INTRODUCTION ERGONOMICS
Influence of ergonomics in our lives
Influence of ergonomics in our lives
Influence of ergonomics in our lives
European project called SAVE. Imagine that you drive a car that
can take over control in case of an emergency (e.g. a cardiac
arrest). To be sure, the system asks whether it should take over
control
It is supposed that you have severe problems to drive. If
you do not want an activation of the autopilot, press the
Confirm-button.
Human Factor/Ergonomics Engineering
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
ERGON --> WORK
NOMOS --> LAW
The Laws to be Observed at Work
Human Factors
Engineering
Physical and mental work capacity
Fatigue
Body forces, strength and posture
Body sizes
Thermal comfort/ heat stress/cold stress
Vision
Hearing
Perception
Industrial design
Work place design
Product design
Furniture design
Machine design
Ventilation
Lighting
Information processing
Decision making
Performance and efficiency
Adaptation and rehabilitation
Behavior & social relations
Linguistics
Acoustics
Engineering control
(Chemical & Physical)
Building orientation
Maintenance
Layout
Ergonomics
 Ergonomics means literally the study or
measurement of Work
 The term work is now broadly defined as other
activities as well:
Sports
é Leisure activities
é Domestic work
é Education and training
é Health and social services
é Publics services
é Online activities
é
Ergonomics considers
human operators variability
4 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
AIMS OF ERGONOMICS
Ensures that human needs for safe and efficient
working are met in the design of work system
è To design
è
Appliances
è Technical Systems
è Tasks
In such a way to improve
è
è Human Safety
è Health
è Comfort and
è Performance- efficiency-productivity-reducing error
è
Profitability
Difficulties in achieving the aims of
ergonomics
è Human operator is flexible and adaptable
è Large individual differences
è Obvious differences: --> Physical size, strength
è Not obvious
skill
differences --> Culture, style, level of
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
DEFINITIONS OF ERGONOMICS
Ergonomics is a means of improving working
conditions and reducing illness at work
ä Ergonomics attempts to ‘Fit the Job to the Man’
rather than ‘Fit the Man to the Job’
ä Ergonomics is concerned with the design of
systems in which people carry out work
ä Ergonomics optimizes Efficiency, Health, Safety and
Comfort of people through better designs of
products and work places
ä
Who is a human operator?
è Skilled professional using a complex
machine in an artificial environment
è Customer who has purchased a new
equipment
è Child sitting in a classroom
è Disabled person in a wheel chair
ERGONOMICS and DISCIPLINES

Ergonomics is a Multi-Disciplinary Science

Ergonomics is also an Inter-Disciplinary Science
ERGONOMICS
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
PSYCHOLOGY
PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ERGONOMICS
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
ECONOMICS
LAW
MANAGEMENT
PSYCHOLOGY
PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ERGONOMICS
-WORK
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ANATOMY
ENVRONMENTAL
MEDICINE
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
OPERATIONS
RESEARCH
ENGINEERING
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
ECONOMICS
LAW
ARTIFICIAL
INTELIGENCE
MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURING
PSYCHOLOGY
PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ERGONOMICS
-WORK
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ANATOMY
ENVRONMENTAL
MEDICINE
SYSTEMS DESIGN
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
OPERATIONS
RESEARCH
ENGINEERING
WORK
ORGANIZATION
PROFESSIONS HAVING
COMPLEMENTARY ROLES WITH
ERGONOMICS
Occupational
Safety
Civil
Officer
Engineer
Health Officer
Mechanical
Engineer
Industrial
ERGONOMICS
Nurse
Architect
Physiotherapist
Industrial
Ind. Medical
Officer
Social
Psychologist
Designer
ERGO-SYSTEMS

Simple ergo-systems
e
e
H

H M
Complex ergo-systems
e MM
e M H
MHM
H H H
WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
Ergonomics is:
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“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”
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 best to
fit human cognitive capabilities?
Ergonomic needs in a workplace

Physical work environment

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Chemical environment
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Thermal comfort
Noise and vibration control
Adequate and proper lighting
Control of pollution
General and exhaust ventilation
Work physiology

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Control excessive physical load
Avoid physical and muscular fatigue
Adequate rest pauses
Arrangement of static and dynamic work
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

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
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

