Introduction
Ergonomics is defined as the design of the
workplace, equipment, machine, tool, prod-
uct, environment, and system, taking into
consideration the human’s physical, physio-
logical, biomechanical, and psychological
capabilities, and optimizing the effectiveness
and productivity of work systems while assur-
ing the safety, health, and wellbeing of the
workers. In general, the aim in ergonomics is
to fit the task to the individual, not the indi-
vidual to the task.
An ergonomist evaluates the demands of a
specific task with reference to the capacity of
workers to perform the task over a certain
time period. In the first phase of job design,
the demands of the task would ideally be held
within the capacity of a fixed percentage of the
population (so that 75 per cent to 95 per cent
of the population is accommodated). When
the task demands of an existing job are such
that it is beyond the capacity of this fixed
percentage of the population, then the work,
procedures, and/or work tools should be
redesigned in order to accommodate the fixed
percentage of the working population. If the
accommodated percentage is (below 75 per
cent) unacceptable and redesign is not possi-
ble, then the final alternative is the placement
of the workers so that only those whose capac-
ity exceeds the task demands are allowed to
perform the task.
The application of ergonomic principles in
the workplace can result in the following:
• increased productivity;
• improved health and safety of workers;
• lower workers’ compensation claims;
• compliance with government regulations
(e.g. OSHA standards);
• job satisfaction;
• increased work quality;
• lower worker turnover;
• lower lost time at work;
• improved morale of workers;
• decrease in absenteeism rate.
Since ergonomics is the study of people, it is
often convenient to think of ergonomic-
related problems by the type of body system
which is affected. The musculoskeletal system
is one example. The physical demands of
20
Facilities
Volume 13 · Number 4 · April 1995 · pp. 20–27
© MCB University Press · ISSN 0263-2772
Ergonomics in the
workplace
Jeffrey E. Fernandez
The author
Jeffrey E. Fernandez is Associate Professor and Boeing
Fellow in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Department, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas,
USA.
Abstract
Defines ergonomics and discusses various issues such as
anthropometry, seat design, workplace principles, manual
materials handling, and cumulative trauma disorders.
These important issues need to be appreciated if the
objective of the facilities manager is to reduce work-
related injuries, improve productivity, and improve the
quality of life of the workers.
This article is based on a paper delivered at the
IFMA 94 conference, St Louis, Missouri, USA,
6-9 November 1994.