OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Engineering and Ergonomics
Engineering is the science that applies the principles
of mathematics, physics, chemistry and other natural
and social sciences to the design of systems.
Ergonomics is a specialty field of engineering that
concentrates on systems that involve human activity.
This activity may take place in operator, office,
manufacturing, end-user and consumer
environments.
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Historic Perspective and Definition
Introduced for the first time by a Polish educator Wojciech
Jastrzebrowski in the mid-1800s
The word “ergonomics” originated from the Greek words:
ERGOS ===> meaning "work," and
NOMOS ===> meaning "laws.".
Other terms that have been used to describe similar endeavors
are:
Human Factors
Human Factors Engineering
Human Engineering
Engineering Psychology
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Benefits of ergonomics
increased productivity
improved health and safety
increased work quality
lower worker turnover
lower lost work time
increased morale
lower absenteeism
lower workers’ compensation costs
less likelihood of OSHA fines
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Ergonomist and Perspective
Some key terminology:
HAZARD: A condition with potential for personal
injury, equipment loss or structural loss.
DANGER: Expresses relative exposure to a hazard.
Hazard may be present, but if no exposure exists,
there is no resulting danger.
RISK: An expression of possible loss over a
specified time (usually in terms of dollar losses).
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Control strategies
Engineering controls: workstation design/redesign,
tool design, chair design, document holder, footrest,
etc
Administrative controls: training, worker selection,
work pace/frequency
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): safety
glasses, hard hats
Back belts and wrist splints are NOT PPEs
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Fundamental Ergonomic Model
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
To determine if a piece of equipment,
Hand tool or other device is ergonomically
designed, we must ask at least the following
three questions:
1. Who (Human) was it designed for?
2. What Task was it designed for?
3. What Environment was it designed to function
within?
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE ERGONOMICS
CALCULATION OF INCIDENT RATES
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
SYSTEMS APPROACH TO ERGONOMICS
Root Cause analysis: The 5 why approach
SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT
IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM
ANALYSIS OF PROBLEM
SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
EVALUATE ALTERNATIVES
RECOMMEND SOLUTION TO MANAGEMENT
IMPLEMENT SOLUTION AND FOLLOW-UP
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Scientific Management
Identification of problem
Analysis of problem
Search for possible solutions
Evaluate alternatives
Recommend solution to management
Implement solution and follow-up
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INTRODUCTION (contd.)
Calculation of Incident Rates and Severity Rates
Injury IR
Illness IR
Fatality IR
Lost-workday-cases IR
Number-of-lost-workdays rate
Specific-hazard IR
Lost-workday-injuries rate (LWDI)
