Ergo Forum
Ergonomics:
Whose Job is it Any Way?
Cindy Burt, OTR, CEA
I HAVE A HISTORY OF ENTERING PROFESSIONS
through the backdoor. So, while working
as an OT at UCLA and treating employees
with reoccurring musculoskeletal disorders, the transition to ergonomics felt
seamless. It was more satisfying to eliminate the root cause of injuries than to
treat victims of poor workplace and/or
job design.
Once in the profession, I found myself
involved in the controversy concerning
who is qualified to call oneself an ergonomist. Members of many professions,
including physical and occupational therapy, are increasingly involved with the
world of ergonomics.
Some of these newcomers are trained
for the job, and some are not. We’ve all
probably run into someone who considers
him/herself an “expert” in ergonomics
after reading an article or attending a
weekend course. No wonder the public is
confused about ergonomics. There is a
huge range of good, bad, and “voodoo”
ergonomics out there.
| ErgoSolutions Magazine June 2003
So, are occupational therapists qualified to work in ergonomics? If not, how
30
can a therapist make a successful transition to ergonomics?
Occupational therapy was founded on
the premise that “occupying” one’s time
with meaningful and purposeful activity
can affect mental, emotional, and physical health. Occupations such as gardening and shop work were used in hospitals during patient treatment with the
idea of transitioning skills to employment after discharge. Occupational therapists later expanded their practice to
include activities of daily living as well
as work.
Evolving within a medical model, occupational therapists treat the disabilities
that result from injuries and illnesses.
Therapists believe that occupation promotes health and remedies dysfunction.
Perhaps it’s an ideal blend? Well versed
in anatomy, physiology, human development and psychology, therapists use task
analysis to evaluate performance limitations, competencies, and work demands
to establish intervention programs. The
focus is on adapting the person or modifying the tools or the environment to
maximize function and promote independence.
Occupational therapists are specialists
in determining how injury and disability
affect work performance. This information
is used to develop guidelines to fit the
injured worker to a specific job by adapting a specific task or tool. The worker is
the primary focus of this approach.
Human factors/ergonomics focuses on
guiding technology to improve performance for all populations, not just for the
injured or disabled. Information on
human behavior, abilities, and limitations
is applied to the design of tools,
machines, systems, tasks, jobs and environments to promote safe and productive
human use.
Thus, the ergonomists’ focus is on
changing the things people use and the
environment in which they use them to
better match the capabilities, limitations
and needs of people in general. The
“As a growing science and discipline, ergonomics is
attracting people from many fields including medicine, engineering and psychology. Each discipline
brings special attributes, and yes, limitations.”
“I consider myself an occupational therapist who
works in the field of ergonomics, rather than an
ergonomist. Perhaps a new term can be coined for
medical practitioners like me who perform ergonomics services, such as ‘ergotherapist.’”
ergonomist looks at the “bigger picture”
and develops design changes to fit identified populations. The human is viewed as
one component of a larger humanmachine system designed to affect some
desired output within a physical environment.
Ergonomists are trained in information
systems and processing, anthropometry
and environmental conditions, and have
backgrounds in engineering and workflow
design. Occupational therapists do not
have this knowledge and must obtain it
through professional programs or continuing education.
However, occupational therapists do
have specialized training in anatomy, disease and disability that ergonomists do
not usually possess. Exposure to psychology, human development, and task analysis provides the occupational therapist
with a detailed understanding of “activity”
and the whole nature of work throughout
the lifespan. This makes the OT a valuable addition to the ergonomics family,
especially when working with individuals
with injuries and disabilities.
Even though occupational therapists
play a role in the “ergonomics family”,
they do not have sufficient skill sets to be
considered ergonomists unless they
obtain specific ergonomics training and
experience. This is also true of other
members of the medical community,
including physicians, physical therapists,
and chiropractors.
I consider myself an occupational therapist who works in the field of ergonomics, rather than an ergonomist. Perhaps a
new term can be coined for medical practitioners like me who perform ergonomic
services, such as “ergo-therapist”.
As a growing science and discipline,
ergonomics is attracting people from
many fields including medicine, engineering and psychology. Each discipline brings
special attributes, and yes, limitations. As
long as each member is aware of what
he or she brings to the table, the human
factors/ergonomics profession and society both benefit.
Cindy Burt is the Ergonomics Program Manager at
UCLA. Contact Cindy at 310.794.5590 and
through cburt@ucla.edu. Visit the UCLA web site
at www.ergonomics.ucla.edu.
Feedback, Comments?
E-mail them to ergoforum@ergosolutionsmag.com.
Join ErgoForum
ErgoSolutions Magazine is seeking ergonomics
industry experts to join ErgoForum, share expertise and discuss ergonomic issues. Request more
information by emailing: ergoforum@ergosolutionsmag.com.