EMM5710

Industrial Ergonomics
Lecture 1 Introduction to Ergonomics

Dr. Eris Elianddy bin Supeni

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
ERGONOMICS
ERGON --> WORK
NOMOS --> LAW
The Laws to be Observed at Work
Overview
• Ergonomics is the science of designing user interaction with
equipment and workplaces to fit the user. Proper ergonomic
design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries,
which can develop over time and can lead to long-term
disability.

• The International Ergonomics Association defines

ergonomics as follows: Ergonomics is employed to fulfill the
two goals of health and productivity. It is relevant in the
design of such things as safe furniture and easy-to-use
interfaces to machines.

• Ergonomics is concerned with the ‘fit’ between people and

their technological tools and environments.
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
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
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
 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
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
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
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
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
ERGONOMICS and DISCIPLINES

• Ergonomics is a Multi-Disciplinary Science

• Ergonomics is also an Inter-Disciplinary Science

ERGONOMICS
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS

PSYCHOLOGY PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE -ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK -WORK
-SOCIAL ERGONOMICS

ANATOMY
-ANTHROPOMETRY
-BIOMECHANICS
DISCIPLINES IN ERGONOMICS

ECONOMICS LAW MANAGEMENT

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

ECONOMICS LAW MANAGEMENT

ARTIFICIAL
INTELIGENCE MANUFACTURING

PSYCHOLOGY PHYSIOLOGY
-COGNITIVE -ENVIRONMENTAL
-WORK -WORK
-SOCIAL ERGONOMICS
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
TOXICOLOGY
ANATOMY OPERATIONS
-ANTHROPOMETRY
RESEARCH
ENVRONMENTAL
-BIOMECHANICS
MEDICINE ENGINEERING

WORK
SYSTEMS DESIGN ORGANIZATION
ERGONOMICS
PROFESSIONS HAVING
COMPLEMENTARY ROLES WITH
ERGONOMICS

Safety Civil
Occupational Officer Engineer
Health Officer

Mechanical
Industrial Engineer
Nurse ERGONOMICS

Architect
Physiotherapist

Industrial
Ind. Medical
Social Designer
Officer
Psychologist
ERGO-SYSTEMS

• Simple ergo-systems
e e
H H M

• Complex ergo-systems
eM M e MH
MH M H H H
Human-Machine Interaction
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”
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?
 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
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
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
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
 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
Benefits of ergonomics
Productivity
Product quality
Safety
Health
Reliability
Job satisfaction
Personal development
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
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 - smallDesign error - profound
consequences consequences
Product competitive- Marketing competitiveness
ness unimportant vital
Restricted user- popu- Wide variation in user
lation characteristics population
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

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