Ergonomics Exercise 1
Using an activity in your own workplace (or one you are familiar with) as an example, describe how you might conduct an assessment using the Ergonomics Model provided as a framework. This should be no more than 1-page.
Slide 1
Introduction to Ergonomics
Paul Rothmore
BAppSc(Hons) Physiotherapy, MErg, PhD, FACP
In this presentation we will revisit some key points from your first course – Occupational Hygiene and Ergonomics.
This session will focus on the Ergonomics Model but we will also review some other basic information.
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Lecture Content
Definition
Ergonomics discipline
The Ergonomics Model
Ergonomics Methods
Assignments
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What is ergonomics?
The terms human factors and ergonomics are used interchangeably in the literature
Ergonomics is derived from the Greek
ergon = work
nomous = natural laws
Also known as engineering psychology or human engineering
Human centred science
The terms “human factors” and “ergonomics” are used interchangeably in the literature – and to avoid confusion the professional organisation in Australia is now called the “Human Factors and Ergonomics Society”.
The word ergonomics is derived from the Greek words – ergon (meaning work) and nomous (meaning natural laws).
You may also come across terms such as “engineering psychology” or “human engineering”. These may all come under the um
ella term of “ergonomics”.
As you progress through this course it will become obvious that ergonomics is a “human centred science.”
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What is ergonomics?
Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the fundamental understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the application of methods, theory and data to improve human well-being and performance.
International Ergonomics Association (2000)
So what exactly is ergonomics?
The International Ergonomics Association defines it as:
The scientific discipline concerned with the fundamental understanding of interactions among humans the other elements of a system, and the application of methods, theory and data to improve human well-being and performance.
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What is ergonomics?
Most simply –
Ergonomics is the scientific study of human work
“Work” can be used in its
oadest or na
owest sense
Most simply put however is
“Ergonomics is the scientific study of human work” where “work” can be used in its
oadest or na
owest sense.
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Domains of Practice
Ergonomics/Human Factors
Physical
Ergonomics
Cognitive
Ergonomics
Organisational Ergonomics
Postures
Forces
Repetitive Movements
Vi
ation
Workplace environment
Individual factors
Mental Workload
Decision making
Skilled Performance
Human-Computer Interaction
Human reliability
Work stress
Training
Job Analysis
Job Design
Working times
Teamwork
Participatory design
Consultative A
angements
Culture
Within the discipline, domains of specialisation represent deeper competencies in specific human attributes or characteristics of human interaction and while a general ergonomist would have an understanding of each of these others may specialise in a particular field.
Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity. The relevant topics include working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, safety and health.
Cognitive ergonomics is concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system. The relevant topics include mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress and training as these may relate to human-system design.
Organisational ergonomics is concerned with the optimisation of sociotechnical systems, including their organisational structures, policies, and processes. The relevant topics include communication, crew resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, participatory design, community ergonomics, cooperative work, new work paradigms, organisational culture, virtual organisations, telework, and quality management.
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Ergonomics as a discipline
Draws on the body of scientific knowledge
from:
Medicine, anatomy & physiology
Biomechanics / kinesiology
Engineering, architecture & design
Psychology
Sociology
Industrial relations
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Isn’t it all just common sense?
You may hear people comment that ergonomics is all about common sense . . .
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University of Adelaide
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Clearly it isn’t.
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Ergonomically designed?
Try using it
Think of all the ways/circumstances in which you might use it
Does it fit your body size or could it be better?
Can you see and hear all you need to?
Is it hard to misuse?
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Ergonomically designed?
Is it comfortable to use all the time (or just initially)?
Is it easy or convenient to use (or could be improved)?
Is it easy to learn to use?
Are instructions clear?
Is it easy to clean and maintain?
Do you feel relaxed after a period of use?
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Swiss balls
“If you are tired of your office chair and want a fun, ergonomically sound replacement - try a ball! Used as chairs, Swiss Balls promote good posture, provide a cushion for your spine and will help make your work environment more fun. Balls also encourage movement of the spine, which help spinal discs stay hydrated and healthy.”
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Adjustable Office Chai
Adjustable backrest
lumbar support
depth
Armrest adjustable
Adjustable seat tilt
5 point swivel base
Mobility
Adjustable seat height (at least 100 mm)
Postural variation
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Swiss Ball
No base
No adjustability
No backrest
Unable to move around on ball
Unstable
No postural variation
?Modified
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Swiss Ball
Constant exercising
High levels of concentration and fatigue
Upright posture is lost quickly
No full seat or back support
Cannot maintain upright postures while reaching/moving
Limited mobility
No swivel
May constitute a falling hazard
Getting on/off, reaching
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Swiss Ball
Inadequate support for the buttocks thighs
May become “loose” in the work area
Increased load of the Lx when sitting
Can be reduced by opening the hip angle
Use of armrests, backrests
Use of Swiss ball in rehabilitation (when appropriately prescribed/supervised) doesn’t transfer to whole day use!
