Towards a sustainable world through human factors and ergonomics: it is all about values

In this paper, we analyse two approaches that attempt to address how a human factors and ergonomics (HFE) perspective can contribute to the sustainability of the human race. We outline the principles, purposes and fields of application of ergoecology and green ergonomics, and thereafter deal with th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ergonomics 2014-11, Vol.57 (11), p.1603-1615
Main Authors: Lange-Morales, Karen, Thatcher, Andrew, García-Acosta, Gabriel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied physiology
Biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
Conservation of Natural Resources - methods
Cultural Diversity
Decision making
Design engineering
Earth
Ecology
ergoecology
Ergonomics
Ergonomics - ethics
Ergonomics - methods
Ergonomics. Human factors
Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology
Ethics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
green ergonomics
Human
Human factors
Human factors research
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Human Rights
Humans
Inventions
Medical sciences
Occupational psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Social responsibility
Social Values
Space life sciences
Sustainability
values
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Summary:In this paper, we analyse two approaches that attempt to address how a human factors and ergonomics (HFE) perspective can contribute to the sustainability of the human race. We outline the principles, purposes and fields of application of ergoecology and green ergonomics, and thereafter deal with their context of emergence, and the overlaps in purpose, and principles. Shared values are deduced and related to socio-technical principles for systems' design. Social responsibility and environmental/ecospheric responsibility are the leading threads of ergoecology and green ergonomics, giving rise to the values of: respect for human rights, respect for the Earth, respect for ethical decision-making, appreciation of complexity, respect for transparency and openness, and respect for diversity. We discuss the consequences of considering these values in HFE theory and practice. Practitioner summary: Through the analysis of ergoecology and green ergonomics, this qualitative interpretative study presents the importance of values in the shift towards sustainability from a human factors and ergonomics perspective, contributing to the design of more sustainable socio-technical systems and HFE practices.
ISSN:0014-0139
1366-5847
DOI:10.1080/00140139.2014.945495