Ergonomics
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Designing Work Systems to Support Optimal Human Performance.
Introduction
Ergonomics is the study of people at work and the practice of matching the features of products and jobs to human capabilities, preference, and the limitations of those who are to perform a job. It is an interdisciplinary approach to designing equipment and systems that can be easily and efficiently used by human beings.
Ergonomics focuses on ensuring that jobs are designed for safe and efficient work while improving the safety, comfort, and performance of users. Additionally, ergonomics attempts to minimize the harmful effects of carelessness, negligence, and other human fallibilities that otherwise may cause product defects, damage to equipment, or even the injury or death of employees. Alan Hedge, professor of ergonomics at Cornell University, notes, “The goal of sound ergonomics is to boost employee performance while reducing injuries and errors.”
Table 1.1 | The Origin of Ergonomics |
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Sometimes, a bit of history goes a long way to explain why certain things in a discipline are considered important. For a workplace designing engineer, it may be good to know that the starting point was before any real thought was put into methodically improving the human aspects of production work. It will also help you understand why ergonomics covers so many areas and is such a diverse and complex discipline. |
What is Ergonomics/Human Factors?
For many people, the word ergonomic is associated primarily with comfy office chairs, the correct height of computer screens, computer mice and consumer products that have been (sometimes randomly) labeled “ergonomic”, like kitchenware, backpacks or gardening tools. The word itself comes from the Greek roots ergon (work) and nomos (laws) and roughly translates to “the science of work,” focusing on human activity.
Ergonomics: from the Greek words Εργον [ergon = work], and Νὀμoς [nomos = natural laws]; literally means “the science of work”
But ergonomics (or human factors, an equivalent term used more commonly in North America) in general is a very wide term. Ergonomics can signify anything from the physical activities and demands of the job, to how the human mind understands instructions and interfaces, to how work organization, teamwork and motivation influences human well-being and efficiency. Furthermore, it may include aspects of aging, working in extreme environments (such as fire fighting, working in freezer rooms or mines), working with protective gear (such as protection gloves, heavy jackets, helmets, etc.). In short, almost any aspect of work involving human activity can be approached from an HFE (Human Factors and Ergonomics) perspective.
Simply visiting the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (2015) websiteOpens in new window reveals that they are organized into as many as 23 different “technical groups” which specialize in applying ergonomics knowledge and practice to the areas in Table 1.2.
Table 1.2 | The 23 technical groups of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society as of 2015. |
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Definition of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA (2000):
“Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”
This definition remains the official one for ergonomics and human factors, but the IEA recognizes the physical, cognitive and organizational branches as the three main “domains of specialization”.
Modern developments, primarily from the 1990s and onwards, have seen an increase in ergonomics stimulation, i.e., the introduction of ergonomics analysis tools into 3-D computer design environments. Specific software has been developed to enable the stimulation of work positions and work-related actions in a 3D CAD environment, using a human form called a manikin. Manikins of both genders can be scaled to different sizes in order to investigate whether the extremes of the human population will be able to work in a proposed environment without exposing themselves to physical risk for injury. This type of software is predominantly found in technologically mature, economically profitable industrial sectors producing large, complex products, notably the automobile industry.
Another recent development which has gained popularity over the past decade is an increased emphasis on the effects of aging; demographic developments in the Western world suggest that it will be necessary to keep production employees in the workforce for a longer working life, since an outflux of retirees would cause industries a lot of brain-drain, or loss of know-how and competence. This will pose challenges in terms of designing and adapting the workplace to the changed prerequisites and demands of the human body as it ages, while at the same time supporting the worker in performing their job without loss of precision, productivity or efficiency. At the same time, workplaces must be designed to attract and support a new generation of workers, who will most likely be required to perform increasingly complex jobs from the beginning of their working lives. Today, this combination of challenges has notably gained attention from governments and the academic world since the 2010s, resulting in an increased focus on placing social sustainability alongside economic and environmental sustainability.
The Purpose of Production Ergonomics
It can be assumed that anyone in charge of a production system would want all of its sub-components to function together with as much ease and efficiency as possible. When part of that production system is human, the performance of the system as a whole may vary depending on the daily form of the human workers. Although humans have great potential to bring flexibility, innovation and problem-solving skills to the production system, they are at risk for developing work-related musculo-skeletal disordersOpens in new window (alternately abbreviated MSDs or WMSDs) as a result of physical work that overloads the human body.
Symptoms of such risk include discomfort, pain and recurring injuries, and the consequences of unhealthy loading include suffering, inability to work and high costs for the company (in terms of compensation, productivity, losses and replacement of personnel). Also, human mental capacities are dependent on sufficient support, stimulation and opportunities for rest. Without these health factors, confusion, irritation, misinterpreatkon and serious errors can occur, potentially causing material or personal harm.
Finally, the interactions between human workers can at best be a source of support, stimulation and a feeling of identity, but if they are dysfunctional they can also cause demotivation, dissatisfaction and lack of engagement. In other words, the purpose of production ergonomics is to design a workplace that is proactively built to remove the risks of injury, pain, discomfort, demotivation and confusion.
How a company chooses to handle production ergonomics may vary with their size, organizational form, previous history of involving ergonomics expertise, project experiences, access to standards, previous knowledge of methods and tools, and expectations of different stakeholders in the company on the person put in charge of ergonomics.
A proactive approach towards production ergonomics is characterized by getting ergonomics knowledge into the early planning stages, seeing ergonomics as a source of long-term cost savings and a high regard for keeping the workforce healthy. A reactive approach, on the other hand, usually leaves ergonomics issues and risks unaddressed until problems start cropping up, such as worker pain, injuries and sick leave. Quite frequently, companies with a reactive ergonomics approach will try to solve problems with a healthcare service angle, which only serves to take care of the symptoms and not the root cause of the problem, which then remains as a risk to other workers.