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The Australian – June 18, 2009
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The Ergonomics Model
Now let's review the Ergonomics Model
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Ergonomics Model
There are many models which could be described as ergonomics models, given that essentially the human is the centre of the operating system.
Ergonomics models serve to demonstrate the interaction between the human and the machine within an environmental and job design context. One such model is provided here.
This model has 6 layers comprising
The person
The tasks they perform
The tools used and the workstation
The environment in which the tasks are performed
The organisation of work
And finally, the company culture.
Let's discuss these in more detail.
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Tools
Company Culture
Work Organisation
Environment
Tasks
Person
Ergonomics Model
Physical
Psychological
Psychosocial
Firstly the physical factors.
Anthropometry refers to data about the size, strength and stature of the human. It is derived from the Latin words anthro meaning “human” and metric meaning “measure”.
Anthropometric information is frequently used in the determination of such things as appropriate working heights and strength limitations.
Moving on to psychosocial risk factors these include such things as:
Job dissatisfaction, boredom, lack of job control and perceptual and cognitive demands – all of which may play a role in the likelihood of workplace injury.
Psychosocial factors are often overlooked and this is a topic we will develop in future modules.
Like the psychosocial risk factors already discussed, and also often overlooked, are psychological factors such as the level of existing family support or co-worke
supervisor support.
It is these psychosocial or psychological factors which may partly explain the significantly different responses seen among individual workers who are exposed to essentially the same work environment.
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Tools
Company Culture
Work Organisation
Environment
Tasks
Person
Ergonomics Model
Physical
Psychological
Psychosocial
At the centre of our model is the person.
Factors to consider are:
Physical
Psychological and
Pyschosocial
Firstly the physical factors.
Anthropometry refers to data about the size, strength and stature of the human. It is derived from the Latin words anthro meaning “human” and metric meaning “measure”.
Anthropometric information is frequently used in the determination of such things as appropriate working heights and strength limitations.
Moving on to psychosocial risk factors these include such things as:
Job dissatisfaction, boredom, lack of job control and perceptual and cognitive demands – all of which may play a role in the likelihood of workplace injury.
Psychosocial factors are often overlooked and this is a topic we will develop in future modules.
Like the psychosocial risk factors, and also often overlooked, are psychological factors . These includes such things as the level of existing family support or co-worke
supervisor support.
It is these psychosocial or psychological factors which may partly explain the significantly different responses seen among individual workers who are exposed to essentially the same work environment.
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Tools
Company Culture
Work Organisation
Environment
Tasks
Person
Ergonomics Model
Physical
Psychological
Psychosocial
Sequence
Duration
Repetitive Loads
Moving on to the next layer in our model we need to consider the sequence in which tasks are performed (remembering that some tasks can predispose you to subsequent injury) , how long they are performed for and the nature of the loads and actions undertaken. All these are factors which may influence the likelihood of injury.
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Tools
Company Culture
Work Organisation
Environment
Tasks
Person
Ergonomics Model
Physical
Psychological
Psychosocial
Sequence
Duration
Repetitive Loads
Heights, Reach
Weight
Postures
The tools and workstation at which activities are undertaken comprise the next layer of our model and we will need to consider such things as:
Working heights (for both sitting and standing work)
Reach required (for example do tasks fall within the primary, secondary or tertiary reach envelopes)
The nature of the weights and loads to be handled. For example handling a patient is a far more complex activity that handling a static object of equivalent weight and size) and
The postures required during the completion of these activities. For example are the postures adopted in mid or at end-range and which body parts are involved?
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Tools
Company Culture
Work Organisation
Environment
Tasks
Person
Ergonomics Model
Physical
Psychological
Psychosocial
Sequence
Duration
Repetitive Loads
Lighting. Noise
Thermal
Psychosocial
Heights, Reach
Weight
Postures
Now moving further through our Model we need to consider the
oader workplace environment. Here we need to consider both the physical and psychosocial environment.
In the physical environment some of the things we need to consider are:
Lighting - Beyond factors such as Illuminance, Luminance and Glare we also need to consider the effects of poor lighting (such as in stooping to read labels in a poorly lit stockroom) as well as the effect of age (remembering that older workers may require increased lighting levels) and the use of co
ect lenses (and these can be glasses or contact lenses) which might make the wearer more susceptible to glare.
Noise may have direct physical effects such as Noise induced hearing loss or temporary threshold shift. It can also interfere with the perception of speech, machine noises or the ability to monitor and respond to warning