Ergonomics is about how people, based on their physical capabilities, can best organise and conduct their activities.

The word ergonomics may best be explained as ‘the adaption of the environment to man’. Ergonomists conduct research into work strain and working posture as well as work settings in organisations.

The entire context in which you perform your work is important. This means that attention is not only paid to what you are capable of, but also to the point where you go beyond the boundaries of your own ability.

The aim is to have the work physically conducted with as little strain as possible, so that you have maximum energy for your work and other things you find important. In addition the work should be conducted efficiently. In other words, the point is to achieve as much as possible with minimum effort, in a way that is healthy, safe and pleasant, i.e. you must feel comfortable doing it. In modern ergonomics, it is a matter of adjustment of work to the individual, for instance by using height adjustable office furniture.

To summarise, ergonomics includes the knowledge of how work can be organised and conducted in an efficient and healthy way.

The development of ergonomics
When did ergonomics come into existence? At the time that, due to industrial development, more complicated technical equipment was introduced, resulting in more organisation. At that time, it was not altogether clear how you could best arrange your work, simply because people had no experience of it.

In the initial phase of the development of ergonomics, the aim was to get people to produce as much as possible at the lowest possible cost. The most famous name associated with early ergonomics is ‘Taylor’. His name has become a household word which, however, has got a more and more negative connotation.

In the period round 1900, Taylor examined, through time and motion studies, how people carried out their activities, what movement they made and how much time it took. Next he determined how all operations could be executed as effectively as possible to produce as much as possible in the minimum amount of time. That is what is called the 'Taylor system’, resulting of course in rushed systems, assembly line production etc.

Essential progress
During the war, when many pilots were required and airplanes became increasingly complicated, it was discovered that the cockpits were not adequate i.e. logically organised, causing accidents to happen. This was an essential push in the progress of ergonomics.