Ergonomics training for non-ergonomists

Ergonomics training for non-ergonomists

The next paper, "Expert systems in telecommunications" by A. Kidd (British Telecom), described clearly what expert systems are and why human factors a...

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The next paper, "Expert systems in telecommunications" by A. Kidd (British Telecom), described clearly what expert systems are and why human factors aspects need to be considered if they are to be as helpful to industry, management and medicine as they could be. Ergonomists need to identify and describe in a formal and transferable manner the factors crucial to human communication and problem solving so that systems can be made comprehensive and compatible with the user. The importance of doing this before human factors becomes an area within AI was emphasised and directions for research were outlined. T. Long (BT) described how Hackman and Oldham's Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) and Job Rating Form ( J R F ) have been used and developed to predict the "Response of staff to changing work" as BT workers are retrained to man the new computerised control centres. Results showed that jobholders and supervisors have very similar perceptions of present jobs, that the motivating potential needs to be slightly higher to match the jobholders' high Growth Need Strength and that the new work is expected to be more satisfying (despite an anticipated drop in autonomy). There are therefore no foreseeable job design problems although assessment of the techniques must wait until after the system has been fully implemented. The last paper, this time on the "Human factors in the design and implementation o f a computerised database and information retrieval system" b y T. Rubin and R.L. Borwick (BT), also stressed the importance of user support and involvement for the successful implementation of new technology. The stores control system required ergonomics input in a variety of areas, the two reported being the design of the user-VDU interface (keyboards, function keys, transaction procedures) and a training scheme for users. The project illustrated several of the constraints imposed on the ergonomist when working as part of a larger team.

AppUeations (Chairman: Mr P.J. Graves (Institute of Occupational Medicine, NCB)) "Applications" was a collection of four papers looking at the problems of mismatch between worker and equipment in commercial, industrial and military settings. The two approaches for avoidance of such problems, prevention (i e, ergonomic design) and remedy (i e, work study with recommendations for modifying existing situations) were both illustrated.

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"The ergonomics of laser scanner checkout systems" had been studied by J. Wilson and S. Grey (University of Birmingham). Two aspects were reported, the first was the ability of operators to reach the scanner, the second the attitudes of laser scanner and electronic cash register ~perators toward the workplace and job characteristics. Results from laboratory experiments on female potential operators showed that the layout was inadequate for smaller operators and that although job satisfaction was low this was an indication of the deficiencies of workplace design and operational problems rather than a reaction to laser scanning itself. J.C. Williams and A. Vitalis (UKAEA) described a series of studies on "Human factors and the design of an automated facsimile machine". A prototype machine modelled on existing manually operated models was evaluated for ease of use and many operational problems were observed. Further user trials showed that the modifications made were successful in achieving satisfactory operation of the machine, even slight design faults degrading performance if not rectified. The next paper by M. Magnusson, R. Ortengren, G.B.J. Andersson, I. Petersen and B. Sabel (Sahlgren Hospital) explained how the enforcement of a law requiring lower temperatures for meat has emphasised the need for " A n ergonomic study of work methods and physical problems among professional butchers". Seventy three butchers at companies in Western Sweden were questioned and observed while working as part of an extensive pilot study to determine the relationships between specific tasks and the widespread physical discomfort. Three areas were picked out for further research: table height, the cutting of hanging meat at shoulder level and manual handling. J. Steventon (Scicon Consultancy) presented a paper not about the man-machine interface for the BATES system as expected, but about a similar command-control system allowing communication between different stations of Royal Artillery around the battlefield. Several principles of usersystem interaction were used to give general guidelines in the design. Experiments were carried out to resolve particular issues, the aim throughout being to protect the operator from making serious mistakes without a reduction in speed. User-system interaction analysis was recommended as an aid to a clear sense of purpose, a comprehensive design, organisational change and MMI design where a sound knowleage of users' training and expectations is required.

AppliedErgonomics September1983

for non-ergonomists leman: Mr ~ Porter f N e ~ t l e Polytechnic)) E~:nomics ~ g

Over half the 30-- 40 strong group in the first parallel session "Ergonomics training for non-ergonomists" were personally involved in the subject under discussion. M. Porter (Newcastle Polytechnic), S.% Pheasant (RFHSoM) and C.J.A. Andrews (Napier College) in their descriptions of teaching ergonomics to industrial designers voiced the problems common to most people - a limited time allowance, demands from _the departments invoiced for evidence of knowledge transferral, and difficulty in escaping from the token ergonomist syndrome. All stem from a lack of understanding of the possible contributions of ergonomics but a recent attempt to remedy this by means of a syllabus guide for other disciplines was considered to have little hope of success, Instead, it was suggested, ergonomists need to find out more about the courses they are trying to supplement. Plans for the future were made with the aim o f providing links for people suffering similar problems.

Ergonomics after Alvey For this evening discussion on the ergonomics aspects of IT the panel was made up of R. Yates (BT), B. Shackel(Loughborough) and J. Clare (Scicon). £350 million has been dedicated by industry and the government to look at the software, manmachine interfaces and other aspects of knowledge-based systems. A/though allocated mainly to industrial applications, education and research also have money to spend, hence the recent proposal of 80 new IT courses written within a month. The MMI working party, a subdivision of the Alvey Committee, have provided a plan for future work which is at present awaiting acceptance by SERC. The question of the Ergonomics Society's potential role and its lack of initiative in taking on the problems so far were discussed, but too little time was available actually to concentrate on any of the research strategies or communications structures proposed.

Thermalenvironment (Chairman: Mr G.C Simpson (IOM, NCB)) Due to the recent change in standards for the thermal environment and the development of new indices there has been greater interest in the area. In the first paper K. C. Parsons and D. Entwisfle (LUT) reported on " A n investigation into the thermal comfort of motor car drivers". From both laboratory and field trials they