Designing worker-friendly work

A new International Standard on the design of work systems is expected to result in improved user health, safety, and performance as well as cost savings for business.

A work system involves a combination of people and equipment, within a given space and environment, and the interactions between these components within a work organization.

A work system, whether directly or indirectly, may contribute to a plethora of mental and physical health problems and can result in increased absenteeism, poor timekeeping and staff turnover - all of which affect the productivity and efficiency of the organization and have a negative effect on the bottom line. To avoid these negative effects, it is necessary to fit the work system to the user.

Source : ISO Focus July-August 2004