BS EN ISO 6385:2016

BSI Standards Publication

Ergonomics principles in the

design of work systems (ISO
6385:2016)
BS EN ISO 6385:2016 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN ISO 6385:2016.
It supersedes BS EN ISO 6385:2004 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee PH/9, Applied ergonomics.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.
© The British Standards Institution 2016.
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2016
ISBN 978 0 580 85944 1
ICS 13.180
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2016.
Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication
Date Text affected
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 6385
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM October 2016

ICS 13.180 Supersedes EN ISO 6385:2004

English Version

Ergonomics principles in the design of work systems (ISO

6385:2016)
Principes ergonomiques de la conception des systèmes Grundsätze der Ergonomie für die Gestaltung von
de travail (ISO 6385:2016) Arbeitssystemen (ISO 6385:2016)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 16 July 2016.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 6385:2016 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
BS EN ISO 6385:2016
EN ISO 6385:2016 (E)

European foreword

This document (EN ISO 6385:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159
“Ergonomics” in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2017, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2017.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.

This document supersedes EN ISO 6385:2004.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice

The text of ISO 6385:2016 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 6385:2016 without any modification.

3
 BS EN ISO 6385:2016
ISO 6385:2016(E)


Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Terms and definitions...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
3 Designing work systems................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
3.1 General principles................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.2 Work system design process........................................................................................................................................................ 5
3.3 Formulation of goals (requirements analysis)............................................................................................................. 6
3.4 Analysis and allocation of functions...................................................................................................................................... 6
3.5 Design concept......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.6 Detailed design (or development).......................................................................................................................................... 7
3.6.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.6.2 Design of work organization.................................................................................................................................. 8
3.6.3 Design of work tasks...................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.6.4 Design of jobs....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.6.5 Design of work environment.................................................................................................................................. 9
3.6.6 Design of work equipment and interfaces............................................................................................... 10
3.6.7 Design of workspace and workstation........................................................................................................ 10
3.7 Realization, implementation, adjustment, verification and validation................................................ 12
4 Evaluation and monitoring......................................................................................................................................................................12
4.1 General......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Health and well-being..................................................................................................................................................................... 13
4.3 Safety............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
4.4 System performance........................................................................................................................................................................ 13
4.5 Usability...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
4.6 Cost-benefit.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
4.7 Conformance........................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15

© ISO 2016 – All rights reserved  iii

BS EN ISO 6385:2016
ISO 6385:2016(E)


Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1.  In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted.  This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL:  Foreword - Supplementary information.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 159, Ergonomics, Subcommittee SC 1, General
ergonomic principles.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 6385:2004), which has been technically
revised with the following changes:
— terms were aligned with the terms given in ISO 26000;
— 3.2, 3.7 and Clause 4 have been technically revised;
— life cycle of a work system was introduced in 3.2;
— principle of adjustment was added to 3.7 and validation replaced by verification;
— new subclause on conformity was added to Clause 4;
— examples were added in several clauses.

iv  © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

 BS EN ISO 6385:2016
ISO 6385:2016(E)


Introduction
Technological, economic, organizational and human factors affect the work behaviour and well-being of
people as part of a work system. Applying ergonomic knowledge in the light of practical experience in
the design of a work system is intended to satisfy human requirements.
This International Standard provides a basic ergonomic framework for professionals and other people
who deal with the issues of ergonomics, work systems and working situations. The provisions of this
International Standard will also apply to the design of products for use in work systems.
Following the principles and requirements described in this International Standard will support
management in making better decisions, for instance related to the sustainability of investments in
work system innovation.
In the design of work systems in accordance with this International Standard, the body of knowledge
in the field of ergonomics is taken into account. Ergonomic evaluations of existing or new work systems
will show the need for, and encourage attention to, the role of the worker within those systems.
ISO 26800 provides a general starting point for thought on ergonomics and determines the essential
general principles and concepts. This International Standard presents these in the context of the design
and evaluation of work systems.
This International Standard is also valuable in the application of management systems such as
OHSAS 18001. Besides guidelines for processes, it also offers guidance for achieving good human
performance.

© ISO 2016 – All rights reserved  v

BS EN ISO 6385:2016
 BS EN ISO 6385:2016
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 6385:2016(E)

Ergonomics principles in the design of work systems

1 Scope
This International Standard establishes the fundamental principles of ergonomics as basic guidelines
for the design of work systems and defines relevant basic terms. It describes an integrated approach
to the design of work systems, where ergonomists will cooperate with others involved in the design,
with attention to the human, the social and the technical requirements in a balanced manner during the
design process.
Users of this International Standard will include executives, managers, workers (and their
representatives, when appropriate) and professionals, such as ergonomists, project managers and
designers who are involved in the design or redesign of work systems. Those who use this International
Standard can find a general knowledge of ergonomics (human factors), engineering, design, quality and
project management helpful.
The term “work system” in this International Standard is used to indicate a large variety of working
situations, including permanent and flexible work places. The intention of this International Standard is
to assist in the improvement, (re)design or change of work systems. Work systems involve combinations
of workers and equipment, within a given space and environment, and the interactions between these
components within a work organization. Work systems vary in complexity and characteristics, for
example, the use of temporary work systems. Some examples of work systems in different areas are the
following:
— production, e.g. machine operator and machine, worker and assembly line;
— transportation, e.g. driver and car or lorry, personnel in an airport;
— support, e.g. maintenance technician with work equipment;
— commercial, e.g. office worker with workstation, mobile worker with a tablet computer, cook in a
restaurant kitchen;
— other areas like health care, teaching and training.
The observance of ergonomic principles applies to all phases throughout the life cycle of the work system
from conception through development, realization and implementation, utilization, maintenance and
support to decommissioning.
The systems approach in this International Standard gives guidance to the users of this International
Standard in existing and new situations.
The definitions and ergonomic principles specified in this International Standard apply to the design
of optimal working conditions with regard to human well-being, safety and health, including the
development of existing skills and the acquisition of new ones, while taking into account technological
and economic effectiveness and efficiency.
The principles in this International Standard are applicable to many other human activities, e.g. in the
design of products for domestic and leisure activities. A more general description of the principles in
this International Standard can be found in ISO 26800.
NOTE 1 This International Standard is considered to be the core ergonomic standard for work systems from
which many others on specific issues are derived.

Note 2 Although elements of the system can be the same, this International Standard is not intended to be
applied to systems used in a non-work context (e.g. the use of a vehicle for private purposes).

© ISO 2016 – All rights reserved  1