If you’ve walked through a job site on a windy day holding a stack of papers while trying to steer clear of equipment, you now know how important it is to have reliable, efficient, and sturdy field tools. With the right tools, work and safety while at work becomes easier.
However, reliability, efficiency, and sturdiness aren’t the only important characteristics field tools should have—they also need to be ergonomic.
Field data collection is a major factor of engineering-related jobs. It is needed in fulfilling almost all daily tasks—surveying land, inspecting areas, checking out rough terrains, and even tracking the weather or environmental conditions. Thus, the quality of the tools matter a lot.
Nowadays, traditional tools are seldom used anymore. Their digital counterparts have taken over their spotlight. Case in point, a lot of engineering firms are now trying out or have shifted to AI-driven field process and data collection techniques and tools. While technology does help make things easier, and it’s powerful, tools should also be easy to use—they should be safe for humans. This is what ergonomics is all about.
This article will introduce you to ergonomics and provide you with the information you need to understand its value to those work onsite and deal with field data collection tools everyday.
The Meaning of Ergonomics in Fieldwork
The term ergonomics refers to the process of creating systems and tools that work well for humans—for the workers. Its goal is to make ltools that fit a person as opposed to the person adjusting to the tool. As such, the person is not forced to adapt to the tool. Another important goal of ergonomics is to keep workers comfortable and safe while at work.
So for engineering fieldwork, ergonomics is all about using equipment that:
- Easy to hold and carry around
- Comfortable to use whether you’re standing or walking
- Easy to read even in bright sunlight
- Easy to use or operate even in wer conditions or when wearing gloves
Some engineers and technicians are in the field and onsite for several hours in a day. For them, ergonomics is more than just comfort and good design; it is also about ensuring their productivity and safety.
Professionals who work in construction sites, those who are involved in infrastructure projects, as well as those who work on remote environmental projects deal with multiple physical demands, i.e. carrying heavy tools or operating large and heavy machinery. This can be back-breaking and may cause problems or injuries, such as muscle strain or fatigue. Those who have been doing the job for years can develop long-term injuries. This is why job sites should always prioritize ergonomic options for their systems and tools.
It’s essential to also remember that physical work is not the only back-breaker for engineering site workers—devices or objects that display information, such as TV screens or monitors. So if the screen has poor contrast or is blurry, this will lead to workers squinting, moving too close to the monitor, or repositioning themselves awkwardly, which, if not done with caution, cab cause discomfort and injury, such as headache and eye strain. So instead of becoming an asset, the tool will become a liability.
How long the tool is used is also an important factor. If the action is repetitive and done throughout the day—sometimes for more than eight hours. Too much repetitive motions can injure the body as a result of muscle wear and tear. But if one were to use a tool specially designed according to the natural human movement required in the job, awkward motions and postures will be significantly lessened.
The ergonomic concepts and designs of field tools minimizes (and maybe even eliminates) mental and physical strain, so the worker is comfortable, confident, and safe. As a result, the worker performs better, becomes more productive, and begins to love their job. All these because their tools were created around human needs, not the other way around. Thus, the job becomes safer, more human-friendly, and rewarding.
The Challenges that Engineers Face in the Field
Image by This_is_Engineering on Pixabay
Field tools vary accordingly, especially in terms of ergonomics. There are some that look good on paper but do not perform what was promised. The common problem of such products are:
- The tools or devices are too bulky or heavy, so prolonged and repetitive use can lead to back, shoulders, and arm strain.
- For poor visibility screens (especially if they’re also small) workers will find it challenging to read in sunlight. This can be a problem, too, when they’re wearing safety glasses.
- Complex data inputs, such as in menus, can be frustrating and may cause delays.
- Too-sensitive touchscreens, especially those that are not gloves-friendly, Workers exposed to cold or harsh conditions wilk be forced to remove their gloves.
- Tools with a limited battery life can delay work.
These issues are manageable and can be corrected, but most workers turn to traditional pen-and-paper solutions, which contradicts the objective of adapting digital tools.
Features that Make a Field Tool Ergonomic
Here are the most important features to look for to ensure that it is ergonomic.
1. Design: Balanced, Lightweight
- Ergonomic tools and devices are easy to carry around, even with one hand.
- Arm strains can be prevented if a device is equipped with a clip, strap, holder, or harness.
- Balanced and lightweight means comfortable to carry because the weight is distributed evenly.
2. Interfaces: Clean, User-Friendly, Uncomplicated
- Tools should have high contrast so text can be read even when outdoors; large buttons are for easier control.
- Navigation (of menus( should be as simple as tapping or clicking.
- Data should be easy to save—an auto-save feature is most ideal.
3. Input Options Flexibility
- Hands-free or voice-to-text can options are useful for workers whose hands are full or dirty.
- Field workers protect their hands by using gloves, so a stylus input will allow them to use the device without problems. This is also useful for when it rains onsite.
- Minimizing the need for typing reduces physical strain.
4. Environment Adaptability Features
- Devices with bright screens or an anti-glare feature work well even in sunlight.
- Devices are well-protected from harmful elements if they are dustproof and waterproof.
- Sturdiness and longevity are main characteristics of ergonomic devices, so quality is the number one requirement for their build.
Ergonomic tools, which are designed with the user in mind, are faster, more accurate, more efficient, and safer.
Reasons Why Ergonomics Improves Safety and Productivity
Using ergonomic tools and devices is not just about users’ comfort and safety. It is also about keeping workers in good condition—because their health will be affected over time if they keep getting stressed or injured while at work in the field. This problem is magnified if their tools are designed poorly or not according to the right specifications.
The right ergonomic design has the following effects:
- Injuries and fatigue-caused issues are minimized
- Improved focus and efficiency, so errors are lessened
- Workflows are more organized
- The field staff is genuinely and highly satisfied
When workers trust their tools and devices, only good things can happen. They will use their tools consistently, and in the correct manner. As a result, they become better at what they do; they become more productive.
What to Look Forward to: New Tech That Puts Humans First66
The future of technology in engineering fieldwork, and in general, is looking good. The field has a lot of potential—some engineers have even adapted AI and wearable technology, using wrist sensors and smart glasses, among others. New smart devices are sure to arrive in the market in the next months and years.
This is good news because this will encourage more companies to adapt ergonomics into their system.
In terms of software, these are what the smart apps are now capable of doing:
On the software side, smart apps are getting better at:
- They can now predict and identify errors.
- They now know how to use data to determine the fastest methods or routes.
- They can now adapt user habits and minimize keystrokes and clicks.
However, no matter how smart tools and devices have become, the best and most effective are the ones that were designed with the user in mind, around the human who utilize them. While AI and automation have become more useful and appreciated over the years, they can only become truly successful and accepted when every experience is built around and to support the humans who tirelessly toil everyday.
Conclusion: Tools Need to Fit the Person and the Job
Field data collection is an integral aspect in every engineering project. This is why it requires only the best, most efficient, and safest tools. And this is why ergonomics should be taken seriously, not only in the engineering industry but in all other sectors as well. Choosing ergonomics is not just about choosing comfort; more importantly, it is about ensuring the safety, efficiency, and productivity of every worker out in the field.
And the fewer the injuries, the better the data quality, and the higher the project success rate.
Ergonomics, more than anything else, reminds us that a tool—or device, is only as good as the person who is using it.
