Ergonomics reduces workers compensation and thus gives a net return and helps workers work faster (Lean Manufacturing)
Ergonomics
Definition
Study of the environmental, physiological, and psychological aspects of physical and mental work
Human-Machine-Environment Interaction
Human interaction with the world around us
"study of work"
Physical
Through the Body
Cognitive
Through the Mind
Specific Topics
Human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological, and biomechanical characteristics.
Working postures
Materials handling
Repetitive movements
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Workplace Layout
Safety & Heatlh
Examples
Thermal comfort range with suits people best
Noise at night vs noise during the day (when you want it louder)
Specific Topics
Mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, motor response
Mental workload
Decision Making
Skilled Performance
Human-Computer Interaction
Human Reliability
Work Stress and training
Examples
Air Traffic Control: Controller has a screen built into the workstation, plus telephones and radios - this presents the controller with a lot of information
Lighting Survey; make sure ceiling lights do not reflect off screens so controller can see what's on the screen
How long it is reasonable to expect controllers to work
Introduce more automation to have controllers have more time to make decisions
Definitions
Formalized (multidisciplinary) study of how humans interact with hardware (science)
Set of principles that govern how people interact with hardware and software (technology)
Trained professionals who use ergonomic principles to reduce people-system mismatch problems (field of practice)
Excessive occupational strains and sprains cost: billions of dollars a year
Excessive Overexertion Injuries affect 5 million workers a year (2nd to flu/colds causing absenteeism)
Excessive Impact Injuries: Over 8000 workers die yearly
Excessive Defect Rates and Absenteeism
Workers Expect It
Several national unions require, by contract, that formal Ergonomic committees function in their plants to evaluate and redesign jobs found to have excessive strain and sprain injuries
Legal Requirements
Disability law requires employer to make reasonable job accommodations for special individuals.
EEO law requires great care to assure women and older applicants be given equal employment opportunities.
OSHA has leveled its largest fines for overexertion injuries and increased its regulatory and enforcement capability.
Knowledge Base Supports It
Description
Competition is Doing It
Enrollment in Ergonomics short courses has quadrupled in the last 5 years
Good Public Relations
Many corporations with Ergonomics programs have been featured in the media as promoting improvement of the work environment.
Proactive Ergonomics - thinking about ergonomics before there is a problem (Much more desirable method)
Implement Solutions
Equipment Design (changes nature of physical equipment humans work with)
Task Design (changing what operators do)
Environmental Design (changes in the physical environment like temperature or lighting)
Training (better preparing workers for conditions that he or she will encounter in workplace by teaching and practicing necessary skills)
Selection (recognizing the individual differences across humans in almost every physical and mental dimension that is relevant for good system performance.)
Approaches
Engineering psychology - the study of cognitive limits
Engineering Psychophysiology - the study of motor performance