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“Ergonomics” is about fitting things to people. It’s about fitting things to work, the furniture we use, the products we handle, the systems we follow. Identical in meaning to “human-friendly”, “humanised design”, “idiot-proof”, “user-friendly”, ergonomics uses scientific knowledge of human abilities and human limits to ensure that the world we inhabit and the things we use fit properly, and that they are comfortable, safe and useable.
Ergonomics was first written about in 1857 and came to the fore during World War II.
One of the most publicised and well-known early examples of an ergonomics approach to solving technical problems came in 1943 when the US Air Force observed that fully functional aircraft flown by the best trained pilots still frequently crashed. Why? A multidisciplinary ergonomics analysis by a combined team of aeronautical engineers and psychologists discovered that the cockpit controls were not easy for the pilots to see and use. The designers then reduced pilot error through a human capability-focused redesign of those controls.
Meanwhile, across the seas in Britain, Hywel Murrell (a trained chemist, and known by some as the father of the ergonomics profession) began work for the Royal Navy gunnery research department – matching tools and layouts to human capability. His work was recognised when he was appointed head of the Naval Motion unit. In 1949, Murrell invited a small group of like minded people to a meeting at the Admiralty, and from this meeting the Ergonomics Research Society was formed.
In 1951 Murrell launched the first government ergonomics department for British industry and in 1952 was instrumental in the birth and shaping of the British Ergonomics Society.
Ergonomists study what people do (and where they do it), then design or modify the tools, the equipment, the surroundings and the methods used, to adapt everything closely to the abilities, strengths and limitations of the user.
There are a number of ways to become an ergonomist. Ergonomists often have backgrounds in engineering, architecture, health science, applied health, human movement, psychology, medicine or design.
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA) maintains a register. Certified Professional Ergonomists (“CPE”) provide assurance that they are well qualified, experienced and competent in their work. This is a peer-managed qualification sought after by practising Australian ergonomists. If you are considering hiring an ergonomist, you should confirm with HFESA that they are a CPE.
Unlike other professions, “ergonomics” is not a protected term – this means anyone can use it – and they have! This includes people who claim to be ‘ergonomists’ but may have little or no training or experience in the field, and claims made by salespeople and marketers.
The professional title of “ergonomist” has unfortunately been diluted by some to include anyone who chooses to adjust a screen or chair – without reference to the multiple degrees or rigorous multidisciplinary training that qualified ergonomists obtain and draw upon.
Many people mistakenly believe that “ergonomics” applies only to office furniture. However, not everything labeled as ergonomic truly meets the standards of comfort, safety, and usability. For example, a review of popular office equipment websites reveals numerous items marketed as “ergonomic” that fall short of genuine ergonomic principles. Certified Professional Ergonomists, of which there are less than 100 in Australia, often encounter such misleading claims. Their reactions are a mix of concern and frustration, as these poorly designed products can actually contribute to discomfort and injury rather than prevent them.
While ergonomics is often associated with office design and has long been applied to problems in may industries including manufacturing, healthcare and transport – all of the big brands like HP, Apple and Ford embrace ergonomics. Do you remember cumbersome mobiles before the iPhone? What about cars with uncomfortable bench seats, huge blindspots, hard-to-open doors and shoulder-straining gear sticks?
These are just some of the fields where ergonomists have made our lives easier through a human-centred approach to the design of work, workplaces, tools, products and layout – work they have been doing since that US Air Force pilot cockpit redesign in WW2.
Today there are more than 60 ISO ergonomics standards on various aspects of product and systems design, all with the goal of improving performance, comfort, and safety as well as preventing errors and injuries.
A thorough ergonomics assessment will ensure the final design will better fit the actual people who use it – the payoff is greater comfort, safety and productivity.
No matter what you’re designing, ergonomics can help.
We can assess the following:
Yes. Whether you work in an office or a warehouse, an air traffic control tower, a home office or a zoo, a manufacturing plant or driving a tram, ergonomics is relevant to you.
Why? Because ergonomics is about how you (and other humans) interact with every element of your environment. Ergonomics looks at how you go about your everyday tasks and the equipment you use, and provides solutions that minimise the risk of injury or harm.
The Dohrmann Consulting team is unique. Because we are engineers AND ergonomists, we have an analytical, solutions-based approach. We won’t just tell you what the problem is, we’ll partner with you to fix it.
We:
Our team comes from a variety of qualified backgrounds; our in-house knowledge base is broad and very experienced. We’re recognised in the legal arena as experts at what we do, so you know we’ll “do it right”.
When you need an expert to partner with you to find solutions, Dohrmann Consulting is the answer.
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