Safer and Smarter: Why Human Factors and Ergonomics Standards Matter
Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) standards are essential for enhancing safety, efficiency and user-centered design across various industries, reducing errors and promoting inclusivity.
- By Bob Fox, Ram Maikala
- Aug 16, 2024
Confusing mobile apps and unclear instructions can be frustrating for anyone. But imagine if these everyday annoyances weren't just inconvenient but held the potential to be dangerous.
That's where human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) standards come in. Developed by the relevant professional associations and learned societies, these standards ensure the things workers interact with every day are designed with them in mind, prioritizing safety and efficiency. Rooted in the principles of HF/E, these standards consider human capabilities to create smooth, user-friendly interactions, as well as the design of physical work tasks and workspaces.
For decades, professional associations have helped create U.S. safety standards for product design and influence international standards, including new standards that help designers consider user safety and ease of use from the beginning of the design process. Examples can include the design of office furniture to ensure a home workstation is comfortable and safe or the blueprints for new buildings to have handicap-accessible walkways.
While they influence day-to-day lives in ways some may not notice, these same standards are critical in high-pressure environments like aviation. For example, while pilot error plays a role in 53 percent of aircraft incidents, poorly designed control layouts can hinder situational awareness and contribute to these errors.
Thankfully, advancements in aircraft design are addressing this by incorporating HF/E principles. For example, the introduction of airborne weather radars in the 1950s drastically improved pilot awareness and safety in unpredictable weather conditions.
This focus on human-system interaction extends far beyond aviation. Industry standards that consider all aspects of human-system interaction play a crucial role in ensuring safe, efficient and user-centered design across various industries.
The Power of Human Factors in Standards
On the surface, the concept of human factors is quite simple. Yet, the impact of HF/E can be profound – ultimately serving the “simple” purpose of reducing human error.
HF/E is a scientific discipline that informs industry standards to increase productivity and enhance safety and comfort. The core principles of HF/E include user-centered design, reducing physical and cognitive load, and considering human capabilities and limitations. Neglecting these principles can lead to usability problems, decreased productivity and — most dangerously — ergonomics and safety hazards. However, integrating these ergonomics and human factors principles within industry standards has undoubtedly led to safer, smoother, and smarter designs and utilization of technologies.