History Of Ergonomics Research Articles

Human-centered engineering: the challenges of Nigerian engineer

Purpose – There is the need to focus on humans while designing engineering facilities for users. The need to focus on Nigerians when designing for them is presented in this paper. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Relevant literatures were consulted on the history of ergonomics and its importance was stressed. Some instances where ergonomics should be applied in the country were identified. Findings – The paper observed that the application of ergonomics in Nigeria is low and some constraints that are militating against the use of ergonomics in Nigeria are discussed. Originality/value – The paper suggested ways to fully imbibe the use of human-centered engineering (ergonomics) in Nigeria.

The Discipline of Ergonomics in Cuba within the Occupational Health Framework: Background and Trends

The concept of ergonomics was introduced in Cuba at the beginning of the 1970s. More than 40 years later, the prevailing approach to workers' health is still generally reactive rather than proactive, despite the commitment of the government to the subject. A factor influencing this issue is, generally, lack of recognition of the benefits of establishing ergonomic principles within most occupational activities. Recent progress to move occupational health practice toward a more preventive approach has been conducted, frequently with international support. The introduction of a set of Cuban standards proposing the necessity of ergonomic evaluations is an example of this progress. The main challenge for Cuban ergonomists is to transfer knowledge to occupational health practitioners in order to be in concordance with basic standards and regulations regarding ergonomics. The article offers a short description of the history of ergonomics and an overview of ergonomics practice in Cuba.

Impacting working conditions through trade union training

This article presents a training course in work analysis via an understanding of real work. The course was aimed at trade unionists and was produced by researchers in ergonomics and occupational medicine. Designing this type of training is closely associated with the history of ergonomics in France and goes back to the basic principles: training by and for action, focusing on the concept of activity and the co-construction of knowledge, involving all actors in the relevant area of work. One hundred and fifty trade unionists were trained over a period of 18 months, successfully completing company projects in the field of occupational health. The course was organised into seven 3-day modules. Each module included plenary sessions on fundamental topics relating to health/work, and small work groups where the trade union projects were prepared, based on gaining an understanding of the real work involved. There were two types of results: an understanding of the way work is currently changing and of the consequences of these changes for workers' health; transformations in trade unionists' representations of work, giving them a better awareness of health/work relationships, new ways of transforming work, and also information about the teaching content required when designing training programmes for trade unionists. Understanding the notion of activity and constructing interaction with employees are crucial elements for carrying out this type of project successfully.

World War II and other historical influences on the formation of the Ergonomics Research Society

Little has been written about wartime ergonomics and the role this played in prompting the need for a society dedicated to ergonomics within the UK, namely the formation of the Ergonomics Research Society (ERS) in early 1950. This article aims to fill this gap in our understanding of the history of ergonomics in the UK and provide further details of the types of research undertaken by wartime research groups and committees such as the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit and the Flying Personnel Research Committee. In addition, the role of societal developments such as wartime links with the USA, the post-war drive to increase productivity and collaboration with industry and the recommendations of government committees in stimulating the work of the ERS are described in detail. This article also offers some reflection on present-day ergonomics in the UK and how this contrasts with the past. Statement of Relevance: This article will provide practitioners with a historical perspective on the development of ergonomics from its roots in the Second World War. These developments shed light on current trends and challenges within the discipline as a whole.

The Good, the Bad, and the Future: On the Archaeology of Ergonomics

This article places the 50th anniversary edition of the Human Factors journal in a historical context. It is appropriate to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Human Factors and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, but in so doing, we celebrate only the recent history of ergonomics. By digging into the history of ergonomics, we can better understand the evolution of method, practice, and concepts in the human factors discipline. One develops a greater admiration for early practitioners of human factors and ergonomics, as well as the importance of history. Some satisfaction about the rise, evolution, and fall of ergonomic ideas is justified. "If I have seen further..." We can better define the starting point for the next 50 years.

Ergonomics and the older worker: an overview.

Several studies have shown that an individual's capacity for physical and mental work tends to decrease with advancing age. Different capacities begin to deteriorate at different ages and at different rates. However, important bench marks appear to occur in the twenties, forties, and sixties. Ergonomics is the science of fitting the task to the worker. It offers the potential of compensating for the decrease in an individual's functional capacities that occur with age through appropriate job design. Without proper ergonomic job design, older workers could well find themselves at a disadvantage due to compromised productivity and health. This overview will cover the history of ergonomics and its importance in workplace design. The effects of age-related declines on various physical and mental capacities will be reviewed and ergonomic recommendations to accommodate these declines will be presented. To remain competitive in an international marketplace the skills and knowledge of the older worker must be used advantageously. The knowledge required to keep the older worker employed safely and productively can only be acquired through a carefully designed longitudinal study patterned after the Baltimore Longitudinal Study.

The History of Ergonomics in Brazil

Brazilian Ergonomics occupies an important position among the Portuguese and Spanish speakers' countries. The born of Ergonomics in Brazil is marked by a ‘pragmatic reasoning’, favoring an Applied Ergonomics instead of a more Psychological one. Up to now one of the typicality of Ergonomics in Brazil is the high number of Ergonomists that is Engineers. Brazilian ergonomics is applied inside a social-political context. Most of the significant changes happened under syndicates' persuasions. The biggest concern of the Brazilian workers is still not with a work taking their constrains into consideration. The fight for survival predominates, and even more in a world situation where employment is being diminished by an aggressive automation process.

Ergonomics — Where have we been and Where are we going?

The history of ergonomics in the United States is traced. Areas are identified in which further research and development are needed. At the same time, a body of knowledge exists in the behavioral and biological sciences that would be immediately useful if but made available in suitable form. Technologies should be developed or expanded immediately in such areas. Feedback from designers who apply the information, from those who operate and maintain systems and from those otherwise affected by them should provide positive direction for future endeavors in ergonomics.

Ergonomics: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going: II

The history of ergonomics in the United States is traced. Areas are identified in which further research and development are needed. At the same time, a body of knowledge exists in the behavioural and biological sciences that would be immediately useful if but made available in suitable form. Technologies should be developed or expanded immediately in such areas. Feed-back from designers who apply the information, from those who operate and maintain systems and from those otherwise affected by them should provide positive direction for future endeavours in ergonomics.

Ergonomics around the world France

The background and history of ergonomics in France is discussed; also the present position of ergonomics in industry, the military, and the universities. The Société d'Ergonomie de Lange Française is included in the discussion, and finally, future possible contributions of French ergonomics are proposed.