The Value of Ergonomics

Ergonomics

Most people have heard of ergonomics and think it is something to do with seating or with the design of car controls and instruments – and it is… but it is so much more. Ergonomics applies to the design of anything that involves people – workspaces, sports and leisure, health and safety.

 

Ergonomics (or ‘human factors’ as it is referred to in North America) is a branch of science that aims to learn about human abilities and limitations, and then apply this learning to improve people’s interaction with products, systems and environments.

Ergonomics aims to improve workspaces and environments to minimise risk of injury or harm. So as technologies change, so too does the need to ensure that the tools we access for work, rest and play are designed for our body’s requirements.

Why is Ergonomics Important

In the workplace: According to Safe Work Australia, the total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses is estimated to be $60 billion dollars. Recent research has shown that lower back pain is the world’s most common work-related disability – affecting employees from offices, building sites and in the highest risk category, agriculture.

Ergonomics aims to create safe, comfortable and productive workspaces by bringing human abilities and limitations into the design of a workspace, including the individual’s body size, strength, skill, speed, sensory abilities (vision, hearing), and even attitudes.

In the greater population: The number of people in Australia aged 75 and over is forecast to double over the next 50 years. With this, equipment, services and systems will need to be designed to accommodate the increasing needs of the ageing population, applying to public transport, building facilities, and living spaces.

This early experience highlighted the potential of ergonomics to address real-world issues, particularly during the RSI epidemic, which marked a pivotal opportunity for Mark to establish ergonomics as a useful discipline.

How does Ergonomics work?

Ergonomics is a relatively new branch of science, but relies on research carried out in many other older, established scientific areas, such as engineering, physiology and psychology.

To achieve best practice design, Ergonomists use the data and techniques of several disciplines:

  • Anthropometry: body sizes, shapes; populations and variations
  • Biomechanics: muscles, levers, forces, strength
  • Environmental physics: noise, light, heat, cold, radiation, vibration body systems: hearing, vision, sensations
  • Applied psychology: skill, learning, errors, differences
  • Social psychology: groups, communication, learning, behaviours.

 

Applications of Ergonomics

Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary science that focuses on designing environments, tools, and systems to fit the capabilities and limitations of people. By enhancing comfort, safety, and efficiency, ergonomics plays a critical role in improving performance and well-being across various settings.

Ergonomics principles and design can be used in the following application:

  • Workplace design
  • Product design
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
  • Healthcare and rehabilitation
  • Education and training
  • Public Transportation
  • Sports and recreation
  • Agriculture and outdoor work
  • Accessibility and Inclusion  

How do we design for ergonomics best practices

We look at:

Physical ergonomics

  • Lighting
  • Acoustics
  • Colour scheme
  • Room configuration and layout
  • Storage needs and accessibility
  • Cable management requirement
  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
  • Work station consols

Cognitive ergonomics

  • Video wall mount
  • Console screen layout
  • Cognitive workload, attentional capacity and vigilance

Organisational ergonomics

  • Operating model
  • Interaction between staff and system
  • Rostering
  • Fatigue management
  • Stress management/ mental health