Ergonomics or human factors is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of relations among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human comfort and overall system performance. Ergonomists add to the design and assessment of tasks, jobs, products, environments and systems in order to make them attuned with the needs, abilities and limitations of people (Helander, 2006).
"Ergonomics is defined as the design of the workplace, equipment, machine, tool, product, environment, and system, taking into consideration the human's physical, physiological, biomechanical, and psychological capabilities, an optimizing the effectiveness and productivity of work systems while assuring the safety, health, and well-being of the workers" (Fernandez, 1995). In general, the aim in ergonomics is to fit the task to the individual person, not the individual person to the task.
Low back injuries, often due to improper manual handling of materials, form the largest subset of musculoskeletal injuries. The seriousness of the lower back injury problem is reflected in the large number of claims under the U.S. Worker's Compensation Act of 1970. The National Safety Council has reported that in the U.S.A. 400,000 workers face disabling back injuries every year. Statistics also show that back injuries resulting from manual materials handling (MMH) activities are a major source of lost time and compensation claims. Back injuries alone cost industry an estimated U.S.$14 billion a year (Fernandez, 1995).
In common with other industries,...
The mechanic must have adequate knowledge, training, data for assigned task, tools and equipment, be mentally and physically prepared, take safety precautions, have adequate resources, and have researched FAR, Federal Aviation Regulations, to ensure compliance. The task must be performed with a committed attitude, in accordance with appropriate data and acceptable methods, techniques, and practices that are industry acceptable. The mechanic must perform without pressures, stresses, and distractions, re-inspect
Use tools and equipment that are properly designed to reduce the risk of wrist injury," (Zieve & Eltz 2010) "Workstations, tools and tool handles, and tasks can be redesigned to enable the worker's wrist to maintain a natural position during work," (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2010). "Ergonomic aids, such as split keyboards, keyboard trays, typing pads, and wrist braces, may be used to improve wrist posture during typing,"
Ergonomics: discuss the contribution that anthropometry makes to our understanding of ergonomic interventions in the workplace? Ergonomics discusses the science of designing how users interact within their work place as well as the many equipment they utilize in order to guarantee that they fit to the user. An effective ergonomic design plays the critical role of prevention of recurring strain injuries that may develop increasingly over a period and have a
The literature review was finally released in a document called "Scientific Support Documentation for the Revised 1991 NIOSH Lifting Equation: Technical Contract Reports, May 8, 1991." (Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation) This is an update and contains information on the physiological, biomechanical, psychophysical, and epidemiological aspects of manual lifting. This led to the recommendation by the ad hoc committee of the criteria for defining the lifting
Improper Ergonomics caused USAir 1493 and SkyWest 5569 Accident Accident Investigation: Improper Ergonomics was the Cause Ergonomics was derived from two Greek words: ergon which means work, nomoi, on the hand means natural laws, in creating a word with the meaning, the science of work and an individual's relationship to that work. Another related definition according to International Ergonomics Association describe Ergonomics as the scientific discipline that deals with the understanding of
Flight Deck Human-Machine Interface - "What to Expect in the Future" This paper will analyze the issues associated with the flight deck human-machine interface. The data for this research will be collected through a number of secondary sources. Quantitative analysis of the collected data will be performed on the basis of frequency and types of accidents and the causes of accidents that occurred after the introduction of this technology. Qualitative analysis
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