INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMICS

 WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

 

In Terms of Ergonomics derived from Greek words; "ergon' means work and "nomos" means natural rules or laws and  literally means “the laws of work”. Therefore, Ergonomics is an application of of people in their workplace and is the process psychological and physiological principles for designing and arranging  workplaces, products and systems which is  fit the people who use them. It aims to  make employees more comfortable and increase productivity by improving workspaces and environments to reduce the risk of injury. Officially,

International Ergonomics Association definition: “Ergonomics 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. (International Ergonomics Association Executive Council, August 2000)

Ergonomics is a science-based discipline. It brings together knowledge from anatomy and physiology, psychology, engineering and statistics and ensures that the designs complement the strengths and abilities of people who use it. (Dul, Bruder et al, 2012)

Workers in many different industries and occupations can be exposed to risk factors at work, such as lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, working in awkward body postures and performing the same or similar tasks repetitively. Exposure to these known risk factors for Musculoskeletal Disorders increases a worker's risk of injury.

Ergonomics takes into account various aspects including physical, cognitive and organizational factors to ensure that the design arrangement of objects and spaces are tailored to meet human needs and capabilities. Its application spans across various fields such as product design, workplace design, transportation and even digital interfaces. 

When evaluating a job, looking for three main characteristics known as ergonomic stressors: the force required to complete a task, any awkward or static working postures adopted in completing a task, and the repetitiveness of a task. Any of these factors, or any combination of these factors, may place someone at greater risk for discomfort.

If the management is providing their workers with a job that is within their body’s capabilities and limitations, thereby management  will be contributing to their company’s bottom line.

References:

Bridger R.(2008). Introduction to ergonomics [Online].Available at: Ergonomics - Environment, Health and Safety (unc.edu)(Accessed:15 November 2023)

Dul J, Bruder R, Buckle P, Carayon P, Falzon P, Marras WS, Wilson JR, van der Doelen B. (2012). ‘A strategy for human factors/ergonomics: developing the discipline and profession’, Ergonomics, 55(4), 377-95.

physio-pedia (2023).Ergonomics [Online].Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Ergonomics (Accessed:15 November 2023)


Comments

  1. Dammika SudeshNovember 16, 2023 at 12:34 AM

    Dear Lakmshani, you have chosen a very interesting topic, and ergonomics is the science of tailoring work environments to fit people, optimizing both well-being and performance. It combines various disciplines to design spaces, products, and systems that reduce injury risks and enhance productivity.
    And I would like to know what are examples of ergonomic improvements in digital interfaces or technology?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mithini Punsara AbeyrathneNovember 16, 2023 at 9:32 AM

    Dear Lakshani, very interesting topic. I have some queries
    1. How ergonomics reduce stress in the workplace ?
    2. How can ergonomics increase work productivity ?
    3. How do you believe organization should be handle ergonomics?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dinesh EkanayakeNovember 18, 2023 at 6:12 AM

    Valuble Topic Lakshani, In addition to article, Lower back pain is one of the most frequently reported ergonomic issues. It often results from everyday work activities, such as sitting in a poorly designed chair or lifting heavy objects without using a safe lifting technique. How we avoid these kind of risks from our day today job function?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amodinee JayawardenaNovember 20, 2023 at 7:27 AM

    Dear Lakshani,
    Ergonomics or 'the he laws of work" is well explained in your article and when we consider this in our workplace , how can we apply this for a succession plan of both employee and organization ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lakshani DharmadasaNovember 30, 2023 at 7:51 AM

      Hi,
      Thank you for your valuable comment on my blog and when it comes to application of ergonomics in our workplace it is important to design a workplace which is comfortable in physically according to health and safety requirements or rules and regulations based on the type of work. Mental healthiness can be designed through employee assistance programme and friendly co workers with supportive environment

      Delete
  5. Mayumi WicramashingheNovember 23, 2023 at 4:28 PM

    Dear Laksani,
    How does the application of ergonomic principles contribute to both the well-being of employees and the overall performance and effectiveness of an organization, as emphasized in the field of work design?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lakshani DharmadasaNovember 30, 2023 at 7:44 AM

      Hi Mayumi,
      Thank you for your comment on my article and the answer for your question is when the employees are working happily and comfortably, they will be giving more commitment to work and focus on their organizational goals as well as the personal developments. Final outcome is outstanding performance of organization due to energetic work force. The benefits of ergonomics will be discussing in my other blog article for your more reference

      Delete

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