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Future of ergonomics in Europe

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Future of ergonomics in Europe: from health and safety managment to sustainability development

FEES Session at the 50th Anniversary Congress of the SELF Ergonomics: Meeting society’s challenges
August 28-30, 2013
Paris1 University Panthéon – Sorbonne, Paris, France

Presentations

Future of ergonomics in Europe: from health and safety managment to sustainability development

FEES Session at the 50th Anniversary Congress of the SELF Ergonomics: Meeting society’s challenges
August 28-30, 2013
Paris1 University Panthéon – Sorbonne, Paris, France

Presentations

L’avenir de l’ergonomie en Europe : de la prise en charge de la santé sécurité au travail à l’implication dans une problématique de développement durable

Chair(s): Sylvain LEDUC (Aix-Marseille Université), Pascal ETIENNE (Ministère du Travail)

Dans le champ de la santé et de sécurité au travail, les principales contributions des ergonomes se sont focalisées sur la conception de systèmes de travail sûrs, avec des apports le plus souvent sous formes de normes techniques (formalisées dans le cadre du Comité Européen de normalisation – CEN, par exemple) et de guides pratiques d’aide à la conception de machines ou de lieux de travail. Ces contributions répondent à une demande sociale, le plus souvent médiatisée par des institutions européennes dans le cadre de campagnes de communication ou répondant à une exigence de régulation (p. ex. sur la question des troubles musculo-squelettiques ou bien des risques psycho-sociaux). Aujourd’hui, de nouvelles perspectives de recherche et d’intervention se font jour en ergonomie à partir des notions de prévention durable (notamment des troubles musculo-squelettiques), d’éco-design, d’intégration des préoccupations environnementales dans tout le cycle de vie d’un produit. L’ergonomie, qui est riche de concepts éprouvés permettant la conception de système de travail sûrs, est de plus en plus sollicitée pour contribuer à l’émergence de systèmes de travail et de vie permettant un usage responsable et respectueux de l’environnement. Dans ce cadre, de nombreuses interrogations apparaissent:

  • Comment passe-t-on d’une ergonomie de la prévention ciblée à ergonomie de la gestion anticipée des externalités du travail sur le facteur humain ?
  • Dans quelles conditions les concepts de base de l’ergonomie peuvent-ils contribuer –directement ou au prix de quelles adaptations – au développement durable?
  • Peut- on avoir comme perspective l’émergence d’une ergonomie du développement durable ou «éco – ergonomie»?

Presentations of the Symposium 

An analysis of the work-sustainability relationship and the contributions of activity ergonomics

Claudio Marcelo BRUNORO (Production Engineering Department of Universidade de São Paulo), Ivan BOLIS (Production Engineering Department of Universidade de São Paulo), Laerte Idal SZNELWAR (Production Engineering Department of Universidade de São Paulo), Natalia MANZONI (Production Engineering Department of Universidade de São Paulo), Bruno de Paula VICENTE (Production Engineering Department of Universidade de São Paulo), Luciano de FREITAS (Production Engineering Department of Universidade de São Paulo)

The aims of this exploratory study are 1) to identify work-sustainability relationship categories based on an analyzes of corporate sustainability reports, sustainability guidelines that consider work as a key issue (e.g. GRI, ISO, UN Global Compact, SA8000 and Ethos), and relevant documents from the United Nations and the International Labor Organization and 2) to highlight the contributions that the activity ergonomics approach can provide. As a result, under a activity ergonomics perspective, there are two major work-sustainability relationship categories: the work for sustainability and the sustainability of the work(er). In both categories activity ergonomics approach has significant contributions.
 

Usability for Sustainability: case study of a product-system for the tourist fruition of the cities of art

Emilio ROSSI (Università degli Studi ‘G. d’Annunzio’ Chieti e Pescara), Giuseppe DI BUCCHIANICO (Ergonomics for Sustainability Research Unit), Antonio MARANO (Ergonomics for Sustainability Research Unit)

Resuming the strategies and arguments of ergonomic design for Sustainability developed by the Ergonomics and Design for Sustainability Research Unit of the University of Chieti-Pescara, the paper reaffirms its applicative potentialities through the exposure of a recent experience of design research.
 

