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Home > Certification Information > Scope of Practice
Scope of Practice
The BCPE recognizes the scope of practice for ergonomists/human factors professionals overlaps to some extent, with that of other professions. This overlap has resulted in two levels of ergonomics practice: the CEA (Certified Ergonomics Associate) and CPE (Certified Professional Ergonomist) or CHFP (Certified Human Factors Professional). While the scope of practice for the CPE or CHFP covers the entire breadth and depth of ergonomics knowledge, the scope of practice for the CEA is limited to the use of commonly accepted tools and techniques for the analysis and enhancement of human performance in existing systems. [Commonly accepted tools and techniques include those which have extensive use, are widely reported in the literature, have established protocols, and which are broadly accepted by practicing CPEs or CHFPs. Human performance is defined as including physical, cognitive, psychosocial, organizational, environmental and system factors. Existing systems include current operating systems and their components, but excludes conceptual systems, extensive redesign or design of new systems.] In general, a CEA: - Analyzes and assesses human interactions in the system.
- Intervenes by making recommendations for improvement of identified mismatches.
- Evaluates effectiveness of implemented recommendations.
Furthermore, the CEA has to be able to recognize those projects which exceed this scope and for which the skills of a CPE or CHFP must be used. Table 1. compares the fundamental differences in scope of practice of the CEA and CPE or CHFP. Table 2. provides more detailed examples of the scope of practice of a CEA compared to a CPE or CHFP. Table 1. Comparative chart of the scope of practice of a CEA and CPE or CHFP | | CPE or CHFP | - Conducts basic workstations analyses
| - In addition to conventional problems, addresses more complex and non-conventional problems.
| - Applies widely-established techniques to address conventional problems.
| - Develops and applies advanced methodologies, mathematical models and/or simulations.
| - Works within the "intervention model", i.e., ergonomics-related problems identified at an existing workstation.
| - Works within the broader "system design model" in which intervention may be one particular strategy among others.
| | | - Determines design criteria and specifications to new design and extensive redesign.
| SCOPE OF PRACTICE Table 2. Illustrations of the scope of practice of a CEA and CPE or CHFP | Examples of scope of practice. | In addition to performing CEA functions, the CPE or CHFP is competent to do the following: | | | CPE or CHFP | | SYSTEM | | - Conducts basic analysis of a facility to identify problem areas using widely recognized methods such as:
- reviewing the workers compensation records to identify the three jobs with the highest incidents of musculoskeletal disorders in a plant.
- conducting a walkthrough survey using a checklist.
| - Conducts basic to complex analyses (multiple facilities, national and international, diverse products, unconventional organizational structures) using existing to novel methods such as:
- developing the survey and analysis method to identify multiple factors to prioritize ergonomics-related problems.
- developing a unique survey which compares production bottlenecks and turnover, with injuries to prioritize ergonomic projects within a facility
| - Recognizes musculoskeletal and performance problems related to organizational and management factors such as:
- increased injuries related to downsizing, change of supervision, department restructuring and changes that incorporate new policies.
| - Analyzes the organizational and management structure and processes to identify the root causes of injury and performance decrements.
- Analyzes work system structure and processes to determine appropriateness in light of key sociotechnical systems, such as:
- reviewing organizational structure to develop and implement rule-based procedures to spread decision making.
- altering organizational culture to achieve quality management implementation.
| | TASK | | - Conducts basic task analyses using tools such as checklists, questionnaires, videotaping and force measurement.
- investigating 50 person office workplace using standard VDT checklist
| - Develops and applies advanced analytical methods, mathematical models and simulation.
- using a simulation model to review stairs in new stadium design.
- using a CAD model to determine adequacy of maintenance accesses.
| - Uses commonly accepted tools and techniques1 for analysis.
- assessing manual transfer of chemical bags into a mixing bin using a standard lifting equation.
| - Designs and conducts analytical studies.
- recognizing that multiple workplace changes within a manufacturing cell warrant pilot studies and mock-ups to verify changes
- determining a safe workload based on workload analysis by body part, force requirements, pace and work duration.
| - Recognizes basic mismatches between the job requirements and human capabilities including physical, cognitive, psychosocial and environmental.
- identifying worker injuries that result from workload and deadline pressures rather than from workstation layout.
- recognizing that a quality problem results from excessive noise levels.
| - Develops and applies theoretical constructs.
- developing a diagnostic tool for incorporating a knowledge-based system for scientists and rule-based system for technicians.
| - Identifies obvious sources of error such as violations of occupational stereotypes, inconsistent displays, controls, control-display arrangements and poor coding design.
| - Conducts error analysis.
- reviewing five years of operational data to determine human error likelihood for a refinery.
| - Bases analysis decision on widely recognized design criteria and ergonomics principles.
| - Interprets study results to determine design requirements.
- reviewing literature to specify design for a new road grader utilizing either an integrated control stalk or separate controls.
| - Uses simple statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics and performs simple statistical analyses such as t-tests and correlations.
| - Uses advanced statistical techniques such as multi-variate analysis and regression analysis.
