Ergonomics design process

On both platforms the ergonomics of layout and instrumentation would hinder rapid and effective response to a significant fire or gas release. The overall ergonomics in both control rooms betrayed the lack of a coherent human-machine interface design philosophy being implemented within the design process. 

Figure 8 Single-Object Process Chart. The chart follows a single object or person— in this example, an object. For good analysis, estimate distances and times. (From Vfork Design Industrial Ergonomics, Sth Ed., by S. Konz and S. Johnson. Copyright 2000 by Holcomb Hathaway, Pub., Scottsdale, AZ. Reprinted with permission)...

ISO 11064 is an international standard entitled ergonomic design of control centers . The standard consists of seven parts and provides general requirements and recommendations for CC design projects as well as more detailed requirements associated with specific CC elements. Figure 4 shows an overview of the eigonomic approach to the system design process in ISO 11064. 

Human factors Were stereotypes violated during the design process Were ergonomic principles properly applied Were human-machine interfaces adequately evaluated Was adequate misuse analysis performed ... 

Not until automatic tilt tables were provided, along with other steps to redesign the work, were the ergonomic stresses—and the workers compensation cases—reduced. Training and personal protective equipment were not proper solutions for this situation, and the temporary fixes cost far more than would have been expended if the issues were addressed in the original design processes. 

Ergonomics in the Automotive Design Process by Vivek D. Bhise (September 15,2011). 

BS/EN/ISO 11064-1 2001 is comprised of nine general considerations and principles of ergonomic design and a more explicit framework for an ergonomic design process. An overview of the salient features of both is provided below ... 

Broberg, O., Andersen, Y Seim, R., 2011. Participatory ergonomics in design processes the role of boundary objects. Applied ergonomics, 42(3), pp. 464-72. Availa-bleat http //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gOv/pubmed/20947061 [Accessed May 26, 2013]. 

In addition to the concerns identified for the drivers of surface mining equipment arising from inadequate consideration of ergonomics (see Example 3 above), Harris and Rendalls (1993) also identified similar problems in relation to the maintenance access and poor operating postures forced onto the maintainer as a result of insufficient consideration during the design process of how the required tasks will actually be carried out. 

To redress this situation requires much more attention to be given to the consideration of hirman factors and ergonomics dtrring their design processes. This is not to suggest necessarily that they need to employ htrman factors/ ergonomics professionals but rather, initially at least, they need to become much more aware of and routinely use the information which is already available in the open literature. 

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