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Ergonomists consider human capabilities and apply theory,
principles, data and methods to design optimal solutions for human
wellbeing and overall system performance.
Ergonomists work in a variety of settings, depending on the specific
specialisation of their job. They often
work in design, risk management, occupational health and safety,
transport safety, patient safety and many other areas.
They may spend time in settings such as offices,
laboratories, industrial facilities, teaching environments or retail
settings.
Ergonomists design equipment, devices and environments to be
healthy, safe, and comfortable to use or work in.
It is the ergonomist’s role is to study all aspects of the working
situation and to fit the job to the human’s attributes. Ergonomists
use information about people, for example, their size (height,
weight etc.), their ability to handle information and make
decisions, their ability to see and hear and their ability to work
in extremes of temperature. An ergonomist studies the way that these
things vary in a group of people. With this information, the
ergonomist, working with designers and engineers, ensures that a
product or service will be able to be used comfortably, efficiently
and safely. This must be so not only for ‘average’ people, but also
for the whole range of people who use the product – including
perhaps, children, the elderly and the disabled. An ergonomist can
also assess existing products and services, showing where they fail
to ‘fit’ the user (in every sense of the word) and suggesting how
this fit may be improved.
ANZSCO ID: 232312
Specialisations:
Ergonomists typically specialise in one or more of three main areas:
-
Physical Ergonomics - is concerned with anatomical, physiological
and biomechanical characteristics, such as posture, and how they
relate to physical activity. Physical ergonomics is also concerned
with the impact of environmental factors, such as heat, light, sound
and vibration, on physical performance.
-
Cognitive Ergonomics
- is concerned with the affect of mental
processes, such as perception, memory, decision making, stress and
fatigue, on interactions between humans and their environment.
-
Organisational Ergonomics - is concerned with the optimisation of
organisational functioning, by considering the impact of factors
such as communication, teamwork, work-design, fatigue and job
rotation.
Alternative names:
Human Factors Professional
Knowledge, skills and attributes
-
tactful and diplomatic
-
able to work independently or as part of a team
-
good communication skills
-
good interpersonal skills
- a good knowledge of anatomy, physiology and
psychology
- an understanding of design methods
- an interest in people’s behaviour in different
settings
- an ability to work with all levels of people
- numeracy and IT skills.
-
discretion and respect for confidentiality and
privacy
-
integrity and honesty
Duties and Tasks
include personal behaviours, physical
capabilities and environmental factors when designing equipment.
Typically you would:
-
determine the demands
placed on people by their activities, equipment, environment and systems
in different contexts
-
identify the factors
affecting people and their performance in various settings
-
develop and recommend
options for ergonomic interventions
-
educate clients in the
safe use and maintenance of the specialised equipment or systems
prescribed
-
evaluate the quality and
outcome of ergonomic interventions
-
conduct audits to gain
insight on how to improve systems
- analyse how people use equipment
and workplaces
- undertake workplace risk
assessments and assess work environments
- write reports on findings and
recommendations
- advise on office layout
including furniture and equipment
- design equipment for people with
disabilities
- create manuals, signs and other
documentation to ensure the best use of new systems or products
- advise on the design of
workstations and production line equipment
- providing advice, information
and training to colleagues and clients
- trial new designs and provide
feedback to manufacturers
- visit a wide range of
environments in order to assess health and safety standards or to
investigate workplace accidents
- act as expert witness in cases
of industrial injury.
-
develop and conduct
appropriate ergonomics-related education and training
-
promote the application
of ergonomics and contribute to ergonomic research
Working conditions
As an ergonomist you would work a standard
number of hours per week, but you may be required to visit clients
outside of standard business hours. You
would be based in an office but spend much of your time visiting
client sites and workplaces. You would use computer aided design
(CAD) systems extensively.
Tools and technologies
Ergonomists conduct usability testing in order to better
understand how users behave.
(Source:
Tufts University)
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become an ergonomist you usually have to
complete a degree in psychology, industrial design, information
technology, engineering or a related field, followed by a
postgraduate qualification that specialises in human factors and
ergonomics. To get into the degree courses you usually need to gain
your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge,
in one or more of English, mathematics, chemistry, physics or
biology are normally required. Most universities in Australia offer
relevant degrees. Entry to postgraduate courses usually requires
completion of an appropriate bachelor degree.
Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible
entry requirements or offer external study.
Additional Information
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of
Australasia (HFESA) is the peak body for the ergonomics profession
in Australia.
Certified Professional Ergonomists have been
certified by the HFESA and have demonstrated that they have the
skills and experience to provide high quality and consistent advice
and support in the area of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
For admission to Certified Professional Ergonomist, the applicant
must have:
-
Completed an education
program which provides a comprehensive set of ergonomics competencies
-
Expertise in ergonomics
demonstrated through the provision of at least one major work sample,
supported by one or more work samples or products of smaller magnitude
-
Demonstrate competencies
consistent with those listed in the International Ergonomics
Associations standards for competencies.
-
A minimum of four years of
full-time practice in human factors & ergonomics or the part-time
equivalent
Employment Opportunities
Ergonomists generally work in software development, health care,
high hazard industries, transport, design, or for government health
and safety authorities. Many ergonomists also work as independent
consultants. Employment of occupational health
and safety specialists, including ergonomists, is projected to grow
slower than the average for all occupations.
Roles will continue to be available for ergonomists because
insurance and workers’ compensation costs have become a concern for
many employers and insurance companies, and working safely and
healthily is a growing priority for many companies. An ageing
population is remaining in the workforce longer than past
generations, and older workers may have greater ergonomic needs.
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Material sourced from
CareerHQ [Ergonomist;]
CareersOnline [Ergonomist; ]
Dohrmann Consulting [What
do ergonomists do; ]
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