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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.

Make the shortlist useful

  1. Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
  2. For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
  3. Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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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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