Ergonomics, definition ,introduction ,advantages

ergonomics,defnition, introduction,advantages

1. ERGONOMICS Introduction Definition Objective Advantages SUBMITTED BY TESSA RAJU A 91 II M.Sc EVS

2. DEFNITION the study of people's efficiency in their working environment . The term ergonomics originally comes from the Greek words ergon (work or labor) and nomos (natural laws). The fact that the word ergonomics was coined by a Polish scholar,  Wojciech Jastrzębowski , in 1857 became widely known when his book in Polish was reprinted with English translation in 1997 Human factors and ergonomics is the application of psychological and physiological principles to the engineering and design of products, processes, and systems . Ergonomics is the  process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so  that they fit the people who use them . Ergonomics aims to improve workspaces and environments to minimize risk of injury or harm.

3. INTRODUCTION

4. ERGONOMICS The international ergonomics association defines Ergonomics 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, data and methods to design to optimize human well being and overall system performance. It is defined as the study of people in their working environment. It is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capability of the working population.

5. The field is a combination of numerous disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, engineering, biomechanics, industrial design, physiology, anthropometry, interaction design, visual design, user experience, and user interface design. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.

6. Rather than expecting people to adapt to a design that forces them to work in an uncomfortable, stressful or dangerous way, ergonomists and human factors specialists seek to understand how a product, workplace or system can be designed to suit the people who need to use it. Ergonomics comprise three main fields of research: Physical ergonomics Cognitive errgonomics Organizational ergonomics.

7. Physical ergonomics Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomy, and some of the anthropometric, physiological and bio mechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity. Risk factors such as localized mechanical pressures, force and posture in a sedentary office environment lead to injuries attributed to an occupational environment. .

8. These types of jobs are often those involving activities such as repetitive and forceful exertions; frequent, heavy, or overhead lifts; awkward work positions; or use of vibrating equipment. Physical ergonomics is important to those diagnosed with physiological ailments or disorders such as arthritis (both chronic and temporary) or carpal tunnel syndrome Many ergonomically designed products are also used or recommended to treat or prevent such disorders, and to treat pressure-related chronic pain.

9. Mitigation solutions can include both short term and long-term solutions.  Short and long-term solutions involve awareness training, positioning of the body, furniture and equipment and ergonomic exercises. Sit-stand stations and computer accessories that provide soft surfaces for resting the palm as well as split keyboards are recommended. Innovative workstations that are being tested include sit-stand desks, treadmill desks, pedal devices and cycle ergometers .

10. Cognitive ergonomics Cognitive ergonomics 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. Topics include mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human reliability, work stress and training as these may relate to human-system and Human-Computer Interaction design.

11. Cognitive ergonomics aims at enhancing performance of cognitive tasks by means of several interventions, including user-centered design of human-machine interaction and human-computer interaction , design of information technology systems that support cognitive tasks , development of training programs, work redesign to manage cognitive workload and increase human reliability etc.

12. Organisational ergonomics Organizational ergonomics focuses on optimizing socio-technical systems and organizing structures, policies and processes in order to maximize efficiency. This domain addresses more subjective aspects of the workplace including Communication, Crew resources and management ,Work schedule design, Teamwork, Participatory design, Cooperative work ,New work paradigms Quality management, Virtual organizations, Community ergonomics etc.

13. The goal of organizational ergonomics is the attainment of a fully harmonized work system that ensures employee job satisfaction and commitment. It also includes the study of technology’s consequences on human relationships, processes, and institutions.

14. OBJECTIVES

15. The benefits of ergonomics can appear in many different forms, in productivity and quality, in safety and health, in reliability, in job satisfaction and in personal development. The aim of ergonomics is to ensure that the working situation is in harmony with the activities of the worker. The basic aim of ergonomics is efficiency in purposeful activity which includes efficiency in the widest sense of achieving the desired result without wasteful input, without error and without damage to the person involved or to others.

16. The other objectives of ergonomics include optimizing the integration of man and machine in order to increase productivity with accuracy. This involves in the design of work suitable for worker and design of machinery and controls so as to minimize mental and physical strain on the worker to enable efficiency the improvement in efficiency. Attempts should also be done to minimize the risk of injury, illness, accidents and errors without compromis­ing productivity. It also includes improving the design of machine at the initial design stage or later whenever the existing product or process is modified.

17. Ergonomic design of the seats include type of seat, seat height, back support, arm sup­port, foot rests etc. The work place should be designed in a way that it reduces issues like backaches, neckaches , and other muscular strains due to bad seating and incorrect working posture are common in industry. Most of the jobs are performed by the operators either in sitting or standing in a fixed posture for a long duration. The interaction of the operator with the immediate workspace around him is influenced by many factors such as seat design, the working desk and adjacent machine .

