Ergonomics is the application of psychological and physiological principles to product, process, and system design to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. The goals of ergonomics are to reduce human error, increase productivity and enhance safety and comfort. It involves understanding the interaction between humans and other elements of a system. Ergonomics principles are relevant to the design of equipment, tools, furniture and the optimization of the work environment.

1. Ergonomics
By. Nirmala Fousta . A
Assistant Professor
Department of Home Science – Interior
Design & Decor
Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Arts & Science
College For Women. Ch: 1

2. Introduction …
• Human factors and ergonomics (commonly
referred to as human factors) is the
application of psychological and physiological
principles to the (engineering and) design of
products, processes, and systems.
• Human factors is employed to fulfill the goals of
occupational health and safety and productivity.
• It is relevant in the design of such things as safe
furniture and easy-to-use interfaces to machines
and equipment.

3. • In research, human factors employs the
scientific method to study human behavior so
that the resultant data may be applied to the four
primary goals.
• In essence, it is the study of designing
equipment, devices and processes that fit the
human body and its cognitive abilities. The two
terms "human factors" and "ergonomics" are
essentially synonymous.

4. Goals…• The goal of human factors is to
 reduce human error
 increase productivity
 and enhance safety and comfort
with a specific focus on the interaction -
between the human and the thing of
interest.
• It is not simply changes or amendments to
the work environment but encompasses
theory, methods, data and principles all
applied in the field of ergonomics.

5. Objectives of Ergonomics
• To ensure better health – safety – comfort –
performance of man at work.
• To enhance the productivity – efficiency –
effectiveness with which work is carried out.
• To design product – tool – equipment to fit the user.
• To develop appropriate work environment for the
user, keeping in mind their capabilities and
limitations.
• To reduce work related stress- fatigue or discomfort
– improve the quality of life.

6. Definition …
• The International Ergonomics
Association defines “Ergonomics
(or human factors) is the scientific
discipline concerned with the
understanding of interactions
among humans and other elements
of a system, and the profession that
applies theory, principles, data and
methods to design to optimize
human well-being and overall
system performance”.
Ergonomics helps
harmonize things that
interact with people
in terms of people’s
needs, abilities and
limitations

7. • ISO 6385 defines
"ergonomics" and the "study
of human factors" similarly,
as the "scientific discipline
concerned with the
understanding of
interactions among humans
and other elements of a
system, and the profession
that applies theory,
principles and methods to
design to optimize overall
human performance."

8. • Ergonomics removes barriers to quality,
productivity and safe human performance by fitting
products, tasks, and environments to people. ... A
second branch, sometimes referred to as “human
factors,” is oriented to the psychological aspects of
work such as mental loading and decision making.
• Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent
repetitive strain injuries and other musculoskeletal
disorder, which can develop over time and can lead to
long-term disability.
• Human factors and ergonomics is concerned with the
"fit" between the user, equipment, and environment
or "fitting a job to a person".
Concept …

9. Concept …
• It accounts for the user's capabilities and
limitations in seeking to ensure that tasks,
functions, information, and the environment
suit that user.
• To assess the fit between a person and the
used technology, human factors specialists or
ergonomists consider the job (activity) being
done and the demands on the user; the
equipment used (its size, shape, and how
appropriate it is for the task), and the
information used (how it is presented,
accessed, and changed).

10. Ergonomics consider various factors associated
with man and his environment such as…
Physical
Factor
Biological
Factor
Psychological
Factor
Work
Factor
Organizational
Factor

11. Physical Factors
• (Work Environment)
• Noise
• Light
• Temperature
• Vibration
• Chemical Substance
• Objects
• Tools
• Furniture
• Products
Biological Factors
• Human body dimension
• Body capabilities or
limitation
• Physiological processes
• Body posture
• Body movement

12. Psychological
Factors
• Mental Work
load
• Information
Processing
• Training
• motivation
Work Factor
• Job demands
(duration,
frequency or
intensity)
• Job design
Organizational
Factor
• Organization
type
• Climate
• Management
regimes

13. Ergonomics, in practice, is found to be applied over the field of
working environment and deals with various aspects such as:
Application
of
Ergonomics
Design of
Man
Machine
Systems
Design of
consumer
goods and
service
systems
Design of
working
environment
Anatomical
factors in
workplace
layout, including
the placement of
machines/equip
ment and
components to
suit human body
measurements
and design of
seats etc.
In order to help accurate perception of various display panels and
presentation of all types of instrument dials to deal with layout of the
work place.

