The Design of Ergonomics
And why we absolutely need it
The word ergonomics is all about designing for people. It is defined as the science of a workspace fitting into a user’s needs to drive efficiency and productivity all while reducing discomfort for the user.
Ergonomics applies everywhere, all around us. Think of your workspace. Does your chair provide you comfort throughout the day? Is your desktop at the right height? Do your wrists hurt from typing all day?
These are some of the questions that an ergonomist put into considers when designing a product.
What are Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is defined as the understanding of human interaction and a product. It is often used in relations to the physical aspects of the work environment.
Ergonomics are the designs of tools and equipment for people. They are a scientific discipline concerning other elements of a system and the user.
In a workplace setting, ergonomics makes you respond to employee concerns. (It is a helpful feature of a workplace, btw!)
Ergonomics is a science-based discipline
How does an ergonomist ensure that designs complement the strengths, abilities, and reducing side effects on people?
It is the combined knowledge of subjects from physiology, psychology, engineering, and statistics. With the help of these subjects, an ergonomist starts putting their skills designing the best possible product for a potential user. Designing a product and the systems!
Have you wondered what an ergonomic workspace aims for?
Well, it focuses on maximum comfortability, reducing stress at work, and strain to minimise the need for people to constantly twist, reach, and bend.
Ergonomic domains of specialisation
How might we achieve a better work-life for everyone? The Internal Ergonomics has mentioned that three broad ergonomic domains focus on the well-being of humans.
Shall we discover the domains?
1. Physical Ergonomic
A product that has the best functionality to fit with the user. It is based on the concerns with the human’s anatomical, anthropometric, physiological, and biochemical studies.
*Anatomical relates to bodily structure
*Anthropometric relates to the study of body sizes
*Physiological relates to how the bodies of living things work
*Biochemical relates to the chemicals and substances which occur in living organisms
Physical activity is heavily involved in the workplace. There are administrative control measures that are implemented to reduce the risk factors of injuries at work.
2. Cognitive Ergonomic
Before designing a product, an ergonomist will study the user’s cognitive abilities when using the product. Will the outcome be a hit or a miss?
It is the knowledge of human perception, memory, and mental processing of a user and the product. Is the product easy to use? Is the product comfortable? Can the user remember how to use the product?
This is a good source for ergonomist designers to use as a guideline for quality sustainability.
3. Organisational Ergonomic
An organisational ergonomic is concerned with the optimisation of sociotechnical systems.
What are sociotechnical systems? It is about workplace design and recognises the interaction between people and technology.
Examples such as resource management, work designs, and the designing of working hours in a company.
These three examples all aim for an ultimate goal in mind — reducing injury and optimising efficiency. For instance, work design refers to the content and organisation of one’s work tasks, activities, relationships, and responsibilities.
A good organisational ergonomic in a workspace can determine an employee’s overall well-being in the company. When they’re working comfortably, they are driven to excel for themselves and the organisation.
The need for a comfy environment at work
There are numerous scientific resources to provide a user-friendly environment. This includes tools, seating arrangements, and some other job conditions of a workplace.
Imagine pointless wire trips, bumping your hip onto the side of the printer, or even backaches because your office chair isn’t giving you mercy. What a disaster!
Companies that invest in good ergonomics in a workplace can strive for the best level of efficiency in work and the employee. When employees are provided with the most conducive surroundings, systems, and products, there is a higher value of good ergonomic design.
Everywhere we go, being comfortable is our top priority. Do you agree?
Visualise this: when you’re at work and your chair isn’t at the right height and your back’s aching. Your wrists hurt from replying to emails all day. Your eyes strain because of the poor lighting.
How are you going to adjust yourself to these circumstances?
The benefits of an ergonomic product design
On average, 95% of our work life in the office is spent sitting at our desk. Having an ergonomic product design is especially important, as we often forget our bodies need the best comfort we can give.
An ergonomist considers three main factors before designing a product.
1. Comfort
When a product is carefully thought and designed ergonomically, it helps improve the comfort for the user. With maximum comfortability, the products can be used without placing unnecessary strain on the user.
2. Safety
Ergonomics in an organisation shows your company’s commitment to the safety of your employees.
Attentive employees who take safety seriously bring the best out of the company’s values. Imagine an employee with talent and has the potential to succeed only to suffer from poor ergonomics at work.
3. Ease of use
Would you want to purchase a product that will eventually cause you stress or discomfort when using it? Probably not.
A good ergonomic design can improve product usability. Employees at work wouldn’t have to waste their time, trying to figure out the product. With the ease of use, there wouldn’t be any hassle involved too.
This shouldn’t cause you an eye strain
I never knew that an ergonomic design in the workplace would greatly impact my everyday life. This article shouldn’t cause you an eye strain as you’re taking only 6 minutes of your time understanding ergonomics. (If your eyes are saying otherwise, mellow out.)
There is no denying that an ergonomic product design is extremely important. As we go about in our everyday lives, we should include it in our work to strive and create astonishing results.
Now, feel free to take a break. Take a look around and evaluate an ergonomic design and its qualities. (It doesn’t matter where you are!)
Try evaluating a product. Let’s take the stationaries around you, for example. You’ll be surprised with how much thought has been planned with the user’s comfortability and usability in mind. Found a product? Why not share it with us? We’d love to hear from you.
If you like this story and want to get future updates from SuperCampus, just hit the follow button! Do share your thoughts with us. We will be delighted to chat!
