1. Introduction to Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE)
Hardianto Iridiastadi, Ph.D.

2. Introduction Consider these *&%#)…. My back hurts
Hey you!!! Move over!!!
No shower in 2 days….
Shhh… I’m trying to concentrate
“Smoking can cause what…”
Oh my gosh…!
Oops, I just paid him ….
Yours…
Lifting, theater, faucets, car stereo, cigarette ad, challenger,

3. Introduction Daily activities In the kitchen At the theaters
Lifting drinking water
Painting the house
Using cell phones (or other electronic devices)

4. Introduction – Human Related Issues
Office
Plants
Transportation sectors
Oil, gas, mining
Banks
Hospitals

5. Introduction – Indicators
Undesirable aspects of a system
Inefficiency
Fatigue
Accidents, injuries, and errors
User difficulties, training
Low morale, absenteeism, and apathy
Poor quality, rework

6. Introduction Ergonomic issues are serious, when you consider
Three-mile island, Bhopal, dll.
Iranian Airlines (Persian Gulf, 1987, USS Vincennes vs. ascending aircraft)
Railway train accidents
Industrial accidents
Others?

7. Historical Development
Early history – “fit the man to the job”
F.W. Taylor
Scientific management
Occupational psychology
Considers social context
Hawthorne experiments
Experiments by Elton Mayo
At Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Co., US
‘Hawthorne effect’

8. Historical Development
United States
End of war in 1945
Engineering psychology lab (USAF)
Known as human factors (engineering)
military applications
Europe
Around 1949
Scientists interested in human work
Known as ergonomics
industrial and agricultural applications
Sociotechnical system – macro ergonomics

9. Definitions Ergonomics Ergonomics = The Science of Work
Ergon – work/effort
Nomos – laws
Ergonomics = The Science of Work
In the literature:
in 1857 by Wojciech Jastrzebowski (a Polish educator and scientist)
In 1949 by K.F.H. Murrel (a British scientist)

10. Definitions
a discipline that studies human abilities, limitations, and functions; and applies this information in designing consumer products, tools, and equipment
the study of human characteristics for the appropriate design of the living and work environment

11. Definitions
“Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance”
- From the International Ergonomics Association, 2000

12. Humans in a system Potential HFE issues !
Definitions
The study of human
behavior, characteristics, capabilities, and limitations
By which we design
Systems, “work”, products/tools, and work environment
With the goals of achieving
Improved performance, productivity, and safety
Humans in a system Potential HFE issues !

13. Contributing Disciplines
Mathematics
Statistics
Physics
Physiology & Anatomy
Psychology
Engineering

14. Potential Benefits
Improved performance (productivity, quality, & cost)
Reduced costs
Improved safety
Better quality of work life
Higher (user/employee) satisfaction level

15. Objectives Obtained Via
Appropriate design of
Machines
Equipment/tools
Work methods
Work environment
Worker selection*
Training*
*Least preferred

16. Improving Systems Design better user interface
More compatible with the task and user
Interface easier to use; more resistant to common errors
Changing work environment
Safer and more appropriate for the task
Design the task
More compatible with user characteristics
Design the way work is organized
Accomodate psychological and social needs

17. Work Demand
Human Capabilities ?

18. Costs of Ignoring Ergonomics
Nothing
Inconvenience
Impaired performance
Poor productivity, quality, and increased costs
Disorders and injuries
Loss of life
e.g. Iranian Passenger aircraft, Three mile island

19. Standards Related to Ergonomics
United States
OSHA, ADA
Washington State, California
International
ISO ( - ISO 18000
European Union Mandatory Directives
Canada
Japan

20. Institutions/Organizations
United States
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
National Institut for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
United Kingdom
Ergonomics Society
SEANES
PEI

21. HFE Fields Biomechanics
External load vs. internal (mechanical) response
Musculoskeletal problems
Modeling
Manual handling
Hand-tool design
E.g.

22. HFE Fields Occupational Physiology Work capacity
Energy generating mechanisms
Workload assessments
Fatigue
Work schedules

23. HFE Fields Engineering Anthropometry Data Workspace design
Biomechanical modeling

24. HFE Fields Stress & Workload Environmental stressors
Psychological stressors
Overload
Fatigue and sleep disruption

25. HFE Fields Cognition & Decision Making HIP Attention Perception Memory
Situation awareness
Models
Improving decision making

26. HFE Fields Displays & Controls Principles and design
Types of displays and controls
Labels
Monitoring
Inputs
Control and tracking

27. HFE Fields Safety & Human Error Legislation Models
Assessments & evaluation
Warning design
Safety management

28. HFE Fields Automation Problems Function allocation Supervisory control
Reliability
Trust
Workload
Job satisfaction
Function allocation
Supervisory control

29. HFE Fields Human-Computer Interaction Problems Principles and design
Models
Information technology

30. HFE Fields Transportation Training Simulation & Virtual environment
Consumer products
Macro-ergonomics
Aging, etc.

31. Class Activities and Assignments
Ergo success stories
See e.g., Bridger (Ch.1)
Class assignments – find this out
Class discussion
Determine various work systems
Identify potential HF/E issues
Propose what should be investigated