What do Ergonomists do?

Ergonomists use information about people (height, weight, their ability to handle information and make decisions, their ability to see and hear and their ability to work in extremes of temperature) to make the workplace safer, more comfortable, and more productive. An ergonomist studies the way 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 design must be 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.

How does one become certified in the field of Ergonomics?

The BCPE or Board of Certified Professional Ergonomists is the recognized organization that deals with professional certification in this field. Some businesses have also begun to offer and charge for their own certifications.

For information about specific certification requirements please visit the BCPE Web Site.

Universities offering Ergonomic Programs

Ergonomics and Human factors are now being taught in Universities across the globe. In the United States, an increasing number of Universities are offering graduate and postgraduate degrees in Ergonomics/Human Factors. Here are links to some of the Universities.

Aston University - www.aston.ac.uk/index.html
Birkbeck College - www.bbk.ac.uk/
Cardiff University of Wales (formerly UWIST) - www.cardiff.ac.uk/index.html
Carnegie Mellon University - www.cit.cmu.edu
Center for Ergonomics, University of Michigan - www.engin.umich.edu/dept/ioe/C4E/
Cornell University ­ ergo.human.cornell.edu
Cranfield University - www.cranfield.ac.uk/coa/postgraduate/courses.htm
Georgia Tech ­ www.gatech.edu/index.php
Harvard School of Public Health - www.hsph.harvard.edu/ergonomics/
London Guildhall University - www.lgu.ac.uk/psychology/
Loughborough University - www.lboro.ac.uk
Louisiana State University - www.lsu.edu
Miami University - www.units.muohio.edu/psychology/cogsci/ergonomics
Napier University - www.napier.ac.uk
North Carolina State University ­ www.ie.ncsu.edu/ergolab
Ohio State University ­ ergonomics.osu.edu/index.html
Penn State ­ www.ie.psu.edu
San Jose State University ­ www.engr.sjsu.edu
State University of New York at Buffalo - www.eng.buffalo.edu
Texas A&M University ­ www.tamu.edu
Texas Tech University ­ www.coe.ttu.edu
Tufts University ­ www.tufts.edu
University College London - www.ergohci.ucl.ac.uk
University of Aberdeen - www.abdn.ac.uk/deom
University of Birmingham - www.bham.ac.uk/ManMechEng
University of California - ergonomics.ucla.edu
University of California, Berkeley ­ www.me.berkeley.edu/ergo
University of Cape Town - www.uct.ac.za
University of Central Florida ­ www.ucf.edu
University of Cinncinnati ­ www.uc.edu
University of Hull - www.hull.ac.uk
University of Iowa ­ www.uiowa.edu
University of Louisville ­ www.louisville.edu
University of Lulea - www.luth.se
University of Maryland ­ www.umd.edu
University of Minnesota ­ www.dehs.umn.edu
University of Nebraska-Lincoln ­ www.unl.edu/
University of Nottingham - www.nottingham.ac.uk/School4m
University of Pennsylvania ­ www.cis.upenn.edu/~hms
University of Surrey Robens Institute - www.surreyergonomics.org.uk
University of Texas, Austin ­ www.utexas.edu
University of Twente - www.utwente.nl/en
University of Virginia ­ keats.admin.virginia.edu/ergo/home.html
University of Wales - www.swan.ac.uk/psychology
University of Washington ­ www.depts.washington.edu/envhlth
University of Wisconsin ­ www.engr.wisc.edu/ie
Virginia Tech ­ www.vt.edu
Wright State University ­ www.wright.edu

Are there any ergonomic standards or guidelines?

Yes! Several organizations at the national and international level write ergonomics-related standards and guidelines. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are the main groups who create the standards/guidelines in the U.S.

Guidelines have also come from trade organizations or standardized industry practices.

At the U.S. federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has several times attempted to promulgate an "Ergonomics Program Rule," but has failed to reach a stage at which regulation is formerly pending. On November 14th, 2000, OSHA published an ergonomics program standard in the Federal Register under the Clinton administration. On January 16, 2001 the program took effect. The Bush AdministrationIt repealed it 63 days later on March 20, 2001. (More about the political process involved with creating and repealing the ergonomics standard can be found in Ergoweb's News section.)

There are also many standards in places outside of the United States.

• ANSI B11 Technical Report: Ergonomic guidelines for the Design, Installation, and Use of Machine Tools.
• ANSI Z-365: Control of Work-Related Cumulative Trauma
• ISO 9241
• State of California Ergonomics Rule
• State of Washington Ergonomics Rule

Where can I find additional ergonomics information?

The ergoweb.com site supports key-word searches. Enter a word of phrase in the search box and everything from journals, books, and products will be returned. If you still have questions, please feel free to call us toll free at 1.888.374.6932 to consult with a professional ergonomist.