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

Benefits of ergonomics
è Productivity
è Product quality
è Safety
è Health
è Reliability
è Job satisfaction
è Personal development
The Questions Employers Need Answers For:
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Developing new products
Developing new processes
Identifying automated systems
Increasing production capacity
Identifying equipment and labor needs
Identifying costs of manufacturing products
Determining work hours and shift schedules
Defining job productivity and quality standards
Setting compensation levels
Identifying skills for tasks
Structuring tasks into jobs
Increasing the available workforce by reducing problematic tasks
TRADITIONAL AND PRESENT DAY TOOLS
AND MACHINES
4
4
4
4
4
4
Traditional
Present Day
Relatively simple
Made by the user
Small number made
Design error - small
consequences
Product competitiveness unimportant
Restricted user- population characteristics
Increasingly complex
Made by a manufacturer
Large number made
Design error - profound
consequences
Marketing competitiveness
vital
Wide variation in user
population- global market
Present trend of occupational
diseases and complaints
Factors
% of diseases and complaints
l Ergonomics
52.9
l Chemicals
22.1
l Noise
12.1
l Biological
3.2
l Other causes
9.5
WHY?
è More sedentary work
è Fewer distinct work types
è Less muscle usage
è More static than dynamic work
History of Ergonomics and Human
Factors…..

Early history- 1900 Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
began their work in motion study and shop
management. Their work can be considered as one
of the forerunners to what was later to be called “
Human Factors”. Their work the study of skilled
performance and fatigue and the design of work
stations and the equipment for the handicapped.
Hospital surgical team
Based on their analysis resulted in the procedure
used today. For example a surgeon obtains an
instrument by calling for it and extending his hand
to a nurse who places the instrument in the proper
orientation.
 Prior to the Gilbreth’s work, surgeons pick up their
own instruments from a tray.

The Birth of a profession
1949 – Ergonomics Research Society (now simply
called ergonomics society) was formed in Britain.)
 After that the first book was published entitled “
Applied Experimental Psychology: Human factor in
Engineering Design (Chapanis, Garner and Morgan
1949)

Continue……
1957 – journal of Ergonomics appeared
 1959 – International Ergonomics Association was
formed
 1960 – 1980 – Rapid growth not just concentrate
on military industrial complex.

 Military pushes great emphasis in ergonomics
1980 – 1990 – Computers, disasters and latigation
 1990 and beyond …?

CUMULATIVE TRAUMA
DISORDERS IN INDUSTRY
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are
associated with these factors:
 work postures and movements,
 repetitiveness and pace of work,
 force of movements,
 vibration, and
 temperature.
 Certain workplace conditions, for example, the layout of the
workstation, the speed of work (especially in conveyor-driven
jobs), and the weight of the objects being handled influence
these factors.


Cumulative trauma disorders (sometimes called
repetitive motion injuries, or work-related
musculoskeletal disorders) are injuries to the
musculoskeletal system that develop gradually as a
result of repeated microtrauma due to poor design
and the excessive use of hand tools and other
equipment. Because of the slow onset and relatively
mild nature of the trauma, the condition is often
ignored until the symptoms become chronic and more
severe injury occurs.
What is cumulative trauma?
Wear and tear on joints and surrounding tissues
over time because of overuse
 Cumulative vs. Acute
 Low Back
 Cervical Spine (neck)
 Upper Extremities

 Shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers
Disorder Terminology
Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs)
 Repeated Motion Disorders (RMIs)
 Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)
 Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

 Involving muscles and connective tissue
 Connective Tissue (bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament, fascia)

Neurovascular Disorders (NVDs)
 Involving nerves and blood vessels
MSDs / NVDs Categorized by Body Part
Hand and Wrist
 Elbow and Shoulder
 Back, Neck, and Torso
 Legs

Hand and Wrist Disorders

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Tendonitis, De
Quervain’s Disease, Digital Neuritis, Ganglion Cyst,
Guyon Tunnel Syndrome, Synovitis, Trigger Finger
Elbow and Shoulder Disorders

Bursitis, Epicondylitis, Radial Tunnel Syndrome,
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Back, Neck, and Torso

Degenerative Disc Disease, Herniated Disc,
Ligament Sprain, Mechanical Back Syndrome,
Muscle Strain, Posture Strain, Tension Neck
Syndrome, Hernia
Legs

Patellar Synovitis, Phlebitis, Plantar Fascitis, Shin
Splints, Sub-Patellar Bursitis, Trochanteric Bursitis
Lab Assignment
Produce a 30 sec PSA video clip of on the influence
of ergonomics in our lives
 The video could be

 How poor ergonomic design impaired our lives
 Or how ergonomic have improved our lives
 Or how poor ergonomics could increase risks
 Or how good ergonomics could saved lives
Work in group of Five
 Your creativity should make an impact to the public
