Introduction to Ergonomics
ENM426
Mümtaz S. ERDEM 2004
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering is concerned with the design,
improvement, and installation of integrated systems of
PEOPLE, materials, information, equipment and
energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill
in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences
together with the principles and methods of
engineering analysis and design to specify, predict, and
evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary activity
that assembles information on people’s
capacities and applies that information in
designing jobs, products, workplaces, and
equipment.
Ergonomics
“Ergo” ~ Greek word meaning “work”
 “Nomos” ~ . . . “laws”
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Introduced into literature in the 1840’s by Polish
educator and scientist Jastrzebowski Wojciech.
Philosophy of Ergonomics
“Fit The Task To The Person”
Ergonomics Activities
Worker / Workplace Accommodation
 Physiological Stress Prevention
 Environmental Stress Prevention
 Equipment design
 Error Minimization
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Factors Influencing Ergonomics
Occupational Safety & Health Legislation
 Equal Employment Opportunity
 Product Liability Litigation
 Quality of Life Expectations
 Responsible & Concerned Management
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Current Emphasis in Ergonomics
Workplace Design
 Musculoskeletal Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD) Prevention
 Manual Materials Handling (MMH)
 Noise Control
 Legislation & Regulations
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Citing Ergonomics Violations
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General Duty Clause: Each employer has the
“general duty” to furnish each of his employees
employment and places of employment which
are free from recognized hazards that are likely
to cause death or serious physical harm.
Types of Ergonomics
Physical- Concerned with physical interfaces including
workplace and tool design
 Informational-Concerned with information interfaces
and transfer
 Organizational-Concerned with the design of
organizations, jobs and activities (aka as
“macroergonomics” where large organizations or
entities are concerned
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How do you apply Ergonomics?
Primarily, by changes in the design of workplace
or work area.
 Education & Training
 Proactively: Ensure that any new equipment,
tool, or products brought into the workplace are
designed with adjustability in mind.
 Same thought for product design changes,
workstation modification, and methods.
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Examples of Ergonomic Designs
Angled soldering iron
 Bent-handle pliers
 Paint brush with pistol-grip handle
 Meat-cutting knife with pistol-grip handle
 Adjustable chair
 Adjustable computer workstation
 Writing instruments
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Examples of Ergonomic Designs
Assembly line that flips automobile onto its side
 Moon-cut workstation
 Automobile control panel
 Adjustable-height conveyor belt
 Adjustable computer keyboard
 Many, many others!
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Secret of Ergonomics
“Adjustability”
Primary Techniques of Ergonomics
Methods Analysis / Design
 Workplace Design
 Equipment Design
 Tool Design
 Operator Assignments
Note: Basic understanding of industrial
engineering, biomechanics, psychology, and
physiology, underlying these techniques.

Current Focus in Occupational
Ergonomics

Musculoskeletal CTDs
- Of lower back
- Of upper extremities such as
* Neck
* Shoulders
* Arms
* Hands
Benefits of Ergonomics
Improved safety and health
 Increased productivity
 Increased operator acceptance
 Improved attitude toward change
 Lower worker’s compensation premiums

What’s Stopping Ergonomics?
Negative attitudes
 “Ownership” conflicts
 Omission from engineers’ training
 “Quick-fix” focus
 Costs too much!!!

Biggest Problem of All --- !
Designing for the
“Average Person”
--- Whoever they may be !!!
Ownership Conflicts
Safety Vs.. Human Resources
 Human Resources Vs.. Medical
 Medical Vs.. Safety
 Engineering Vs.. All of the Above

Training of Engineers
Engineers are not taught ergonomics at
universities
 Fixation is on “things,” not on people
 Often times, engineers are assigned ergonomics
responsibilities, simply because they have a
technical background

Quick-Fix Focus
Ergonomics Costs too Much!
Fixing Existing Problems
Typical Return on
Savings Associated
with Ergonomic
Improvements is $4
for every $1
Invested
Eliminating Potential Problems
Addressing Ergonomic
concerns in the design &
acquisition stage can
return as much as $10
of savings for every
$1 invested
Summary
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Ergonomics isn’t new
Fit task or work area to people
Ergonomics is accomplished by design changes
Ergonomics is stopped by several factors
Contributions come from many fields
Quantifiable benefits associated with it
Ergonomic projects pay for themselves rapidly
Questions & Comments
HUMAN FACTORS
ENG.ERGONOMY ENM426
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2 DÖNEM ÖDEVİ(%15 ve % 10)= %25
İkişer kişilik gruplar ve uygulama yeri seçimi(son tarih:5
.10.2012
Bir iş ortamı (fab. Hast. Vbg.) ergonomik etüdü.(Fiziksel
Risk Etmenleri) Aynı işyerinde kullanılan bir makinanın
gözlemlenen veya anket yoluyla işgörenden alınan bilgilerle
tespit edilen Ergonomik eksikleri ve düzeltici önlem
tasarım raporu. Tarih 25.12.2012
2002 ve üzeri yılı baz alınarak taranacak 10 ve üstü
makaleden seçilecek en iyi örneğin anlatıldığı bir uygulama.
Onay alındıktan sonra yorumlanacak… (anladığınız şekilde
yorumlanacak) Tarih 13 .11.2012
1 Ara sınav:
% 30
Laboratuar:% 5
Dönem sonu Sınavı; % 40