What is Ergonomics - Overview

The term ‘ergonomics’ is composed of two words from Ancient Greek, ‘ergon’ (= work) and ‘nomos’ (= law). Thus, from its original meaning, ergonomics can be defined as the science of work.

However, since Wojciech Bogumil Jastrzebowski from Poland created this term in 1857, the discipline has undergone substantial changes, especially with regard to its scope: according to the official definition, adopted by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) in 2000, the field of ergonomics now extends across all aspects of human activity.

To provide some information about the current scope and impact of ergonomics, here you find a list of selected documents, which are organised around the following topics:

• The official definition of ergonomics adopted by the Council of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA).
• The results of a recent study by Petra Breedveld and Jan Dul on The Position and Success of Certified European Ergonomists.

For additional information, please consult our Resources Section, which presents an overview of related topics - including journals, standards, and organisations - with a focus on European sources and institutions.

________

Page created 2006 by Dietmar Gude - last revision 09.10.2007 by Dietmar Gude