Overview

Human, technological, economic, environmental and organizational factors all affect the behaviour, activities and well-being of people in work, domestic and leisure contexts. The science of ergonomics has evolved from its origins in the context of work to embrace many other fields of application, such as home and leisure. However, whatever the context, the underlying principles of ergonomics remain the same, although the relative emphasis placed on them will vary. These principles are fundamental to the design process wherever human involvement is expected, in order to ensure the optimum integration of human requirements and characteristics into a design. Ergonomics covers a wide range of issues, including physical, cognitive, social and organizational. These are ideally addressed within an integrated framework. A substantial number of ergonomics standards have been developed to cover specific issues and different application domains. All depend upon the basic principles and concepts that are fundamental to the ergonomics approach to design. DIN EN ISO 26800 presents the general ergonomics approach and specifies basic ergonomics principles and concepts. These are applicable to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, tools, equipment, systems, organizations, services, facilities and environments, in order to make them compatible with the characteristics, the needs and values, and the abilities and limitations of people. The provisions and guidance given by this International Standard are intended to improve the safety, performance, effectiveness, efficiency, reliability, availability and maintainability of the design outcome throughout its life cycle, while safeguarding and enhancing the health, well-being and satisfaction of those involved or affected. The intended users of this DIN EN ISO 26800 are designers, ergonomists and project managers, as well as managers, workers, consumers (or their representatives) and procurers. It also serves as a reference standard for standards developers dealing with ergonomics aspects. This standard provides the basis for other, more detailed, context-specific ergonomics International Standards. As the intended "umbrella standard" of ergonomics, it is the task of DIN EN ISO 26800 to introduce the general principles, concepts and approaches and to point out other relevant standards on ergonomics. Moreover, the ergonomic principles have been for the first time normatively determined. The committee responsible for this standard is NA 023-00-01 GA "Gemeinschaftsausschuss NAErg/NAM: Grundsätze der Ergonomie" ("Joint Working Committee NAErg/NAM: Ergonomics principles") at DIN. On the international level, it has been prepared by ISO/TC 159/SC 1/WG 1 "Principles of ergonomics and ergonomic design".

Document: references other documents

Document: referenced in other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 023-00-01 GA - Joint working committee NAErg/NAM: Ergonomic principles  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 122/WG 2 - Ergonomic design principles  

Responsible international committee

ISO/TC 159/SC 1/WG 1 - Principles of ergonomics and ergonomic design