- using multi-variate analysis to predict service call rates based on interaction of overtime requirements and shift assignment.
| - Recognizes when a sophisticated level of analysis is required
| - Recognizes when the analysis requires a level of expertise in a specialty area at a level that exceeds ones own.
| | 1Commonly accepted tools and techniques include those which have extensive use, are widely reported in the literature, have established protocols, and which are broadly accepted by practicing CPEs or CHFPs. | INTERVENTION (DESIGN/RE-DESIGN) | In addition to performing CEA functions, the CPE or CHFP is competent to do the following: | | | CPE or CHFP | - Applies ergonomics principles at the workstation level.
- modifying a packaging station by replacing a lift motion with a slide motion resulting in fewer risk factors and enhanced productivity.
- rearranging displays on a control panel based on ergonomics principles of importance and frequency of use.
| - Applies ergonomics principles at the work system level:
- specifying methods and tools for different types of terrain for tree harvesting to optimize efficiency and safety.
- specifying resources for enhanced situation awareness in transportation systems.
| - Makes basic recommendations for improvement, or existing systems, encompassing engineering, administrative and work practice modifications, for example:
- rearranging a workplace fixture to eliminate an awkward posture.
- rearranging a sequence of work tasks to reduce cycle times.
- using anthropometric data to determine the height of an overhead control valve for 5th percentile female workers.
- recommending off-the-shelf hardware such as lift tables, hoists, conveyors.
- recommending job rotation on an assembly line to control overuse injuries.
| - Makes recommendations for the improvement of existing sophisticated systems:
- replacing a small motor assembly line with a manufacturing cell to control labor costs, enrich jobs and provide just-in-time output.
- restructuring departmental jobs by revising human roles and authority to better distribute work loads and enhance output.
- redesigning a shift schedule to reduce vigilance decrement of radar surveillance operators.
- adding test functions to electronic sub-assembly in order to provide knowledge of results, thus enhancing motivation and reducing rework.
- designing cognitive aids, such as a procedural storyboard for packing medical instruments, or air traffic management decision support systems.
| - Trains employees in ergonomics principles and task techniques.
- training office workers on how to adjust workplaces.
- training employees to include ergonomics in Job Safety Analyses.
| - Develops training programs and materials.
- training people in ergonomics analysis, interventions, and evaluation, such as training ergonomics teams or design engineers.
- using the training system development process to determine training requirements for computer maintenance personnel.
- specifying use of whole versus part task simulators for training pilots.
| | | - Tailoring conventional intervention methods for new or unique opportunities
- using aviation crew resource management procedures to optimize decision making in a chemical control room.
| | | - Designing and developing new systems or systems requiring major revision by determining design criteria and applying those specifications to the design.
- designing a new software package.
- designing a nuclear power plant control room.
- revising the manufacturing line to shift from conventional CRT monitors to flat panel displays.
| - Recognizes when the scale or complexity of intervention requires a CPE or CHFP
| - Recognizes when the intervention requires a level of expertise in a specialty area at a level that exceeds one´s own.
| EVALUATION Recommends conventional, widely accepted interventions:
| In addition to performing CEA functions, the CPE or CHFP is competent to do the following: | | | CPE or CHFP | - Uses simple structured evaluation tools and methods to measure effectiveness of ergonomic interventions.
- administering before and after discomfort surveys to ensure a raised packing station height reduced back discomfort.
- administering work environment survey to evaluate employee satisfaction with the new work station.
- conducting a survey to elicit employee preferences for laboratory stools.
- using structured interviews to gather feedback on the employee acceptance of a semi-automated ticketing system at an apparel assembly workstation.
| - Designs and develops evaluation tools and methods to measure effectiveness of ergonomic interventions.
- evaluating effects of introducing robotic packing of television sets, by developing a program which includes determining evaluation requirements and designing or selecting evaluation tools.
- Specifies human performance measures suitable for measuring vehicle guidance with cell-phone task sharing.
| - Uses simple statistical evaluation such as means and standard deviations.
- calculating average area roofed per shift by construction workers and standard deviation for manual nailing versus using nailing guns.
| - Conducts sophisticated evaluations including multivariate statistical analysis.
- evaluating the interaction effects of increasing lighting and reducing noise on error rate of pill dispensing in pharmacies.
- evaluating effectiveness of 12 hour versus 8 hour work shifts in a rotating shift chemical plant.
| - Performs cost justification of simple and relatively inexpensive projects.
- as part of cost justification, calculating changes in annual lost time accidents and injuries following ergonomic redesign of shoe assembly work stations and determining savings in worker’s compensation costs.
| - Performs cost benefit analyses, especially of complex and expensive projects.
- justifying the cost of modifying a harvesting machine cab to improve visibility in terms of savings from increased harvesting rate and reduced equipment damage from accidents.
| - Recognizes when a sophisticated level of evaluation is required.
| - Recognizes when the evaluation requires a level of expertise in a specialty area at a level that exceeds one’s own.
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