Ergonomic Development and Research in Hungary

Gyula SZABO (Hongrie)

Ergonomics is not blooming in Hungary regarding the recognition and attractiveness of the profession or the position of the professional organisations, such as the Hungarian Ergonomics Society.
This paper describes the past and present of the Hungarian ergonomics profession. Campaigns “Let’s drink (water) Judith’s health”, “The Office Chair of the Year” and “E2O – Solicitation of Ideas in Ergonomics” are presented. Among the activities of MET some regular events, promotional and communication materials, international and national responsibilities are described.
The paper ends with the summary of some ergonomic research projects in Hungary including cognitive, workplace rehabilitation research projects.
 

Building Sustainable Human-Centered Complex Systems

Waldemar KARWOWSKI (1 Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering), Tareq AHRAM (1 Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering), Ben AMABA (IBM Complex Systems – Rational Software)

Given the most competitive nature of global business environment, effective engineering innovation and leadership is a critical requirement for all levels of product or systems lifecycle development. Sustainability of workforce and engineering competence skills are extremely important due to a general shortage of engineering talent and the need for mobility of highly trained professionals.  This paper provides a motivation and quest for sustainable human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) approach in complex systems design and development.  The considerable advancements achieved in complex systems engineering indicate that the adaptation of sustainable HF/E can lead to highly sophisticated yet widely useable collaborative applications in order to ensure sustainability of limited resources such as energy and clean water. The sustainable HF/E in complex systems design proves critical in maintaining skills needed in future capable workforce.
 

Human Factors and Sustainable Development: a German Perspective

Klaus J. ZINK (Institut für Technologie und Arbeit)

The anthropocentric definition of sustainable development by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987 leads to joint objectives between Human Factors/Ergonomics (HF/E) and sustainable development. 
From a German perspective one has to differentiate between developments in science especially in human factors/ergonomics and related disciplines and the situation in German companies. As one example respective activities of the German Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft, GfA)) and its members, but also publications of non-members have to be considered. 
The analysis of the development in German companies is focused on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and their development during the last years. Of course, the social dimension described in these reports is of specific importance. In addition recent studies regarding working conditions in Germany have to be discussed. As sustainable working conditions are also referred to (international) supply chains this aspect will be included.
The paper ends with a summarizing evaluation of the situation in Germany.

FEES is a partner of ErgoMach

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Fabio Strambi represents the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies at ErgoMach.
Ergonomics is a human-centred discipline that focuses on the person(s) in the working situation(s), the interface between human beings and working systems, and the efficiency of the man-machine couple.

When a person becomes an operator of machinery or a working system, production systems and human beings are confronted at their interface. Specific challenges have to be solved at the junction of these two elements to prevent human well-being and capacity (etc.) from being altered and to maintain the performance of the production system. That is why ergonomics standards are proposed.

Today, there is evidence of a lack of communication between ergonomists and the rather pragmatically oriented group of machine designers/manufacturers. This often results in machinery being designed without benefitting from ergonomic principles.

This lack of communication also affects standards – the most important machinery design tool. Standards on ergonomic aspects in machinery design exist, but designers find them difficult to understand and apply correctly. To improve communication in all directions among the stakeholders involved in Ergonomics and Machinery design, it is planned that this website will offer a common platform for ergonomists, manufacturers, users, authorities, and standardization experts in the future.

Short report meeting about EU directive 89/686/EEC “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)” Working Group (WG) PPE in Brussels, 11th November 2013

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This meeting was chaired by the
European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry).

This meeting was chaired by the
European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry).

On behalf of the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies Reinier
Hoftijzer attended “EU directive 89/686/EEC “Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)” Working Group (WG)” working Group (WG). The members of this WG are
experts of national authorities (member states) and representatives of European
standardisation organisations (CEN and Cenelec). Also representatives of branch
organisations (ESF and FEES) and testing institutes are member of this
WG.

As example for this discussion at
this meeting concerns personal fall protection. In particular is an anchor
device, which is an essential part of the PPE, a part of this PPE or is it a
construction part of a building, where this fall protection is used. The
European Directive (89/686) and the European standard (EN 795:2012) are not
clear in this point. Consequently also in the Member States this is treated
different. Most representatives are in favour of a proposal of ESF (European
Safety Federation) that anchor device is a part of personal fall protection
equipment. In the next meeting of this WG the European Commission will give its
opinion on this point.

Another important point on the
agenda was the revision of the PPE directive 89/686/EEC. The impact assessment
report was finished and approved by the European Commission. The new proposal
will be published in December 2013 and it will be a regulation on PPE and not a
new directive. A regulation has a lot of advantages over a directive for the
Member States and the European Commission. The major difference between a
regulation and a directive is that the regulation has no transposition time and
becomes, after adapting by Council and Parliament, straight away national
legislation. So the member states do not have to transpose this European
legislation. The proposal for a regulation on PPE will be put forward to the
Council and the European Parliament. It will be probably on the agenda of the
Greek presidency in the first half of 2014. It will be discussed only at Council
level and in this WG there will be no longer discussion about this new
legislation.

