Page 1 of 12

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 8

August 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 308

An Empirical Study on the application of Ergonomics Approach at Public

Universities of Ethiopia with Special Reference toAdigrat University.

Tewelde Gebresslase (M.P.A) Lecturer and Researcher:

Department of Management, Adigrat University, Ethiopia

E-mail: tewelde206@gmail.com

Abstract:

It is obvious that either public or private

institutions might be profit or service oriented

in their nature and to achieve this; employee

wellbeing should be primarily concerned. One

move toward is to integrate the concepts of

quality ergonomics which is the main human

factors, and safety into such higher academic

institutions experiences for all community that

make the competitive in today’s working

environments of the institutions. Literally

speaking Ergonomics means the study or

measurement of work therefore this paper

focuses on the relationship between physical

and logical environment setting and

institutional performance with especial

reference to Adigrat University. Hence, this

paper is literature and personal observation

based research article on the role of

ergonomics approach of workplace in case of

the stated University which is one of the third

generation higher academic institutions in

Ethiopia., the researcher tried to put a possible

suggestions based on a practical observation

on what is going practically. At the end with a

proper plan of ergonomics approach the

tangible and intangible costs due to unhealthy

working condition could be reduced since the

outcome of this paper could attract the

attention of the management bodies in

particular and community of the institution i.e

Adigrat University in general.

Key words: Professional safety, ergonomics,

employees’ motivation, productivity, Adigrat

University.

1. Introduction:

rgonomics focuses on the work

environment and items such as the design

and function of workstations, controls,

displays, safety devices and tools to fit the

employee’s physical requirements, capabilities

and limitations to ensure his/her health and well

being.

Ergonomics is the study and means to enhance

the compatibility between human beings and

surrounding systems. Ergonomics satisfies

some of the key needs of the operators

including reduction of stress and fatigue,

improvement in safety, comfort level and

quality of the work life. It promotes the well- being of the operator by maintaining a safe,

healthy and efficiency driven environment

(Viraj Bakshi, 2016). Ergonomics is defined as

the design of workplace, equipment, machine,

tool, product, environment and system, taking

into consideration the human’s physical,

physiological, psychological capabilities and

optimizing the effectiveness and productivity of

work system while assuring the safety, health

and wellbeing of the workers.

According to the collection literature for

ergonomics concept the following are some of

the definitions. Ergonomics is

E

Page 2 of 12

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 8

August 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 309

the scientific study of people and their working

conditions, especially done

in order to improve effectiveness (Cambridge

dictionary). Ergonomics is the science of

refining the design of products to optimize them

for human use. (...) it is sometimes known

as human factors engineering (whatis.com).

Ergonomics is a science that deals with

designing and arranging things so that

people can use them easily and safely

(Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Ergonomics

is an applied science concerned with

designing and arranging things people use

so that the people and things interact most

efficiently and safely —called

also biotechnology, human engineering,

human factors (Merriam-Webster

Dictionary). Ergonomics is a study of

capacities and limitations of mental and

physical work in different settings. Ergonomics

applies anatomical, physiological, and

psychological knowledge (call human factors)

to work and work environments in order to

reduce or eliminate factors that cause pain or

discomfort (business dictionary).

Although the term Ergonomics has many but

mutually inclusive definitions, the following

definition is taken from Peter Vink (2006) as

operational meaning for this paper. Hence,

Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific

discipline concerned with the understanding of

interactions among humans and other elements

of a system, and the profession that applies

theory, principles, data and methods to design

in order to optimize human well-being and

overall system performance. Having this

operational definition for Ergonomics, this

paper is an empirical study on human and none

human factors for unhealthy working condition

and tried to put possible observations on how

Ergonomics Approach for workplace could help

as a solution for related problems at Public

Universities of Ethiopia with Special Reference

in Adigrat University.

2. Research Rationality

ince human resources are the ultimate user

of the workplace environment, therefore

labor should consider designing and equipping

the workplace setting to suit their comfort. In

this case the physical and logical design of

working environments has a direct impact on

the healthy workplace vis-a-vise wellbeing of

the workers. As Joan Burton cited in WHO

Regional Office for the Western Pacific;

defines a healthy workplace as follows:

“A healthy workplace is a place where

everyone works together to achieve an agreed

vision for the health and well-being of workers

and the surrounding community. It provides all

members of the workforce with physical,

psychological, social and organizational

conditions that protect and promote health and

safety. It enables managers and workers to

increase control over their own health and to

S

Page 3 of 12

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 8

August 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 310

improve it, and to become more energetic,

positive and contented.”

Either knowingly or unknowingly the

management of one organization could follow

any leadership philosophy; whatever the

response of the followers. Besides to this, the

management body could ignore the

humanitarian aspect to maximize the

organizational performance. As a result the

working environment could affect negatively

since the relationship between the top and lower

management level could badly affect. In this

regard, “It is unethical and short-sighted

business practice to compromise the health of

workers for the wealth of enterprises.” Evelyn

Kortum, WHO (2014).

A healthy workplace can be affected through

two factors which are human and non human.

In this case, human factors identify what

employees are being asked to do, who is doing

it, and where they’re working and Non human

factors identify the tangible and intangible

features of the environments. According Kerm

Henrikse (2010) Human factors research

applies knowledge about human strengths and

limitations to the design of interactive systems

of people, equipment, and their environment to

ensure their effectiveness, safety, and ease of

use.

As Peter V. (2006) cited in Vink, (2005),

participatory ergonomics is the discipline that

studies how different parties should be involved

in a design process. Participatory ergonomics is

the adaptation of the environment to the human

(that is ergonomics) together with the proper

persons in question (participants). Besides,

different authors also argued that “good

ergonomics is good economics”. However, the

concepts of ergonomics are not implemented

properly. It is known that there are a number of

hidden reasons why the employees who are

working in Adigrat University (where the

author is working) are not well satisfied in their

day to day working style. Thus, it is believed to

have a careful observation what is going

practically and assessing to what extent the

Ergonomics approach (human factors) for

workplace is implementation otherwise to

forward possible alternative solution for

healthy, conducive and productive working

environment to Adigrat University.

3. Research Questions

 What are the human factors for

institutional performance in the

university?

 How the physical or logical working

environs could influence the

institutional performance of Adigrat

University?

 What are the bottlenecks against

practicing ergonomic approach of

workplace?

4. Research Objective

4.1.General Objective

The general objective of this article is to assess

the factors affecting the healthy working

environs and forwarding ways of practicing