9/1/2020

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

WELCOME
IE-342
Human Factors Engineering
Fall (2021)

Instructor: Dr. Abdulrahman Basahel

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

GRADES
Participations&
Attendance = 5 Marks
Assignments = 10 Marks
Lab Reports = 15 Marks
Major-I Exam = 15 Marks
Major-II Exam = 15 Marks
Final Project = 10 Marks
Final Exam = 30 Marks
Total = 100 Marks

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

Chapter 1: Introduction to Human Factors

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Key Topics
 Definition of ergonomics
 Ergonomics Domains
 Types of ergonomic problems
 Ergonomics Objectives

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Introduction & Background

 The word ‘ergonomics’ is derived from the Greek words ‘ergo’
(work) and ‘nomos’ (law).

 The principles of ergonomics are not limited to

traditional occupational environment such as offices
and factories, but also covering:

 Services

 Health care and

 Recreational industries.

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 The formal definition of Ergonomics/Human Factors,

approved by the IEA (International Ergonomics Association)

“Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline

concerned with understanding of the 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”.

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Generally, there is no differences between Human Factors and

Ergonomics concepts and both are accepted terms worldwide.
- Ergonomics used more in Europe
- Human Factors used more in USA

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

Ergonomics and Safety

 One of the most important aim of Ergonomics is worker’s safety
by reducing accidents and injuries.

 The Ergonomist (or Human Factors Engineer) increases safety by

applying design principles in different ergonomics domains, such
as:
 physical ergonomics,
 cognitive ergonomics and
 organizational ergonomics

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

1.4.6 Ergonomics Domains

The Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES)
classified the ergonomics domains into three domains:
1- Physical ergonomics
Working
postures

Work-related
Materials
musculoskele
handling
tal disorders

Physical
Ergonomics
Workplace Repetitive
layout and movements
design

Safety and
health

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

2- Cognitive ergonomics
Mental
workload

Human–
Decision
computer
making
interaction

Cognitive
Ergonomics
Skilled
Stress performanc
e

CSU, 2010, (http://www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=4121)

Training

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

3- Organizational ergonomics

Communicatio
n

Team and
cooperative Task design
work

Organizational
Ergonomics

Participatory Design of shift

design hours

Quality
management

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

Interdisciplinary Nature of Ergonomics

 Ergonomics principles are derived from at least six sciences

Physiology

Psychology Physics

Ergonomics

General
Anthropometry
Engineering

Biomechanics

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

Interdisciplinary Nature of Ergonomics (Cont.)

1- Physiology: Used to understand the effect of physical

aspects of human body (heart rate, blood pressure,
hearing, vision, muscles, etc.).

2- Psychology: Used to understand the effect of

psychological and cognitive aspects of human (attention,
perception, satisfaction, etc.) .

3- Biomechanics: Occupational biomechanics deals with the

mechanical and motion characteristics of the human
body and the elements of work environment.

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

Interdisciplinary Nature of Ergonomics (Cont.)

4- Physics: Uses laws of science and engineering concepts to

describe motion undergone by the various body segments
and the forces acting on these body parts during normal
daily activities and job tasks.

5- Anthropometry : Used to understand the various body

dimensions (e.g., size and weight).

6- General Engineering : Used to develop appropriate tools,

facility, and equipment designs.

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

1.4.8 CLASSIFICATION OF ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS

Two main alternatives for Ergonomics Problems at Workplace

“Users-based” ergonomics
problems
Two main alternatives for
Ergonomics Problems at
Workplace
“Tasks-based” ergonomics
problems

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

The users-based ergonomics problems can be classified at the

workplace into five main issues:

1- Anthropometric problem:
the body dimensions weight, Reach distances,
sitting, eye height (e.g., offices task).
2012 http://ergorisk.com/

2- Musculoskeletal problem:
Tasks that strain the muscular and skeletal systems
such as back injuries(e.g., lifting box OR hands
overhead).

3- Cardiovascular problem:
Tasks that place stress on the heart and circulatory
system (e.g., firefighting job OR lifting heavy load).

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

CLASSIFICATION OF ERGONOMICS PROBLEMS (Cont.)

4- Cognitive problem:
Tasks that need a high information
processing overload or under-load
monitoring or high perceptions tasks (control
room tasks, pilot job). CSU, 2010, (http://www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=4121)

5- Psychomotor problem:
Tasks that lead to strain the systems that
respond to visual or auditory stimuli with a
movement or reply.
CSU, 2010, (http://www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=4121)

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

The tasks-based ergonomics problems can be classified at the

workplace into six main issues:

1- Physical aspects of human–machine

interaction:
Size, shape, color, and texture of displays.

2- Cognitive aspects if the human–machine

interface and team interaction:
• Understanding of instructions and warnings
• Style of dialogue between computer and
user

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

3- Workplace design and workplace layout:

Layout and design of processes, offices,
factories, equipment and tools.

4- Physical environmental factors:

Effects of noise, vibration, illumination, and
chemical/biological contaminants on human
performance and health.

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

5- Job design, selection, and training:

Effects of job design, work schedules (i.e., shift work),
instructions, administrative controls, training.

6- Organizational environment or psychosocial factors:

Satisfaction, communications and organizational
structure within a group

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Two common Societies in Ergonomics Studies:

- Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

provides companies, factories with ergonomics guidelines,
regulations and standard principles of safety and
ergonomics evolution and solutions.

- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

(NIOSH).
provides companies, factories with information and data
about health hazards and risks. and ergonomics solutions.

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Role of the Ergonomics: the ergonomics aims to make the

work system

More
Productive
Safer

More
Comfortable

Optimised System Design

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

Simple Visualization of the ergonomics issues at

workplace

Other environmental factors (Chemical, Exposures, etc.)

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Case Study (1)

 NIOSH mentioned that it is around 60% of low back disorder in US due to lifting
heavy loads in different sectors industries, services and healthcare

Example of low back problems in services and industries companies is lifting the
heavy products from/to the back storage by the workers of the shorter truck
(shorter lorry).

Intervention:
NIOSH develops an ergonomics solution which is

Tail Lift (Tailgate)

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Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Case Study (transportation ergonomics) (2)

Traffic Safety Cone Storage
• Traffic safety cones typically weigh 2-5 kg and are often stored on the truck on vertical
shafts, making them difficult to load and unload.
• In traffic light and sewer repair projects, it is common for 30 cones to be deployed at
each location.
• Risk factors include repetitive gripping and awkward postures, especially of the shoulder
(flexion of 128-138 degrees) and back disorders.

Faculty of Engineering IE 342

Industrial Engineering Department Human Factors Engineering

 Case Study (Transportation ergonomics) (2)

Intervention
A hinge was installed on the base of the shaft so that it would pivot to a nearly horizontal
position when the cones were being loaded or unloaded.
This reduced shoulder flexion to 30-42 degrees and improved the hand and wrist position as
well

Evaluation of Intervention
Pros
• Significant improvement in wrist and shoulder posture
• Reduces grip force as a percent of maximum voluntary contraction.
• Eliminates overhead lifting
Cons
• Some trucks may not have enough available space for hinged
base.
• Workers have to remember to secure shaft in vertical position
before driving away from site
Reference: Ergonomics department at University of California

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