Always a point on the agenda is
the intended use of the PPE. In the past most PPE were for professional use only
but the scope over the last years is extended to non-professional use and also
private use, like bicycle helmets for children. Also the industry places more
and more private and non-professional use PPE’s on the market. It is their
responsibility to put CE marked products on the market. But there always will be
a discussion if it is PPE or another product that is not under this scope of
this WG.

The next meeting of this WG in
2014 will probably be on 8th of April and 18th of September.

CEN-CLC BT WG8 Protective textiles and protective clothing and equipment

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The programming mandate M/509 was adressed by the European Commission to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI on the 18th of September 2012. CEN/CENELEC accepted the mandate on the 8th of November 2012. 

CEN and CENELEC created the Working Group “CEN/CLC BT WG 8 “Protective textiles and personal protective clothing and equipment” with the objective to develop a work programme in response to the mandate. Mr. Henk Vanhoutte (ESF), rapporteur for the PPE sector, was appointed as convenor for this BT WG.

The programming mandate M/509 was adressed by the European Commission to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI on the 18th of September 2012. CEN/CENELEC accepted the mandate on the 8th of November 2012. 

CEN and CENELEC created the Working Group “CEN/CLC BT WG 8 “Protective textiles and personal protective clothing and equipment” with the objective to develop a work programme in response to the mandate. Mr. Henk Vanhoutte (ESF), rapporteur for the PPE sector, was appointed as convenor for this BT WG.
On the 17th of January 2013 a kick off meeting of BT WG 8 was organised at CEN/CENELEC meeting centre in Brussels. Four Tasks Groups were created. The descriptions of the assigned tasks to the different groups are:
Task Group 1: Compatibility of different elements – Technology
Task Group 2: Compatibility of different elements – Integration of the complete system
Task Group 3: Comfort and ergonomics
– Explore existing standards in the field of ergonomics and comfort in order to identify whether recent technology developments and smart integrated protection systems would require further standarisation in this field
Task Group 4: Environmental sustainability and total cost of ownership
On behalf of FEES Mr. R. Hoftijzer participated at the meetings and was secretary of Task Group 3.
Dowload the final report from attachment area below.

European Month of Ergonomics EME 2013 ”Ergonomics for risk prevention”

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This is the second year of two-year campaign European Month of Ergonomics EME 2012-2013, entitled ”Ergonomics for risk prevention”.

This is the second year of two-year campaign European Month of Ergonomics EME 2012-2013, entitled ”Ergonomics for risk prevention”. A Power Point presentation for the introduction of the EME 2013 published by the Communication and Promotion Committee of the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies can be download from this page.

Ergonomics-for-risk-prevention-2013Download
EME_2013_HU_0-1Download

This Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies campaign supports the European campaign for Healthy Workplaces, entitled for the 2012 and 2013 ”Working together for risk prevention”. The yearly Healthy Workplaces -campaigns are organized by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), which is now also an official partner of the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies. The EU-OSHA -campaign ”Working together for risk prevention” calls for managers’ leadership and workers’ participation to improve safety and health at the workplaces in collaboration. For more information, see www.healthy-workplaces.eu. 

Ergonomics plays a clear role in this activity: ergonomics aims at prevention by its nature, ergonomists have experience in organizing participatory workplace interventions, ergonomists have developed strategies and practices to improve the designing of the workplaces in companies, and, after all, a great deal of the risks associated with safety and health can be attributed to poor ergonomic design. In the European Month of Ergonomics 2012 and 2013 our aim is raising the awareness of the role of ergonomics in risk prevention. 

The Power Point presentation “Ergonomics for risk prevention 2013” is an update of the introductory material for the 2012. It is intended to support the European Month of Ergonomics arranged by the national member societies of the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies. Its purpose is to disseminate the message of the European Month of Ergonomics in possible seminars, meetings or other events related to the European Month of Ergonomics 2013. The basic content can be used also in articles or other communication material for the campaign. The presentation is distributed in the ppt-format so that it can be translated and modified for local use, possibly shortened and added by local examples, photos, etc. 

The European Month of Ergonomics 2012 was mainly an introduction to the topic, highlighting the role of ergonomics in risk prevention. This year’s campaign, European Month of Ergonomics 2013, can broaden the discussion to practical applications: research and development projects, case studies, methods, etc. 

