European Month of Ergonomics KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS OCTOBER

European Month of Ergonomics KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS OCTOBER, 2009 Federation of European Ergonomics Societies FEES Finnish Ergonomics Society ERY Ministry of Social Affairs and Health/ Department for Occupational Safety and Health/ Policy Unit

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS – Goals • Disseminate science of ergonomics • Promote understanding of different ergonomics areas • Improve information on ergonomics education • Promote discussion concerning topics of ergonomics • Support ergonomics implementation in practice

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS – Organizers • FEES: Federation of European Ergonomics Societies, http: //www. fees-network. org/ • National societies – In Finland ERY: Finnish Ergonomics Society, http: //www. ergonomiayhdistys. fi/ • Ministry of Social Affairs and Health/ Department for Occupational Safety and Health/ Policy Unit, Finland

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS – Actions • Co-operation between ergonomists and clients • Activities for the members of the ergonomics societies • Lectures at workplaces, schools, universities • Events for the public • Active communication and information policy

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS • Ergonomics is knowledge and skills how to fit work for workers • Ergonomics improves human wellbeing • Ergonomics enhances productivity and improves the quality of work

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS • Ergonomics offers solutions that respect human qualities – possibilities and restrictions – and make it possible to utilize person’s individual talents and properties broadly • Ergonomics looks at the working environment from several different points of view: work environment with its different characteristics, work equipments, work organization and organizing the work, task sharing and management

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS • Ergonomics concerns not only the work environment. Ergonomics is also for creating environment that supports and makes possible human activities – on safe and just way. • In the photograph, the lightning of the stairs and well placed handrail make it easier and more safe to use the stairs (Picture: Kristiina Juvas)

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS Ergonomics consists of different areas: 1. Physical ergonomics (materials handling, repetitive movements, workplace layout) 2. Cognitive ergonomics (mental workload, decisionmaking, skilled performance, human-computer interaction) 3. Organizational ergonomics (optimisation of sociotechnical systems, including their organizational structures, policies, and processes) Ergonomics is a key for co-operation!

KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS – Case Optimal information that is easy to discern from its background. Pictures: Kristiina Juvas

ERGONOMICS EDUCATION IN FINLAND • • Examples of education that lead to an examination: - Kuopio University: M. Sc. in Health Sciences, major subject; ergonomics - Oulu University: M. Sc. in Engineering programme, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management/Work Sciences, major subject; human resources, ergonomics and safety - Tampere University of Technology: M. Sc. in Technology, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management/ Institute of Occupational Safety Engineering, major subject; safety management, occupational safety engineering External education: - Shorter courses also at other universities and collages - Finnish Institute of Occupational Health arranges courses of the different areas of ergonomics

ERGONOMISTS IN EUROPE • It is possible for the ergonomists to be certified and registered as European ergonomists, Eur. Erg. • The qualification base on the broad education and work practice in ergonomics • Certification is valid for five years • Active development of the professional skills is required • Six Finnish ergonomists have been certified • Information: http: //www. eurerg. org/

OCCUPATIONS FOR ERGONOMISTS • • Project manager, e. g. in the development tasks Teacher Researcher Inspector and quality manager Occupational health care specialist Product and system design specialist Support for engineering and production tasks

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION • The Finnish Ergonomics Society is a member of: - IEA (International Ergonomics Association) - FEES (Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies) - NES (Nordic Ergonomics Society) • Goals: - Improve co-operation between members - Promote good practices on the area of ergonomics

European Month of Ergonomics KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS OCTOBER, 2009 Federation of European Ergonomics Societies FEES Finnish Ergonomics Society ERY Ministry of Social Affairs and Health/ Department for Occupational Safety and Health/ Policy Unit