The IEA contribution to the transition of Ergonomics from research to practice

David C. Caple
*
David Caple & Associates P/L, Melbourne, Australia
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 9 February 2009
Accepted 25 February 2010
Keywords:
Ergonomics practice
Sustainability
Partnerships
Holistic approach
a b s t r a c t
The future growth of ergonomics as a scientic discipline will require a greater focus on methods to
transition research ndings into practice. Whilst the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and the
Federated Ergonomics Societies provide opportunities to promote exchange on ergonomics research and
collaboration in research programs, the future sustainability of the domain will be dependent on the
provision of ongoing educational opportunities in ergonomics and the transitioning of the research
ndings into practice. This transition will require greater external focus outside the ergonomics
profession in working in collaboration and partnership with other professional associations, govern-
ments and international agencies. Practical tools that are targeted towards particular user groups within
the community, workplace, and governments will enhance the opportunities for the transition of
ergonomics research into practice. Focus on extramural initiatives such as Ergonomics Checkpoints,
integration of the ergonomics design process into the International Organisation for Standardization
Guidelines, and the incorporation of ergonomics into the World Health Organisation research programs
will ensure that the positioning of ergonomics will continue at an international level.
2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
The growth of the ergonomics domain since the formation of the
International Ergonomics Association (IEA) over the last 53 years
reects the multidisciplinary basis of the core research areas. These
primarily relate tothe physical, cognitive, and organisational factors
impacting on human wellbeing and systems performance. Ergo-
nomics research has been extensively published in a wide range of
national and international journals with eight of these journals
endorsed by the IEA. Participation in conferences, congresses and
seminars enables ergonomics researchers to share and discuss their
research outcomes, methodologies and future challenges. There are
now 25 Technical Committees within the IEA that reect the
diversity of the ergonomics research and practice domain.
Research in ergonomics covers two broad domains. The rst
is research on human abilities and limitations as well as
humanesystem interactions. The second domain researches
methodologies in ergonomics. This research analyses work situ-
ations for the design of more suitable technical and work
organisational outcomes. The evaluation of applying ergonomics
research into practice informs the domain for further research
and application requirements. This assists in new ergonomics
research agendas to reect emerging society and technical issues.
When considering the practice of ergonomics, a process of
transition is required to engage the potential users of the research
information and to educate them on the benets in adopting the
research outcomes. The primary objective of this paper is to explore
how this transition from scientic research to practice within
industry, governments, and members of the public could be
managed to optimise the uptake of the research outcomes. The
education of ergonomics practitioners including engineers,
designers, occupational hygienists, physicians and therapists needs
to provide themwith knowledge of ergonomics principles and data.
The skills and tools to translate these into practice will determine
the effectiveness in meeting the user needs.
Generally, the beneciaries of the ergonomics research tend not
to read the scientic journals nor attend the conferences,
congresses and seminars. The overall approach of the scientic
organisations drawing together researchers, educators and practi-
tioners is for the sharing and dissemination of their research. This is
an internally focussed process designed around the needs and
benets to the ergonomics scientic community.
A primary focus of the ergonomics research methodology
relates to the identication and focus on the needs of the user.
Stewart, (2008: 3) stated the rst step in human centred design is
to be absolutely clear about who is the target user. Whilst this
statement provides clarity in the research methodology used in
ergonomics, it is also relevant as part of the overall transition of
ergonomics research outcomes into practice. That is, we need to
* Tel.: 61 3 9499 9011; fax: 61 3 9499 9022.
E-mail address: david@caple.com.au
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Applied Ergonomics
j ournal homepage: www. el sevi er. com/ l ocat e/ apergo
0003-6870/$ e see front matter 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2010.03.002
Applied Ergonomics 41 (2010) 731e737
clearly dene the target users and understand their needs and
expectations.
Fig. 1 provides an overview of the transition of ergonomics
research to practice. It includes a recognition that the target users
need to be considered in determining the appropriate dissemina-
tion process for the research ndings.
