Ergonomist

Ergonomists and human factors professionals deal with the relationship between people and their working and living environments. This includes the things people do and the objects they use. Ergonomists give advice on the types of equipment and environment that will help people to work, travel and live safely, comfortably and efficiently. Some ergonomists help to design products.

Also known as:

Human factors professional

Work activities

Ergonomists use their knowledge of science and technology to improve people’s working and living environments. Ergonomists are also known as human factors professionals. They aim to help people live and work safely, comfortably and efficiently. They achieve this by helping to make sure that equipment, machinery, systems and environment are suited to the people who use and interact with them.

They use their understanding of human anatomy and physiology, psychology, mathematics and statistics, design methods, work organisation and industrial sociology (the study of the behaviour of people in the workplace). For example, in car design, ergonomists contribute to a reduction in the number and severity of road accidents. An ergonomist might study cars and car components that have been involved in an accident to see what effect the crash has had. They might also interview the people involved. This could result in changes to vehicle design to improve the safety of the driver and passengers. They also study the human body, to see how it responds to different crash situations. This helps ergonomists to design new safety features. For example, they might study accidents involving children’s car restraints.

They might gather information through surveys, research, measurements and site visits, for example. Ergonomists understand the abilities and limitations of the human body, and how humans behave and react in certain situations. They apply this knowledge to the design process. There is a strong link between ergonomics, good design and health and safety. Ergonomics is therefore useful in a wide range of areas. In business, commerce and industry, ergonomists improve working conditions and make them safe. For example, they might help to design an aircraft’s flight deck. They make sure the flight deck is suitable for the pilots’ size, workload and general working requirements; they need to be able to reach all the instruments and read visual displays quickly and easily.

In an office, ergonomists might redesign the layout and help choose suitable furniture. They might be involved in changing the design of a computer workstation, or the height of the user’s chair, so that people are less likely to develop back or eyesight problems. They might specialise in the design of interactive computer systems and the layout and display of information, including websites so that people find them easy to use. Other ergonomists study how people cope with working in either very hot or very cold temperatures, or working shifts, or lifting and moving awkward or heavy loads. For example, they might study the effect on the health of people working rotating shifts in a call centre, who sit at a computer workstation and speak on the phone for hours at a time. Some ergonomists help to design products that people use in their everyday lives. They might design equipment to help older or disabled people, for example, to make kitchen gadgets easier to use.

Personal qualities and skills

As an ergonomist, you’ll need to be interested in a wide range of subjects such as:

Human anatomy and physiology.
Psychology.
Mathematics.
Statistics.
Design methods.
Work organisation.
Industrial sociology (the study of the behaviour of people in the workplace).

You will need to have:

Good numeracy and communication skills.
Research skills.
The ability to analyse and solve problems.
IT skills.
Good writing skills to produce reports.
Project management skills.
Presentation skills – to deliver the results of your research to groups of people.
The ability to ask questions.
Teamwork skills – ergonomists often work closely with designers, engineers, architects and operational researchers.

Pay and opportunities

Ergonomists and human factors professionals earn in the range of £21,000, rising to £60,000. Those who work as independent consultants may be able to earn more.

Hours of work: Some ergonomists work around 38-40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, late finishes and some weekend work could be required, especially as deadlines approach. Ergonomists who work in industry or the armed forces might work shifts or away from home.

Where could I work?

Employers are private and public sector organisations, including government departments, large multinational organisations and small specialist consultancies. Some work in the educational sector. Opportunities for ergonomists occur in some towns and cities around the UK. However, this is a relatively small, specialised career area. See the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors website for a list of registered consultancies.

Self-employment opportunities occur for experienced ergonomists to work as self-employed, freelance consultants.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised through the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors website and magazine (for members), on some specialist job boards and in national newspapers.

Entry routes and training

A human factors specialist degree apprenticeship (level 7) is a great way into this career path. You will train on the job while studying towards relevant qualifications at university.

At undergraduate level, you will usually study ergonomics/human factors as part of other degrees, such as psychology or biological or biomedical sciences, production engineering, operations management and specialist subjects such as sports science or human-computer interaction.

You can take postgraduate courses in ergonomics or human factors, for example, if you have a first degree in a related subject such as engineering, industrial design, physiology, psychology or human anatomy (or another accepted science degree).

Registered membership of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors is possible after completion of a qualifying degree or postgraduate qualification, plus three years’ experience. Qualifications should have a significant ergonomics component. The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors provides a list of approved courses. Membership is also possible for graduates of other courses with at least four years’ experience.

Ergonomists can progress to team leader and project manager posts in their organisations. Some experienced ergonomists become self-employed consultants.

Qualifications

A few colleges and universities offer courses related to ergonomics. You can check directly with an institution to ensure that the course content suits your interests and requirements. Typically you will need two or three A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

To qualify for a degree apprenticeship, you will need two relevant A-levels and GCSEs in maths and English.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Access courses: If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges. They can lead to relevant degree courses, for example, ergonomics (or a subject such as psychology, operational research, biological or biomedical science, mathematics or sports science followed by postgraduate study).

Gaining a postgraduate qualification in ergonomics or a similar subject, such as occupational psychology, may be useful.

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