Ergonomics / Human Factors

Ergonomics, also known as Human Factors is the science of designing for people and focusing on making products, equipment, tasks and processes comfortable, efficient and safe for the user.  The aim is often described as fitting the work, equipment and workplace to the user rather than fitting the user to the work, equipment and workplace.

Ergonomics / Human Factors (from HFESA) encompasses 3 key areas;

• Physical ergonomics – including posture, body movement, forces acting on the body, design of tools and workstations and environmental factors such as temperature, light, noise and vibration.
• Cognitive ergonomics – including decision-making, mental workload, fatigue and decision-making.
• Organisational ergonomics – including communication, work design, job rotation and fatigue.

Our ergonomics service is designed to maximise safety and enhance the interaction between your employees, equipment and the work environment.  We take into account your employees capabilities to ensure that the physical demands, tasks, equipment and the environment are in unity.  Our aim is to ensure workplaces are designed for comfort, efficiency, safety and productivity.  We seek to improve levels of comfort and productivity with relatively simple changes.  Although ergonomics consists of a large number of areas, our main focus for workplaces and employees include workstations, equipment layout, injury prevention, lighting, noise and temperature.

Dewing Ergonomics and Safety conduct the following:

Ergonomic assessments – this occurs across office and industrial environments. We identify deficiencies and implement strategies to optimise the fit between the user and the work, equipment used and the workplace.

Ergonomic training – training occurs in office and industrial organisations to focus on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal injuries.

Ergonomic design of office and industrial equipment.

Computer workstation assessments – we assess and evaluate posture, musculoskeletal demands and other factors with the aim of preventing injuries.

Manual handling assessments – we assess and evaluate the movement of materials and products to ensure that employees are performing manual handling tasks as safe as possible.

Manual handling training – we deliver tailor-made manual handling training and aim to be informative, user-friendly and practical.

Noise surveys – noise surveys are undertaken in the occupational environment to measure background noise levels, sources of noise and personal exposure.  The business utilises a range of sophisticated noise monitoring equipment including a sound level meter with an octave band filter and a number of dosimeters for measuring personal noise exposure.  Noise contouring software is also used as a means of visually showing noise level contours.

Noise training – we deliver training in noise and aim to be practical, informative, interactive and at a level suitable for participants.

Lighting surveys – lighting surveys occur in both office and industrial environments to measure the illuminance and also luminance.  Dewing Ergonomics and Safety has both illuminance and luminance meters.  Illuminance is the usual method which determines the Lux levels.  Luminance is used as a means to determine the level of glare.  The ergonomic factors associated with lighting levels including glare, reflection, visual fatigue and positioning of the computer workstation are evaluated.