Ergonomist Job Description - OgaJob - Fastest Growing Job Board Site in Nigeria

With the emergence of the new workplace, the role of ergonomics has become very important. Ergonomists are essential in creating and perfecting workspaces to help prevent injuries, encourage productivity, and improve health and wellness.

In this post, we will look into what an ergonomist does as we cover the necessary responsibilities, skills, and other relevant details needed to land this wonderful opportunity.

What is an Ergonomist?

An ergonomist is a person who uses scientific principles and knowledge to design and arrange a workspace, product, or system in such a way that it minimizes the chances of injuries and increases productivity and performance level.

Ergonomists can practice in different fields like offices, factories, hospitals, and construction sites, where they evaluate and improve these environments.

Ergonomists deal with the analysis and redesign of equipment, furniture, and systems with the aim of making them safer, more health-promoting, and conducive to higher levels of efficiency.

They aim to help people work better with the equipment and environment they are provided with.

What Does an Ergonomist Actually Do? Core Responsibilities

The outlines provided under the ergonomist job description stem from the details that cover the different aspects of adjusting occupations to people.

This is a more holistic targeted approach involving consideration of the physical, mental, and organizational factors of work.

Main duties of an usually an Ergonomist comprises of:

Carry out detailed inspections of work areas such as offices, factories, healthcare facilities, and transport locations to locate ergonomic hazards and risk elements associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).
Analyze the arrangement of workstations, the configuration of equipment, the user’s movements, and the work attitude of the employee through observation, measurement, and ergonomic evaluation.
Study a job and its constituent tasks, the sequence of operations, and the methods of work in search of possibilities for ergonomics enhancement and elimination of ergonomic risks.
Analyze the level of physical effort and movements that are done repetitively, the body’s force, the posture of the person, and manual work that may lead to strain or injury.
Develop plans and schedules for ergonomic modifications and optimizations for improving the design of the workplace, selection of equipment, and design of the work.
Design workstations, tools, furniture, and equipment with ergonomic modification principles to adjust for different body dimensions, physical capabilities, and work tasks.
Adjust and arrange the particulars of the work spaces to maintain the most favorable, primarily ergonomic conditions relative to the position of seats, height of workstations, location of monitors, where keyboards are positioned, and where the working reaches are located.
Ensure there is enough space and access for the worker to eliminate ergonomic barriers and allow for comfortable positions.
Deliver ergonomic training and educational resources to staff members, supervisors, and managers that include, but are not limited to: ergonomic attention, proper lifting procedures, workstation ergonomics, and injury prevention techniques.
Conduct workshops, seminars, and provide online materials for constituents to establish proper ergonomic practices to ensure an all-around safe and healthy workplace environment.
Complete ergonomic risk assessments and job hazard analysis (JHA) to determine where ergonomic intervention and control measures need to be applied most based on the level of risk and potential injury. Qualitative ergonomic checklists, validated assessment tools, and risk assessment matrices are useful in defining ergonomic risks in the workplace and outlining the necessary changes.
Be a specialist on office ergonomics and solve problems for computer workstations, office furniture, and other equipment used in sedentary work environments. Suggest the use of ergonomic office chairs, adjustable desks, monitor arms, keyboard trays, and other accessories designed to increase neutral postures while reducing static loading and discomfort.
Create and execute programs aimed at manual handling and lifting techniques to mitigate the risk of back injuries and skeletal muscular strains related to manual-based material handling work. Educate constituents on proper lifting, body mechanics, load handling, and extenuating lifting devices to reduce the risk of overexertion injuries.
Assess driving and vehicle ergonomics and driver workstation design to improve satisfaction with the optimum driving position.
Tackle ergonomic problems existing in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities to enhance patient care ergonomics as well as the safety of healthcare personnel. Evaluate activities related to patient lifting, the design of medical devices, and the work setting for healthcare practitioners to minimize their risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Establish, implement and control ergonomic programs and policies within a company to improve the health, safety, and wellness of employees. Design and structure ergonomic policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for ergonomic applications in different departments and facilities to meet minimum ergonomic standards.
Make research studies, ergonomic evaluations, and program evaluations to look into the impact of ergonomic measures and other initiatives aimed at reducing workplace injuries and improving performance. Gather and analyze information relating to ergonomics, injury rates, and staff opinion to fuel evidence-based approaches and initiatives aimed at change and improvement.

Essential Skills and Qualifications for an Ergonomist

Essential skills and competences

These competencies are essential for the position of an ergonomist.

Follow a brief: Fulfill requirements and expectations that have been discussed and agreed upon with the customer.
Determine suitability of materials: Evaluate the availability and suitability of materials for the product’s manufacturability as designed.
Identify customer’s needs: Determine what the customers expect, want, and need with respect to products and services by employing relevant questions and active listening techniques.
Analyze ergonomics in different workplaces: Evaluate the interaction of people with machines, equipment and workspaces from the perspective of ergonomics.
Draft design specifications: Prepare a list, description and estimation of costs of the necessary materials and components to be designed.
Conduct research on trends in design: Research contemporary and prospective design outlines and patterns, as well as their blended features with the expected relevant market.
Use cad software: Utilize computer aided design (CAD) systems for the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.
Consult with design team: Collaborate with the design team to discuss the project, design ideas, consolidate drafts and vet them for stakeholder consideration.
Draw design sketches: Make visual aids for the communication and development of design ideas through simple illustrations.

