Cognitive Ergonomics

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Cognitive Ergonomics
Prepared By - Satyam Garg (0722913041) Nikhil
Chaudhary(0722913023) Vibhu Agarwal(0722913055)
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(No Transcript)
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• Cognitive ergonomics studies cognition in work
  settings, in order to optimize human well-being
  and system performance. It is a subset of the
  larger field of human factors and ergonomics.

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The definition of the field
Ergonomics human engineering human factors
Ergonomics the science of fitting the job to
the worker

• A multidisciplinary science that seeks to conform
  the workplace and all of its physiological
  aspects to the worker

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Domains of ergonomics
International Ergonomics Association
Physical ergonomics human anatomical,
anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical
characteristics as they relate to physical
activity (working postures, materials handling,
repetitive movements, work related
musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout,
safety and health.) Cognitive ergonomics
mental processes such as perception, memory,
reasoning, and motor response, as they affect
interactions among humans and other elements of a
system (mental workload, decision-making,
skilled performance, human-computer interaction,
human reliability, work stress and training as
these may relate to human-system design.)
Organizational ergonomics the optimization of
sociotechnical systems including their
organizational structures, policies, and
processes (communication, crew resource
management, work design, design of working times,
teamwork, participatory design, community
ergonomics, cooperative work, new work paradigms,
virtual organizations, telework, and quality
management.)
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The role of ergonomics in OSH
Prevention of injuries and diseases
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The traditional application
Workplace design and work organisation
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Muscular-skeletal disorders (MSDs)
Work related heath problems by diagnosis group
(EU-15, 1999)
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Economic costs of MSDs
The situation in Europe

• Although precise figures do not exist, estimates
  from Member States of the economic costs of all
  work related ill-health range from 2,6 to 3,8 of
  GDP.
• A high proportion - maybe up to 40-50 - of the
  costs will be for musculoskeletal disorders.
• Available cost estimates of MSD put the cost at
  between 0,5 and 2 of GDP.
• More than 600 million working days are lost due
  to work related ill-health each year in Europe.
• The costs to European business include lost
  production staff sickness, compensation and
  insurance costs losing experienced staff and
  costs of recruiting and training new ones effect
  of discomfort or ill health on the quality of
  work of employees.

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Dealing with MSDs 1/10
What is MSD? An umbrella term
Work-related MSDs are impairments of bodily
structures (muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments,
nerves, bones, and the localised blood
circulation system), which are caused or
aggravated primarily by work and by effects of
work environment. Most MSDs are cumulative
disorders, resulting from repeated exposure to
high or low intensity loads over a long period of
time. However, MSDs can also be acute traumas,
such as fractures, which occur during an
accident.
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Dealing with MSDs 2/10
Factors contributing to the development of MSDs
(1/3)

• Physical factors
• Force application, e.g. lifting, carrying,
  pulling, pushing, use of tools
• Repetition of movements
• Awkward and static postures, e.g. with hands
  above shoulder level, or prolonged standing and
  sitting
• Local compression of tools and surfaces
• Vibration
• Cold or excessive heat
• Poor lighting, e.g. can cause an accident
• High noise levels, e.g. causing the body to tense

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Dealing with MSDs 3/10
Factors contributing to the development of MSDs
(2/3)

• Organisational and psychosocial factors
• Demanding work, lack of control over the tasks
  performed, and low levels of autonomy
• Low levels of job satisfaction
• Repetitive, monotonous work, at a high pace
• Lack of support from colleagues, supervisors and
  managers

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Dealing with MSDs 4/10
Factors contributing to the development of MSDs
(3/3)

• Individual factors
• Prior medical history
• Physical capacity
• Age
• Obesity
• Smoking

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Dealing with MSDs 5/10
European prevention approach

1. Avoid MSD risks evaluate MSD risks which can
   not be avoided
2. Combat the MSD risks at source
3. Adapt the work to the individual, especially the
   design of workplaces, the choice of work
   equipment and the choice of working and
   production methods, with a view, in particular,
   to alleviating monotonous work and work at a
   predetermined work-rate and to reduce their
   effect on health
4. Adapt to technical progress
5. Replace the dangerous by the non-dangerous or
   less dangerous
6. Develop a coherent overall prevention policy
   which covers technology, organisation of work,
   working conditions, social relationships and the
   influence of factors related to the working
   environment
7. Give collective protective measures priority over
   individual protective measures
8. Give appropriate instructions to workers

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Dealing with MSDs 6/10
Example 1 solutions to manual handling risks
Lifting cast parts before and after the
introduction of lifting/tipping containers
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Dealing with MSDs 7/10
Example 2 work at a pharmaceutical plant
Before and after adjustments were made to a
workstation
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Dealing with MSDs 8/10
Example 3 operator at assembly line for
transformers
Before - working with raised arm and elevated
shoulder
After - automated conveyor of adjustable height
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Dealing with MSDs 9/10
Example 4 awkward work posture in construction
A special device introduced to protect knees. The
device also functions as a stool
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Dealing with MSDs 10/10
Example 5 manoeuvring trolley
Altering the handle height on this trolley
improves posture andreduces effort required to
push it
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The role of ergonomics in OSH
Prevention of accidents
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Control room ergonomics 1/3
The origin of the problem
The control room at Västerås old power plant
(around 1920)
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Control room ergonomics 2/3
Increasing amount of information
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Control room ergonomics 3/3
Concentrating the operators information
Cube display wall
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To end of part eleven