The dissemination method(s) will depend on the requirements
of the respective user group. Employers and workers generally
receive ergonomics information from Governments; National and
International NGOs and industry groups. Designers also receive
trade magazines and technical interactions with each other,
suppliers and clients. Community members are exposed to media
and Government information relating to ergonomics research
outcomes. The IEA plays an important role in networking ergo-
nomics researchers into these respective groups.
2. Methodology
This section describes the method for data gathering from three
sources.
2.1. Ergonomics conferences
During the period 2006e2009, participation in international
ergonomics related conferences was undertaken during 25 coun-
tries visited as part of the role as the 16th IEA President. These
included Japan, Mexico, India, Iceland, USA, Korea, Netherlands,
Columbia, Malaysia, and South Africa. This provided an opportunity
for extensive consultation with ergonomics researchers and also
other stakeholders involved in leadership positions of international
professional associations, and also government and non govern-
ment agencies and industries with potential utilisation of ergo-
nomics research outcomes. The informal consultation with these
researchers and stakeholders focussed on their perceptions of
ergonomics and how the transition from research to practice
should be undertaken to maximize the contribution of ergonomics
to the community.
2.2. External stakeholders consultation
Extensive consultation occurred with external stakeholders
from other Professional Associations and NGOs (Non Government
Organisations).
These included;-
3.1 World Health Organisation (WHO)
3.2 International Labour Organisation (ILO)
3.3 International Organisation for Standardization (ISO)
3.4 International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH)
3.5 International Occupational Hygienist Association (IOHA)
3.6 International Council of Societies of Industrial Design
(ICSID)
These consultations occurred through joint activities under-
taken with the IEA as part of our partnerships programs. Each
stakeholder was involved in at least one outreach activity with the
IEA during 2006e2009.
2.3. Other dissemination methods
Consultation with governments, industry associations, trade
unions and professional associations occurred through the devel-
opment of the Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work
during 2008 (ILO, 2008).
3. Results
From the three sources above, the following analyses were
made.
3.1. Conferences
The IEA international and national conferences provide oppor-
tunities for ergonomics research to be presented to peers to stim-
ulate discussion and sharing of results. It is noted that the
methodologies adopted varied internationally depending on the
educational background of the presenters. For example, physicians
mainly utilised work physiology methods whilst industrial engi-
neers mainly used job and task analysis methods. Case study
presentations were frequently used to illustrate examples of
research into practice. Few longitudinal studies were provided to
showthe sustainability of the outcomes. An increasing use of media
releases was observed to promote conferences. A selection of
papers relating to issues of potential community interest had media
releases circulated in an attempt for newspaper, TV or radio
coverage. Specialist skills in media management were frequently
accessed by the conference organisers to undertake this work. As
a general observation there was little participation of the antici-
pated end users of the ergonomics research at these conferences.
One positive outcome noted was that there was increasing credi-
bility provided to research sessions allowing greater interaction
between participants to discuss the implications of the research
into practice. There was less preference to formal presentations
using power point presentations with little time for discussion. This
was consistent across countries and cultures. There was a strong
desire from researchers to explore how their ndings can be
transitioned into practice.
3.2. Stakeholders consultation
Consultation with external international agencies and profes-
sional associations indicated that the domain of ergonomics is not
clearly understood. The primary research area most commonly
discussed in their perception of ergonomics was musculoskeletal
disorders. The interest derives from the high incidence found in
Ergonomics
Research

Journals
Conference
Stakeholders
Significant
Publications
Industry sectors
Governments
National / International agencies
Media
Technical Committees
Community members
Employers
Workers
Ergonomists
Designers
Others
Research Publication Dissemination Method Users
Fig. 1. Transfer process from research to target user.
