Ergonomics

Well, this is number four in my series of blogs concerning "the professions that make up disability management".

Today I will discuss Ergonomics, or more specifically Ergonomists. So what is ergonomics? Well the Association of Canadian Ergonomists summed it up best, "ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with interactions among humans and other elements of a system (e.g.the tools, equipment, products, tasks, organization, technology, and environment)."

So what do they do? Well according to ACE, "Ergonomists contribute to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, environments and systems in order to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people. " In other words, they help humans to interphase with tools more effectively and more efficiently.

Ergonomists can be found working independently in a consulting role or within health care facilities such as a hospitals or rehabilitation centers.

It should be noted that the Association of Canadian Ergonomists are having the annual conference in Kelowna, October 5-7 2010.