Ergonomics indicators: A proposal for sustainable process performance measurement in ergonomics

Abstract

Process performance measurement (PPM) has become a challenging task for organisations, which have many various processes, in today’s globalised world. This challenging task is also remarkable in ergonomics, and combining sustainability with ergonomics can provide beneficial solutions for assessing risks and providing ergonomically favourable conditions for human well-being. In this paper, new ergonomics indicators (EIs) are proposed, classified, and described in detail to overcome this challenge through a systematic literature review that integrates ergonomics and sustainability. By considering sustainability indicators (SIs) selected from the review, the proposed EIs are presented within a three-dimensional structure. This structure enables measuring the performance on various issues in an organisation such as occupational health and safety, decent work, technology, working conditions, employee empowerment and development, charities, innovations, and recycling. Through systematic measurements using these indicators, more traceable and manageable processes can be achieved. Hence, ergonomists or managers can identify and prevent risky conditions practically.

Practitioner Summary: This paper proposes ergonomics indicators and detailed descriptions for ensuring sustainable process performance measurement in ergonomics. The sustainability indicators presented as references for these proposals are utilised through selection and consolidation from literature. The ergonomics indicators are structured within a sustainability framework that considers six sustainability sub-dimensions proposed for ergonomics.

Keywords:

• Ergonomics indicators
• sustainability indicators
• integration
• lagging leading indicators
• process performance measurement

Acknowledgments

The first author would like to give thanks for the support of 2211-A National Scholarship Programme for Ph.D. Students of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [2211-A National Scholarship for Ph.D. Students].