Environmental ergonomics focuses on the interactions between humans and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, noise, vibration, lighting, and air quality. The document discusses various types of ergonomics including physical, cognitive, organizational, and environmental ergonomics. It also provides examples of anthropometric measurements used in physical ergonomics like weight, height, skin fold thickness, and mid-arm circumference which are used to assess nutritional status. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders that can result from certain physical tasks or conditions are also mentioned.

1. Module 4
Introduction to Ergonomics

2. Human Factors and Ergonomics

3. Key Elements

4. Human Factors and Ergonomics

5. What is “Ergonomics”?
Ergonomic principles adapt work to a specific person by designing tasks & tools
or equipment to fit the individual to prevent injuries to the musculoskeletal
system.

6. Areas covered under Ergonomics
Sl.No Areas of study Examples
1 Physical aspects of the user-machine
interface
Size, shape, texture, color, method of operation of displays, controls in machines
to be used anywhere.
2 Workplace design and work place layout Layout of factories, shop floor, offices, work places where detailed relationship
between different equipments, work user, etc is established.
3 Job design, selection and training Influence of shift work on performance, design of instructions, job aids, training
schemes, learning curves; selection of personnel against criteria of aptitude and
personality.
4 Physical environment Effects of climate, noise, vibration, illumination, sound and chemical/biological
contaminants on human performance and health.

7. • An “MSD” is an illness or injury that affects one or more parts
of the musculoskeletal system
– Bones
– Muscles
– Tendons
– Ligaments
– Cartilage
– Nerves
– Blood vessels
• Other common terms for “MSDs”are:
– Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD’s)
– Repetitive strain injures (RSI’s)
– Repetitive motion injuries (RMI’s)
When not diagnosed and treated these can cause
inconvenience permanent pain and disability.
What are the risks
of ignoring ergonomic principles?
MSD
MusculoSkeletal Disorders

8. What are MSD’S?
• MSD’s are injuries caused by sustained exposure to
stressors or repetitive motion.
• They may affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones,
circulation, or nerves.
• Some well-known MSD’s are:
– Carpel tunnel syndrome
– Guyner’s syndrome
– Trigger finger
– Tennis elbow CONTINUE

9. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
One of the best known MSDs
The median nerve does not work properly due to pressure on the nerve as
it runs through an opening called the carpel tunnel
Numbness is usually first symptom.
Pain & tingling, can go up the arm to the
shoulder and neck, causing waking to
pain in middle of night
OUCH!

10. 10
Physical ergonomics
Human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical
characteristics as they relate to physical activity
Cognitive ergonomics
Mental processes (perception, memory, reasoning, motor response) as they
affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system
Organizational ergonomics
Optimization of sociotechnical systems, including their organizational
structures, policies and processes
Environmental Ergonomics
Types of Ergonomics

11. Physical Ergonomics Vs Cognitive
Ergonomics
• Physical ergonomics focuses on our bodies
• Cognitive ergonomics is interested in what
goes on in our brains: –
the way our senses perceive information
the way in which we understand and interpret it

12. COGNITIVE ERGONOMICS
• Studies cognition in work settings, in order to
optimize human well-being and system
performance .
• Focuses on the fit between human cognitive
abilities and limitations and the machine, task,
environment.

13. • Cognitive ergonomics, defined by the International
Ergonomics Association "is concerned with mental
processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning,
and motor response, as they affect interactions
among humans and other elements of a system”. The
relevant topics include:
• mental workload decision-making
• skilled performance
• human-computer interaction, human reliability
• work stress
• training as these may relate to human-system design.

14. Goals of Cognitive Function
Aims at enhancing performance of cognitive tasks by:
• User-centered design of human machine interaction
and human computer interaction.
• Design of information technology systems that
support cognitive tasks e.g., cognitive artifacts)
• Development of training programs
• Work redesign to manage cognitive workload and
increase human reliability

15. • The way people perceive and act has direct
implications for the design of the artefacts and
environment that they use
• Mind is as comfortable at work as the body
• If physical surroundings reflect and support
their natural cognitive tendencies,
• Less errors
• performance & productivity -positive boost

16. Models Of Cognitive Ergonomics:
Recent models of cognitive ergonomics involve
three dimensions:
• Usefulness
• usability
• acceptance

19. Usability:
• The degree to which a product or service is easy
to use, easy to learn, and optimized for efficiency
• ISO 9241-11 “Guidance on Usability”
• Extent to which a product can be used by
specified users to achieve specified goals with
effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction.

20. Perception
• The top down way our brain organizes and interprets
that information and puts it into context.
Perceptual set :
• The psychological factor that determines how you
perceive your environment.
Factors affecting perception:
1. Context
2. Culture
3. Emotions or moods
4. Position

21. Social Perception

22. Perception

23. Perception

24. Topics under Cognitive ergonomics

33. Physical Ergonomics and Work Related
Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSD)
• Physical Ergonomics is concerned with human anatomy,
anthropometry, physiology and bio mechanical
characteristics as they relate to physical activity in work or
daily life.
• Certain jobs or work conditions cause a higher rate worker
complaints of undue strain, localized fatigue, discomfort,
or pain that does not go away after overnight rest.
• Every year 1.8 million U.S. workers experience WRMSDs
and nearly 600,000 of the injuries

35. Physical Ergonomics

36. Anthropometry
• Introduction: Anthropos "man" and Metron "measurement”
• A branch of anthropology that involves the quantitative
measurement of the human body.
• It is the single most portable, universally applicable, inexpensive and non
invasive technique for assessing the size,
proportions and composition of the human body.
• It is used to evaluate both under & over nutrition.
• The measured values reflects the current nutritional status &
don’t differentiate between acute & chronic changes

37. Parameters of anthropometry
• Age dependent factors:-
a) Weight b) Height c) Head circumference d
• Age independent factors:-
a)Mid-arm circumference (1-5 years)
b) Weight for height
c) Skinfold thickness

38. Weight
• Weight
The measurement of weight is most reliable criteria of
assessment of health and nutritional status of children.
The weight can be recorded using a :
• Beam type weighing balance
• Electronic weighing scales for infants and children
• Salter spring machine (in field conditions)

39. Periodic recording of weight
• Growth Velocity :
• 0-4 months 1.0kg/month(30g/day)
• 5-8 months 0.75kg/month(20gm/day)
• 9-12 months 0.50kg/month(15g/day)
• 1-3 years 2.25kg/yr
• 4-9 years 2.75 kg/yr
• 10-18 years 5.06.0kg/yr

40. Length or Height/Stature Measurement
Technique
• Upto 2 years of age Recumbent Length is measured w
ith the help of an Infantometer .
• In older children Standing Height or Stature is recorde
d. It is convenient to
use an Inbuilt Stadiometer affixed on the wall which pr
ovides a direct read
out of height with an accuracy of +/- 0.1cm.
• Nutritional deprivation over a period of time affects th
e stature or linear growth of the child .

41. Organizational Ergonomics
Organizational ergonomic works on complete
optimization of the workplace, right from
quality management to teamwork. It includes
managing everything in the organization to
make it a better place to work.

42. Environmental Ergonomics