18. All tools and materials required must be located within the normal grasp area and as far as possible in front of the worker. This will enable him to travel lesser distances to pick up and put these tools and materials frequently at desired place so as to save time and energy. For the assembly work, it is advisable to provide such arrangement so that the components can slide along the smooth surface and the worker picks them up. It will greatly reduce the time and effort .

19. Chairs permitting proper posture for the workers must be provided. This is possible when the worker is working on the work bench. The height of chair and the work bench must be arranged in such a way so that the worker may not feel any difficulty while working. Their height must be such that the top of bench remains at the height of the elbow of the worker. If possible the height of the bench must be such that worker can work both in sitting and standing positions. Chairs must be provided with foot rests.

20. The posture that a workman needs to adopt to perform the task is an important consideration in the design of workplace. Incorrect posture can cause strain in back, waist, legs and hands. Most machines today are reasonably well designed for optimum performance, but the capacity of the worker assigned to the machine is generally different. This may result in a job taking longer to complete and the risk of errors increases. To prevent this, user and machinery must be looked as a combined unit. Thus the ergonomics must be involved in fitting the tool and the machine to the worker by designing it accordingly.

21. Machine must be so designed so that worker can use both hands and foot simultaneously for operating it and all the levers, pedals, instruments, hand wheels, knobs and buttons must be located within the normal grasp at a suitable height and in front of the operator. Foot pedals must be provided with suitably returning springs. Care must be taken to avoid eye, muscular and mental strain.

22. Physical and psycho-social aspects of the work environment are crucial factors which affect comfort of worker and his performance. The physical factors at the workplace include lighting, ventilation, noise and temperature. Psychosocial aspects are concerned with motivational work environment, these includes working hours, rest pauses, shift systems, health and safety along-with other factors.

23. ADVANTAGES

24. 1. Improves Health People who work in ergonomic workplaces have improved health. It typically starts within the cardiovascular system and spreads to other areas. Your heart will be healthier than it would be if you were working in a standard environment. Also, you and your employees will feel less tension in your body because you’ll be adjusting the workstations to fit your height. These natural positions will prevent you from straining your eyes and necks. You’ll also reduce swelling in your legs because your blood flow will be optimal. 2. Improved Mental Insight When you feel comfortable, you can focus better on the task at hand. Ergonomics decreases pain, strengthens muscles, and increases blood flow. Combined, this improves mental insight. You and your employees will experience less anxiety, increased awareness, improved moods, and focus. This means everyone can concentrate on their work more. The better focused they are the higher productivity levels. 3. Higher Productivity Levels The better focused your employees are, the high level of productivity they can have. Ergonomics combine different ideas to make workstations feel more natural. These lead to increased productivity because they’ll be more comfortable and focused. Your business needs productivity levels to increase to be successful. You can change your workplace to be better for employees. The better they feel about their work, the more they’ll want to produce. 4. Decreased Pains Ergonomics is meant to make things feel more natural and safe. Due to this change, your body will be less strained and your health will improve. These combined will lead to decreased pain. When employees feel uncomfortable, it affects their ability to work. You can work at a standing desk, or trade the phone for a headset to start. The less pain your employees have, the better they can focus on the quality .

25. 5. Higher Quality Work The benefits of ergonomic workspaces range from the body to the quality of work. Aches, pains, fatigue, and other problems can take a toll on a worker. Ergonomics can eliminate those issues and help workers work. When people feel comfortable, they can focus on high-quality production. This combined with increased productivity levels will keep your consumers happy too. 6. Eliminates Hazards Part of creating a more productive work environment is eliminating the daily hazards that can hurt your employees. These distractions are unsafe and can lead to worse consequences later. Pay attention and know your office so you can assess what hazards exist. Another good idea is to ask your employees what hazards they face daily. By asking for their input, you’re showing that you care. Implementing the change will show them they’ve been heard.   7. Increased Employee Engagement Your employees will notice that your business provides the best conditions for increased employees’ health and safety. Because they won’t be experiencing fatigue and discomfort, you’ll see an increase in the employees’ involvement. You’ll find their motivation will increase the more they feel taken care of by the company. This can reduce the turnover rate and make your business one others want to work with. Your employees’ opinions matter, and you can benefit from it by utilizing ergonomics. 8. Encourages Safety Ergonomics will create a safer work environment and increase awareness. You’ll remove hazards, improve workstations for less discomfort, and teach your employees to update their spaces with safety in mind. Not to mention, the health benefits that come with ergonomics keeps employees healthy at work. This will encourage safety on another level. You can keep your work consistent and stable by providing employees with a safe environment they can thrive in. 9. Happier Employees, Happier You The better you utilize ergonomics, the happier your employees will be. They’ll enjoy coming into work more than they did before, and it will affect those around them. You will notice a difference in your own happiness.