D.C. Caple / Applied Ergonomics 41 (2010) 731e737 732
developed and developing countries. There is a need to provide
good examples of ergonomics in practice across the diversity of the
domain to extend this understanding to the broader areas of human
wellbeing and systems performance. Some examples were identi-
ed where collaboration has occurred between external agencies
and the ergonomics research community to develop tools and
resources that transition the research into practice. These include.
3.2.1. Ergonomic checkpoints
These simple case studies have been developed under the
leadership of Dr Kazutaka Kogi from Japan together with a team of
ergonomics researchers as a joint project between the IEA and the
ILO. The initial publication was Ergonomic Checkpoints (ILO, 1996).
In 2009, the second edition of this publication will be launched
together with a further publication relating to Ergonomic Check-
points in Agriculture. These publications have been one of the
highest circulated documents produced by the ILO for trade unions,
employers, and governments at an international level. The
presentation and language used in the Checkpoints are targeted to
local communities as the basis for participatory ergonomics. They
are designed to identify risks associated with their work places and
home environments. They also propose a range of simple practical
solutions for the users to consider.
The ILO has recognised the benets of such publications as
a simple tool to transition ergonomics research into practical
guidance. The Checkpoints have been translated into multiple
languages.
3.2.2. Industrial design tools
The industrial design profession has been interfacing with the
IEA to explore the integration of ergonomics research ndings into
design outcomes. The 2008 Industrial Design Gold Excellence
Award was given to the Size China anthropometric tools developed
for Chinese and South Asian populations particularly for the shape
of the head and face. These are useful for measurements and
designing of helmets, face masks, and eye glasses (Ball, 2008). This
three dimensional tool based on anthropometric data is provided in
Fig. 2 below.
Rather than providing tables of measurement data, manikins
based on the actual data for percentiles of the target population can
be used for t testing products.
3.2.3. WHO guidance on injury prevention
In 2007, the WHO General Assembly agreed to a Global Plan of
Action on Workers Health 2008e2017. This provided a commit-
ment from this peak organisation to recognise the research that is
being undertaken to benet the reduction of illness and injury
amongst workers at the global level.
The WHO has established a network of Collaborating Centres
and developed a Global Work Plan relating to Occupational Health
(2009e2012). These involve ve objectives as outlined in Table 1.
Participation of ergonomics researchers within the Collabo-
rating Centre process facilitated by the WHO currently is limited.
The 2008 meeting of the Collaborating Centres at the XV111 World
Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Korea primarily focussed
on the medical and occupational hygiene areas of research with
little contribution on ergonomics (KOSHA, 2008). Ergonomics
researchers need to be informed about these collaborative research
programs through their Federated Society and encouraged to
participate. These NGO activities assist in integrating ergonomics
into broader agendas and guidance materials from these
organisations.
3.2.4. Control banding approach
The Occupational Hygiene profession has been working in
collaborationwith the WHOin developing simple guidance relating
to chemical exposure (Zalk and Nelson, 2008). The Control Banding
provides quantitative guidance on exposure levels in simple tables
to assist workers and employers in developed and developing
countries to understand the research outcomes when applied in
practice. The WHO has requested the IEA to consider developing
Control Banding guidelines particularly associated with the
prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) to transition the
research recommendations into practice. The feedback from
the MSD researchers indicated that this simplistic approach would
potentially discredit ergonomics by a focus on physical risk factors
such as joint angles, forces, postures and object weights when the
current research reects a broader multi-factorial holistic approach
is required.
In 2008, the WHO has suggested the PRIMA (Psychosocial RIsk
MANagement) approach for consideration in developing an ergo-
nomics toolkit. (WHO, 2008).
The model that is proposed by the PRIMA approach for multi-
factorial risk areas is provided below in Fig. 3.
This model is being considered by the IEA as an example of
a holistic model to identify practical guidance on the presentation
of musculoskeletal disorders. The opportunity for ergonomics to
develop models that can be presented in a similar way to other
work related hazard areas enables organisations such as the WHO
to provide consistent advice to governments, employers, trade
unions and the community. These holistic models enable the users
to understand the micro and macro level risk factors that impact on
human wellbeing and system performance.
