indian anthropometric dimensions for ergonomic design practice pdf

One could propose that ergonomics should develop “rules” for a more forward-looking, prospective concept of design. The root of the term “ergonomics” stems from the Greek “nomos” meaning rule, and “ergo” meaning work. a scientific approach enabling us to reap, for the benefit of ourselves and others, the best fruits of life’s labour for the minimum effort and maximum satisfaction (Jastrzebowski 1857). The original aim of inventing ergonomics in 1857 stands in contrast to this kind of “ergonomics by correction”: It is a characteristic of such corrective recommendations that practitioners are finally left alone with the problem of applying themthere is no multidisciplinary team effort.

Traditional ergonomics could then be described as developing “corrections through scientific studies”, where “corrections” are understood to be all work design recommendations that call for attention to be paid to load limits only in order to prevent health hazards. Traditional ergonomics regards its role as one of formulating the methods where, using design and work organization, the limitations established through occupational medicine can be put into practice.

Occupational medicine can be summed up as establishing “limitations through medico-scientific studies”. Using ergonomic principles these conditions can be most easily formulated in the form of demands and load limitations. Occupational medicine’s goal is to establish conditions under which the probability of developing such diseases is minimized. This simple hypothesis can be contrasted to occupational medicine which generally restricts itself to establishing the aetiology of occupational diseases. In sum, the simple hypothesis of modern ergonomics can be stated thus: Pain and exhaustion cause health hazards, wasted productivity and reduced quality, which are measures of the costs and benefits of human work.

Therefore it should be possible to increase productivity and quality and to avoid absenteeism by paying more attention to the design of working conditions. One direct economical measure of productivitythe costs of absenteeism through illnessis affected by working conditions. This restructuring process has yielded practical experience which clearly shows that productivity and quality are directly related to the design of working conditions. In the last decade almost every branch in the production and service industries has expended great effort in improving productivity and quality. Since the publication of the 3rd edition, there has been a major change in emphasis and in understanding of interrelationships in safety and health: the world is no longer easily classifiable into medicine, safety and hazard prevention. In the 3rd edition of the ILO’s Encyclopaedia, published in 1983, ergonomics was summarized in one article that was only about four pages long.

Indian anthropometric dimensions for ergonomic design practice pdf