1Tel: (+44) 01492 879813 Mob: (+44) 07984 284642

andy@abrisk.co.ukwww.abrisk.co.uk

ErgonomicsAndy Brazier

2

About this talk

Representing the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (IEHF)Give you an appreciation ergonomics

More than just physical characteristicsHow people see the worldHuman behaviour

Ergonomics careersNot just me talking

DiscussionVideo clipsPractical.

3

A bit about me

Self-employed consultantFirst encountered ergonomics when studying Design & Technology ‘O’ Level

(ask your parents)‘A’ Levels – Maths, Chemistry & PhysicalsDegree – Chemical EngineeringApplying ergonomic principles to safety

Mostly oil, gas & chemical industry.

4

What is Ergonomics?

Comes from two Greek words "ergon", meaning work, and "nomos" meaning "laws“

What does it mean to you?

5

To many people

Ergonomics is about the size of people

6

But ergonomics covers much more

7

Ergonomics is…

The application of scientific information concerning humans:

Anatomy;Physiology;Psychology.

Designing objects and systems to be:Easy to use (usability);Used without error (reliability);Used without causing harm to the person or other who may be affected (health and safety).

8

It’s not a new idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVKTX_Sbwzw

YouTube – Frank Gilbreth – Bricklaying ergonomics

9

Frank Bunker Gilbreth

1885 – Motion and Fatigue Study of bricklayingIdentified that stooping twice for each brick was fatiguing and slowNew equipment Reduced actions per brick from 18 to 5Increased bricks laid per hour from 125 to 350.

10

Let’s study this class

Line up in height orderClearly the shortest and tallest people have different ‘reach distances’Lets take the average person from the class

Stand by the white board and draw lines at the highest and lowest points you can reach without stretching or bendingIs this a suitable range for the class?

How should we choose heights that suit all (or most) of the class?

11

Percentiles

12

Everyday ergonomics

You don’t usually notice good ergonomicsEasy to useYou don’t need to think about how it works

Bad ergonomics is more noticeableCan you think of any examples from the home?

13

Different layout

14Designed to be slow

15

Which button for which ring?

16

Group exercise

How does ergonomics apply to lift (elevator) floor buttons?How would you layout the buttons for

A building with 5 floorsA building with 30 floorsThe Burj Khalifa (160 floors)

Are there specific users we need to accommodate?

E.g. wheel chair user

17

Design is a compromise

18

How people see the world

Video - http://theinvisiblegorilla.com/gorilla_experiment.html

19

What colour are the dots?

20

How would you describe these lines?

21

Is this animated?

22

Which centre circle is largest?

23

What does this say to you?

24

Understanding human perception helps us design for people

Middle of the screen

At the edge

Less – Notice

able - More

BigSmall

Colourful

Contrast

Flashing

LoudQuiet

Italics – Bold - Underline

RightLeft More – Noticeable - Less

25

Human Behaviour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn19FtMkeks

YouTube – Sense of Urgency Video

26

Smoking room experiment

Alone – 75% responded to the alarm/smoke25% did not.

In a group – only 10% respondedThe power of peer pressure

People may not always act logically, but behaviours can be predicted.

27

Ergonomics careers

Technology – design, usabilityOffices – work stations, working environmentTransport - efficiency, safetyHealthcare – medical devices, organisationIndustry – equipment, procedures, health and safetyDefence – equipment, physical and mental demands, trainingSport – equipment, human performance

28

Ergonomics education

Ergonomics as a first degree First combined with another discipline

Psychology, design Second degree (MSc)Transition from another discipline

PsychologyEngineeringMedicinePhysiotherapy.

29

The places I work(UK)

30

And worldwide

31