ERGONOMICS: AN INTRODUCTION

Amit Kr. Amrit**, Ritesh Kumar*, Sanjay Kr. Roy* and Rajeev Ranjan Singh*
*Scientists, **Project Assistant
Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research
Barwa Road, Dhanbad-826015 (Jharkhand)
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is a discipline that involves arranging the
environment to fit the person in it.
The word ergonomics has been derived from two Greek words
viz. ergon, meaning work, and nomoi, meaning natural laws,
to create a word that means the science of work and a persons
relationship to that work.
The I nternational Ergonomics Association has adopted this
technical definition: ergonomics (or human factors) is the
scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of
interactions among humans and other elements of a system in
carrying out a purposeful activity. Ergonomics aims to
improve human well-being and overall system performance by
optimizing human system compatibility. Human system
interaction design considerations include physical, cognitive,
social, organizational and environmental factors.
Advantages of Good Ergonomics
Good Ergonomics
Shortens learning times
Makes the job quicker with less fatigue
Improves care of machines
Reduces absenteeism
Reduces labor turnover and other signs of
worker malcontent
Meets the requirements of health and safety
legislation
Higher productivity and quality of control
Within management services various principles
exist; for example,
work-place design
rest allowances
job satisfaction and
environmental control
Principle of Ergonomics

Since everything is designed for human use
or consumption, human characteristics
should be considered at the beginning of the
design process.
Goal of Ergonomics
The ultimate goal of ergonomics is to reduce
the work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) by adapting the work to fit the
person, instead of forcing the person to
adapt to the work.

Musculoskeletal Disorders(MSDs)

MSDs may be defined as the illnesses and
injuries that affect one or more parts of the
musculoskeletal system.
They include sprains, strains, inflammation,
degeneration, tears, pinched nerves or blood
vessels, bone splintering and stress fractures.
Symptoms are discomfort, pain, fatigue,
swelling, stiffness, or numbness and tingling.
TYPES OF ERGONOMICS

Physical Ergonomics: It deals with the human body's responses to
physical and physiological stress.

Cognitive Ergonomics: It is also known as engineering psychology
and is concerned with mental processes such as perception, attention,
cognition, motor control, and memory storage and retrieval as they
affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system.
Relevant topics include mental workload, vigilance, decision making,
skilled performance, human error, human-computer interaction, and
training.

Organizational Ergonomics: It is also referred to as
macroergonomics and is concerned with the optimization of
sociotechnical systems including their organizational structures,
policies, and processes. Relevant topics include shift work,
scheduling, job satisfaction, motivational theory, supervision, safety
culture, teamwork, telework and ethics.
MSD RISK FACTOR
There are several risks factors associated with the development of work-
related musculoskeletal disorders and these includes the following:

Biomechanical Risk Factors (include posture, force, repetition, contact
stress and vibration)
Environmental Factors
Noise (increased stress, distractions and hearing loss)
Temperature (physical stress, fatigue and pain)
Lighting (fatigue, increased errors and compromised safety)
Electromagnetic Emissions (health problems)
Ozone emissions (health problems)
Organizational Risk Factors (work pacing, time pressures, shift work,
workload and forced overtime)
Personal Risk Factors (smoking, finances, family issues, obesity,
diabetes also increases the risk for MSD)
Psychosocial Risk Factors (fear of job loss, low support from co-
workers or supervisors, peer pressure to underreport, incentive
schemes)
Other factors such as Forceful Work, Poor Posture, Repetitive Work
and Vibration
MSD Risk Factor Evaluation
There are a variety of methods available for evaluating
MSD risk factors. Ergonomic checklists,
biomechanical assessments and lifting tables are few
examples used in the field. These objective tools can be
used in conjunction with observation and interviews to
confirm identified risk or severity. These tools also
guide the user in identifying which risk factors should
be controlled to eliminate or decrease the potential for
risk.
The assessor begins an ergonomic assessment by
compiling an outline of the physical demands or
abilities required to complete the work involved in a
job task. Once risk factors have been evaluated to
confirm their presence or severity among the physical
demands, level of risk will be reduced by successful
control of one of more or the present risk factors.
Ergonomic checklists

The checklists will serve to remind one of various aspects
of work where ergonomics can be of assistance.
Work Method
Physical Demands, Mental Demands and Flow of
Information
The Workplace
Physical Demands
Workplace Sensory Demands
Vision, Hearing and other senses
Visual Display Dials
Legibility, Grouping, Positioning, Accuracy and Speed,
Conformity and controls
MSD RISK FACTOR CONTROL
The Control Measures that is most often used
when developing solutions to control workplace
risk and that can be effectively used to control
the risk of MSD are:
Elimination or substitution
Engineering controls
Administrative controls and
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) &
Education
The following strategy may be adopted in case of different
situations.
Ask employees in the problem job for recommendations about
eliminating or materially reducing the MSD hazards;

Identify, assess and implement feasible controls (interim
and/or permanent) to eliminate or materially reduce the MSD
hazards. This includes prioritizing the control of hazards,
where necessary;

Track your progress in eliminating or materially reducing the
MSD hazards. This includes consulting with employees in
problem jobs about whether the implemented controls have
eliminated or materially reduced the hazards; and

Identify and evaluate MSD hazards when you change processes
or purchase equipment in problem jobs.
CONCLUSION
Ergonomics is nowadays an integral part of any
organization.
Workers health and safe working environment is
now priceless asset with an organization as the
performance of the organization is directly related to
it.
During the past 20 years, numerous analyses have
shown that workers experience a high rate of
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
These disorders affect one or more parts of the soft
tissues (such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and
cartilage) and bones of the body.

It is expected that in coming years ergonomics will
find increased space in every workplace including
mining industries.