Ergonomics engineering

Patient safety, you would think from the name, has the patient s interests at heart and so it does in many respects. However, this has seldom extended to actually involving the patient in the quest for safer care. Safety is addressed and discussed in multiple ways, and lessons are sought from all manner of other industries and experts, from the disciplines of psychology, ergonomic, engineering and many others. Yet the one source of experience and expertise that still remains largely ignored is that of the patient. 

Ergonomic Engineering Hand and Power Tools Manufacturers and Suppliers... 

Broner Glove and Safety (See Ergonomic Engineering Workstation Layout and Design/Manufacturers and Suppliers for contact information.)... 

The first component of the systems approach to error reduction is the optimization of human performance by designing the system to support human strengths and minimize the effects of human limitations. The hiunan factors engineering and ergonomics (HFE/E) approach described in Section 2.7 of Chapter 2 indicates some of the techniques available. Design data from the human factors literature for areas such as equipment, procedures, and the human-machine interface are available to support the designer in the optimization process. In addition the analytical techniques described in Chapter 4 (e.g., task analysis) can be used in the development of the design. 

The second perspective to be considered in this chapter is the human factors engineering (or ergonomics) approach (HFE/E). This approach, described in Section 2.5, emphasizes the mismatch between human capabilities and system demands as being the main source of human error. From this perspective, the primary remedy is to ensure that the design of the system takes into account the physical and mental characteristics of the human. This includes consideration of factors such as ... 

Human Factors Engineering/Ergonomics approach (control of error by design, audit, and feedback of operational experience) Occupational/process safety Manual/control operations Routine operation Task analysis Job design Workplace design Interface design Physical environment evaluation Workload analysis Infrequent... 

While this process implies an ordered, structured process, it should be noted that the various stages overlap and it is frequently necessary to return to an earlier step in the process to modify or clarify information or decisions made in an earlier phase. The influence of the human factors aspects on design needs to be similarly integrated into the process design procedure. The particular human factors elements to be addressed at each phase are discussed below. These phases can be directly related to the human factors engineering and ergonomics (HFE/E) design approach described in Section 2.2. 

TPEs are often employed to produce a resUient and soft ergonomic layer over a hard structural part. This could be done in a number of ways [213]. TPEs can also be overmolded onto an engineering material through insert molding or multiple-shot injection molding. 

Colin G. Drury is professor of industrial engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo and executive director of the Center for Industrial Effectiveness, where he has worked extensively in the integration of ergonomics/hu-man factors into company operations. His efforts have resulted in increased competitiveness and job growth for regional industry and in his receipt of two National Association... 

Dekker, D., Paley, M. Popken, S. and Tepas, D., Locomotive engineers and their spouses Coffee consumption, mood and sleep disorders. Ergonomics 36(1-3), 233 238, 1993. 

The project Human Error in the Process Industry within the Ergonomics Section of the Technology Work Department at the Graduate School of Industrial Engineering and Management Science was started in 1985. In order to get acquainted with the world of chemical process control two exploratory investigations were carried out in the first two years at Dutch chemical companies. This led to the development of a prototype classification model of system failure (see Chapter 5 for the most recent version). 

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