Introduction to

“Ergonomics”
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Outline
 Evolution of “Human Factors Engineering/
Ergonomics”
 What is Ergonomics?
 The Need for Ergonomics
 Goals of Ergonomics
 Benefits of Ergonomics
 Evolution of Disciplines

Early Civilization
 development of simple tools and utensils for hunting,
gathering, farming, building, and fighting
 materials included stone, bone, and wood (and much
later … metals)
 driven by survival and recognition of need for crafting
utensils that would be comfortable & easy to use
Stone age tools
Evolution of Disciplines
 Giovanni Alfonso Borelli
 Father of biomechanics
 His great work is De Motu
Animalium (The
movement of animals)
 He explained the muscular
movement of animals
Vitruvian Man
 Drawn by Leonardo da
Vinci but conceptualized
by the architecht Vitruvius
 drawing is based on the
correlations of ideal
human proportions with
geometry described
 The drawing is sometimes
called “The proportions of
man”
Human Body Proportions
 Evolution of Disciplines
Late 1800s / Early 1900s: The Industrial Revolution
Frederick Taylor
Introduced the “scientific” study of work
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
 study of human motion and workplace management
 skilled performance, fatigue, workstations &
equipment for physically disabled
In England, the Industrial Fatigue Research Board
considered theoretical and practical aspects of the human at
work.
In Italy, Mosso constructed dynamometers and
ergonometrics to research fatigue.
The Best Way to Lift Bricks
 Frank and Lillian Gilbreth: “…to lift 90 pounds of brick at
a time is most advantageous physiologically as well as
economically …”
Bricks/Lift 1 18 24
Weight/Lift (lbs) 5 90 120
Work/Hour (kCal) 520 285 450
Bricks/Hour 250 600 300

Optimal Procedure

[Data Source: Moore and Andrews, 1997]

Evolution of Disciplines
1900-1945: Workplace was “Task
Oriented”
 people adapted to the job and
equipment required
 tests developed for better worker
selection and training
 BUT, still an “efficiency gap” that
called for a paradigm shift by
fitting job/tools to the person
 Evolution of Disciplines
1945-1960: “Human Factors”
Profession is Born

 first engineering psychology

labs established in US & Britain
 first ‘Ergonomics Research
Society’ formed in Britain
 first book on human factors in
engineering design
International Ergonomics Society
launched in 1959
Evolution of Disciplines
1960-1980: Rapid Growth

 up to 1960, human factors research limited to military

 interest and need fed by “Race for Space”
 expansion beyond military and space research to industry
and workplace (e.g. computers, automobiles, and other
consumer products)
 Evolution of Disciplines
1980-Today: Computers, Disasters, & Lawsuits

 Computers - desire for “people-oriented” technology grew

through ergonomically designed computers, user-friendly
software, and office design
 Disasters – Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and various
high-profile chemical plant explosions were linked to lack
of attention to “human factor” considerations
 Lawsuits – courts came to recognize the need for experts
in explaining human behaviour, responses, defective
design, and effectiveness of workplace warnings and
instructions
 What is Ergonomics?
“Ergonomics”
 Ergon = work
 Nomos = laws
 “the laws of work”

Alternative Names
 Humans Factors Engineering
 Human Engineering
 Occupational Psychology
 Engineering Psychology
 Applied Experimental Psychology
 What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics
 Ergonomics is the study and optimization of the
interaction between people and their physical
environment by considering their physical,
physiological, and psychological characteristics.

Occupational Ergonomics
 Concerns the application of ergonomics principles
specifically to the workplace and related tasks.
 What is Ergonomics?

What Ergonomics is NOT

1. NOT just applying “universal”
checklists and guidelines blindly
2. NOT using oneself as the model
for design since there is diversity
and variation
3. NOT just using common sense
since must be based on real data
and information
The Need for Ergonomics
 Evidence from Epidemiology
 Disabling work injuries in US (1990) =1.8 million
 Permanent impairment in US (1990)= 600,000
 Sprains/strains account for 43% of work injuries
 Musculoskeletal conditions in US(1998)=$126 billion
 Reduction of worker’s compensation costs by 36-91% by companies
using Ergonomics in workplace
 Areas of injury
 61% (back), 8%(knee),7%(ankle), 6%(shoulder),
3.3% (wrist),3% (neck)
 Causes of Injury
 Overexertion (31%), Impact(24%), Falling (17%),
other (28%)
What is Ergonomics?
Six Pillars of Ergonomic Design “Wisdom”
1. User Orientation: Design and application of
tools, procedures, and systems must be user-
oriented, rather than just “task” oriented
2. Diversity: Recognition of diversity in human
capabilities and limitations, rather than
“stereotyping” workers/users
3. Effect on Humans: Tools, procedures, and
systems are not “inert”, but do influence human
behaviour and well-being
 What is Ergonomics?
Six Pillars of Ergonomic Design “Wisdom”
4. Objective Data: Empirical information and
evaluation is key in design process, rather than
just use of “common sense”
5. Scientific Method: test and retest hypothesis
with real data, rather than “anecdotal” evidence
or “good estimates”
6. Systems: object, procedures, environments, and
people are interconnected, affect one another,
and do not exist in “isolation”
Three Goals / Steps in Ergonomics

 To generate tolerable working conditions (avoid

injury)
 To generate acceptable working conditions (current
knowledge & technology)
 To generate optimal working conditions
Benefits of Ergonomics
 Eliminating or minimizing injuries,
strains and sprains
 Minimizing fatigue and overexertion
 Minimizing absenteeism and labor
turnover
 Improving quality and quantity of
output
 Minimizing lost time and costs
associated with injuries and
accidents
 Maximizing safety, efficiency,
comfort and productivity.
References:

 Chaffin et al., Occupational Biomechanics, 1999.

 Franco & Fusetti,Bernardino Ramazzini’s early observations
of the link between musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomics
factors, 2003
 Kromer et.al, Ergonomics: How to Design for Ease and
Efficiency, 2001
 Sanders and McCormick, Human Factors in Engineering and
Design, 1993.
 Moore and Andrews, Ergonomics for Mechanical Design,
MECH 495 Course Notes, Queens Univ., Kingston, Canada,
1997.
Assignment
1. Research on the eye anatomy, which part of the eye is
responsible for perception of light?
2. Read and define using your own words what is illumination,
luminance, reflectance and glare.
3. Know the Philippine Standard on Illumination for office
area, manufacturing area.
Instructions:
 1.5 spacing
 Cite your references
 font size 12
 Use your own words