3.2.5. Development of ergonomic design process requirements
Since 2001, the IEA has been developing a generic process
document to reect the integration of ergonomics into design. This
has been known as EQUID (Ergonomics Quality in Design) and has
Fig. 2. Size China Anthropometric tool based on Chinese and South Asian populations
(Ball, 2008).
Table 1
WHO (2007) Workers Health; Global Plan of Action.
Objective Topic
1. To devise and implement policy instruments on
workers health.
2. To protect and promote health at the work place.
3. To improve the performance of, and access to,
occupational health services.
4. To provide and communicate evidence for action
and practice.
5. To incorporate workers health into other policies.
D.C. Caple / Applied Ergonomics 41 (2010) 731e737 733
been overseen by an international committee of ergonomics
researchers involved particularly in the area of product design (IEA,
2008a,b). The scientic basis of the EQUID design process has been
based on the ISO Quality and Design requirements imbedded into
a range of ISO Standards. This has ensured the compatibility and
extension of the existing knowledge on design processes to
embrace the ergonomics requirements. The ISO TC159 has been
overseeing the development of the EQUID process with consider-
ation of future embracing the content of EQUID into ISO ofcial
guidance materials.
The draft EQUID document has been circulated to all the IEA
Federated Societies and also piloted by major product design
companies mainly based in Europe and Scandinavia. Whilst the
scientic nature of this approach has been rened through feed-
back, it is evident that the transition into practice would be
enhanced through integration and collaboration with a major
organisation such as the ISO. The IEA provides the research
expertise to develop and evaluate ergonomics tools on an ongoing
basis whilst ISO can provide one of the signicant transition paths
into practice. Collaboration between the IEA and the ISO has been
undertaken during 2006e2009 resulting in discussions that have
the potential for the ISO to integrate the ergonomic design
requirements as part of their overall guidance material provided to
the international community. Such collaboration would then
signicantly enhance the prole of the ergonomics design process
and the broader dissemination of the research ndings through the
ISO credibility and network. Partnerships and collaboration with
prominent and credible international and national bodies should
be explored to transition ergonomics research into practice.
3.3. Other dissemination methods
3.3.1. IEA Technical Committees
The IEA and the larger Federated Societies promote interaction
between members in specic areas of the ergonomics domain
through Technical or Scientic Committees. These Committees
form an important role in disseminating research ndings and
promoting ongoing interchange at a national and international
level for members of the scientic community. It was noted that
membership is also open to non ergonomists who are working
within these specic areas of the scientic domain. Table 2 provides
the list of the current Technical Committees sponsored by the IEA.
The list of Technical Committees evolves over time reecting the
changing needs of population and societies, the development of
new technologies and the emergence of new issues.
These Technical Committees host conferences, newsletters and
websites to encourage participation and communication between
their members in relation to their scientic programs.
Members of these Committees include individuals who are
considered technical experts in the respective area of the ergo-
nomics domain for participation in a range of national and inter-
national external activities. These include participation on
committees involved in setting the Standards as well as providing
technical support in the development of legislation and guidelines
for governments.
The IEA Technical Committees provide an opportunity to
promote the transition of research into practice within their
respective ergonomics areas. Engagement with Government and
community groups to contribute ergonomics research is a direct
method. Monitoring media coverage on topical issues and seeking
participation in public debate provides a scientic contribution to
inform the community. Active participation in Standards setting
committees and legislation development are further examples of
Societal
Factors
Societal
Factors
Organisational
Impact
Organisational
Factors (Incl. PSR)
Individual Impact
WORK RELATED
STRESS
Individual
Characteristics
Preventive Action and Interventions
Individual Working
Factors (Incl. PSR)
Fig. 3. WHO PRIMA model for psychosocial risks (2008).
Table 2
Ergonomics Technical Committees supported by the IEA (2008a,b).
