ERGONOMICS

ERGON --> WORK

NOMOS --> LAW
The Laws to be Observed at Work

Human Factor Engineering
Human Factors Engineering


Physical and mental work capacity Industrial design
Fatigue Work place design
Body forces, strength and posture Product design
Body sizes Furniture design
Thermal comfort/ heat stress/cold stress Machine design
Vision Ventilation
Hearing Lighting
Perception Acoustics
Information processing Engineering control
Decision making (Chemical & Physical)
Performance and efficiency Building orientation
Adaptation and rehabilitation Maintenance
Behavior & social relations
Ergonomics
Ergonomics means literally the study or
measurement of Work
In addition to work as labour for monetary
gain, work also includes
qSports
qLeisure activities
qDomestic work
qEducation and training
qHealth 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
7Efficiency in purposeful activity
7To achieve desired result without
7Waste
7Error
7Damage to persons
7Working 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
7Ergonomics is a means of improving working
conditions and reducing illness at work
7Ergonomics attempts to Fit the Job to the
Man rather than Fit the Man to the Job
7Ergonomics is concerned with the design of
systems in which people carry out work
7Ergonomics 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
ERGONOMICS
PSYCHOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
PHYSIOLOGY
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
ERGONOMICS
PSYCHOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
PHYSIOLOGY
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
TOXICOLOGY
ENVRONMENTAL
MEDICINE
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
OPERATIONS
RESEARCH
ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT
LAW ECONOMICS
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
ERGONOMICS
PSYCHOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
PHYSIOLOGY
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
ARTIFICIAL
INTELIGENCE
MANUFACTURING
WORK
ORGANIZATION
SYSTEMS DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ENVRONMENTAL
MEDICINE
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
OPERATIONS
RESEARCH
ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT
LAW ECONOMICS


ERGONOMICS
PROFESSIONS HAVING
COMPLEMENTARY ROLES WITH
ERGONOMICS
ERGONOMICS
Safety
Officer
Civil
Engineer
Mechanical
Engineer
Architect
Industrial
Designer
Social
Psychologist
Ind. Medical
Officer
Physiotherapist
Industrial
Nurse
Occupational
Health Officer
ERGO-SYSTEMS
Simple ergo-systems
e e
H H M

Complex ergo-systems
e M M e M H
M H M 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
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
Productivity
Product quality
Safety
Health
Reliability
Job satisfaction
Personal development
The Questions Employers Need
Answers For:
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 Present Day
_Relatively simple Increasingly complex
_Made by the user Made by a manufacturer
_Small number made Large number made
_Design error - small Design error - profound
consequences consequences
_Product competitive- Marketing competitiveness
ness unimportant vital
_Restricted user- popu- Wide variation in user
lation characteristics 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
NLocate controls in sequence of
operations
NMake displays and signals easy to
distinguish and easy to read
NUse properly fixed guards and interlock
devices
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)
Improving workstation design
EAdjust the working height around elbow
level
ELight work: at elbow level
EPrecision work: above elbow level
EHard work: below elbow level
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic
Checkpoints)
Lighting
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)