Chapter 1 Introduction Dept of Biomedical Industrial Human

Chapter 1: Introduction Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 1

Introduction to Human Factors Ergonomics Human Engineering Psychology Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 2

Ergonomics/Human Factors Ergonomics or human factors – interdisciplinary science that deals with the interaction of people and the objects they use. Ergonomics vs. Human Factors is the term used in the US Ergonomics, although used in the US, is more prevalent in Europe and the rest of the world Sometimes the term human engineering is used or engineering psychology Human Factors is… not just applying checklists and guidelines not just using oneself as the model for designing things not just common sense Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 3

Human Factors Defined Ergonomics Defined: the study of the interaction between human beings and the objects they use and the environments in which they function (Pulat, 1997) Human Factors discovers and applies information about human behavior, abilities, limitations, and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments for productive, safe, comfortable, and effective human use (Sanders and Mc. Cormick, 1993) Brief History Beginning of human factors Polish educator and scientist – Wojciech Jastrzebowski introduced the term “ergonomics” by combining two Greek words: ergon – meaning work; nomos – meaning laws. K. F. H. Murrell independently in 1949 formed the same word Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 4

Human Factors US History - 1945 -1960 Frank and Lillian Gilbreth during the early 1900 s began their work in motion study and shop management. One of the forerunners to what was later called human factors. At the end of WWII in 1945, engineering psychology labs were established by what was later the US Air Force and US Navy Human Factors profession born in Europe - 1949 In 1957: journal Ergonomics from the Ergonomics Research Society appeared; Human Factors Society was formed; Division 21 (Society of Engineering Psychology) of the American Psychological Association was organized US History - 1960 -1980 Rapid growth of human factors outside the military-industrial complex Membership in HF Society grew from a membership of 500 in 1960 to 3000 by 1980 Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 5

Human Factors US History – 1980 -1990 HF Society reaching 5000 in membership by 1990 Expansion of computer technology Accidents (Three Mile Island; Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India; Chernobyl) 1990 and Beyond FAA ordered by Congress in 1988 to expand HF research efforts OSHA draft ergonomic regulations for general industry Expansion to new areas: medical devices, facilities for the elderly, distributed work, internet Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 6

Human Machine System and Types of Ergonomics Problems Anthropometric – fit between the human and workplace Cognitive – information processing problems (overload, underload, processing) Musculoskeletal – problems such as strain on muscular and skeletal systems Cardiovascular – problems that place stress on the circulatory system, including the heart Psychomotor – problems that strain the psychomotor systems can best be dealt with redefining job requirements Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 7

Human Machine Systems Types of Systems Manual Systems – consists of hand tools and other aids coupled with the human operator who controls the operation Mechanical Systems – consists of well-integrated physical parts such as power tools and are generally designed to perform functions with little variation Automated Systems – system performs all operational functions with little or no human intervention Information storage Information input Sensing (information Receiving) Information processing and decision Action functions (physical control or communication) Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering Output 8

Chapter 2: The Ergonomics Function Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 9

Cost of Ignoring Ergonomics less production output increased lost time higher medical costs higher material costs increased absenteeism low quality work injuries, strains increased probability of accidents and errors increased labor turnover less spare capacity to deal with emergencies Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 10

Business and Ergonomics Management UNION Administrative functions Technical functions Operating functions Fig 2. 1 General functional structure industry (Pulat, 1997) Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 11

Business and Ergonomics Justifying Ergonomics Projects Productivity increase System reliability Social responsibility Selling it to management Presentation Ergonomics Groups (size, types of work, responsibilities, available help) Sustaining effort develop background (credibility, education of others, information network) return on investment customer satisfaction design role Dept. of Biomedical, Industrial, & Human Factors Engineering 12