1. ERGON --> WORK NOMOS --> LAW The Laws to be Observed at Work
ERGONOMICS
ERGON --> WORK
NOMOS --> LAW
The Laws to be Observed at Work

2. Human Factor Engineering
Human Factors Engineering
Physical and mental work capacity Industrial design
Fatigue Work place design
Body forces, strength and posture Product design
Body sizes Furniture design
Thermal comfort/ heat stress/cold stress Machine design
Vision Ventilation
Hearing Lighting
Perception Acoustics
Information processing Engineering control
Decision making (Chemical & Physical)
Performance and efficiency Building orientation
Adaptation and rehabilitation Maintenance
Behavior & social relations

3. Ergonomics Ergonomics means literally the study or measurement of Work
In addition to work as labour for monetary gain, work also includes
Sports
Leisure activities
Domestic work
Education and training
Health and social services

4. Ergonomics considers human operators variability
An automobile design has to consider
Range of physical size and strengths of users
Seats are comfortable
Controls readily identifiable and within easy reach
Clear visibility front and rear
Easily read internal instruments
Ease of entry and egress

5. AIMS OF ERGONOMICS
Ensures that human needs for safe and efficient working are met in the design of work system
To design
Appliances
Technical Systems
Tasks
In such a way to improve
Human Safety
Health
Comfort and
Performance

6. Basic aims of ergonomics
Efficiency in purposeful activity
To achieve desired result without
Waste
Error
Damage to persons
Working situation in harmony with the activities of the worker

7. Difficulties in achieving the aims of ergonomics
Human operator is flexible and adaptable
Large individual differences
Obvious differences: --> Physical size, strength
Not obvious differences --> Culture, style, level of skill
Thus a systematic approach and theory are necessary. There should be measurable objectives to be checked and remedial action taken. A detailed study of the science of ergonomics provides these approaches and theories

8. DEFINITIONS OF ERGONOMICS
Ergonomics is a means of improving working conditions and reducing illness at work
Ergonomics attempts to ‘Fit the Job to the Man’ rather than ‘Fit the Man to the Job’
Ergonomics is concerned with the design of systems in which people carry out work
Ergonomics optimizes Efficiency, Health, Safety and Comfort of people through better designs of products and work places

9. Who is a human operator?
Skilled professional using a complex machine in an artificial environment
Customer who has purchased a new equipment
Child sitting in a classroom
Disabled person in a wheel chair

10. ERGONOMICS and DISCIPLINES
Ergonomics is a Multi-Disciplinary Science
Ergonomics is also an Inter-Disciplinary Science

11. ERGONOMICS

12. DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
PHYSIOLOGY
-ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK
PSYCHOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ERGONOMICS
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS

13. DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
ECONOMICS
LAW
MANAGEMENT
PSYCHOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
PHYSIOLOGY
-ENVIRONMENTAL
ERGONOMICS
ENGINEERING
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
OPERATIONS RESEARCH
TOXICOLOGY
ENVRONMENTAL MEDICINE

14. DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
ECONOMICS
LAW
MANAGEMENT
ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE
MANUFACTURING
PSYCHOLOGY
-COGNITIVE
-WORK
-SOCIAL
ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
PHYSIOLOGY
-ENVIRONMENTAL
ERGONOMICS
OPERATIONS RESEARCH
ENGINEERING
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ENVRONMENTAL MEDICINE
SYSTEMS DESIGN
WORK ORGANIZATION

15. ERGONOMICS

16. PROFESSIONS HAVING COMPLEMENTARY ROLES WITH ERGONOMICS
Safety
Officer
Civil
Engineer
Occupational
Health Officer
Mechanical
Engineer
Industrial
Nurse
ERGONOMICS
Physiotherapist
Architect
Ind. Medical
Officer
Industrial
Designer
Social
Psychologist

17. ERGO-SYSTEMS Simple ergo-systems e e H H M Complex ergo-systems
e M M e M H
M H M H H H

18. WHAT IS ERGONOMICS? Ergonomics is:
“Higher productivity and a better place to work”
“The science that saves both lives and dollars”
“Human engineering where the goal is to optimize worker well being and productivity”
“A way of thinking about and planning work so that it suits the capabilities and needs of the people”

19. WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
Ergonomics is a solution finding method for questions like these:
How can human body dimensions be applied to car seat design?
What is the proper height for kitchen counters?
How can traffic lights be programmed for optimal urban traffic flow throughout the day?
How can stereo receiver displays and controls be coded to effectively define their respective functions?
How can the material and design of swim suits for competition be improved for minimal water resistance?
How should computer software and screens work and look best to fit human cognitive capabilities?

