Presentation about ergonomics to the GCSE Technology students. Representing IEHF.

1. Tel: (+44) 01492 879813 Mob: (+44) 07984 284642
andy@abrisk.co.uk
www.abrisk.co.uk
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Ergonomics
Andy Brazier

2. About this talk
Representing the Institute of Ergonomics and
Human Factors (IEHF)
Give you an appreciation ergonomics
More than just physical characteristics
How people see the world
Human behaviour
Ergonomics careers
Not just me talking
Discussion
Video clips
Practical.
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3. A bit about me
Self-employed consultant
First encountered ergonomics when studying
Design & Technology ‘O’ Level
(ask your parents)
‘A’ Levels – Maths, Chemistry & Physicals
Degree – Chemical Engineering
Applying ergonomic principles to safety
Mostly oil, gas & chemical industry.
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4. What is Ergonomics?
Comes from two Greek words
"ergon", meaning work, and
"nomos" meaning "laws“
What does it mean to you?
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5. To many people
Ergonomics is about the size of people
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6. But ergonomics covers much more
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7. Ergonomics is…
The application of scientific information
concerning humans:
Anatomy;
Physiology;
Psychology.
Designing objects and systems to be:
Easy to use (usability);
Used without error (reliability);
Used without causing harm to the person or other
who may be affected (health and safety).
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8. It’s not a new idea
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVKTX_Sbwzw
YouTube – Frank Gilbreth – Bricklaying ergonomics

9. Frank Bunker Gilbreth
1885 – Motion and Fatigue Study of bricklaying
Identified that stooping twice for each brick was
fatiguing and slow
New equipment
Reduced actions per brick from 18 to 5
Increased bricks laid per hour from 125 to 350.
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10. Let’s study this class
Line up in height order
Clearly the shortest and tallest people have
different ‘reach distances’
Lets take the average person from the class
Stand by the white board and draw lines at the
highest and lowest points you can reach without
stretching or bending
Is this a suitable range for the class?
How should we choose heights that suit all (or
most) of the class?
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11. Percentiles
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12. Everyday ergonomics
You don’t usually notice good ergonomics
Easy to use
You don’t need to think about how it works
Bad ergonomics is more noticeable
Can you think of any examples from the home?
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Different layout

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Designed to be slow

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Which button for
which ring?

16. Group exercise
How does ergonomics apply to
lift (elevator) floor buttons?
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How would you layout the
buttons for
A building with 5 floors
A building with 30 floors
The Burj Khalifa (160 floors)
Are there specific users we
need to accommodate?
E.g. wheel chair user

17. Design is a compromise
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18. How people see the world
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Video - http://theinvisiblegorilla.com/gorilla_experiment.html

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What colour are the dots?

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How would you describe these lines?

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Is this animated?

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Which centre circle is largest?

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What does this say to
you?

24. Understanding human perception
helps us design for people
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Middle of the screen
At the edge
BigSmall
Colourful
Contrast
Flashing
Loud
Quiet
Italics – Bold - Underline
RightLeft More – Noticeable - Less

25. Human Behaviour
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn19FtMkeks
YouTube – Sense of Urgency Video

26. Smoking room experiment
Alone – 75% responded to the alarm/smoke
25% did not.
In a group – only 10% responded
The power of peer pressure
People may not always act logically, but
behaviours can be predicted.
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27. Ergonomics careers
Technology – design, usability
Offices – work stations, working environment
Transport - efficiency, safety
Healthcare – medical devices, organisation
Industry – equipment, procedures, health and
safety
Defence – equipment, physical and mental
demands, training
Sport – equipment, human performance
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28. Ergonomics education
Ergonomics as a first degree
First combined with another discipline
Psychology, design
Second degree (MSc)
Transition from another discipline
Psychology
Engineering
Medicine
Physiotherapy.
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29. The places I work
(UK)
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30. And worldwide
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