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What is Ergonomics?
Mr. W.T. SINGLETON had explained the Ergonomics as
- Study
2. Measurement &
3. Organisation of work.
It makes the purposeful human activity more effective & the focus of study is
interaction of person with the Engineering environment.
Mr. K. KOGI had considered Ergonomics as
A useful tool for
Fitting work to people,
Not people to work.
Ergonomos= ergon + nomos
Ergon means Work
Nomos means Habit of law.
Thus ergonomics is for the purpose of solving the problems of work habits.
Therefore, it requires
Designing of proper work space
Right working posture
Reach to the work
Display of information
Good communication skill
Skill for the work
Work intensity
Sufficient time for rest
Good environment
Clear understanding & providing platforms or lift tables
Transport ways
Proper storage racks & buffer stock
Good lighting, ventilation & housekeeping
Proper guard
Good welfare facilities.
Thus ergonomic principles include
Comfortable posture
Balanced and easy motions
Adequate rest and Enough variety.
Anatomy includes
1.Anthropometry
2.Biomechanics
Anthropometry means the measurement of man.
It provides the dimensional data needed for the positioning of controls and the size of work spaces.
This includes human dimensions such as,
Statute (height upto head)
Eye height
Shoulder height
Elbow height
Knuckle height (upto the palm of hanging hand)
Sitting height
Shoulder width
Breadth across elbows
Upward reach
Sideways reach
Forward reach
Hand length Hand breadth, etc.
Biomechanics is concerned with the application of forces by the human body.
This requires knowledge of the locations of the main muscle groups, their composition and their modes of action.
Physiology includes
1.Work Physiology
2.Environment Physiology
Work physiology is concerned with the human process of energy production and considers human efficiency, oxygen uptake capacity, etc.
Environmental physiology provides measures of the stress and standards of reasonable parameters of climate, light, noise, vibration, etc. and studies their effects on human behaviour.
Psychology considers
Certain theories such as human performance theory based on an information model of
The human operator,
Learning and skill theory &
Training and organisation theory for work and system designs.
Such psychological theories say about human error- “why people make mistakes”.
Many times guards, controls and protective equipments are provided but operators fail to use them.
Why do they do so is an important question which can be replied by psychological study only.
Effective audio visual information, choice reaction times, information processing capacity, memory, attention, understanding, fatigue effects, interaction with other people, morale, group behaviour, etc. are useful factors to be considered.
Such human factors must be considered while designing any machine or work.
Usefulness of Ergonomics
The usefulness of ergonomics can be understood by the following aims of ergonomics:
1.To facilitate the work to the person.
To facilitate whatever a person wishes to do and to ensure that he does it comfortably and efficiently. Efficiency includes effective work without detrimental health effects and minimisation of risk to the operator and others.
2.To minimize the possibilities of human error or mistake.
The work, working conditions, plant and infrastructure should be so designed that they are best fitting to the workers. Purpose is not to fit a worker to any awkward, unsafe, unhealthy or uncomfortable work but to design or provide work and working conditions comfortable to the workers.
3.To ensure industrial activities with minimal use of energy and materials and without waste resulting from mistakes.
4.To develop knowledge and techniques by the combined use of many expertise and systems approach.
5.To solve human problems of work performance by considering human factors in design of machines and work and safe job methods.
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