Is there a clear understanding of using human factors and ergonomics at work?

Abstract

Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) is a scientific discipline that aims to understand interactions among humans and other system elements. HF/E applies theory, principles, data, and methods in design to optimize overall system performance and sustainability by balancing organizational functions and the well-being of employees. However, in public discussion and in generic understanding, it is not clear what HF/E means, who HF/E specialists or ergonomists are, what they do, and where they work. Therefore, this study aimed to contribute to the above-described discussion. In this qualitative study, a questionnaire was used to collect international HF/E experts’ (n =8) opinions on the proactive design of work and work environments and interviews with Finnish professionals (n =9) were conducted. The results suggest that there is no clear picture of HF/E specialists used in proactive design-driven activities. This finding indicates that there is a need to widen the public discussion and view on HF/E specialists in workplaces.