Is there a clear understanding of using human factors and ergonomics at
work?
Authors: Lindholm Maria , Parviainen Elina 
Published: July 2023

Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) is a scientific discipline that aims
to understand interactions among humans and other elements of a system where
an individual performs his/her work tasks with different materials, tools
and technologies in a certain work environment in given time. HF/E applies
theory, principles, data and methods in design to optimize human well-being
and overall system performance. International Ergonomics Association (IEA)
has defined HF/E specialists core competencies as foundation knowledge, HF/E
measurement and analysis skills, HF/E evaluation skills, HF/E recommendation
skills, HF/E implementation skills, scientific skills, and professional
behavior. In addition, Centre for Registration of European Ergonomists
(CREE) has defined European Ergonomists as professionals who are experienced
in using knowledge from the areas of anatomy, physiology, psychology, social
organization and the physical environment to design work systems, structures
and activities to optimize human performance and well-being. However, in
public discussion and in generic understanding, it is not clear what HF/E or
ergonomics means nor who are HF/E specialists or ergonomists, what do they
do and where do they work.This study aims to contribute to the above
presented discussion. A questionnaire was conducted to collect
internationally HF/E experts' (n = 8) opinions on proactive designing of
work and work environments. Beside the questionnaire, to gain the same
understanding nationally, qualitative interviews for Finnish professionals
(n = 9) were conducted with a semi-structured interview form. The questions
in both phases were based on a handbook, “People in designing work and the
working environment - a handbook for the proactive planning of work and
design of working environments” (later “handbook”), commissioned by the
Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The handbook aimed to offer
tools for proactive planning of work and designing working environments. In
this study, related to the questionnaire, the focus is on the questions
“What is your image about who are doing the planning of work and design of
work environment at workplaces?”, “Who are responsible for taking care that
all needed actions for planning and designing the work will be done?”, “Who
are responsible for the whole process (designing of work)?”, “Who are
responsible for the needed knowledge (designing of work)?”, and “How would
you define the role and tasks of a HFE professional in this kind of process
(designing of work)?”. Related to interviews, the focus is on the generic
views and comments about the design process and the roles in it, inspired by
the discussion about the handbook. The materials were analyzed by
categorization.In the interviews, the overall opinion was that there is no
clear picture of who actually is an HF/E specialist, how it is defined and
who are they specifically in Finland, which may lead to false impressions.
In the questionnaire, roles and responsibilities in planning and designing
the work and utilizing HF/E in it, were described with wide variety in the
answers. These preliminary results suggest that there is a need to widen the
public discussion and public view on HF/E specialists and sharpen the
understanding about them.