- Because the consequences of poorly designed objects and environments-especially at work-are serious and costly.
- Poorly applied ergonomics can cause schedule delays, recurring discomfort, or a decrease in performance or output.
- The consequences can be permanent injury or even death.
- Many of the serious problems on the job fall under the catagories of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD), or Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMI). These costly injuries are often a specific result of the body’s adaptation to a repetitive task or an inappropriate posture.
- Designing the work environment ergonomically is to meet the needs of the user, is critical to overall mission success. Specific goals of Air Force ergonomic programs are intended to:
- Decrease the occurrence and cost of accident, injuries and disabilities
- Improved the well being and readiness of the organization
- Optimize the performance of organizational systems
- Decrease physical and cognitive stress on personnel
- Increase job satisfaction and productivity
- Ergonomics is a multi-disciplinary study of the relationship between the person and the environment
- It is includes information from engineering, biomechanics, environmental, psychology, physiology and other fields about how human beings are affected by their environment, especially in the workplace.
- It is generally taken for granted that all design is concerned with creating objects and spaces to serve the needs of their users.
- In some cases, people or agencies may have directed design with little background or awareness of the needs of users.
- Designers often assume that they know how to design for all human needs based upon personal experiences, or they assume that their own requirement are typical of those of all others.