Activity Theories for Work
Analysis & Design
Aerospace HFE
Affective Product Design
Aging
Agriculture
Anthropometry
Auditory Ergonomics
Building & Construction
Ergonomics for Children &
Education Environments
Ergonomics in Design
Gender and Work
Health care Ergonomics
Human Aspects of Advanced
Manufacturing
Human Factors and Sustainable
Development
Human Simulation and Virtual
Environments
Mining
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Online Communities
Organisational Design and
Management
Process Control
Psychophysiology in Ergonomics
Safety & Health
Slips, Trips and Falls
Transport
Work With Computing Systems
D.C. Caple / Applied Ergonomics 41 (2010) 731e737 734
dissemination provided by Technical Committees. Application
areas covered by Technical Committees such as healthCare, aero-
space, agriculture and mining can provide direct input in company
policy and programs through the ergonomics research
contributions.
3.3.2. Ergonomics month
The 2008 Global Ergonomics Month e October (IEA, 2008a,b)
provided an opportunity for all Federated Societies to share and
collaborate programs and resources for promoting ergonomics to
the community at the global level. Leadership has been provided
by the HFES (Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, USA) and the
FEES (Federation of European Ergonomics Societies) to develop the
concept and to initiate extensive programs of dissemination of
ergonomics research into practice. The FEES provides an oppor-
tunity for ergonomics research to be integrated into the European
Parliament political debate. In 2010 FEES is hosting a major
conference in Belgium targeted to politicians and government
ofcials to input ergonomics research in to the debate on
managing an aging workforce. Such links into the political agendas
assists the credibility and impact of ergonomics research into
practice.
3.3.3. Media promotion
The larger Federated Societies utilise external media for
promoting ergonomics as it relates to community issues. The
Ergonomics Society in the UK provides an extensive list of contri-
butions from ergonomists in television, public seminars and
debates, newspaper and radio interviews, and scientic expositions
(The Ergonomics Society, 2008a,b). These media interventions
promote the positive contribution from ergonomics to the
community. Greater use of media releases and nominated
spokespersons on specic ergonomics areas would enable a greater
proactive media program.
3.3.4. Community targeted websites
There are many websites which have been developed to tran-
sition ergonomics research into practice. One excellent example
that is targeted towards children and their understanding of
ergonomics is the Ergonomics4Schools website (The Ergonomics
Society, 2008a,b). The Liberty Mutual Community Safety program
provides a range of Tips, Quizzes, and video clips relating to the
home, children, transport and recreation (Liberty Mutual, 2008).
3.3.5. Ergonomics Roadmaps
In 2006, the Japan Ergonomics Society developed a Roadmap
outlining the current position of ergonomics research and the
future directions for ergonomics within Japan. This Roadmap is
a requirement of the Japanese Government to monitor the future
directions of scientic disciplines. This approach provides
a template for identifying current strengths and future challenges
for ergonomics. It provides a useful template for ergonomics
societies in identifying key areas for promotion and transitioning
from research into practice to meet current community needs
(Japan Ergonomics Society, 2008). Each Federated Society should
consider developing a Roadmap as part of their Strategic Plan
review process. It also forms a template for communication with
Governments and their scientic agendas.
4. Government liaison
The transition of research into practice can be seen through
a range of initiatives at a government level to promote ergonomics
research ndings particularly into industry and community safety
requirements. Governments form a crucial avenue to translate
ergonomics research into practice. This includes legislation, guid-
ance materials and awareness programs to address public health
and workplace health risks. This process was observed in devel-
oped and developing countries visited during 2006e2009.
4.1. Ergonomics in legislation
In 2000, the US government attempted to introduce legislation
primarily relating to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders
within work places. Known as the Ergonomics Rule, signicant
publicity occurred throughout the USA and internationally relating
to the application of ergonomics research ndings to the preven-
tion of MSDs (OSHA, 2000). This legislation failed to be sustainable
due to a range of legal challenges. It provided a very public debate
in relation to the ability to translate ergonomics research into
practice to produce repeatable and sustainable outcomes that
would stand up to legislation enforcement.
