Human Factors and Ergonomics

Question 1

What is the focus of Human Factors?

Answer 1

Human beings and their interaction with: products, equipment, facilities, procedures, environments.

Question 2

The objectives of Human Factors seek to enhance…

Answer 2

The effectiveness & efficiency with which work and other activities are carried out and to enhance certain human values, including safety, less stress, less fatigue, comfort, greater user acceptance, job satisfaction and overall improved quality of life.

Question 3

Brief definition of human factors:

Answer 3

Human factors discovers and applies information about human behavior, abilities, limitations, and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments for productive, safe, comfortable, and effective human use.

Question 4

Systematic application of relevant information about human capabilities, limitations, characteristics, behavior, and motivation to the design of things and procedures people use and the environments in which they use them is the approach of ___________________.

Answer 4

Human Factors

Question 5

Application of Human Factors should happen…

Answer 5

systematically

Scientific investigation, information, evaluation

Question 6

What makes Human Factors a discipline of its own? (6)

Answer 6

1. Commitment to the idea that things, machine, etc. are built to serve humans and must be designed always with the user in mind
2. Recognition of individual differences in human capabilities and limitations and an appreciation for their design implications
3. Conviction that the design of things, procedure, etc. influences human behavior and well-being
4. Emphasis on empirical data and evaluation in the design process
5. Reliance on the scientific method and the use of objective data to test hypothesis and generate basic data about human behavior
6. Commitment to a systems orientation and a recognition that things, procedures, environments, and people do not exist in isolation

Question 7

Name some examples of Ergonomic disciplines:

Answer 7

• Workspace design and evaluation
• Product design and evaluation
• Human-computer interaction
• Human error evaluation/prevention
• Physical environment stress

Question 8

Name some important steps in the history of Human Factors:

Answer 8

1. Early civilization (development of simple tools, need for crafting utensils that would be comfortable and easy to use)
2. Ramazzini in the 1700’s (observes the workplace, notices irregular motions and unnatural postures, believes diseases will gradually develop)
3. Industrial Revolution in late 1800s (Frank and Lillian Gillbreth, study human motion and workplace management, forerunners of Human Factors research)
4. 1900-1945 Workplace was Task oriented (people adapted to job and equipment, fitting the person to the tools and job
5. 1945-1960 Human Factors profession is born (first ergonomics research society formed in Britain, international ergonomics society launched in 1959)
6. 1960-1980 Rapid Growth (Human Factors research limited to military upt to this point)
7. 1980-Today (Computers, disasters, lawsuits)

Question 9

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth used their children as subjects in an experiment that involved…

Answer 9

Lifting bricks, they aimed to discover the “best” way to lift bricks, to lift 90 pounds of brick at a time is most advantageous physiologically as well as economically they discovered.

Question 10

Human factors is the umbrella term that ergonomics fall under

TRUE/FALSE

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Ergonomics brief definition:

Answer 11

The science of work: of the people who do it and the ways it is done, of the tools and equipment they use, the places they work in, and the psychological aspects of the working situation.

Question 12

What are the ergonomic components?

Answer 12

Physical
Organizational
Environmental
Design

Question 13

The Physical Ergonomic Component is concerned with…

Answer 13

• Worker interaction with physical aspects of work
• How physical nature of the workplace increases the effort required to perform a task
• Size of tools, weight of loads, height of work surfaces
• Repetitive work

Question 14

Manual materials handling, repetitive work, work postures, endurance and fatigue are all concerns related to the __________ component of ergonomics.

Answer 14

Physical component

Question 15

The Design Component of Ergonomics is concerned with…

Answer 15

• Manner in which the worker communicates with the equipment
• Control operation, design of gauges and displays, intuitiveness on the operation of controls and displays
• User manuals, training method, emergency alarm systems

Question 16

Ergonomics is multidisciplinary

TRUE/FALSE

Answer 16

True

Question 17

The Organizational Component of Ergonomics is concerned with…

Answer 17

• jobs, tasks, workstations are all part of larger organizational system
• Pace of work
• Ability to customize the job
• Shiftwork

Question 18

Work pacing, job/task rotation, and shift work schedules are related to the _________ component of Ergonomics.

Answer 18

Organizational

Question 19

The Environmental Component of Ergonomics is concerned with…

Answer 19

• Temperature
• Noise
• Lighting
• Vibration
• Air quality

Question 20

Training alone is not a useful precursor to high productivity

TRUE/FALSE

Answer 20

True

Question 21

People have different capabilities in terms of strength, endurance, vision, skill, knowledge, etc. AND different levels of sensitivity to a stressor this is why is is important to design with _______ in mind.

Answer 21

People

Question 22

When designing for people, there are four approaches:

Answer 22

1. Design for ‘everybody’
2. Design for adjustability
3. Design for interchangeable models/sizes
4. Design to eliminate the limiting factor

Question 23

Fit the _____ to the ______!!!

Answer 23

Job/task to the worker

Question 24

What are some potential results of “poor” ergonomic practices

Answer 24

Poor work quality

Errors

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Acute Injuries