Compatibility Factor: Interdependency of Design Safety & Ergonomics

Our very own Doug Sten, Safety Consultant, has been published in the August 2020 edition of the Professional Safety, a publication of the American Society of Safety Professionals (assp.org)

The article highlights Mr. Sten's experience with infusing ergonomic applications in the design safety review process and how this helps the interdependency and drives compatibility – with the benefits being measured and realized, thus improving efficiency, productivity and safety.

Article excerpt:

Compatibility Factor
Interdependency of Design Safety & Ergonomics

By Doug Sten, PhD, CMSE®,
Certified Machinery Safety Expert
Safety Consultant, Pilz Automation Safety, L.P.

Machine design safety should conform to good engineering practices, industry standards, national or international standards, and government codes and regulations that are applicable for that particular product.

When properly designed, a product should be fundamentally sound, have proper safeguards, be operated and maintained with minimum risk to the user, and fail to a safe condition when a fault is detected in the safety control system.

The term “compatibility factor” refers to the state in which two conditions can exist or occur together, producing positive outcomes. So, where does ergonomics and the compatibility factor come into play? When designing to an operator’s or technician’s needs, the designer or engineer must take into account a person’s physical and mental abilities (and limitations) in relation to the demands of the machine, job-related tasks (frequency and duration) and the work environment.  ....

Download the entire article here.