Lecture 1 - Intro & Human Factors Flashcards
what are human factors called in different areas of the world/different organizations?
Europe + Rest of world
- > ergonomics
U.S.
- > Human factors (Physical aspect)
- > engineering psychology (cognitive/psych aspect)
U.S. Military
- > human engineering
focus of human factors
- To observe/adjust how human beings interact with their…
- > products
- > equipment
- > facilities
- > procedures
- > environments - To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency with which work and other activities are carried out
- To enhance certain values
- > inc. safety
- > dec. stress and fatigue
- > inc. in comfort and user experience
- > inc. job satisfaction
define human factors
HF discovers and applies information about human behaviour, abilities, limitations and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments fro productive, safe, comfortable, and effective human use
explain the approach of human factors in the workplace, society, ect.
uses a systematic application of relevant information about human capabilities, limitations, characteristics, behaviour and motivation to the design of things and procedures people use and the environments in which they use them
what major factors make Human factors a discipline of its own?
- the idea that machines/tools are built to serve humans and therefore must be designed with the user in mind
- the recognition of individual differences in human capabilities and limitations and an appreciation for their design implications
- the firm belief that the design of things, procedures, ect. influence human behaviour and well being
- emphasis on empirical data and eval. in the design process
- Reliance on the scientific method to test and generate basic data
- commitment to a systems orientation and a recognition that things, procedures, environments, and ppl do not exist in isolation (people work and interact with others people and machines)
ergonomics is NOT…..
- > applying universal cheklists and guidlines
- > using oneself as the model for design (body builders make kids toys)
- > “just common sense”
describe human factors in early civilizations
- > development of simple tools out of rocks, wood, bone
- > there was a need for crafting utensils that would be comfortable and easy to use
human factors in late 1800s/early 1900s
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
- > Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were the forerunners of “human factor” research and began the study of human motion and workplace managements (used their kids)
human factors in the 1900 - 1945
the workplace was task oriented
- > people adapted to the job and the required equipment provided
*fitting jobs & tools to the person was not the norm
human factors from 1945-1960s
- > human factors profession was born
- > first ergonomic research society formed in britain
- International Ergonomics Society launched in 1959
human factors from the 1960s to the present
- > there was rapid growth, particularly from the 60s to the 80s
- > up to the 1960s, human factor research was limited to the military; the Space Race was hugely important in the development of this field
- > 1980s-today: HF are mostly involved/emphasized when there is a disaster or lawsuit. Computers/ technology are also prominent today
ergonomics vs human factors
Ergonomics
ERGOS (work, effort) NOMOS (laws or rules)
- > the science of work: of the people who do it and the ways it’s done, of the tools and equipment they use, the place they work in. ect.
Human factors
- > often includes the work engineering
- > thought by some to have a different focus than ergonomics
accident cost iceberg
the initial cost after someone is injured on the job is not incredibly high but there is a substancial amount of subsequent costs after a workplace injury
what are the components of ergonomics
AT THE CENTRE
- > the person/individual
SURROUNDING FACTORS
- > physical component
- > organizational component
- > environmental component
- > design component
physical component of ergonomics
- > the workers interaction with physical aspects of work
- > concerned with how physical the nature of the workplace increases the effort required to perform a task, placing the worker at an increased risk of injury
- > size of tools, weight of loads, height of work surfaces
- > repetitive work, hand tool design and workstation layout, endurance/fatigue
