A structural framework for sustainable processes in ergonomics


Sarbat İ., Özmehmet Taşan S.

ERGONOMICS, vol.63, no.3, pp.346-366, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 63 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1641614
  • Journal Name: ERGONOMICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Page Numbers: pp.346-366
  • Keywords: Sustainability indicators, ergonomic indicators, integration, relation, framework, RISK-FACTORS, DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS, REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS, ASSESSING EXPOSURE, WORKING POSTURES, MUSCULOSKELETAL, SYSTEMS, INDEX, RESPONSIBILITY, QUESTIONNAIRE
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Considering today's globalised world, new concepts that assist ergonomics are needed to provide human well-being. Accordingly, the sustainability concept is used in this study to satisfy the needs of stakeholders, put environmentally-friendly and cost-effective interventions into practice and provide ergonomically well-designed and easily managed processes that are more flexible, adaptable and human-sensitive. To achieve this, a practical and easily adaptable framework, which integrates ergonomics and sustainability by presenting the relations between fundamental elements of ergonomics and sustainability dimensions (SDs), is proposed. Within this base framework, ergonomic indicators (EIs) and sub-dimensions proposed for the classification of EIs are structured for ergonomics under a sustainability point-of-view. The sub-dimensions proposed in this study, which have direct or indirect relations to humans, are 'Loss', 'Investment', 'Conditions', 'Contribution', 'Self-Development', and 'Satisfaction'. This structural framework, which can be easily used by ergonomists or managers, ensures a good starting point for providing sustainable processes in ergonomics. Practitioner summary: This study proposes a structural framework to present the relations between ergonomics and sustainability. In the context of ergonomics, fundamental elements of ergonomics are chosen, while three dimensions of sustainability and proposed sub-dimensions are used in the context of sustainability. The adapted ergonomic indicators are also classified within these sub-dimensions.