Class 1 Flashcards
(12 cards)
Definition of ergonomics
Ergonomics is the process of designing or evaluating products, tasks, environments, and systems to improve performance and/or reduce risk of injury
What are the 3 general areas of Ergonomics
Physical, cognitive and organizational.
What are the types of physical ergonomics problems
Anthropometric problems
Musculoskeletal problems
Metabolic and Cardiovascular problems
Environmental problems
What is the Ergonomics Process
1-. Characterize existing or potential problems
2-. Perform job analysis
3-. Implement controls
4-. Evaluate the effectiveness of controls
Why is ergonomics important?
- Poor ergonomics reduce workers and companies’ performance.
- Poor ergonomics leads to higher costs.
- Poor ergonomics leads to more musculoskeletal disorders
What is the guiding principles of ergonomics
Maintain: D < C
Where D is tasks demands
and C is human capacity
What are the types of interactions in work systems
- Humans with machines (H -> M) Controls actions by the human
- Machine with Humans (M -> H) information feedback and forces from the machine
- Humans with Environment (H -> E) effects on human activity on the environment
- Environment with Human (E -> H) influences of the environment on human performance
What is the origin of the term “Ergonomics”?
“Ergonomics” is derived from two Greek words: “Ergon,” which means work, and “Nomos,” which means law.
Approximately how many people worldwide are affected by musculoskeletal disorders due to poor ergonomics?
About 1.7 billion people are affected globally, with around 320 million musculoskeletal injuries occurring each year.
What does physical ergonomics focus on?
It addresses issues related to anthropometry, the musculoskeletal system, metabolic/cardiovascular system, and environmental stress - covering topics like awkward postures, materials handling, and repetitive movements.
What do D and C represent in the guiding principle of ergonomics?
D stands for tasks demands (e.g., forces, moments, energy and C stands for human capacity (e.g., muscle strength, tissue tolerance, aerobic capacity)
What is an anthropometric problem in ergonomics?
It refers to mismatches between the physical dimensions of the human body and the objects or environments with which people interact.
