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example
services
David Hitchcock provides a wide range of ergonomics and safety
services. These are outlined in the what? section of this website,
but here are seven specific examples to illustrate the breadth
of application. Click on the titles for further details:
ageing, disability and inclusivity
display screen equipment
health and safety
musculoskeletal disorders
product and equipment design
training and teaching
work and workplace
If you would like to enquire about these or any other ergonomics
or health and safety services, please click here to contact David
Hitchcock directly.
ageing, disability and inclusivity
 An ageing – often active
and affluent – population
and the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act means
there is an increasing requirements to consider and satisfy the
needs of a wider population through design. Accessible design -
designing to accommodate specific individuals or groups of individuals
with disabilities or even inclusive design - creating products
and environments for everyone, regardless of age, gender or circumstance
by working with users to remove barriers in the social, technical,
political and economic processes underpinning building and design.
David Hitchcock works with Standards agencies responsible for
accessible and inclusive design guidelines and is Director of the
Centre for Employment and Disability Studies which specialises
in research and consultancy among and on behalf of those with disabilities,
including:
surveys of user groups to inform architects and designers working
on inclusive projects
iterative design trials to identify shortfalls in software and
hardware
accessibility fitting trials to determine dimensions for equipment
and furniture design
assessment of individuals to provide fit for purpose workplace
solutions
generating and prototyping designs through simulation
using AbilityMatch to help find and resource jobs for people with
disabilities
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display screen equipment
 Display Screen Equipment and office ergonomics
services have been provided to help over 10,000 users across
all sectors and types of organisations, large and small,
through:
individual assessments of workstations
ergonomics and safety audits of offices
development and production of policies and procedures
compliance packages to provide clients with a total solution from
training and assessment through to monitoring and management
training of risk assessors and computer users
regular surgeries to provide confidential and prompt advice to
and monitoring of users with concerns about their workstation or
with symptoms of discomfort and injury
expert support on the avoidance or management of upper limb disorders
(rsi) and other musculoskeletal problems
posture advice and support programmes
working from home or away from the office
laptop ergonomics, health and safety
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health and safety
 Since the introduction of the 'six-pack' Regulations
in 1992, ergonomics has walked hand-in-hand with health and
safety, particularly with respect to:
display screen equipment
management of health and safety
manual handling
personal protective equipment
provision and use of work equipment
workplace health and safety
Risk assessments, safety
training, and expert witness work are conducted for each of these
and are all performed with a full and practical understanding
of the safety legislation alongside the pertinent aspects of human
behaviour. This ergonomics approach to risk assessment offers
the additional benefit of understanding business needs so that
recommendations and solutions are realistic.
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musculoskeletal disorders
 Upper limb disorders (rsi), back ache,
neck pain, tired legs and feet are all too often common occurrences
in workplaces. Sometimes they result in discomfort, but in
many instances they turn to chronic injury; even disability.
In such cases, the costs to business extend from inefficiency
to litigation; an unpleasant spiral that can easily get out
of control. Ergonomic improvements to workplaces have been
the typical intervention measures to address risk factors,
but these often only serve to reduce the risk rather than
eliminate it. To support workplace changes, services have included:
analysis and re-design of tasks
posture and risk awareness training
policy reviews and reporting systems development
improving occupational healthcare systems
advising on future procurement
Musculoskeletal disorders prevention and management services have
been provided to a variety of sectors, including; leisure, manufacturing,
office, retail and transport.
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product and equipment design
 There are legal and business requirements
to ensure that products, equipment and furniture are designed
and provided to match the needs of those who use them. Work
in this area includes:
working alongside designers to help create usable and effective
products
evaluating, comparing and selecting
existing designs for the suitability for an organisation’s
needs
advising standards makers on issues of human characteristics,
behaviour and requirements
user profiling to provide designers
and manufacturers with holistic understanding of their market’s
characteristics and needs
assessment of fitness for purpose and legislative compliance with
such as the General Product Safety Regulations and the Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
preparation and appraisal of instructions and packaging
This work varies from 1-day expert appraisals of products through
to working on year-long equipment development programmes; being
involved throughout the design cycle on are legal and business
requirements to ensure consumer products and work equipment are
fit for purpose. Example projects include:
development of a new supermarket checkout
iterative design of an electronic dartboard
user trials of nursery toys
appraisal of a range of chairs for use in a 24-hour control centre
fitness for purpose assessment of public access internet kiosks
generation of ergonomics design specifications for call centres
assessment of airport luggage trolleys
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training and teaching
 The provision of good training is at the heart
of; compliance with the requirements of health and safety
law, achieving best practice in your workplace, optimising efficiency
in production and performance, and establishing and maintaining
quality.
Without training any investment in people, facilities and equipment
is severely compromised, if not lost altogether. The best provision
possible of workplaces, furniture and software will not compensate
for a lack of adequate training.
To maximise the effectiveness of training it is essential to devise
training programmes to closely fit the needs of the organisation.
It is equally important to provide training which is specific to
the needs of the delegates, create enthusiasm and commitment as
well as provide facts and figures and to involve delegates throughout
training without posing threat or embarrassment. Good training
should also be prepared to accommodate delegate driven changes
of programme
David Hitchcock has developed a reputation for informative and
enjoyable training, teaching and conference presentations, examples
of which include:
airport terminal design
awareness of human risk
ergonomics and safety for the rail industry
ergonomics in manufacturing
human factors in design
inclusive design
musculoskeletal ergonomics
people factors in safety
where ergonomics has been and where it's going
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work and workplace
 Ergonomics seeks to match the characteristics
of the worker with the activities they perform and the place
in which they perform them. The remit for ergonomics application
here is broad, ranging from quick-fix troubleshooting assignments
through to supporting architects in the design of new premises.
A few examples of commissions include:
specifying the ergonomics requirements for a new multi-purpose
facility for 2,000 occupants
assessing manual handling tasks in a recycling plant to increase
job satisfaction and reduce staff turnover
analysing the tasks of pharmaceutical operatives to minimise risk
of musculoskeletal injuries
activities assessments of opticians to drive the design of new
examination and retail premises
the design of new cashier tills for a bank
advising of the ergonomics aspects of car and train interiors
working with architects and furniture suppliers to minimise desk
footprints and increase building occupancy
provision of ergonomics support to the implementation of a new
call centre system
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