Guest Author - Anne Asher

What do you think of when you hear the word ergonomics? Ergonomics is an engineering discipline, yet it is possible to define it in a personable way.

The National Pain Foundation produces the Mayo Clinic Glossary on their website. Their definition of ergonomics reads as follows:

The science of designing the job to fit the worker, rather than physically forcing the worker’s body to fit the job.

I love this definition because it is succinct and it gives me an image of what ergonomics is, and is not.

The Occupational Health and Safety website for the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada government is also succinct:

Simply stated, ergonomics looks at designing work to fit people.

The Carpet Buyer's Handbookan online source of unbiased information about carpeting, has a more spatial approach to understanding the term 'ergonomics':

An applied science that investigates the impact of a persons physical environment of their health and comfort (eg, work equip, room, general areas).