In contrast, it is noted that the Federation of European Ergo-
nomics Societies continues to be involved in providing technical
input at the European Union in relation to legislation and guidance
associated with ergonomics (Rookmaaker, 2008). There are ergo-
nomic standards in many countries including Canada, Australia,
Sweden and Denmark that have been incorporated into govern-
ment legislation and industry guidance.
4.2. Government Ergonomics advisors
The Nordic Ergonomics Society has been actively involved in
a network of ergonomics researchers employed by governments
across Europe. This group provides an opportunity for sharing
strategies to embrace ergonomics research and to integrate these
into government guidance materials, legislation and programs.
It also provides an opportunity to evaluate the enforcement activ-
ities with the associated benets to the workers health and
productivity.
4.3. Collaborative research programs with government
In India, the government has been working closely with ergo-
nomics researchers in developing programs and strategies on
emerging community issues. These include aging, musculoskeletal
disorders and the role of women in the workplace (HWWE, 2007).
In Japan this has occurred in the area of public transport. The
involvement of Ergonomics Societies in providing technical infor-
mation to governments remains a signicant and important
opportunity for the transition of ergonomics research into practice.
The establishment of consultative committees between Ergo-
nomics Societies and government facilitate this process. For
example, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia
are members of a group of professional associations that are
recognised and meet regularly with government to contribute the
outputs of research into the policy and program development
processes for government departments (HFESA, 2008).
4.4. Emergence of industry specic Technical Committees
The growth of the IEA Technical Committees in 2006e2008 has
primarily related to the emergence and development of those
Technical Committees that are linked directly to particular appli-
cation or practice areas. The most active have been in the areas of
health care; aerospace; agriculture; mining; working with
computer systems; musculoskeletal disorders; anthropometry; and
online communities. Each of these reects the relationship that the
research group is developing with their respective community of
external stakeholders.
D.C. Caple / Applied Ergonomics 41 (2010) 731e737 735
4.5. International partnerships
The building of partnerships between the ergonomics
researchers and the external stakeholders is seen to be an impor-
tant process in the transition of ergonomics research into practice.
Memorandums of Understanding are progressively being intro-
duced at the IEA level with some of the key international partners.
In 2008, a tripartite Memoranda of Understanding was signed
between the IEA with ICOH and IOHA. The formal relationship
between the IEA and the WHO and also the IEA with ISO has been
an essential component to the overall development of relationship
and mutual agreement to promote ergonomics at the broadest
level.
4.6. Sustainability of ergonomics in industry
Whilst the ergonomics domain aims to enhance human well-
being and systems performance, the sustainability of intervention
requires a broader understanding of industry. A holistic approach is
required that embraces a participatory model engaging the wide
range of stakeholders (Zink et al., 2008). These include consider-
ations of the cost benets analysis; community expectations based
on corporate and societal levels. This holistic approach to ergo-
nomics analysis reects the need to consider the broad conse-
quences of research outcomes in their transition into practice.
Dul and Neumann (2008) discuss the need to integrate ergonomics
into business strategy formulation and implementation. They
suggests that to realize the desired situation, considerable changes
must take place within the ergonomics research, education and
practice community by moving froma health ergonomics paradigm
to a business ergonomics paradigm, without losing the health and
safety goals.
5. Discussion
The transition of ergonomics research into practice is occurring
across the world through a range of simple and practical initiatives.
For this to be sustainable it needs to clearly identify who the user of
this information is and their respective needs in relation to
language, communication style, and methods of engagement.
The national and international activities for sharing research
outcomes between ergonomics educators, researchers and practi-
tioners needs to be maintained. However, for the sustainability of
the ergonomics domain, an increasing focus on nding innovative
ways to transition the research ndings into practice is required.
