17-2112.01 · Task explorer
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists: reported tasks and exploration worksheet
Design objects, facilities, and environments to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, applying theory, principles, and data regarding the relationship between humans and respective technology. Investigate and analyze characteristics of human behavior and performance as it relates to the use of technology.
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Read the task inventory
This source lists 26 tasks, including 26 marked Core and 0 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.
Task source dates: 08/2024.
26 tasks shown
Core · Task 16393 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.
Core · Task 16378 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.
Core · Task 16396 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.
Core · Task 16387 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.
Core · Task 16381 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.
Core · Task 16379 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
Core · Task 16383 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.
Core · Task 16380 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Provide technical support to clients through activities, such as rearranging workplace fixtures to reduce physical hazards or discomfort or modifying task sequences to reduce cycle time.
Core · Task 16392 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.
Core · Task 16386 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.
Core · Task 16385 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware.
Core · Task 16374 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.
Core · Task 16397 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance.
Core · Task 16372 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Write, review, or comment on documents, such as proposals, test plans, or procedures.
Core · Task 16373 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Train users in task techniques or ergonomic principles.
Core · Task 16391 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.
Core · Task 16375 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Provide human factors technical expertise on topics, such as advanced user-interface technology development or the role of human users in automated or autonomous sub-systems in advanced vehicle systems.
Core · Task 16388 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.
Core · Task 16389 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Develop or implement research methodologies or statistical analysis plans to test and evaluate developmental prototypes used in new products or processes, such as cockpit designs, user workstations, or computerized human models.
Core · Task 16377 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Estimate time or resource requirements for ergonomic or human factors research or development projects.
Core · Task 16390 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Design cognitive aids, such as procedural storyboards or decision support systems.
Core · Task 16395 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Analyze complex systems to determine potential for further development, production, interoperability, compatibility, or usefulness in a particular area, such as aviation.
Core · Task 16376 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Investigate theoretical or conceptual issues, such as the human design considerations of lunar landers or habitats.
Core · Task 16384 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Operate testing equipment, such as heat stress meters, octave band analyzers, motion analysis equipment, inclinometers, light meters, thermoanemometers, sling psychrometers, or colorimetric detection tubes.
Core · Task 16382 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Perform statistical analyses, such as social network pattern analysis, network modeling, discrete event simulation, agent-based modeling, statistical natural language processing, computational sociology, mathematical optimization, or systems dynamics.
Core · Task 16394 · 08/2024 · Occupational Expert
Apply modeling or quantitative analysis to forecast events, such as human decisions or behaviors, the structure or processes of organizations, or the attitudes or actions of human groups.
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Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
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