BOOK REVIEW |
Introduction to Ergonomics, 2nd edition, and accompanying instructor's manual. R. S. Bridger. Published by Taylor & Francis, 2003. ISBN 0-415-27378-1 and 0-415-31266-3. Price: £57.99 (hardback)/£24.99 (paperback). Book 548 pp; manual 144 pp.
Bob Bridger is a consulting ergonomist based in the UK. This book is designed to form part of an introductory program to students in ergonomics, with the manual being for lecturers in ergonomics. Postgraduate physicians undertaking the diploma and AFOM in occupational medicine would also benefit from reference to this book.The book begins with an introduction and overview of ergonomics, moving on to cover subjects such as anatomy, posture and body mechanics and anthropometric and physiological principles. Detailed accounts of static work, repetitive tasks and manual handling are given. Other topics such as workplace design, analysis of physical workload and fatigue and stress are included. Investigation of environmental factors such as heat and cold, light, noise and vibration would not be out of place in an occupational hygiene textbook. Interesting accounts are presented of human information processing, task performance, control and display design and human–machine and human–computer interactions. Finally, an analysis of human error, accidents and safety and the organizational and psychosocial aspects at work are given.
In each section of the book, evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of each subject is examined. Each chapter ends with a section of exercises for students to help consolidate their learning.
The instructor's manual was also provided for the review. It gives model answers to the questions at the end of each chapter, as well as guidance on teaching, laboratory classes and assessment. It is supplied free of charge to lecturers in ergonomics who adopt the book.
The book presents a comprehensive account of ergonomics with detail based on evidence and subjects covered logically. It is mostly easily read, although a couple of the graphs and tables are not explained in the text and are somewhat difficult to follow. Overall, the illustrations are informative.
The factual content is excellent with >600 references and includes good information on ergonomic assessment of specific workplaces and tasks. I particularly found the evidence of effectiveness for subjects, such as the use of abdominal belts for manual handling, very interesting and informative.
The second edition of this book will be useful to those physicians new to occupational medicine and undertaking courses. Its usefulness to practising occupational physicians depends on the extent to which they involve themselves in workplace risk management.
Rating
(Essential for the bookshelf) For students in ergonomics.
(Buy, read and keep) For postgraduate occupational medicine students.
(Buy, read and keep) For practising occupational physicians with an interest in risk management.
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