To develop the future European Month of Ergonomics campaigns, and to share the experiences within the national societies, we kindly ask the members of the national societies of the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies to gather experiences on the European Month of Ergonomics 2012 and 2013 (information on the events, articles, initiatives, etc.). Please send any material to the Communication and Promotion Committee of the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies, to Martti Launis or to Gyula Szabó met@dsgi.hu

Ergonómia Európai Hónapja 2013

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Ergonómia Európai Hónapja 2013: Ergonómia a kockázat-megelőzésért

Az Ergonómia Európai Hónapja (EEH) az európai ergonómia népszerűsítésének éves kampánya.
Az EEH-t az Európai Ergonómiai Társaságok Szövetsége (Federation of European Ergonomics Societies, FEES) kezdeményezi, és a nemzeti ergonómiai társaságok valósítják meg, Magyarországon a Magyar Ergonómiai Társaság (MET).
Az FEES az Európai Munkavédelmi Ügynökség (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, EU-OSHA) hivatalos partnere, a MET a magyar fókuszpont hálózat tagja.

Az EEH 2012 és 2013 az EU-OSHA éves Egészséges Munkahelyek kampányát támogatja. A kampány témája 2012-2013-ban:
Együtt a kockázatok megelőzéséért!
Az EEH 2012-2013 az ergonómiának a kockázat-megelőzésben betöltött szerepére fókuszál, az alábbi témában:

Ergonómia a kockázat-megelőzésért.

Az ergonómia alkalmazása minden résztvevő (menedzsment, tervezők, munkaegészségügyi és munkavédelmi szakemberek, művezetők és munkások) alapos együttműködését jelenti a munkahelyen. A részvételi és együttműködő megközelítést jelenleg szükségesnek tekintjük ahhoz, hogy az emberi tevékenység és a termelés minden vonatkozását számításba vegyük. Ez hasonló az EU-OSHA kampányban alkalmazott megközelítéssel.
A részvételi ergonómia régóta központi megközelítés az ergonómusok között.

Az ergonómusoknak vannak olyan tapasztalatai, amelyeket hasznosítani lehet az EU-OSHA kampányban.

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European month of Ergonomics 2012 – Ergonomics for risk prevention

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This FEES-campaign supports the European campaign for Healthy Workplaces, this year entitled ”Working together for risk prevention”. The yearly Healthy Workplaces -campaigns are organized by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), which is now also an official partner of the FEES.

This FEES-campaign supports the European campaign for Healthy Workplaces, this year entitled ”Working together for risk prevention”. The yearly Healthy Workplaces -campaigns are organized by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), which is now also an official partner of the FEES.

The EU-OSHA -campaign ”Working together for risk prevention” calls for managers’ leadership  and workers’ participation to improve safety and health at the workplaces in collaboration. For more information, see www.healthy-workplaces.eu.

Ergonomics plays a clear role in this activity: ergonomics aims at prevention by its nature,   ergonomists have experience in organizing participatory workplace interventions, ergonomists have developed strategies and practices to improve the designing of the workplaces in companies, and, after all, a great deal of the risks associated with safety and health can be attributed to poor ergonomic design. In the EME 2012 our aim is raising the awareness of the role of ergonomics in risk prevention.

This year the EME 2012 is an introduction to the topic, highlighting the role of ergonomics in risk prevention. Next year EME 2013 the focus is shifted to practical applications: research and development projects, case studies, methods etc. 

The slideshow is a work of Martti Launis.

Ergonomics-for-risk-prevention-2012Download

European Month of Ergonomics 2010 – Ergonomics is a Key to Safe Maintenance

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Ergonomics is a key to safe maintenance! 

Ergonomics makes maintenance lighter, more fluent and more acceptable – and safer Proper ergonomics design takes account of the life-cycle of systems: besides their daily operation, also assembly, maintenance, cleaning, reparation, renovation and dismantling By following the ergonomics design principles, guidelines and procedures, given in European ergonomics standards (EN), maintenance conditions and activities can be optimized to the worker/operator
See the following examples of ergonomics considerations in maintenance activity – presented in order of their nature, physical, cognitive or organizational 
Physical problems in maintenance work: 

