Ergonomics

What is ergonomics??

Ergos – work

Nomo's-natural law

North America- Human factors

Ergonomic is scientific study of

human work
It is concerned with -

design of tools & machines &

with the design of objects & environments

for human use

Ergonomics is application of scientific information

concerning human beings to the design of objects,

systems & environment for human use

Ergonomics is concerned with the design of

working systems in which human being interact

with machines (man-machine systems)
Ergonomics may be defined as a body of

knowledge of human abilities, human

limitations & other human
characteristics that are relevant to
design
It is science of matching the job to the

worker & the product to the user.

An effective match is one which optimizes:

Working efficiency

Health & safety

Comfort & ease of use

Role of ergonomics
Health & safety

Productivity

Work design
Health & safety

Ergonomics

Occupational Occupational
psychology medicine
Productivity

ergonomics

Engineering
Management
& designs
Ergonomics : work design

Task design
Systems design
Product design
Workstation design
Interface design
Information design
Environmental design
Relationship of Job-Factors

Work Station
Tool
Operator
Operator

Task
Relationship of Job Factors
 Tool-

a. Biomechanical
b. Physical
 Work Station

a. Biomechanical
b. Anthropometric
c. Lighting
d. Work surfaces
e. Furniture's
f. Climate
Task

a. New Technology
b. Training
c. Job satisfaction
d. Support System
e. Rest Breaks
f. Management system
g. Shift work
Systems approach
Man- Machine Interaction

Man- Environment Interaction

Man- Machine Interaction

2- Way communication

Physical and Mental Strain

Worker and Machine- Combined Production

unit.
Man- Environment Interaction

• Immediate work space

• Seat design

Working desk

• Adjacent Machine
• Job Performance

• Motivational work environment

• Working hours

• Workers interest
 Anthropometrics
Branch of ergonomics which deals with body

measurements is called anthropometrics

Principal factors to take in account –

Gender

Nationality

Age

Occupation
Work Place and Anthropometry

Fitting the machine to the operator

Neglect of ethnic and anthropological

differences- Increases industrial accidents.

Risk factors in CTD
Ergonomic stresses – interaction between body

& physical environment

Psychosocial stresses – effects of organizational

or social environment on the worker

Physiological predispositions-risk factors arise

from the individual worker capacity

 Ergonomic factors

Repeated & sustained exertions

Forceful exertion

Localized contact stress

Awkward postures

Temperature

Vibration
Repeated & sustained exertions
A repetitive work can be defined as simply a task

in which the worker performs the same acts or

motion over & over again
E.g.

Entering data in comp

Assembling products on an assembly line or

loading parts into a press

High repetition rate – less than 30 sec/cycles

Low repetition rate - greater than 30

sec/cycles

Micro trauma & muscle fatigue

Inadequate recovery time – leads to injury

Sustained exertions – is seen when some part of

workers body maintains same position throughout

each work cycle or for prolonged time periods

E.g. Data entry worker

In manufacturing assembly tasks –worker holds

power tool in hand for most of the work day

Reduces blood flow

Buildup of metabolic wastes

Depletes nutrients – leads to fatigue & injury

Risk of upper extremity injury more in high

force activity
Repetition + force – high risk for WMSDs

Micro breaks for repetitive work

Localized contact stress
 Constant pressure

tools – scissors

•Compression, from grasping or contacting edges

like tool handles, can concentrate force on small
areas of the body,

• reduce blood flow and nerve transmission and

damage tendons and tendon sheaths
 Before: Tool
handles are
small and
angular
requiring the
worker to
grasp tightly
against
sharp edges

Ergonomic Improvement: Tool handle is formed to

fit the worker’s hand which requires less grip
strength or force and a more user-friendly tool
Awkward postures
Hazardous Work Posture
 Temperature

Sensory ,motor, circulatory impairments caused

by exposure to low temperature(0-20 degrees)

Affects dexterity

Recommended temp – above 25 degree

Vibration
Vibration - Single Point
Hand and Arm

exposure results from

vibrating objects such
as power tools.
Vibration - Whole Body
Whole Body exposure to vibration

results from vehicles such as cranes,

trucks, buses subways and aircraft.
Stimulates muscle contraction

Constricts blood vessels

Sensory perception decreased-increased

forceful exertions during gripping tasks