| Many people believe that ergonomics is a new | | | | number of work injuries decreased. Taylor wanted to |
| concept. They do not realize the history behind this | | | | try to get the greatest output in the least amount of |
| amazing science and how it has helped people for | | | | time. |
| many years. The concept of ergonomics is one that | | | | Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were interested in Taylor's |
| has been around for a long time. | | | | theory, but had a different approach. Instead, they |
| Man has searched for new ways to do things since | | | | wanted to reduce the movements required to get a |
| the beginning of time - methods to do things quicker, | | | | job finished. This concept truly takes us to the heart |
| more efficiently and at the same time, reduce as | | | | of ergonomics, which embraces the concept of |
| much physical and emotional stress as possible. It is a | | | | maintaining a healthy body while performing |
| fact that man has become more knowledgeable | | | | necessary jobs. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth practiced time |
| through the centuries and he has been able to use | | | | motion analysis while also creating tool and material |
| this to help make life easier and less stressful, while | | | | standards. Gilbreth completely changed the way |
| accomplishing more than ever. | | | | bricklayers work, increasing their number of laid bricks |
| Based on findings, scientists believe that early man | | | | from 120 to 350 bricks per hour. Through the |
| made tools from pebbles and scoops from antelope | | | | changes, there was not only a decrease of strain on |
| bones in an attempt to accomplish their tasks quicker | | | | the worker's bodies, but also an increase in |
| and more efficiently. Tools, machines, and various | | | | production. Lillian Gilbreth was an industrial engineer |
| work processes were created and fine-tuned through | | | | for General Electric and she interviewed over 4,000 |
| the centuries, improving the effectiveness of their | | | | women to learn the design that women preferred |
| tasks. The Industrial Revolution brought even more | | | | while working at their stoves, sinks and other |
| creative ways of doing things with the invention of | | | | appliances in their homes. |
| the spinning jenny and rolling mills. The concepts | | | | The ideas of ergonomics continued to develop. In |
| behind developing these products are the same ideas | | | | 1943, Alphonse Chapanis, an army officer of World |
| behind much of ergonomics today. | | | | War II, discovered that pilots made fewer errors if |
| Bernardino Ramazinni wrote about work-related | | | | the layouts of the plane's controls were simplified. In |
| injuries in his medical journal dating back into the | | | | other words, these pioneers of ergonomics learned |
| sixteenth century. In his publication "De Morbis | | | | that if we do things in a different way, we can often |
| Artificum (Diseases of Workers)", he wrote an entire | | | | be more productive and safer. |
| section about the relationship between various | | | | It was after World War II that ergonomics began to |
| injuries and occupations. In a narrative about the | | | | include not only productivity, but also the safety of |
| science of nature, Wojciech Jastrzebowski, a Polish | | | | the workers. Research began to take place in various |
| biologist, created the word "ergonomics" in 1857. | | | | areas including: the affect of heavy labor on the |
| "Ergon" means work and "nomos" means natural law. | | | | heart; the maximum loads that should be pulled, |
| In other words, it literally means "how to work | | | | pushed or carried; the amount of muscle force that |
| according to nature" - as opposed to fighting against | | | | should be required to perform manual tasks; and how |
| what is naturally best for us. | | | | lifting heavy objects affects the back. Many sciences |
| In the early 1900's, Scientific Management became | | | | such as physicians, engineers and psychologists work |
| popular. This was a method whereby a worker could | | | | together on ergonomic ideas to develop new ideas |
| have greater efficiency by improving the process of | | | | on how people can avoid injuring their bodies and |
| the task. Production of industry was still mostly run | | | | work more efficiently. |
| by manpower and motion at this time. Basic | | | | For many centuries, the concept of ergonomics has |
| ergonomic concepts were used, but not completely | | | | been around. People have been experimenting with |
| understood or taken to their full potential. | | | | ergonomic concepts for centuries, but the science |
| Frederick W. Taylor was most interested in | | | | has become more precise today. When we do not |
| ergonomics and enjoyed evaluating various tasks to | | | | strain our bodies, we are better able to do our jobs |
| find the "one best way" to perform them. The | | | | and accomplish more. The popularity of ergonomic |
| workers experienced less stress and repetition | | | | products has grown, as more people are |
| through the various tools he created for factories. | | | | understanding how these items can help them feel |
| Amazingly, the production level increased and the | | | | better and get more accomplished in record time. |