  1. working in unfavorable locations (e.g. in high places, in narrow spaces) 
  2. working in awkward postures 
  3. insufficient space for the hand movements or seeing, lack of free maintenance space 
  4. excessive force required for operations e.g. in changing of components, in opening valves 
  5. excessive physical workload in some tasks e.g. changing pumps without hoisting equipment 
  6. poor lighting and thermal conditions, high noise and vibrations levels 
  7. hazards, e.g. mechanical, electric, chemical 

Cognitive (or mental) problems of maintenance work: 

  1. visually poor displays and symbols, text not legible in varying environment 
  2. use of maintenance equipment not intuitive 
  3. maintenance procedures not logical, memorable or controllable 
  4. instructions not easy-to-understand 
  5. disturbance situations poorly instructed or guided 
  6. other activities around, attention directed elsewhere 

Organizational problems of maintenance: 

  1. inappropriate division of tasks between the operator and the machine – e.g. lack of equipment for lightening heavy tasks 
  2. inappropriate division of tasks between operators – unbalanced workload inappropriate working hours (shifts, extensive work periods) – reduced physical and mental performance
  3. poor communication between operators 
  4. poor guidance of the operators 

With the help of ergonomics knowledge and ergonomics approach, the maintenance conditions and activities inherently become good for the operator and good for the organization: 

  1. better satisfaction, motivation and commitment of the operator 
  2. lower rate of accidents and fewer sick leaves 
  3. less disturbances and losses due to human error 
  4. better quality, less careless work 
  5. fluent and cost-effective maintenance, right operations in the correct way, in a minimum time, with minimum effort
  6. by proper ergonomics design, less need for corrections later, and fewer costs of late changes.

The presentation’s purpose is to clarify ergonomics and demonstrate how it is essential in improving maintenance conditions. FEES recommends that the EME 2010 relate to the Healthy Workplace campaign “Safe maintenance,” promoted by the EU-OSHA, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

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European Month of Ergonomics 2009 – Risk Assessment and Ergonomics

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The work environment is examined from several points of view simultaneously: work environment and circumstances, usability of the equipment, work organization, share of work, leadership and management, co-operation and communication.      
Solutions, that respect human characteristics – opportunities and constraints – and that utilize human capability comprehensively, can stimulate the worker to improve continuously her or his own work and can be identified through ergonomics.
The work environment is examined from several points of view simultaneously: work environment and circumstances, usability of the equipment, work organization, share of work, leadership and management, co-operation and communication.      
Solutions, that respect human characteristics – opportunities and constraints – and that utilize human capability comprehensively, can stimulate the worker to improve continuously her or his own work and can be identified through ergonomics.
Professional ergonomist
  1. Combines different points of view 
  2. Interprets pre-indicators and is able to anticipate and act before problems arise
The best results can be reached by appropriate timing of risk assessments – in the planning and design phases. Ergonomics risk assessment processes cover the whole activity chain and represent sustainable progress and development.
Ergonomics-in-Risk-Assessment_09-09-18_0Download

European Month of Ergonomics 2009 – Know Your Ergonomist

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Goals of the European Month of Ergonomics 2009 was
  1. Disseminate science of ergonomics   
  2. Promote understanding of different ergonomics areas 
  3. Improve information on ergonomics education 
  4. Promote discussion concerning topics of ergonomics  
  5. Support ergonomics implementation in practice
KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS
  1. Ergonomics is knowledge and skills how to fit  work for workers
  2. Ergonomics improves human wellbeing
    Goals of the European Month of Ergonomics 2009 was
    1. Disseminate science of ergonomics   
    2. Promote understanding of different ergonomics areas 
    3. Improve information on ergonomics education 
    4. Promote discussion concerning topics of ergonomics  
    5. Support ergonomics implementation in practice
    KNOW YOUR ERGONOMICS
    1. Ergonomics is knowledge and skills how to fit  work for workers
    2. Ergonomics improves human wellbeing
    3. Ergonomics enhances productivity and improves the quality of work
    Ergonomics offers solutions that respect human qualities – possibilities and restrictions – and make it possible to utilize person’s individual talents and properties broadly
    Ergonomics looks at the working environment from several different points of view: work environment with its different characteristics, work equipments, work organization and organizing the work, task sharing and management
    Ergonomics concerns not only the work environment. Ergonomics is also for creating environment that supports and makes possible human activities – on safe and just way.
    OCCUPATIONS FOR ERGONOMISTS
    1. Project manager, e.g. in the development tasks
    2. Teacher
    3. Researcher
    4. Inspector and quality manager
    5. Occupational health care specialist
    6. Product and system design specialist
    7. Support for engineering and production tasks
    Know-your-ergonomics-20090922_0Download