Ergonomics in Design for Better Worker Health
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Grade 7 Science: Structures and Mechanisms
What do all of these structures have in
common?
Ergonomics:
the science of using knowledge
of human characteristics to design structures
and systems that are comfortable, safe and
efficient.
Consider the ergonomically
designed snow shovel that helps
prevent back strain by reducing
the amount of bending a person
must do.
Why ergonomics? In the 1600s doctors knew
that people who worked in awkward
positions for long periods of time would
develop illnesses and injuries.
Repetitive strain injury:
damage usually to the
small muscles of the wrists or hands from
repeated activities over a long period of time.
With ergonomically designed products,
workers can complete tasks faster, more
accurately and with few injuries.
Designers can create tools, workstations and
systems that are easier, more comfortable
and safer for workers.
Consider the design of
computer workstations.
Workers who spend large
amounts of time on their
computers are susceptible
to repetitive strain injuries.
Designers use ergonomics
when they design
workstations to make the
station more comfortable
to reduce strain.
These are ergonomic factors that designers
consider. Tools and workstations should:
Allow workers to change their position regularly. This
could include standing or sitting on stools as well as
chairs. (Sitting for long periods of time is unhealthy.)
Reduce the amount of force or effort a task requires.
Power tools rather than hand tools help reduce strain.
Promote good posture. A worker’s back, neck and
wrists should remain straight and arms close to the
body. Equipment should be within easy reach.
Have you ever wondered why the letters of a
keyboard are positioned the way they are?
People originally used manual typewriters that
worked by pressing down on a letter that caused
a metal arm with a raised form of the letter to lift
up. The metal arms would often jam because of
crossing each other. The designer rearranged
the letters with the most frequently typed letters
spread out. This layout slowed the typist down
and ensured the letters would not jam as often.
So, the letter arrangement is not ergonomically
designed!
Engineers today take ergonomics into
consideration when designing structures, but
they also need to consider other factors such
as accommodating people with special
needs.
What accommodations does Lawfield have
for people who need to use a wheelchair?
Many people have many different kinds of
physical challenges. Buildings that are
“accessible”
are designed for people with
special needs.
People with special needs have had a long
struggle to get their needs addressed in
structural design.
Designers began to pay more attention to
special needs after WWII when many war
veterans returned home with injuries. Ramps
to homes and offices were built. Elevators
had Braille lettering and included sound.
More accommodations were included in
designs.
Universal design:
an arrangement of the
components of a structure or device resulting
in the most user-friendly product possible.
Which of these doorknobs would be easier to
turn with wet hands or sore wrists?
Buildings need to be accessible to everyone.
Now buildings are designed so simple tasks
are convenient for all people.
Universal design
is more functional than basic
accessible design
as it considers special needs
due to injury, illness or old age to be a normal
part of the human range. “We are all in this
together.”
There 4 main principles to universal design.
Universally designed structures should be:
Flexible
for all users (for wide range of abilities)
Simple
to use and
informative (
easy to use,
whatever the user’s experience, knowledge,
language skills or physical abilities)
Safe
and
tolerant of errors
(provides warnings and
safety features in case of errors)
Ergonomic
(reduces need for excess force or
repeated actions)
Ergonomics, the science of designing structures and systems based on human characteristics, plays a crucial role in creating comfortable, safe, and efficient work environments. By considering ergonomic factors in the design of tools, workstations, and systems, workers can complete tasks faster, more accurately, and with fewer injuries. Ergonomics aims to reduce strain, promote good posture, and enhance overall worker well-being. Designers use ergonomics to create products that prioritize worker health and productivity.
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Presentation Transcript
Ergonomics: the science of using knowledge of human characteristics to design structures and systems that are comfortable, safe and efficient. Consider the ergonomically designed snow shovel that helps prevent back strain by reducing the amount of bending a person must do.
Why ergonomics? In the 1600s doctors knew that people who worked in awkward positions for long periods of time would develop illnesses and injuries. Repetitive strain injury: damage usually to the small muscles of the wrists or hands from repeated activities over a long period of time.
With ergonomically designed products, workers can complete tasks faster, more accurately and with few injuries. Designers can create tools, workstations and systems that are easier, more comfortable and safer for workers.
Consider the design of computer workstations. Workers who spend large amounts of time on their computers are susceptible to repetitive strain injuries. Designers use ergonomics when they design workstations to make the station more comfortable to reduce strain.
These are ergonomic factors that designers consider. Tools and workstations should: Allow workers to change their position regularly. This could include standing or sitting on stools as well as chairs. (Sitting for long periods of time is unhealthy.) Reduce the amount of force or effort a task requires. Power tools rather than hand tools help reduce strain. Promote good posture. A worker s back, neck and wrists should remain straight and arms close to the body. Equipment should be within easy reach.
Have you ever wondered why the letters of a keyboard are positioned the way they are?
People originally used manual typewriters that worked by pressing down on a letter that caused a metal arm with a raised form of the letter to lift up. The metal arms would often jam because of crossing each other. The designer rearranged the letters with the most frequently typed letters spread out. This layout slowed the typist down and ensured the letters would not jam as often. So, the letter arrangement is not ergonomically designed!
Engineers today take ergonomics into consideration when designing structures, but they also need to consider other factors such as accommodating people with special needs.
What accommodations does Lawfield have for people who need to use a wheelchair? Many people have many different kinds of physical challenges. Buildings that are accessible are designed for people with special needs. People with special needs have had a long struggle to get their needs addressed in structural design.
Designers began to pay more attention to special needs after WWII when many war veterans returned home with injuries. Ramps to homes and offices were built. Elevators had Braille lettering and included sound. More accommodations were included in designs.
Universal design: an arrangement of the components of a structure or device resulting in the most user-friendly product possible. Which of these doorknobs would be easier to turn with wet hands or sore wrists?
Buildings need to be accessible to everyone. Now buildings are designed so simple tasks are convenient for all people. Universal design is more functional than basic accessible design as it considers special needs due to injury, illness or old age to be a normal part of the human range. We are all in this together.
There 4 main principles to universal design. Universally designed structures should be: Flexible for all users (for wide range of abilities) Simple to use and informative (easy to use, whatever the user s experience, knowledge, language skills or physical abilities) Safe and tolerant of errors (provides warnings and safety features in case of errors) Ergonomic (reduces need for excess force or repeated actions)
