ERGONOMICS
ERGON --> WORK
NOMOS --> LAW
The Laws to be Observed at Work
Human Factor Engineering
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
Acoustics
Engineering control
(Chemical & Physical)
Building orientation
Maintenance
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ERGONOMICS
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ANATOMY
ENVRONMENTAL
MEDICINE
SYSTEMS DESIGN
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
OPERATIONS
RESEARCH
ENGINEERING
WORK
ORGANIZATION
ERGONOMICS
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:
 “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
 Thermal comfort
 Noise and vibration control
 Adequate and proper lighting
 Chemical environment
 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)
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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
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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
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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
Productivity
Product quality
Safety
Health
Reliability
Job satisfaction
Personal development
The Questions Employers Need
Answers For:
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Developing new products
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
Traditional
 Relatively simple
 Made by the user
 Small number made
 Design error - small
consequences
 Product competitiveness unimportant
 Restricted user- population characteristics
Present Day
Increasingly complex
Made by a manufacturer
Large number made
Design error - profound
consequences
Marketing competitiveness
vital
Wide variation in user
population
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
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
Present trend of occupational
diseases and complaints
Factors
% of diseases and complaints
 Ergonomics
52.9
 Chemicals
22.1
 Noise
12.1
 Biological
3.2
 Other causes
9.5
WHY?
More sedentary work
Fewer distinct work types
Less muscle usage
More static than dynamic work
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
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)
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
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
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)
Lighting
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Increased use of daylight
Light up the work area evenly
Sufficient lighting for working
Local lighting for precision work
Removing shiny surfaces
Avoid glare
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
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)
Welfare facilities
• Provide effective and acceptable
personal protective devices
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)