When considering ergonomics research methodologies further
discussion is required to dene the fundamental core components
of the methodologies in work situations to ensure the physical,
cognitive and organisational factors are considered. These meth-
odologies need to consider the participatory processes in useability
studies and the holistic perspective to embrace sustainable
outcomes.
Simple tools such as the Ergonomic Checkpoints, user targeted
websites, design aids such as the Size China anthropometric tools
and engagement in public debates through television, radio and
newspapers, will all assist in providing opportunities for the
community to understand the application of ergonomics in
practice.
The need for ergonomists to engage with the national and
international community and societal issues will assist with this
need for interaction outside the domain. Collaboration and part-
nerships with other research groups such as ICOH, ICSID, and IOHA
provide opportunities for interacting between researchers inter-
ested in workplace and community related issues as well as inte-
grating ergonomics into broader research agendas. Participation in
the WHO Global Plan of Action (2009e2012) provides opportuni-
ties for ergonomics researchers to integrate their ndings into
a broader agenda for promoting the outcomes. Similarly, the
collaboration between the IEA and the ISO provide a new founda-
tion for integrating ergonomics research into practical guidance
material with broad credibility and dissemination opportunities
through the ISO.
The relationship between ergonomics researchers and govern-
ments provides a wide range of opportunities for transitioning
ergonomics research into government programs, guidance infor-
mation, and education programs with the community. Represen-
tation of the Ergonomics Societies on government Advisory
Committees such as the Roadmap project in Japan, and the
professional associations program in Australia provide examples of
close cooperation and integration of the ergonomics research
transitioning into practice at a government level.
At a workplace level the opportunities for industry based
programs as highlighted through the IEA Technical Committees
provide excellent case study materials for both industrially devel-
oped and developing countries. The ongoing support and encour-
agement of industry targeted conferences in areas such as health
care, agriculture, mining and transport are some examples where
ergonomics research can be transitioned into practice. These
programs should include representatives fromemployers and trade
unions from these respective industry sectors. Further opportuni-
ties for this networking and partnership are to be encouraged for
promoting this transition process.
At the workplace level, the transition of research into practice
requires a broad understanding of the holistic factors impacting on
the workplace. The sustainability of ergonomics interventions
needs to embrace the impacts on a broad range of issues including
the global environment, costs benet analysis as well as commu-
nity and societal expectations. Further research is required to
identify the key fundamental methodology components of the
holistic approach to ensure business have a clear understanding of
ergonomics and the scope of the expected outcomes.
To achieve these outcomes and to meet the needs of target user
groups, the education and professional development programs for
Ergonomists needs to identify the importance of the transition of
research into practice. A range of strategies and tools need to be
developed, evaluated and disseminated that meets the needs of the
particular user groups. Consultation with the users about infor-
mation dissemination options and evaluation of these strategies
should be seen as important as the research itself. The interaction
between ergonomics research with emerging society and technical
challenges need to be part of this broad approach. These include
issues such as the impact on society of world environmental
changes; the global nancial crisis; as well as the impact of new
technologies.
6. Conclusions
Ergonomics methodologies need to include strategies to tran-
sition research ndings into practice to ensure that the intended
users benet from the outputs.
Methodologies targeted to users should adopt holistic
approaches to ergonomics to ensure the sustainability of the
outcomes.
The tools used to disseminate ergonomics research ndings
need to be in a language and format to suit the intended users.
These include websites; checklists; media releases; guidance
documents and software based on usability principles.
Partnerships are required with inuential stakeholders such
Governments, ISO, WHO and ILO to integrate ergonomics ndings
into their materials and agendas. The broad dissemination of
D.C. Caple / Applied Ergonomics 41 (2010) 731e737 736
ergonomics research to reach the community is more likely to
involve credible external parties than through the ergonomics
conferences, journals and Society programs.
Further research is required to dene holistic models of
ergonomics methodologies that embrace the diversity of ergo-
nomics areas of research and application to assist external
stakeholders understand the core elements of the ergonomics
domain.
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