Q: What is the difference between Ergonomics and Human Factors?
A:
Proponents
of differentiation argue that the term human factors was first used in
psychology and refers primarily to the interface of humans with
technology, whereas ergonomics originated in human physiology and
biomechanics and therefore refers primarily to physically demanding
work (Fraser, 1989).21 The differentiation is capricious at best, and
both the classic and newer human factors and ergonomics texts encourage
use of the two terms interchangeably.* In their introduction, Sanders
and McCormick state that "some people have tried to distinguish between
the two, but we believe that any distinctions are arbitrary and that,
for all practical purposes, the terms are synonymous (Sanders and
McCormick)."
Rice, V. J. (1999). Ergonomics: An
introduction. In K. Jacobs and C. Bettencourt (Eds.), Ergonomics for
Therapists. New York: Andover Press.
References:
-Fraser, T.M.
(1989). The worker at work: a textbook concerned with men and women in
the workplace, New York,: Taylor and Francis.
-Sanders, M.S. and McCormick, E.J. (1987). Human factors in engineering and design, New York: McGraw-Hill.
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Q: What is Macroergonomics?
| A:
"Depending
on whom you speak with, macroergonomics can be defined as a
perspective, an approach, a specific discipline, or a subdiscipline of
human factors or ergonomics. Basically, rather than a 'fitting the task
to the man', macroergonomics proposes to 'fit the organization to the
person or persons within that organization'. Yet it is more than even
that. In fitting the organization to the people, the ergonomist
assesses each element of an organization with the thought that each
element has the potential for redesign. In addition, the ergonomist
must also consider systems outside the organization that affect the
organization. From the highest level of the organizational hierarchy to
the entry-level worker and from the most intricate technology to the
simple interactions by the water fountain, all elements are
interconnected with one another. All have an impact on the achievement
of an organization's objectives."
Rice, V.J. (1999).
Macroergonomics: Systems Design, the Big Payoff. In K. Jacobs and C.
Bettencourt (Eds.), Ergonomics for Therapists. New York: Andover Press.
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Q: What is
EduErgo?
A:
EduErgo refers to the use of human
factors/ergonomic techniques and strategies to design
educational systems to fit the students, faculty,
parents, and community that use them. EduErgo can
include the design of classroom furniture, the classroom
environment, playgrounds and athletic areas, as well as
teaching programs and processes. It involves
cooperation among various professionals in addition to
human factors engineers/ergonomists to include: teachers
and educators at all levels, administrators,
architects/designers, trainers, and safety professional
to name a few.
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Q: What is
Cumulative Trauma?
| A:
Cumulative trauma refers to musculoskeletal
injuries that occur as the result of overuse, typically
over a relatively prolonged period of time.
Synonyms include 'occupational overuse syndrome',
'repetitive strain', 'repetitive trauma', 'overuse
injury', and work-related musculoskeletal
disorder'. However, overuse injuries can occur
from leisure pursuits and exercise regimens, just as
they can from occcupationally-related work tasks.
Risk factors for developing a cumulative trauma include
repetition, duration of use, force (including torque),
and posture/position (of joint or body part). Cold
and vibration are also exposure factors. Examples
of cumulative trauma injuries are carpal tunnel
syndrome, tendinitis, and even ganglion cysts. The
relationship between cumulative trauma and ergonomics
lies in the fact that appropriate (ergonomic) design of
a tool or product, along with proper (ergonomic) design
of the process of use can assist in the prevention of
cumulative trauma injury. The benefit of an
ergonomic/engineering design solution is that it takes
the human (and human error) out of the
equation.
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