ANN ARBOR, Mich. – “Six Ways to Apply Ergonomics in Design,” is the title of a new, free e-book released by Humantech, experts in workplace improvement. Most successful organizations want to improve the way their people work. Integrating ergonomics principles during the design phase of tooling, equipment, and workstations offers the opportunity for improvement in both system performance and employee health and safety.

“I’ve seen efficient and effective design approaches add extreme value to business by engaging the workplace and improving the company’s productivity and bottom line.  And, I’ve witnessed many others that are frustratingly poor, overly cumbersome, and can ultimately deny workers their health, safety, and even morale,” says the e-book author Josh Kerst, vice president at Humantech.   

Focusing on workplace and workstation design challenges, Kerst boils down the essential ergonomic design considerations to six simple practices. He outlines what companies should do, and also includes “potential pitfalls” to avoid. 

Establishing ergonomic design specifications is one of the six best practices discussed. Few companies proactively translate ergonomic design features into specifications when sourcing workstation components and machine tools, and even during space planning. Those that do can reduce exposure to hazards and, in some cases, “design out” ergonomic risk altogether.

Ensuring products and equipment are designed “ergonomically” should be the responsibility of the company’s engineering team, not the supplier. “Relying on suppliers to tell you that their products and equipment are ergonomically designed is not a good practice, and could lead to mistakes or cause injury,” explains Kerst. Unfortunately, too many equipment manufacturers will claim their equipment is “ergonomic” when no study has been conducted to prove it.

Another one of the six elements is educating the engineering team. Many engineers are not aware of the degree to which they influence the work environment and people. Typically, their studies do not include courses in ergonomics training, biomechanics, and people. Educating the team, or developing a common language between the ergonomist and the engineer, will improve the overall design approach. Kerst also recommends that designers and engineers spend time performing the jobs they design. This approach generally results in that “aha” moment—when it is made clear that the job they designed is outside a person’s physical limitations. Understanding the relationship between work and people is the key to designing a successful organization.

The remaining four ways to apply ergonomics in design can be found in this free e-book.

For over 30 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for workplace improvements. By combining the science of ergonomics and our unique 30-Inch View®—where people, work, and environment intersect—we deliver practical solutions that impact safety, quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we believe people make productivity happen. For more information about our portfolio of products and services or the 30-Inch View, visit www.humantech.com.