IOP2603-ERGONOMICS REVISION Q&A 2022.
ERGONOMICS IOP2603
STUDY UNIT 1/CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS (HFE)
LEARNING UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS
EXPLORING THE BASIC PRINCIPLES (STUDY GUIDE PAGE 10)
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ST principle
Primary purpose: (Human fa...
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS (HFE)
LEARNING UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS
EXPLORING THE BASIC PRINCIPLES (STUDY GUIDE PAGE 10)
1ST principle
Primary purpose: (Human factors and ergonomics design): design
Design (study guide page 10) may refer to drawing, creating or inventing tools,
machines, appliances or even a workstation. There is often difficulty designing
tools, machines, appliances and the workplace. So it is not easy.
In designing a workplace the existing situation must first be analysed, new design
solutions must be synthesised, the design solutions must be analysed again”
(Helander) .
If you observe that your workplace or tools that you are using are difficult to use
then it shows that you have carried out some scrutiny of the existing situation.
Design is a systematic process. See figure 1.2 page 5.
One also needs to know what happens to the redesigned tools or machines.
Is the user satisfied?
This is shown in figure 1.2 by the line that connects implement new system box
with user and market requirements box and formulate systems goals box.
The feedback loop also shows that the process will begin again so it is a never-
ending activity.
2nd principle
Interdisciplinary approach: Mixed professional backgrounds such as engineering,
psychology, and medical professions, psychology etc see figure 1.1 page 13 in study
guide
Biological science: (anatomy, biomechanics, medicine, physiology) This
considers the structure of the human body and it physical capabilities and
limitation e.g weights, carry or push and other physical requirements of the job
(physical force that people can endure). If this is not designed properly it will
lead to injury, accidents and maybe even death. If physical abilities are not taken
into consideration then people will get ill and sick leave will increase. So will
medical and legal costs increase. Productivity will also decrease.
Behavioural science: (psychology, sociology) Studies the intellectual and
psychological abilities with regards also to the functioning of the brain(how we
learn, perceive, remember and control motor process). E.g lighting (switching
on lights) how does one turn on a tap. The knob is turned anticlockwise and
when you turn it off the action is clockwise. (note when designs are not what we
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, expect e.g. men’s buttons on clothing are on the left and women are on the right)
.
Physical and natural sciences: (Engineering, Physics, chemistry) This is about
the machines and the environment such as impact of noise, climate, vibration
lighting, which uses scientific laws. If we do not understand factors in the
working environment and the scientific laws governing them then it will be
difficult to design or plan the working environment effectively. This means that
we will be unable to control the environmental factors and not be able to
improve performance.
Definition as per International Ergonomics Association (2000) page 6 of text
book
‘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 in
order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”
“Ergonomics contributes to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products,
environments and systems in order to make them compatible with the needs,
abilities and limitations of people”
THE FOCUS OF ERGONOMICS
Focus: On the interaction between human beings and products, equipment, facilities,
procedures, physical environment and psychological environment. Used at work and
in everyday living. The emphasis is on people and how design and layout of the above
influences them. The focus is on the person or operator.(10-11 TB and figure 1.3
page11). (note your own work environment, noise, dirt, lighting, or even fear of being
robbed can affect your studying). Helander states that the “operator is the central
focus of ergonomics”
THE MAJOR SYSTEMS (HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS) GOALS
Goals: (14-16 TB). Main objective of ergonomics (Main aims and objectives are
summarised page 16 in study guide). is to change or improve the facilities people use
and the environments in which they use them to correspond with their capabilities,
limitations and needs. There are three sub-objectives.
(i) The goal of safety: The goal of safety: (note the limitations of the operator,
why should footballers wear shin pads or why should we wear seat belts)
In order to assess the safety status of system there needs to be a comparison
between the standards and requirements of the environments the actual
performance and hence the identification of the limitations of the operator.
An operator, especially if the task demands a great deal of concentration or
excessive manual or physical activities may find his or attention drifting at
times due to fatigue. It may also happen that there are factors in the
environment such as excessive noise or people talking loudly on the
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