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  2. Ergonomics and Work Design [HST3358]

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Exercise and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Ergonomics and Work Design

  • Unit Code

    HST3358

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    Online

Description

In this unit students will investigate how humans and the work environment interact. This information will be used to develop sound ergonomic principles for the design of a safer and healthier work place. Physical components of a workplace will be evaluated and interventions to reduce injury will be explored. Psychological aspects of work and the impact of these on occupational safety and health for the individual, the organisation and society will be examined.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

The off campus version of this unit is delivered fully online with all resources and materials accessed through the University Learning Management System.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 2 units from HST1152, HST1154

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded HST3354

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse psychological aspects of work organisation and job design.
  2. Apply ergonomic principles in a work environment.
  3. Apply principles of employee participation in job design.
  4. Describe different types of ergonomics.
  5. Identify factors that enhance or impede workplace performance.
  6. Identify the environmental, physiological and psychological factors, that influence human behaviour in the workplace.

Unit Content

  1. Cognitive ergonomics.
  2. Human behaviour.
  3. Job redesign.
  4. Leadership and management styles.
  5. Organisational ergonomics.
  6. Physical ergonomics.
  7. Psychology of the workplace.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentQuiz30%
AssignmentPortfolio30%
ExaminationFinal examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentQuiz30%
AssignmentPortfolio30%
ExaminationFinal examination40%

Text References

  • ^ Barrett, T. & Cameron, D. (Eds.). (2004). Safe Business Good Business. A Practical Guide to Occupational Safety, Health and Insurance in Australia (2nd. ed.). Western Australia: Vineyard Publishing.

Journal References

  • Dempsey, P and Maynard, W (2005). Manual Material Handling. Professional Safety, 50(5,), 20-25.
  • Kittusamy, K. & Buchholz, B. (2004). Whole-body vibration and postural stress among operators of construction equipment: A literature review. Journal of Safety Research, 35 255-261.
  • Karatepe, O. & Tekinkus, M. (2006). The effects of work-family conflict, emotional exhaustion and intrinsic motivation on job outcomes of front-line employees. The International Journal Of Bank Marketing, 24(2/3), 173-191.
  • Lim, S., Magley, V. & Cortina, L. (2008). Personal and Workgroup Incivility: Impact on Work and Health Outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1), 95-107.
  • Beyea, S. (2007). Noise: A Distraction, Interruption, and Safety Hazard. AORN Journal, 86 (2), 281-285.
  • Chen, M., Chen, C., Yeh, W., Huang, J. & Mao, I. (2003). Heat Stress Evaluation and Worker fatigue in a Steel Plant. AIHA Journal, 64(3), 352-359.
  • Konrad, A. (2006). Engaging employees through high-involvement work practices. Ivey Business Journal, 4, 1-6.
  • Frone, M. (2008) Are Work Stressors Related to Employee Substance Use? The Importance of Temporal Context in Assessments of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93 (1), 199-206.
  • Hillier, D., Fewell, F., Cann & Shepard, V. (2008). Wellness at work: Enhancing the quality of our working lives. International Review of Psychiatry, 17(5), 419-431.
  • Lindegard, A., Wahlstrom, J., Hagberg, M., Hansson, G., Hagberg, M. Jonsson, T., et al. (2008). The impact of working techniques on physical loads - an exposure profile among newspaper editors. Ergonomics, 46(6), 598-615.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

HST3358|1|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Exercise and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Ergonomics and Work Design

  • Unit Code

    HST3358

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

In this unit, students will investigate the interaction between humans and their work environment. This information will be used to develop sound ergonomic principles for the design of a safer and healthier workplaces. Physical components of a workplace will be evaluated and interventions to reduce injury will be explored. Psychological aspects of work and the impact of these on occupational safety and health for the individual, the organisation and society will be examined.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

An off campus version of this unit is delivered fully online with all resources and materials accessed through the University Learning Management System.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 2 units from HST1152, HST1154

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded HST3354

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse psychological aspects of work organisation and job design.
  2. Apply ergonomic principles in a work environment.
  3. Apply principles of employee participation in job design.
  4. Describe different types of ergonomics.
  5. Identify factors that enhance or impede workplace performance.
  6. Identify the environmental, physiological and psychological factors, that influence human behaviour in the workplace.

Unit Content

  1. Cognitive ergonomics.
  2. Human behaviour.
  3. Job redesign.
  4. Leadership and management styles.
  5. Organisational ergonomics.
  6. Physical ergonomics.
  7. Psychology of the workplace.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials and online seminars.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportManual Handling Risk Management Report20%
ReportErgonomic Assessment Report30%
ExaminationFinal examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportManual Handling Risk Management Report20%
ReportErgonomic Assessment Report30%
ExaminationFinal examination50%

Text References

  • Archer, R., Borthwick, K., Travers, M., and Ruschena, L. (2015). WHS: A management guide (4th ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria: Cengage Learning Australia.
  • ^ Bridger, R. S. (2009). Introduction to Ergonomics (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
  • Kroemer, K. H. E. (2008). Fitting the human: introduction to ergonomics (6th ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.
  • Marras, W. S. (2006). Fundamentals and assessment tools for occupational ergonomics [electronic resource]. Hoboken: CRC Press.
  • Stevenson, M. G. (2006). Safety by design (2nd ed). Balgowlah, NSW Australia: Mike Stevenson Ergonomics.

Journal References

  • Ergonomics
  • Ergonomics Australia
  • Human Factors: The Journal of the HFESA
  • Occupational Ergonomics

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

HST3358|1|2