The Use of Ergonomics Software in Higher Education

Abstract

The fundamental task of ergonomics is generating normal and healthy working environment to avoid injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Work related injuries also impose high costs for companies (worker absence, delays…) and society (high costs of medical treatment), therefore it is important to prevent them through ergonomic workplace design and assessment. Since manually performed ergonomics analysis are time consuming and several ergonomics software is available, the question appears if computer aided research is reliable enough to drop manual approach. The problem is that software for computer aided approach is still expensive and there is not much companies that invest in it. For university students licences are available therefore this knowledge can be spread to younger generations. The paper presents several studies that were performed in different working environments comparing manual and computer aided approach. Software package Jack 8.2 was used for simulation and analyses of working conditions in department of ophthalmology, blacksmith in manufacturing company and garbage collector in communal company. We can conclude that computer aided approach is reliable enough to use it in companies, for academic purposes as well as for further scientific research but it should be considered that the way of work for ergonomists change.