Usability of machinery

Abstract

In our interrelated world with global market the responsibility and hence the potential to improve machinery safety lays on several actors including designers, manufacturers, end users and regulatory, standardization, representative, lobby organizations. On one hand according to the “free movement of goods” concept machinery safety is regulated like the safety of other products, including involvement of notified bodies, conformity assessment and international standards with mandatory requirements. On the other hand the provision of a safe and healthy workplace is a well respected value therefore national regulations are there on the use of tools including machinery in workplaces by workers. In both area the basic concept of safety is the management of risk, but the two approaches differ due to the differences in the quantity and diversity of machinery handled and due to the knowledge on target group and on the use. Although there several ways to link design and usage including e.g. standardization, acquisition, user-oriented design, the risk of machinery at the workplaces is not eliminated and workplace accidents with machinery still occur. This paper shows how risk assessment at workplaces and risk assessment in machinery safety should be connected, how knowledge of workers can be utilized in the design and how in general usability methodology evolved in software ergonomics can be applied in machinery design to improve workplace safety.