Definition and Applications

What Is Ergonomics - HFE ?

The term ergonomics, originating from the Greek words “ergon” (work) and “nomos” (laws), signifies “the science of work.” This terminology is often used interchangeably with human factors or as a combined entity (e.g., human factors / ergonomics – HFE or EHF), a practice embraced by the International Ergonomics Community (ISE). The ISE, in the year 2000, adopted a definition for ergonomics (or human factors) as the scientific discipline focused on comprehending the interactions between humans and various components within a system. It also denotes the profession that employs theories, principles, data, and methodologies to shape designs, aiming to optimize both human well-being and the overall performance of systems.

In the same year, the ISE established distinct domains of HFE, which encompass :

Concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological, and biomechanical attributes in relation to physical activities. Topics include working postures, material handling, repetitive movements, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, physical safety, and health.

Addresses mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor responses, as they influence interactions among humans and system elements. Relevant areas include mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work-related stress, and training within the context of human-system design.

Organizational Ergonomics: Concentrates on optimizing sociotechnical systems, encompassing organizational structures, policies, and processes. This domain covers communication, crew resource management, work design, working time arrangement, teamwork, participatory design, community ergonomics, collaborative work, emerging work paradigms, virtual organizations, telework, and quality management.

While HFE practitioners frequently operate within specific economic sectors, industries, or application fields, the science and practice of HFE transcend specific domains. HFE serves as a multidisciplinary, user-centered integrating science. The challenges addressed by HFE usually exhibit systemic characteristics, prompting the utilization of a holistic, systems-oriented approach. This approach incorporates theories, principles, and data from diverse disciplines to inform the design and assessment of tasks, jobs, products, environments, and systems. HFE duly considers physical, cognitive, sociotechnical, organizational, environmental, and other pertinent factors. It also takes into account intricate interactions between humans and other humans, the environment, tools, products, equipment, and technology.

Effective Practice of Human Factors and Ergonomics

Effective Practice of Human Factors and Ergonomics

Professionals specializing in specific domains within human factors and ergonomics (HFE) must adeptly tackle issues and challenges with comprehensive consideration of all relevant HFE elements to practice effectively. This necessitates a broad understanding of various HFE areas. However, the actual process of problem-solving demands participatory approaches, entailing consultations with HFE specialists across diverse domains and experts from relevant fields.

Principles of Human Factors and Ergonomics

Human factors and ergonomics principles stem from socio-technical values. These principles and methodologies of participatory design extend across the spectrum of task, job, product, environment, industry, and work design. Rooted in fundamental core values, HFE principles include :

  • Regard for humans as assets
  • Utilization of technology as tools to aid humans
  • Promotion of quality of life
  • Respect for individual differences
  • Responsibility to all stakeholders
  • Perspectives in Human Factors and Ergonomics

HFE encompasses not only physical safety and health but also cognitive and psycho-social aspects of living and working. Additionally, HFE can address both microergonomic aspects, including procedure, context, equipment, and tool design, and macroergonomic aspects like work organization, job types, technology, work roles, communication, and feedback. These aspects are interconnected and interdependent. HFE embraces a holistic outlook toward product and system design, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, technical, and environmental components and the potential impacts of design changes on the entire system.

Participation in System Design

Human factors and ergonomics principles stem from socio-technical values. These principles and methodologies of participatory design extend across the spectrum of task, job, product, environment, industry, and work design. Rooted in fundamental core values, HFE principles include :

  • A systems approach using a systematic, iterative process
  • Design-driven methodology
  • Focus on optimizing performance and well-being
  • HFE practitioners emphasize the necessity of involving all stakeholder groups in system design. Effective HFE is essential for the viability of work, organizations, and societies in the 21st century.

Stakeholders of HFE

Any entity capable of influencing, being influenced by, or perceiving itself to be influenced by an HFE decision or activity is an HFE stakeholder. These stakeholders are interconnected and comprise :

  • System influencers: e.g., governmental bodies, regulators, standardization organizations
  • System decision-makers: e.g., employers, managers
  • System experts: e.g., HFE specialists, professional engineers, psychologists
  • System actors: e.g., employees, workers, users
  • HFE stakeholders span various levels, domains, and forms of influence and investment, including international, national, educational, and practical spheres.

Value of HFE in the World of Work

Work systems encompass humans, tools, processes, technologies, and the work environment. HFE contributes to safe and sustainable work systems by recognizing the interrelatedness of human, technical, and environmental aspects. The HFE community underscores the importance of involving all stakeholders in system design, embodying participatory HFE.

participatory HFE

HFE simultaneously contributes to the economic health of organizations by enhancing worker well-being, capability and sustainability, maximizing performance, and reducing direct costs as well as indirect costs from productivity losses, quality deficiencies, and employee turnover. Workplaces that are designed with HFE principles have better employee performance and produce better business results. HFE design in work systems is simply and unquestionably good business.6

Resources cited :

  1. Bridger, R. S. (2018). Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics, 4thBoca Raton, FL, USA.  CRC Press.
  2. Read, G.J.M., Salmon, P.M., Goode, N., & Lenné, M.G. (2018). A sociotechnical design toolkit for bridging the gap between systems‐based analyses and system design.Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries,28(6), 327-341.
  3. Read, G.J.M., Salmon, P.M., Goode, N., & Lenné, M.G. (2018). A sociotechnical design toolkit for bridging the gap between systems‐based analyses and system design.Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries,28(6), 327-341.
  4. Dul, J., Bruder, R., Buckle, P., Carayon, P., Falzon, P., Marras, W. S., Wilson, J. R., & van der Doelen, B.(2012). A strategy for human factors/ergonomics: Developing the discipline and profession,Ergonomics, 55:4, 377-395, DOI: 1080/00140139.2012.661087
  5. Hendrick, H. W. (2003). Determining the cost-benefits of ergonomics projects and factors that lead to their success. Applied Ergonomics, 34,419-427.