Ergonomic Solutions for the Process Industries

Ergonomic Solutions for the Process Industries

Ergonomics

Human factors/ergonomics is defined as the systematic process of
designing for human use through the application of our knowledge of
human beings to the equipment they use, the environments in which they
operate, the tasks they perform, and the management systems that guide
the safe and efficient operations of refineries, chemical plants, upstream
operations, and distribution terminals. Neglecting any of the elements,
depicted in Figure 1-1, could lead to the failure of the entire system, not
just the physical plant control system but the much broader system and
structure under which it operates. In the hypothetical example, the design
of the alarm system and the shift schedule did not consider the limitations
and capabilities of the human operator, and the system failed. System
failure could take many forms, including injury or the loss of property,

Dennis A. Attwood, Joseph M. Deeb, Mary E. Danz-Reece

www.elsevier.com

Elsevier Inc.

2004

English