Ergonomics and Petroleum Engineering

Abstract

Abstract Ergonomics, the art and science of adapting the work environment to fit people, has become increasingly popular in recent years. This has been due to increased news media attention, million dollar federal penalties, process safety management requirements (which include human factors considerations), and greater employee awareness. While correcting past design inadequacies may not always be possible, new installations, repairs, or renovations present an opportunity to create a more "user friendly" environment, often with little extra expense. What this can mean is a reduction in the probability of injury, improved operations (through fewer errors and increased efficiency), and greater employee morale. Ergonomics includes a broad range of issues including lighting (process and control), operability of controls (accessibility, orientation, operating force), placement and readability of critical gauges, material handling, ladders and walking surfaces, work station design, and employee alertness. Through lack of awareness, inattention to detail, or for many other reasons ergonomic deficiencies continue. Examples may be easy to find like a difficult to access valve that also takes several people to operate, or more obscure like a difficult to read gauge that increases a workers chance for misreading it. Often the cause of an incident may be listed as operator error, but if a good root cause analysis were to be conducted, contributing ergonomic factors may often be found. This paper will focus on the importance of the engineer in the ergonomic process, design considerations, and resources that are available. An in-house training course entitled "Ergonomic Design Awareness for Petrochemical Engineers," which is currently being developed, will also be reviewed. While not intended to make experts out of participants, this course should help them think more about the broad range of ergonomic considerations and obtain additional resources when needed.