| The multidisciplinary field concerned with adapting | | | | characteristics of the individual, human factors |
| an external environment or device to the individual | | | | may be coming into opposition with certain |
| is known as ergonomics. The ideas and techniques | | | | characteristics of the worker that may lead to |
| that the ergonomic discipline is comprised of | | | | additional mental stress. |
| benefit people by minimizing the likelihood of injury | | | | If people in the workplace do not have access to |
| or aggravation of existing injuries and are | | | | an occupational health practitioner and lack |
| frequently used in the design of work equipment, | | | | knowledge concerning ergonomics, increasing |
| furniture, and even the car you drive. There are | | | | levels of discomfort and the resulting stress with |
| many professions that are related to ergonomic | | | | the continued interruption of job tasks on account |
| practice in both the home and work | | | | of physical pain has a compounding effect on the |
| environments. The multidisciplinary nature of | | | | mental state of the worker's job satisfaction and |
| ergonomics allows for some overlap between the | | | | may negatively affect home life. Ergonomic |
| types of services offered by one ergonomic | | | | design, with its concern for fitting the unique |
| professional and the services performed by | | | | person, aims to support the musculoskeletal |
| someone with a slightly different job title. | | | | system through the correct postures and ranges |
| The principles of ergonomics have a wide range | | | | of motion required by a particular task while |
| of application and can be put to use to improve | | | | minimizing strain to the body. |
| many types of job environments. Changing the | | | | The old adage that every person is unique often |
| environment to fit the user, rather than the user | | | | escapes considerable application in the workplace. |
| coping with the environment, is the key principle | | | | Similar expressions such as, "no two people think |
| of ergonomics. When a physician or orthopedic | | | | exactly alike," and "we all come in different |
| therapist takes the environment that an individual | | | | shapes and sizes" do much to describe an |
| is interacting with into account there are two | | | | individual's distinctiveness and should be considered |
| types of ergonomic principles. How would you | | | | when a person is expected to interact with an |
| describe your job? It is often that workers and | | | | environment. For example, most office furniture is |
| employers alike view a particular job by its list of | | | | designed for what can be thought of as a |
| required tasks and the job is designed for the | | | | "universal fit," which is an attempt by |
| completion of those tasks accordingly, not for the | | | | manufacturers to produce furniture that fits the |
| person whose job it will be to complete those | | | | "average person." Yet, most people do not fit this |
| tasks. | | | | type of universal design perfectly. Automobile |
| Assessing human factors is an important part of | | | | manufacturers use the principle of universal design |
| ergonomics. The development of work-related | | | | in car interiors, but make at least some effort to |
| musculoskeletal disorders can be contributed to | | | | allow for variability with adjustable seats and tilting |
| by human factors. Cognitive, physical, personal, | | | | telescoping steering wheels. Ideally, the chair in |
| cultural, and psychosocial factors; communication; | | | | which you sit, the desk that you work on, even |
| vocational training; work experience; health | | | | the keyboard you may use, should all allow for |
| history; occupational stress; and disabilities are all | | | | enough adjustability in order to fit your unique |
| examples of human factors. When a work | | | | person as flawlessly as possible. |
| environment does not fit with the unique | | | | |