Ergonomics aims to optimize human well-being and system performance through workplace design. There are three areas of ergonomics: physical, which examines how human anatomy relates to tasks; psychological, which studies mental processes and human interaction; and organizational, which optimizes socio-technical systems like work design and policies. Environmental hazards in the workplace like unsuitable lighting, temperature, and insufficient space can negatively impact worker performance, health, satisfaction and productivity if not properly addressed according to ergonomic principles.
Ergonomics aims to optimize human well-being and system performance through workplace design. There are three areas of ergonomics: physical, which examines how human anatomy relates to tasks; psychological, which studies mental processes and human interaction; and organizational, which optimizes socio-technical systems like work design and policies. Environmental hazards in the workplace like unsuitable lighting, temperature, and insufficient space can negatively impact worker performance, health, satisfaction and productivity if not properly addressed according to ergonomic principles.
Ergonomics aims to optimize human well-being and system performance through workplace design. There are three areas of ergonomics: physical, which examines how human anatomy relates to tasks; psychological, which studies mental processes and human interaction; and organizational, which optimizes socio-technical systems like work design and policies. Environmental hazards in the workplace like unsuitable lighting, temperature, and insufficient space can negatively impact worker performance, health, satisfaction and productivity if not properly addressed according to ergonomic principles.
Ergonomics aims to optimize human well-being and system performance through workplace design. There are three areas of ergonomics: physical, which examines how human anatomy relates to tasks; psychological, which studies mental processes and human interaction; and organizational, which optimizes socio-technical systems like work design and policies. Environmental hazards in the workplace like unsuitable lighting, temperature, and insufficient space can negatively impact worker performance, health, satisfaction and productivity if not properly addressed according to ergonomic principles.
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ERGONOMICAL DESIGN
OF WORKPLACE • Ergonomics is the science raised from ever present ambition of humans to optimize their efforts in achieving their objectives • Thus, making the best use of space through optimum placement of equipment, integrating the human factor into workplace design, and effectively aligning the workplace into the surrounding environment are identified objectives of workplace design ergonomics. • Workplaces should be designed so that most people can safely and effectively perform the required tasks Categories of ergonomics
There are three broad areas of ergonomics:
Physical ergonomics looks at how human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics relate to physical activity. This includes: • working postures • manual handling • repetitive movements • musculoskeletal disorders • workplace layout and environment Psychological ergonomics It studies mental processes (eg perception, cognition, memory, reasoning and emotion) and how people interact with products, systems and environments. This includes: • mental workload • decision-making • human-computer interaction • human reliability • attitudes • stress • motivation • pleasure • cultural differences Organisational ergonomics
It is about optimising the organisational structures, policies and
processes of socio-technical systems. This includes: •communication •work design •staff resource management •working time patterns •co-operative work •quality management •organisational culture ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
UNSUITABLE LIGHTING • In offices, there’s a need to think about how lighting can affect the tasks employees are doing, whether it’s using a computer, reading paper documents and so on. • Different types of work require different levels of light. Unsuitable lighting can hinder performance and productivity and even be detrimental to people’s health (especially eyesight). • Room lighting might be unsuitable if the light is too low for people to read comfortably, or if it’s reflecting off monitors and display screens and causing glare. UNSUITABLE ROOM TEMPERATURE • If an office is overly cold or overly hot, it can make workers feel uncomfortable, which in turn can cause them to become dissatisfied with their job and/or the organisation, and to take more time off due to sickness and stress. • As many office premises regulate room temperature from a central thermostat to which individual workers don’t have access, this needs to be given full consideration as part of any ergonomic risk assessment. INSUFFICIENT SPACE • Staff need the right amount of space to do their jobs, whether this is moving around their workstation or having access to certain equipment. Indeed, there are working laws that offer guidance for exactly how much space workers should have. • Space-saving devices such as cable baskets and CPU supports both reduce potential hazards and increase overall workspace around the desk area. • As with other environmental hazards, lacking sufficient space can lead employees to work less efficiently, take more time off sick, and report feeling dissatisfied with their jobs.
