Ergonomics HCS 3000

Ergonomics 101 Ergonomics literally means “laws of work” (from two Greek words: “ergos” [work] and “nomos” [laws]) Ergonomics concerns the “fit” between people and: the things they do the objects they use the environments they work, travel and play in Ergonomics goes beyond physical fit and concerns psychological fit as well Ergonomics is often referred to as “human factors”

Ergonomics: Good & Bad Good ergonomics leads to: Reduced stress Comfort, speed and ease Fewer mistakes Less injuries Bad ergonomics leads to: Negative effects on our health Reduced safety and enjoyment

Why is Ergonomics Important? (DON’T WRITE THIS DOWN…) Think about yourself watching TV and then think of your posture. How are you positioned? Are you comfortable? Will you be comfortable after you get up or will you be stiff?

Things to consider… 1. What are you capable of doing? You need to recognize your own capabilities and limitations before beginning a particular task. 2. Consider the activity. Work isn’t the same from task to task. ie. Shoveling snow vs. mowing the lawn: one requires pushing, the other pulling. 3. Make sure the task is within your capabilities and you can use your body effectively to reduce the chances of injury.

Static & Dynamic Work There are two types of muscle activity that apply to all work we do: STATIC The muscle remains contracted for a period of time – no movement Examples include: holding a picture against a wall, standing in one place, pushing a heavy load DYNAMIC There is regular contraction and relaxation of a muscle that results in movement Examples include pulling open a drawer or walking up stairs

Activities to Try… (DON’T WRITE THIS DOWN – SOMEONE TRY THIS…) Hold a small book in each hand (from the back of the room.) Put one arm straight out in front of you and keep it in that position. This arm is doing static work. With your other arm, keep your elbow at your side and move your forearm up and down repeatedly. This arm is doing dynamic work. Do this for two minutes. Which arm gets tired first? In the next slide, come up with examples of jobs and sports that show dynamic and static work.

Static & Dynamic Work Types of WorkExamples Dynamic – whole body (Muscles in upper and lower body regularly contract and relax) Static – whole body (Muscles remain contracted, with no movement) Static/Dynamic (Some muscles remain contracted while others are active)

Physical Capabilities With all the research done in the field of ergonomics, we know what capabilities to measure: Ability to apply force (lift, push, pull, grab, press, etc.) Seeing things in our field of vision and adapting to levels of light Ability to hear sounds in all ranges Body dimensions (height, weight) – how will this affect our ability to interact with things around us? Range of motion or movement (arm reach, stride length, etc.) Mental capacity (think, concentrate, remember, analyze, etc.) Physical endurance (how many times can we repeat a task before our body or muscles begin to fatigue)

Anthropometry Definition – that part of ergonomics that deals with body size and physical abilities, such as strength Because people come in all shapes and sizes, the products they use have to be designed to suit their physical characteristics Examples – the shape and softness of the grip on a pen, the sizing of a backpack or the design of a car Anthropometric Tables Tables of body measurements have been created by scientists that are very useful to designers in many fields

Work Safe Alberta Click on the link below and choose MODULE 4 – work through this entire module! Make sure the AMP is turned on at the back of the room so you can hear the sound Click on the tips and take all the quizzes! Once you finish Module 4, go back to the Main Menu and click on “Check Your Understanding” rgonomics/data/ergonomics.html rgonomics/data/ergonomics.html