What is ergonomics?

 

The science of ergonomics originated during the Second World War to overcome performance failures due to human error in new high tech defense systems. Because of its success, ergonomics is now routinely applied in the design and development of most military and aerospace systems. Industrial applications of ergonomics are increasing in response to the need to improve the productive use of human resources, the quality of working life and occupational health and safety.

The application of ergonomics ranges from the design of toothbrushes to the layout of aircraft cockpits, from the design of baby carriages to wholesale packaging.

People working in ergonomically designed workplaces or using ergonomically designed products will tire less quickly, be less distracted by discomfort and ambiguity, less muddled by confusing displays and instructions, less frustrated by inconvenience and less stressed by excessive physical demands. This will mean a lower probability of error, less likelihood of accidents, less time correcting mistakes and better morale. The cost of ergonomics depends where in the lifecycle of a systems it is applied. Applied early in the planning stages, costs will be less: existing budgets will simply be better spent. Applied as a reaction to serious problems, then costs will be higher.

A working definition of ergonomics is:

The systematic application of knowledge about the pyschological, physical, and social attributes of human beings in the design and use of all things which affect a person's working conditions: equipment and machinery, the work environment and layout, the job itself, training and the organization of work.

In plainer language this means:

• Fitting the job to the people who have to do it, through the design of equipment and procedures.
• Fitting the person to the job, through use of placement procedures or training.

Application of the science requires matching task demands and environmental conditions with user characteristics.

However, it is usually not so simple to put principle into practice and a number of techniques have been developed to help this process. Ergonomics draws on engineering and design methods as well as life science and behavioural science knowledge.