20. Ergonomic needs in a workplace
Physical work environment
Thermal comfort
Noise and vibration control
Adequate and proper lighting
Chemical environment
Control of pollution
General and exhaust ventilation
Work physiology
Control excessive physical load
Avoid physical and muscular fatigue
Adequate rest pauses
Arrangement of static and dynamic work

21. Ergonomic needs in a workplace (Contd.)
Anthropometry (Body sizes)
Designs to fit body sizes of users
Appropriate working levels
Adequate work space
Avoid overcrowding of machines and workers
Occupational Biomechanics
Appropriate work postures (sitting, standing)
Safe load lifting and carrying techniques
Adopt proper techniques in manual materials handling

22. Ergonomic needs in a workplace (Contd.)
Psychological aspects
Avoid perceptual and mental loads and fatigue
Appropriate design of displays and control
Appropriate conditions for Vigilance tasks
Avoid human error and stress
Job motivation and satisfaction
Social psychology
Practice good relationship among employees and between employer and employee

23. Ergonomic needs in a workplace (Contd,)
Macro ergonomics
Suitable working hours , intervals, holidays, leave
Appropriate shift schedules
Welfare facilities
Job rotation and incentives schemes
Fair salary structure, Good administrative structure
Good work organization schemes
Fringe benefits (housing, transport, sports)
Labour union facilities
Training and education
Promotional prospects

24. Ergonomic needs in a workplace (Contd.)
Safety and Ergonomics
Good housekeeping
Performance feedback
Systems ergonomics
Systems groups in problem solving and development work
Participative ergonomics
User centered designs

25. Benefits of ergonomics
Productivity
Product quality
Safety
Health
Reliability
Job satisfaction
Personal development

26. The Questions Employers Need Answers For:
Developing new products
Increasing production capacity
Identifying equipment and labor needs
Identifying costs of manufacturing products
Determining work hours and shift schedules
Defining job productivity and quality standards
Setting compensation levels
Identifying skills for tasks
Structuring tasks into jobs
Increasing the available workforce by reducing problematic tasks

27. TRADITIONAL AND PRESENT DAY TOOLS AND MACHINES
Traditional Present Day
Relatively simple Increasingly complex
Made by the user Made by a manufacturer
Small number made Large number made
Design error - small Design error - profound consequences consequences
Product competitive- Marketing competitiveness ness unimportant vital
Restricted user- popu- Wide variation in user lation characteristics population

28. Need Training and Education in Ergonomics
HOW CAN ERGONOMICS CONTRIBUTE TO TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN INDUSTRIALLY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
By adaptation of technology of the west
By improving working conditions through ergonomics interventions
By developing traditional methods
In acquiring modern technology
In modifying techniques
Need Training and Education in Ergonomics

29. Ergonomic contributions to development in industrially developing countries
Research on basic data needs
Promote special abilities
Refine simple methods
More appropriate “experts”
Action learning (Learning by doing, not imitating)
Better supported education and research
Re-conceptualize standard setting

30. Present trend of occupational diseases and complaints
Factors % of diseases and complaints
Ergonomics
Chemicals
Noise
Biological
Other causes
WHY?
More sedentary work
Fewer distinct work types
Less muscle usage
More static than dynamic work

31. Clear and mark transport routes
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Materials storage and handling
Clear and mark transport routes
Provide ramps of 5-8% inclination instead of small stairs
Use mechanical devices for lifting, lowering and moving heavy material
Instead of carrying heavy weights divide them into smaller lightweights e.g. 2x10 kg instead of 20 kg.
Combine heavy lifting with physically lighter tasks

32. Use hanging tools for operations repeated in the same place
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Hand Tools
Use hanging tools for operations repeated in the same place
Provide hand support when using precision tools
Provide hand tools with a grip of the proper thickness (hand diameter mm, handle length 125 mm and size to fit male hands)
Provide a home for each tool (Enables good housekeeping)

33. Locate controls in sequence of operations
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Production machine safety
Locate controls in sequence of operations
Make displays and signals easy to distinguish and easy to read
Use properly fixed guards and interlock devices

34. Adjust the working height around elbow level
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Improving workstation design
Adjust the working height around elbow level
Light work: at elbow level
Precision work: above elbow level
Hard work: below elbow level

35. Increased use of daylight Light up the work area evenly
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Lighting
Increased use of daylight
Light up the work area evenly
Sufficient lighting for working
Local lighting for precision work
Removing shiny surfaces
Avoid glare

36. Prevent the exposure to excessive heat
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Premises
Prevent the exposure to excessive heat
Install effective local exhaust systems
Increase the use of natural ventilation

37. Provide effective and acceptable personal protective devices
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Welfare facilities
Provide effective and acceptable personal protective devices

38. Involve worker in planning Inform the worker the results of their work
Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO Ergonomic Checkpoints) Work Organization
Involve worker in planning
Inform the worker the results of their work
Job enrichment (combine tasks)