Course Description:
This course covers ergonomics methods and techniques and their application to the design of modern work environments. Emphasis is also placed on understanding key concepts. Coverage includes conceptual frameworks for ergonomic analysis, systems methods and processes, a repertoire of ergonomics methods, and techniques for the analysis of work activities and work systems.

Course Goals:
This course aims to familiarize students with the ergonomics information necessary for analyzing and redesigning modern work conditions. Upon completion of this course the student should:

1. understand contextual models of ergonomics and their impact on the choice of
   analytical methods
2. develop a repertoire of skills associated with ergonomic measurement methods and
   analytical techniques
3. understand how to conduct an ergonomic analysis and frame ergonomic
   recommendations for a modern work environment problems
4. be familiar with issues in cognitive ergonomics and physical ergonomics

Course Objectives:
This course aims to familiarize students with the ergonomics information necessary for analyzing and redesigning modern work conditions. Three primary learning objectives are:

1. To understand a wide variety of conceptual and methodological issues in cognitive ergonomics and physical ergonomics, contextual models of ergonomics and their impact on the choice of
   analytical methods.
2. To understand how to conduct an ergonomic analysis for both physical and cognitive ergonomics topics
3. To understand how to develop and frame ergonomic recommendations for  workplace ergonomic problems.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course:

1. Students will be able to appropriately apply a repertoire of skills associated with ergonomic measurement methods and analytical techniques to workplace ergonomic problems.
2. Students will be able to undertake an ergonomic analysis of a workplace and formulate recommendations.
3. Students will be able to work in a team and publicly present project proposals and project results.

Course Format:
The course meets twice each week for a total of three hours. This time will be used for a combination of seminar presentations, discussion and class project work. Where appropriate, guest speakers may contribute to the course. Class readings will be assigned. Course performance will be assessed using two mini-projects.

MiniProjects:
Students will work on the miniprojects in teams. Detailed guidance on the two mini-projects will be given in the course. Each project will be conducted either in a "real world" setting or on a real-world project and will demonstrate the application of a specific ergonomic method. Project details will be provided in class.

Grading Scheme:
The following grading scheme will be used:
100% Project work (2 assignments worth 50% each)

DEA 4700-ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 1-APPLIED ERGONOMICS METHODS

SPRING 2010

Date             COURSE CONTENT
1/26 Overview and organization of course- Introduction to Mini project 1

Human Performance: Physical Methods

1/28  Physical methods: Survey and scaling methods
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 4 “Musculoskeletal discomfort surveys used at NIOSH”, pages 4-1-10.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 5 “The Dutch musculoskeletal questionnaire (DMQ)”, pages 5-1-7.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 11 “Scaling experiences during work: perceived exertion and difficulty”, pages 11-1-7.

2/2 Physical methods: Rapid Upper limb Assessment (RULA)
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 7 “Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA)”, pages 7-1-11.

2/4 Physical methods: Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 8 “Rapid entire body assessment ”, pages 8-1-11.

2/9 Physical methods: Strain index
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 9 “The strain index ”, pages 9-1-5.

2/11 Physical methods: Quick Exposure Checklist (QEC)
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 6 “Quick exposure checklist (QEC) for the assessment of workplace risks for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)”, pages 6-1-10.

2/16 Physical methods: Occupational Repetitive Action (OCRA)
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 15 “The occupational repetitive action (OCRA) methods: OCRA index and OCRA checklist”, pages 15-1-14.

2/18 Physical methods: Movement and assistance of hospital patients (MAPO)
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 16 “Assessment of exposure to manual patient handling in hospital wards: MAPO index (Movement and assistance of hospital patients)”, pages 16-1-11.

2/23 Mini project 1 – initial presentations

Systems Approaches and Behavioral Methods

2/25 Human performance; design process; systems methods
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 27 “Behavioral and cognitive methods”, pages 27-1-8.

3/2 Observing human work performance
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 28 “Observation”, pages28-1-7.

3/4 Subjective methods for ergonomic analysis: Interviews
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 29 “Applying interviews to usability assessment”, pages 29-1-6.

3/9 Subjective methods for ergonomic analysis: Verbal protocols
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 29 “Verbal protocol analysis”, pages 30-1-9.

3/11 Subjective methods for ergonomic analysis: repertory grids
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 31 “Repertory grid for product evaluation”, pages 31-1-7.

3/16-Mini Project 1-Final Presentation

3/18 Subjective methods for ergonomic analysis: Focus groups
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 32 “Focus Groups”, pages 32-1-7.

SPRING BREAK (3/19-28)

Cognitive ergonomics

3/30 Cognitive ergonomics methods: Allocation of functions/ Task analysis
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 34 “Allocation of function”, pages 34-1-8.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 33 “Hierarchical task analysis”, pages 33-1-7.

4/1 Cognitive ergonomics methods: Mental workload
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 39 “Mental workload”, pages 39-1-9.

4/6 Cognitive ergonomics methods: Decisions
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 35 “Critical decision method”, pages 35-1-8.

4/8 Cognitive ergonomics methods: Errors
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 37 “Systematic human error reduction and prediction (SHERPA)”, pages 37-1-8.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 38 “Task analysis for error identification”, pages 38-1 – 9.

4/13 Mini project 2 – initial presentation

4/15 Cognitive ergonomics methods: Resource sharing
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 40 “Multiple resource time sharing models”, pages 40-1-6.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 41 “Critical path analysis for multimodal activity”, pages 41-1-8.

4/20 Cognitive ergonomics methods: Situational awareness
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 42 “Situational awareness measurement and the situation awareness global assessment technique”, pages 42-1-8.

Human Performance: Physiological Methods

4/22 Physiological methods: Electrodermal measures
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 17 “Physiological Methods”, pages 17-1-5.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 18 “Electrodermal measurement”, pages 18-1-8.

4/27 Physiological methods: Electromyography
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 19 “Electromyography (EMG)”, pages 19-1-8.

4/29 Physiological methods: Blood pressure and heart rate
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 24 “Ambulatory assessment of blood pressure to evaluate workload”, pages 24-1-12.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 20 “Estimating mental effort using heart rate and heart rate variability”, pages 20-1-8.

5/4 Physiological methods: Alertness – EEG and Eyelid Closure
Readings: Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 21 “Ambulatory EEG methods and sleepiness”, pages 21-1-7.
Stanton et al., (2004) Chap. 25 “Monitoring alertness by eyelid closure”, pages 25-1-6.

5/6 Miniproject 2 – final presentation