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INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY 262
NOTES BY LYNDSAY ADAMSON 24964131
,Lyndsay Adamson Industrial Psychology 262
Theme 1: Introduction to Ergonomics & Human Factors
What is Ergonomics?
An applied scientific discipline concerned with how humans interact with the tools &
equipment they use while performing tasks & activities
→ the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the 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
What is the focus/interest of ergonomics?
• Focus is the interface between humans and the environment.
• Interest is in the activities humans perform that require a combination of
physical & cognitive exertions
• Concerned with the physical & social environment in which tasks & activities
performed & interactions of humans & machinery with environment
What are human factors?
Environmental, organizational and job factors, and human and individual characteristics
which influence behavior at work in a way which can affect health and safety.
What is the difference between ergonomics and human factors?
They are generally synonymous. Differentiation was more historical. Ergonomics
emphasizes work physiology & anthropology. Human factors emphasized experimental
psychology & systems engineering.
The two terms are usually used together as HFE to emphasize the broadness of the
discipline.
(Sometimes referred to as engineering psychology)
What are the maxims of Ergonomics & Human Factors (HFE)?
The primary purpose of HFE is design → requires a systematic, interdisciplinary approach
for design & analysis of systems & products
HFE is multidisciplinary
What is the main objective of ergonomics?
Improvement of the performance of systems consisting of people & equipment – human-
machine systems
What does better performance of human-machine systems in an ergonomics context
mean?
• Greater ease of interaction
• Avoidance of errors
• Greater comfort and satisfaction
• Reduced stress & fatigue
• Greater efficiency & productivity
• Safer operation of equipment
• Avoidance of accidents or injuries
,Lyndsay Adamson Industrial Psychology 262
What are the 2 main areas of application of ergonomics?
• Work system design – concerned with interaction between worker and equipment
used in workplace; considers factors related to the work environment
• Product design – design of products that are safer, more comfortable, more user-
friendly, mistake proof; avoidance of product liability lawsuits
What is “Fitting the Job to the Person” (FJP)?
Prior employment practice selected workers on basis of mental aptitudes & physical
characteristics for particular job position → mental, physical, educational requisites used to
ensure individual qualified for job. Aka fitting the person to the job (FPJ)
NEW philosophy = ergonomics approach (Opposite) due to changes in worker skill
requirements, demographic changes, social & political changes.
Approach seeks to design the job so nearly any member of workforce can perform it. Aka
fitting the job to the person
What is a Human-Machine-Environment System?
Human-machine system is the basic model in ergonomics referring to a combination of
humans & equipment interacting to achieve some desired result.
The third component is the environment which interacts with the human-machine system.
It is an open system – regularly exchanges information with external environment
It is a complex system – there is a high degree of systematic interdependence amount
internal & external agents of the system
What are the objectives for ergonomics within an HME system?
To optimize the performance (production) of the system by ensuring seamless
interactions between the human and equipment while operating in the environment.
Fundamental goals = safety, productivity, satisfaction = align with ultimate goal of
sustainability
What are the 3 categories of Human-Machine System?
• Manual systems – person using tool/non-powered element to perform
activity
• Mechanical systems – use of powered equipment to accomplish a task (the
machine does the work but is controlled by the human)
• Automated systems – performance of a job with minimum human attention
What are the Human Components of an HME system?
• Human senses – sense the operation; the basic five senses
, Lyndsay Adamson Industrial Psychology 262
• Human Brain – data & information processing
• Human Effectors – actions; body part such as muscles/muscle group that
actuates in response to stimuli
What are the machine components of an HME system?
• The Process the function or operation performed by the HME system
• Displays: ranges from observing the process being performed to artificial
displays in mechanised and/or automated processes.
• Controls: humans interact with the equipment using machine controls that can
be operated by human effectors. The complexity of the machine determines
the relationship, including distance, between the controls and the HME
process
What are the environmental components of an HME system?
• Physical environment – includes the immediate area of the HME system,
separated from the system by a defined boundary
• Social environment – Primary H-to-H work interactions in an HME system
are job related, but social interactions also occur. Social environment at work
determined by co-workers, superiors, organizational culture, work
organization (work design).
Cost-benefit Analysis of Improvements in Design
HFE interventions developed and applied to redesign systems in order to achieve
fundamental goals, but must be justified based on scientific cost-benefit analysis (require
money)
Typical Improvements:
• Illumination level including special lighting for inspection
• Job rotation and shift rotation [& overlap]
• Sitting and standing [e.g. ergonomic chairs]
• Communication systems
• Materials handling
• Automation of routine and monotonous jobs
• Metric to decimal conversion
• Housekeeping
• Noise and vibration management
• Ergonomics training
• Production technique changes e.g. Continuous flow manufacturing
• Specific problems
Explain the timeline of the early historical development, contemporary trends and issues of
HFE
1850 - Industrial Revolution (& Mechanization)
1875 - Scientific Management Movement aka Taylorism created industrial jobs; also Gilbreth
studies in the area of motion study (forerunner of human factors)
1900 - Industrial Psychology, Work Study, WWI; “fitting the man to the job” (FMJ) involved
selection of workers for given job based on physical & mental aptitudes
1923 - Hawthorne Studies drew attention to importance of social factors in the work place
aka Human Relations
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