What discipline focuses on the interaction between a person and a machine to improve safety and reduce injury?

The focus of ergonomics is on understanding the interaction between individuals and the systems they work with, including machines, tools, and environments, to enhance safety and performance while minimizing the risk of injury. This discipline studies how people physically interact with equipment and workspaces, aiming to design these systems in a way that accommodates users' physical capabilities and limitations.

By applying principles of ergonomics, workplaces can be optimized to fit the human body, which not only reduces the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders but also promotes efficiency and comfort during work tasks. Ergonomic assessments might involve analyzing tasks for repetitive movements, awkward postures, and environmental stressors, leading to significant improvements in both worker safety and productivity.

While disciplines such as biomechanics, occupational safety, and human factors may overlap with aspects of ergonomics, they each have distinct focuses. Biomechanics primarily examines the physical movements of the body, occupational safety deals more broadly with workplace safety regulations and practices, and human factors studies how cognitive abilities and limitations affect user interactions. Ergonomics integrates elements from all these fields specifically to tailor systems and environments to better serve users' physical needs.