Introduction

Question 1

What does ‘ergos’ mean?

Answer 1

work

Question 2

What does ‘nomos’ mean?

Answer 2

laws

Question 3

_____ is a multidisciplinary activity striving to assemble information on people’s capacities and capabilities and to use that information in designing jobs, products, workplaces, and equipment.

Answer 3

ergonomics

Question 4

What was De Morbis Artificum Diatriba?

Answer 4

“disease of workers” - back in the 1700’s when Ramazzini realized that workers in certain fields would present with similar injuries from repetitive tasks

Question 5

Wojciech Jastrzębowski, a Polish biologist, coined what term?

Answer 5

ergonomics

Question 6

What are the two goals of ergonomics?

Answer 6

make it SAFER for workers and make work more EFFICIENT

Question 7

Who was Frederick Winslow Taylor??

Answer 7

An american mechanical engineer who endeavored to improve industrial efficiency - he was the father of scientific management

Question 8

What is the theory of scientific management?

Answer 8

Analyzed and synthesized workflows - this method was aimed at increasing the efficacy of a worker by improving the process of the task - eg. coal mining shovel became smaller = less injuries and increased production levels

Question 9

Who were Frank and Lillian Gilbreth?

Answer 9

Studied work habits of manufacturing and clerical employees in all sorts of industries to find ways to increase output and make their jobs easier

*Time-motion studies

Question 10

Who was Alphonse Chapanis?

Answer 10

During WWII there were many aircraft crashes due to confusing buttons, he replaced controls with more logical controls (different sizes and colours for buttons)

Question 11

_____ are traditionally focused on how work affects people

Answer 11

ergonomics

Question 12

Ergonomics and Human Factors: The emphasis of human factors is often on designs that reduce what?

Answer 12

the potential for human error

Question 13

Which is ergonomic and which is human factors:

• used more in biomechanics literature referring to bodily stresses
• used more in psychology/engineering referring to senses/perception and decision making

Answer 13

1. Ergonomic

2. Human Factors

Question 14

What are some employee and employer benefits to ergonomics?

Answer 14

Employee:
improved...
- jobs
- equipment
- productivity
- safety and health
Employer:
- less wasted time
- less $ spent on injury and rehab
- higher profitability