LECTURE -1 (Ergonomics)

ERGONOMICS & SAFETY

MANAGEMENT
IPE-3107 PRESENTED BY
Md. Sumon Rahman
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Industrial & Production
Engineering
Jashore University of Science &1

Technology .
 What is Ergonomics
 The word ergonomics comes from the Greek “ergo” that means “work” and “nomos”
that means “law”. Ergonomics defined as the study of the interaction between people
and machines and the factors that affect the interaction.
 Purpose:
 The purpose of Ergonomics is to improve the performance of systems by
improving human-machine interaction. This can be done by “designing-in” a
better interface or by “designing-out” factors in the work environment in the
task or in the organization of work that degrade human-machine
performance.

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 The aim of Ergonomics
The users or operators often has to respond to the machine or tools, turning
a switch to react to the information. Ergonomics must be involved in
fitting the worker to the machine by selection and training and the
optimization of the requirement to suit the man or the adaption of the
main rough environment condition. To fulfill the general aim of
ergonomics interaction among man, machine and environment is
required. This approach is,
1. The operator’s interaction with the tool.
2. The interaction with immediate work place around him.
3. The interaction with work environment in which has to work.

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 What is Human factors Engineering?

Human factors discovers and applies information about human behavior,

abilities and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines,
systems, tasks, jobs and environment for productive safe, comfortable and
effective human use.
Objectives:
It has two major objectives as following:
1. To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency with which work and other
activities are carried out.
2. To enhance certain desirable values such as-
 Improved safety
 Reduced fatigue and stress
 Increased comfort
 Increased job satisfaction
 Improved quality of life

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 The Difference between Human Factors and Ergonomics
Ergonomics Human Factors Engineering

Ergonomics is often thought of as the field that Human factors Engineering deals

deals with design of workplace- environment, with human physical, mental and perceptual
machines and tools. capabilities, and both are important
considerations in the study of work and design
of work environments

Ergonomics draws on many disciplines in its Human factors (also known as ergonomics) is

study of humans and their environments, the study of how humans behave physically
including anthropometry, biomechanics, and psychologically in relation to particular
mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, environments, products, or services.
industrial design, information design,
kinesiology, physiology, cognitive psychology,
industrial and organizational psychology, and
space psychology.
‘Human factors’ is another phrase for the concept of ergonomics. Conventionally, the two are
sometimes differentiated according to the physical and psychological aspects of the human.
Psychological capabilities are more commonly associated with human factors, while physical
aspects are more commonly associated with ergonomics. But, at the end of the day, the two terms
can be considered synonyms.
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 What are workstations and
Ergonomics Principles?
Workstation: Workstation is a place in where work is done. In order to designing a workstation it
is very essential to know ergonomics principles.
The Ergonomics principles are:
1. Keep everything in easy reach.
2. Work at proper heights.
3. Reduce excessive forces.
4. Work in natural postures.
5. Reduce excessive repetition.
6. Minimize direct pressure.
7. Provide adjustability and change of posture.
8. Provide clearance and access.
9. Maintain a comfortable environment.
10. Minimize fatigue and static load.
11. Enhance clarity and understanding.
12. Improve work organizations.

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Keep everything in easy reach

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Work at proper heights

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Reduce excessive forces.

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Work in natural postures

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Reduce excessive repetition.

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Minimize direct pressure

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 Provide adjustability and change
of posture


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Provide clearance and access.

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Maintain a comfortable environment.

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Enhance clarity and understanding

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 A System can be improve by:

 Designing the user-interface to make it more compatible with

task and the user.
 Changing the work environment to make it safer and more
appropriate for the task.
 Changing the task to make it more compatible with user
characteristics.
 Changing the way work is organized to accommodate
people’s psychological social needs

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 During the implementation of ergonomics in system design
the following function must be eliminated:

 Inefficiency
 Fatigue
 Accidents, injuries and errors
 User difficulties
 Low morale and apathy

SELF STUDY
 The focus of Ergonomics.
 Human-machine systems.
 Application of Ergonomics.
 Human-machine systems (Helender).
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 Workstation and
environment

operations
Tools
 Biomechanical
 Biomechanical  Anthropometric
 physical  Lighting
 Work surface
 Climate
 Furniture
The task

 New technology
 Job satisfaction
 Training
 Support system
 Rest breaks
 Management systems
 Shift work

Figure: Relationship of job factors, the operators, the tools,

the workstations and the environment.
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 Biomechanics

 Biomechanics is the study of forces acting on the human body. It is used in the
ergonomics.
 Biomechanics is the study of forces acting on and generated within the body and
of the effects of these forces on the tissues, fluids, muscle and bones.
 Biomechanics is a useful tool in most manual handling situations, whether people
are lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, or even when no load is handled but the
body’s own weight is creating postural stress.

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Improve work organizations.

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 Reference Books
SL No Book’s Name Authors

01 A guide to the Ergonomics of Manufacturing Martin Helander

02 Introduction to Ergonomics R.S. Bridger

03 Human factors in Engineering and Design Mark S Sanders

04 Introduction to Safety Engineering David S. Gloss, Miriam

Gayle

05 Industrial Safety, Health and Environment R.K.Jain, Sunil S. Rao

Management

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