Ergonomic design is more than good design - elise crawford
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Many businesses seek ‘ergonomically’ designed products to improve their safety efforts. However, the selection of ergonomic products for work can be a frustrating and potentially costly process if they fail to live up to expectations upon implementation. This presentation aims to shed light on the differences between good design and ergonomic design, a distinction that is important for safety outcomes. Ergonomic design principles are discussed to highlight some important distinctions that can de-mystify some misnomers that exist associated with products claimed to be ergonomically designed. Examples of redesign projects are shared to highlight how matters relating to context and individual differences influence the user experience and ultimate successful adoption of the product.
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Ergonomic design is more than good design - elise crawford
- 1. Ergonomic Design is More Than Good Design An Important Distinction for Safety Dr Elise Crawford 22-23 May 2019 Back to the Future
- 2. Overview • Good Design • Discipline of Ergonomics • Why ergonomic products fail to deliver • Ergonomic Design • Implications for Safety
- 3. Design • Is everywhere • In every aspect of our lives • Shapes our world • Products, services, built environment, digital world, systems, user experience This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
- 4. Good Design • Good for business • Good for the environment • Good for cultural and social wellbeing • Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA) (1958) • Promote design quality • Standards Australia became custodians of IDCA (2010) • Good Design labels • Visible indicators of quality design and manufacturing
- 5. The Black Box Flight Recorder Now standard on all aircraft, vital to the safety of aviation! Designer: David Warren Source: Hawkins, J 2019, Sixty year of good design
- 6. What is Good Design when safety is critical • Robust • Built to industry standards • Made with quality materials • Durable • Maintainable & Cleanable • Functions as expected • Reliable & Glitch free • Follows platform protocols • Compatible with existing systems • Secure (no fear of lost data or outside interference)
- 7. What? Ergonomics design is more than good design?
- 8. What is Ergonomics? https://www.iea.cc/
- 9. It’s not just about anthropometrics Kevin Gilchrist in his 2010 blog posted: ’It feels good in your hands, and you can play for hours on end. This is an ergonomic design that is set up for comfort,’ ------------------------------------------- Another perspective ‘I was told I could turn on the TV with it, but had no clue how to do that. I pressed every button but nothing happened. It’s a stupid device.’
- 10. A word from the wise [Don Norman] ‘No single design will satisfy everyone’ Emotional Design: Why we love (or hate) everyday things (2005)
- 11. Human variability • Size, shape, weight • Culture • Personal taste • Age • Abilities • Needs • Goals • Interests • … This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
- 12. Context matters • Who are your workers? • What goals are to be achieved? • What equipment/ tools are being used? • Are tools effectively and efficiently used? • What is the environment where work is done? • What in the work environment impacts work? • What is the job? • Is the job interesting and satisfying? • Are the rules clear? • Does the worker have some control over her work? • Who does the worker interact with? • Are working relationships productive? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC B
- 13. Problematic expectations • The only people who need to worry about ergonomics are those who have already developed an injury. • Ergonomics is only really important for people who work on a computer or type all day. • Investing in ergonomics is time consuming and takes too many resources. • There are too many types of people to be able to be efficiently ergonomic. • Ergonomics is just another term for ‘office products’. • If labelled as ‘ergonomic’ it will provide for the needs and comfort of my workers. Source: Spivey 2018 Top five misconceptions about ergonomics
- 14. Overarching Design principles • Human-centred • Design to ‘fit’ the user • Participatory • Actively involve the user • Holistic • Physical • Cognitive • Organisational • Environmental • Evidence-based • What’s the evidence? • Systematic • Conduct preliminary analysis to inform subsequent analysis • Evaluate solutions against the problem definition and success criteria • Consider design trade-offs • Iterative • Prototype and test regularly • Co-create • Work with other discipline experts • Including SME, the end users
- 15. What do ergonomists do? Empathise with the user • What is the problem • User experience • User analysis (needs, limitations & capabilities) • Task analysis • Context of work (work environment) Secondary analysis – Design principles • Demands on the person (risk analysis) • Physical • Cognitive • Organisational • Environmental Test Prototypes with users Help users become familiar Advocate for the user Support user testing as design is refined Support train the trainer Monitor human-system ‘fit’ operate to disposal
- 16. Poor human interactions: Implications for safety Solution • If you design something that did not meet user needs it will be disheartening and they may refuse to use it Physical • Working in unhealthy postures and ways lead to chronic injury & illness, fatigue Cognitive • Unsupported cognition can lead to slow or wrong responses Organisational • Unproductive working relationships, distrust Environmental • Harmful exposure can lead to physical and mental fatigue Induce errors and put workers and others at risk!
- 17. Avoid undermining safety 1. Don’t assume that you or others know the needs of end users • The client is not an end user 2. Involve end users throughout conceptualisation • To get the right idea • To match their mental models 3. Provide the necessary resources for end-user participation • Relief staff • Conducive to end-user shift design 4. Incorporate end-user participation with the change management process 5. Engage an end-user advocate Source: Crawford et al. (2018)
- 18. Ensure an Ergonomist is involved • Unlike many health professions, the title ‘Ergonomist’ as a profession is not protected by legislation. It would otherwise prohibit non- registered users from using the title. • Do your homework, check registration • https://www.ergonomics.org.au/find-a-cpe
- 19. Certified Professional Ergonomist • An active full member of the HFESA (or other IEA affiliated society) • Completed an education program which provides a comprehensive set of ergonomics competencies • Expertise in ergonomics demonstrated through the provision of at least one major work sample, supported by one or more work samples or products of smaller magnitude • A minimum of four years of full-time practice in human factors & ergonomics or the part-time equivalent
- 20. Other Important Design Approaches Good work design • OHS Professional, PCBU Consolidates: worker & business needs, context, work environment, across supply chain • Involves: workers, decision makers, supply chains and networks Learns: experts, evidence & experience Manages risk for continual improvement Ergonomic design • Ergonomist Human advocate Considers: human needs, limitations and capabilities • Considers human interactions: physical, cognitive, organisational, environmental Participatory, holistic, contextual, evidence- based Safe design • Engineer, IT Developers Protects from harmful exposure Incorporates: • Good work design • Ergonomic design • Extends across the design lifecycle (concept – disposal)
- 22. Some useful resources • Find a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) in Australia (HFESA) • https://www.ergonomics.org.au/find-a-cpe • Ergonomics Design: International Ergonomics Association • https://www.iea.cc/ • Andrew T. Miranda (2019) Misconceptions of human factors concepts, Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 20:1, 73-83, https://doi.org/10.1080/1463922X.2018.1497727 • Good Design: 60 years of Good Design • https://issuu.com/gooddesignaustralia/docs/60_years_of_good_design_yearbook?e=883284 7/68545684 • Safe Design Guidance • https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safe-design • Good Work Design Handbook (Safe Work Australia) • https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/good-work-design