ERGONOMICS

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ERGONOMICS

• ERGON -- WORK
• NOMOS -- LAW
• The Laws to be Observed at Work

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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ERGONOMICS and DISCIPLINES

• Ergonomics is a Multi-Disciplinary Science
• Ergonomics is also an Inter-Disciplinary Science

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DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
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DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
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DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS
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PROFESSIONS HAVING COMPLEMENTARY ROLES WITH
ERGONOMICS
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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Benefits of ergonomics

• Productivity
• Product quality
• Safety
• Health
• Reliability
• Job satisfaction
• Personal development

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Present trend of occupational diseases and
complaints

• Factors of diseases and complaints
• Ergonomics 52.9
• Chemicals 22.1
• Noise 12.1
• Biological 3.2
• Other causes 9.5
• WHY?
• More sedentary work
• Fewer distinct work types
• Less muscle usage
• More static than dynamic work

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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

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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 30-40 mm, handle length
  125 mm and size to fit male hands)
• Provide a home for each tool (Enables good
  housekeeping)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Some important ergonomic requirements (From ILO
Ergonomic Checkpoints)Welfare facilities

• Provide effective and acceptable personal
  protective devices

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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)