Essential knowledge

Accumulate this knowledge to effectively work as an ergonomist

Mathematics: This subject deals with aspects like number, shape, space, and change. It is an activity involving discovery and hypotheses building. Math develops many disciplines, some serve rather important practical purposes.
Design principles: The parts incorporated in design include unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence as well as their use in real life situations.
Human anatomy: The interrelated aspects of form and function as they pertain to the human body together with musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary, and nervous systems; includes pathology and physiology through the lifespan of the human being.
Copyright legislations: The stipulations within law safeguard the interests of the primary creators regarding the manipulation of their products and defines who is permitted to do what.
Ergonomics: The discipline targeting the development of systems, procedures, or items is based on the abilities of the user as developed in a typical work setting so that they can be operated on with ease and without posing trouble to the user.

Optional knowledge to acquire

This might or might not be useful for the ergonomist, but knowing it for certain paves the way for the next step in career advancement.

Occupational physiology: The particular physiology of work, and its specific related disabilities or medical disorders, together with processes for their health, work capacity, productivity and efficiency management.
Engineering principles: The factors relating to the performance, duplicability, and costs of a particular construction as opposed to the design and execution of the engineering works.
Manufacturing processes: The act of transforming a specific material into a product, includes a design stage and mass production stage.
Aesthetics: A constructivist philosophy which defines the basic components of beauty and attractiveness.
Engineering processes: The processes associated with the design of a certain system and the attribution of it to the engineering methods used.
3D modelling: The process of designing a visual representation of an object in three dimensions, or a 3D model, using specific software. It can be presented as a flat image through 3d rendering or incorporated into a simulation of real phenomena. Such a model can be made tangible by a 3D printer.
Industrial design: The process of preparing designs of products meant for mass production of certain goods.

Educational Pathways to Becoming an Ergonomist

To reach the position of an ergonomist, a candidate must hold specific academic qualifications. This could varies based on the employer or country in question, but some general educational qualifications are as follows:

Bachelor’s Degree: Earning a bachelor’s diploma in Ergonomics, Human Factors Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Kinesiology or any relevant field is considered a foundation for future academic pursuits.

Master’s Degree: Holding a postgraduate specialization diploma in Ergonomics or Human Factors is mandatory for higher level positions along with professional strings. This helps attain greater understanding and levels of recommended academic education.

Professional Certifications: Earning and holding professional strings such as Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) prides one with career advancement into ergonomics and specialization on the field acquired with the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE).

Different Types of Ergonomist Roles and Specializations

The title ergonomist is broad as it encompasses many subordinate jobs with overlapping responsibilities based on industry and category.

The major subsets of ergonomist roles and specializations are:

Industrial or Workplace Ergonomics: Aimed at promoting safety and productivity through the design of work environments, tools and processes in relation to the other related fields of manufacturing, warehousing, or office work.
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Ergonomists: Experts in design-centric interfaces and systems regarding their user-friendliness and efficiency.
Product Ergonomists: Attend to the interface, safety, and comfort while using the product and assist in product evaluation.
Healthcare Ergonomists: Enhance the protection and well-being of patients and healthcare personnel by improving the design of the healthcare surroundings, equipment, and tasks.
Cognitive Ergonomists: Focus on attention, memory, decision-making, and workload with respect to cognitive performance and its associated errors.

Other titles of an ergonomist

An ergonomist can be described by other titles depending on the role in the organization.

ergonomic scientist
ergonomic researcher
ergonomic research scientist
ergonomic research analyst
ergonomic science researcher
ergonomists
ergonomic analyst

The Importance of Ergonomics in Today’s Workplace

Below are some of the most crucial reasons why ergonomists have become ever so important, especially in the modern, fast-paced, and tech-heavy workplaces of today.

When workplace design and tasks are poorly constructed, they could lead to severe consequences, namely:

Musculoskeletal Disorders(MSDs): This is one of the main reasons people get injured at the workplace. This comes with pain, permanent disability, and unpaid leaves.
Decreased Productivity: Having the wrong type of furniture does not help the employee or provide any comfort leading to distraction, and poor output and results.
Increased Absenteeism: When someone is in pain, they have a high chance of taking days off.
Reduced Company Morale: If the workspaces are poorly designed, employees will feel unhappy and disengaged.

Ergonomics specialists do have a big impact on improving the safety, and productivity within the company by reducing ergonomic hazards.

Salary Expectations and Career Growth for Ergonomists

The salary range of ergonomists usually depends on their level of experience and educational background alongside industry, career location, and other factors.

Salaries for entry level ergonomist positions may offer a lower starting figure, but once achieving higher set certifications and earning advanced degrees, professionals in the field can earn a much higher salary.

Increased levels of responsibilities may come in conjunction with growth opportunities for ergonomists, as they may move into senior roles, branch out into consulting work, or choose to establish their own consulting firm for ergonomics.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for ergonomists was $94,720 in May 2020.

The job outlook for ergonomists is positive, with the BLS predicting a 4% growth in employment opportunities from 2020 to 2030.

This growth is driven by the increasing demand for ergonomic solutions in a range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.

Ergonomist career path

Similar occupations

industrial designer
design engineer
automotive engineer
automotive designer
industrial tool design engineer

How to Become an Ergonomist

Here is how to become an ergonomist:

1. Enroll in Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in ergonomics, health and safety, or any associate degree

2. Participate in relevant internships and voluntary jobs to gain some hands-on experience

3. Acquire a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) or Certified Ergonomics Specialist (CES)

4. Stay Up-to-Date with Continuing Education: to maintain certification and stay current with the latest research and developments in ergonomics

Final Thoughts on Ergonomist Job Description

An ergonomist’s job description is a career that is rewarding and difficult at the same time because it demands a solid grasp of the field of ergonomics and occupational health and safety and others.

Understanding the most critical aspects of this role’s responsibilities, capabilities, and erudition enables one to decide on pursuing a career as an ergonomist.

The good thing is that the world of ergonomics, for a beginner or an advanced practitioner, presents many possibilities to improve other people’s work life.