Green Ergonomics

It is widely accepted that one of the biggest challenges facing humanity this century is the changing climate. This is leading to a paradigm shift in the way we choose to live, work, consume, communicate, travel, generate energy, produce food and deal with waste; the consequences of these changes are likely to impact on almost all areas of human activity.

The ease with which these changes are adopted and accepted will depend to some extent on how well the human user of the system or product has been considered in the design. An understanding of how people behave and make choices will help to ensure that these changes are acceptable to those they affect.

There are significant overlaps between the ergonomics and environmental agenda:

• There is a rapid expansion of new jobs in green industries (particularly concerning the production of renewable energy). There are some new challenges here and ergonomists can contribute to ensuring these are safe and healthy jobs as well as environmentally beneficial.
• Ergonomists have a good understanding of how people behave and make choices, and since reducing energy and the use of resources will require behaviour change, we are well placed to assist with this, and to ensure that the changes that will come about are acceptable and appropriate.
• Good ergonomic design can help to ensure that the right equipment, products and systems are designed / selected and therefore reduce waste.
• Many accidents and errors have negative environmental consequences, and by designing to avoid this we can benefit the environment (e.g. what can be learnt from the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster).

Ergonomics can be applied to many areas the scope of this topic, including:

• Jobs in green industries (including renewable energy production, waste recycling, organic agriculture)
• Design of low energy transport systems
• Design of low energy products
• Building and urban environments
• Behaviour change
• Thermal physiology (human response to warmer environments)

It is planned that meetings and communication would be undertaken via electronic medium, primarily email, webinars and discussion pages here on the IEHF website.

The wide scope of the topic means that the direction of the group is likely to be shaped by member interests, which will be discussed at a first webinar event. It is proposed to have at least 3 webinar events each year with invited speakers, covering topics such as:

• Ergonomic risks in green jobs (HSE, IOSH)
• Ergonomics and design of low energy products / systems (Design Council, the O2 sustainable design network, the RSA)
• Using ergonomics knowledge to influence behaviour change (ESRI)
• Urban and built environment (sustainability schools at universities)
• Green office products and design (product and equipment suppliers).

Please get in touch if you are interested in joining this Group or join our LinkedIn Group