14. • The design of wheels and control levers in order to suit human
mental and physical characteristics. Climatic conditions such as
lighting and noise at the workplace. Adaptation of the designs of
machines/equipment, tools and work place layout to suit human
beings was under taken by work study engineers. But these
engineers relied mostly on their intuition and practical
knowledge in that field.
• Studies were conducted in the areas of air craft, military space
vehicle systems and electronics initially. Presently the design of
various systems such as, automobile, production equipment,
transportation systems, consumer products, architectural
design, computers, housing, town and country planning public
Utilities and agriculture equipment etc. are being studied to
determine their ergonomic suitability. Likewise service system
have also been investigated.

15. Design of Man-Machine Systems:
• A man-machine system is a system where one or more
workmen/ human beings work in relation with one or
more machines, devices or equipment. Thus a worker
drilling a hole in a job or a person using a hammer to
drive a nail in a wooden job (an article being
manufactured is an example of a man- machine system
as far as ergonomics is concerned.
• Such systems could be productive systems as well as
service systems such as a post office or fire fighting
system or a dispensary etc. Ergonomics is applied to
adapt such systems so as to provide maximum job
satisfaction and comfort and minimum physiological and
mental load to the operator of the system.

16. Design of Consumer Goods and Service
Systems:
• Ergonomics is applicable in the design of
consumer goods starting from design of tooth
brush and other items such as dinning set; sofa
set; kitchen ware, house hold fittings table and
shoes etc. Similarly protective equipment such
as safety goggles, adverse weather and space
clothing, gloves, crash helmets, fire fighting and
industrial hazard protection and appliances etc.
should also be economically sound.

17. Design of Working Environment:
• While designing a proper working environment for work
force/workers at work, the various factors related with
ergonomics such as human endurance of illumination,
pollution, noise heating and ventilation should be taken
into consideration. This aspect should be taken into
consideration at each stage right design up to real
utilization or actual service.
• The field of this applicable unlimited. All factors
concerned with environments such as design of work
benches, public transport, road systems, town and
country planning, personnel, neighbourhood, as well as
airports etc. should be subjected to ergonomic analysis.

18. • The users of ergonomics information such as
engineers
 Civil, electrical, mechanical, production, industrial,
space and biomedical)
 behavioral scientists (i.e. anthropologists,
psychologists and sociologists)

19. Important general ergonomic consideration
in the design of workplace
1. It takes little effort to make a workstation comfortable
and less stressful.
2. Design for safety.
3. design to accommodate population percentiles.
4. Consider the population from which the measurements
were taken and for which the design is to be made.
5. For space requirements accommodate the large persons.
6. For reaches accommodate small person.
7. Operator should have sufficient leg and kick room.
8. Operator should be able to stretch out their legs.
9. Provide adequate space for movement.
10. Consider the limits of muscular force and strength.

20. 11. Educate and train workers.
12. Design flexible workstation that can adapt and change
according to the postures and habits of different people.
13. Individualize the selection of appropriate seating to meet the
dimensions of the individual and the demand of the task.
14. Design tools to facilitate task performance.
15. Layout work areas within normal easy access reaches
(horizontal has well as vertical).
16.locate control switches within easy reach.
17. Design workplace at which task can be conducted in the
sitting or standing.
18. Raise the surface for fine or precise work and lower it for
heavy work.
19. Provide good light (intensity, quality, brightness, contrast)
good ventilation and control other environmental condition.
20 load stress and speed stress are undesirable particularly
when combined with environmental stresses.

21. Reference
• An Introduction to Human Factors Engineering. Wickens, Gordon, Liu, 1997
• Pandve HT (2017) Historical Milestones of Ergonomics: From Ancient Human to
Modern Human. J Ergonomics 7: e169. doi: 10.4172/2165-7556.1000e169.
• ISO 6385 defines "ergonomics" and the "study of human factors" similarly, as the
"scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among
humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory,
principles and methods to design to optimize overall human performance."
• ^ "CRIOP" (PDF). SINTEF.
• International Ergonomics Association. What is Ergonomics. Website. Retrieved 17
March 2014.
• ^ "What is ergonomics?". Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
• Ergonomics Practical Manual for beginners. Manjit Kaur Chauhan, (2015)ISBN 978-
81-7273-729-0.
• www.yourarticlelibrary.com
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