal instruments
– Ease of entry and egress
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WHO IS A HUMAN OPERATOR?

Skilled professional using a complex

machine in an artificial environment
Customer who has purchased a new
equipment
Child sitting in a classroom
Disabled person in a wheel chair

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ERGONOMIC NEEDS IN A WORKPLACE
 Physical work environment
 Thermal comfort
 Noise and vibration control
 Adequate and proper lighting
 Chemical environment
 Control of pollution
 General and exhaust ventilation
 Work physiology
 Control excessive physical load
 Avoid physical and muscular fatigue
 Adequate rest pauses
 Arrangement of static and dynamic work
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ERGONOMIC NEEDS IN A WORKPLACE
(CONTD.)
 Anthropometry (Body sizes)
 Designs to fit body sizes of users
 Appropriate working levels
 Adequate work space
 Avoid overcrowding of machines and workers
 Occupational Biomechanics
 Appropriate work postures (sitting, standing)
 Safe load lifting and carrying techniques
 Adopt proper techniques in manual materials handling

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ERGONOMIC NEEDS IN A WORKPLACE
(CONTD.)

 Psychological aspects
 Avoid perceptual and mental loads and fatigue
 Appropriate design of displays and control
 Appropriate conditions for Vigilance tasks
 Avoid human error and stress
 Job motivation and satisfaction
 Social psychology
 Practice good relationship among employees and
between employer and employee

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 ERGONOMIC NEEDS IN A WORKPLACE
(CONTD,)

 Macro ergonomics
 Suitable working hours , intervals, holidays, leave
 Appropriate shift schedules
 Welfare facilities
 Job rotation and incentives schemes
 Fair salary structure, Good administrative structure
 Good work organization schemes
 Fringe benefits (housing, transport, sports)
 Labour union facilities
 Training and education
 Promotional prospects
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ERGONOMIC NEEDS IN A WORKPLACE
(CONTD.)
 Safety and Ergonomics
 Good housekeeping
 Performance feedback
 Systems ergonomics
 Systems groups in problem solving and development
work
 Participative ergonomics
 User centered designs

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 TRADITIONAL AND PRESENT DAY
TOOLS AND MACHINES

Traditional Present Day

 Relatively simple Increasingly complex
 Made by the user Made by a manufacturer
 Small number made Large number made
 Design error - small Design error - profound
consequences consequences
 Product competitive- Marketing competitiveness
ness unimportant vital
 Restricted user- popu- Wide variation in user
lation characteristics population

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 HOW CAN ERGONOMICS CONTRIBUTE TO
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN
INDUSTRIALLY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

 By adaptation of technology of the west

 By improving working conditions through ergonomics
interventions
 By developing traditional methods
 In acquiring modern technology
 In modifying techniques

Need Training and Education in Ergonomics

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 Ergonomic contributions to development
in industrially developing countries

 Research on basic data needs

 Promote special abilities
 Refine simple methods
 More appropriate “experts”
 Action learning (Learning by doing, not
imitating)
 Better supported education and research
 Re-conceptualize standard setting
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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Materials storage and handling

 Clear and mark transport routes
 Provide ramps of 5-8% inclination instead of
small stairs
 Use mechanical devices for lifting, lowering and
moving heavy material
 Instead of carrying heavy weights divide them
into smaller lightweights e.g. 2x10 kg instead of
20 kg.
 Combine heavy lifting with physically lighter
tasks
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Materials storage and handling

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Hand Tools
Use hanging tools for operations repeated in the
same place
Provide hand support when using precision tools
Provide hand tools with a grip of the proper
thickness (hand diameter 30-40 mm, handle
length 125 mm and size to fit male hands)
Provide a home for each tool (Enables good
housekeeping)

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Production machine safety

Locate controls in sequence of operations

Make displays and signals easy to
distinguish and easy to read
Use properly fixed guards and interlock
devices

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Improving workstation design

Adjust the working height around elbow
level
Light work: at elbow level
Precision work: above elbow level
Hard work: below elbow level

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Lighting

• Increased use of daylight

• Light up the work area evenly
• Sufficient lighting for working
• Local lighting for precision work
• Removing shiny surfaces
• Avoid glare

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Premises

Prevent the exposure to excessive heat

Install effective local exhaust systems
Increase the use of natural ventilation

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Welfare facilities
• Provide effective and acceptable personal
protective devices

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 Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)

Work Organization

• Involve worker in planning

• Inform the worker the results of their work
• Job enrichment (combine tasks)

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 THE ERGONOMIC KNOWLEDGE BASE

• Ergonomics today is growing and

changing.
• Development stems from increasing and
improving knowledge about the human,
and is driven by new applications and new
technological developments.

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Origins, developments and applications
of Ergonomics or Human Factors

Origins Developments Applications

• Anatomy • Anthropometry • Industrial
engineering
• Orthopedics • Biomechanics
• Bio-engineering
• Physiology • Work • Systems
• Medicine physiology engineering
• Psychology • Industrial • Safety engineering
• Sociology hygiene • Military
engineering
• Management
• Computer-aided
• Labor relations design
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 Classic (basic) sciences that provide
fundamental knowledge about humans
• Anatomy describes the build of the human body.
• Orthopaedics is concerned with the skeletal system.
• Physiology deals with the functions and activities of
the living body, including the physical and chemical
processes involved.
• Medicine is concerned with illnesses and their
prevention and healing.
• Psychology is the science of mind and behavior.
• Sociology is concerned with the development ,
structure, interaction, and behavior of individuals or
groups. 51
 Applied disciplines that developed
into the core of ergonomics
• Anthropometry – measure and describe physical
dimensions of human body.
• Biomechanics – describe physical behavior of body in
mechanical terms.
• Industrial hygiene – concerned with control of
occupational health hazards that arise as a result of
doing work.
• Industrial psychology – discussed people’s attitude and
behavior at work.
• Management – deal with and coordinate the intentions
of the employer and employees.
• Work physiology – apply physiological knowledge and
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measuring techniques to the body at work.
 Application areas using ergonomics as components
of their knowledge base or of their work procedures.

• Industrial engineering – concerned with interactions

among people, machinery, and energies.
• Bio-engineering – work to replace worn or damaged
body parts.
• Systems engineering – the human is an important
component of the overall work unit.
• Safety engineering and industrial hygiene – focus on
the well-being of the human.
• Military engineering – rely on the human as soldier or
operator.
• Computer-aided design – information about human
must be provided in computerized form. 53