Supporting Environmental Sustainability with Human Factors and Ergonomics: Territories, Opportunities and Considerations

Abstract

Humanity is facing our greatest challenge ever: to address run-away global temperatures and ecosystem degradation threatening civilization as we know it. Human factors and ergonomics have much to contribute in partnering with industry, government, academia, and society as a whole, to stop the destruction of our home, and evolve systems to sustainably provide clean energy and other resources needed to feed, clothe, house, sanitize, and transport humans. In this poster, we present a sampling of ways ergonomists, human factors researchers, and practitioners are already engaging in work to support environmental sustainability, as well as areas in which HFE could be applied to support progress toward sustainability goals. Examples presented include contributions from members of the HFES Sustainability Task Force. We share this with the HFES community both to inform work completed and in-progress as well as to inspire the participation of others in this important work.