How a human factors engineer / ergonomist can use AI, task by task

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.

Project: [building, landscape]
Partners: [architects, estimators]

Draft coordination points and questions. Keep it under 150 words with a clear ask, plus a 2-sentence version for chat.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.

Context: The work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Issue: [traffic, workplace hazards]
Audience: [describe]

Explain recommendations. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to 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.

Context: The work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Issue: [traffic, workplace hazards]
Audience: [describe]

Explain recommendations. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to train users in task techniques or ergonomic principles.

Context: We use Microsoft PowerPoint; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Procedure: [describe]
Trainees: [describe]

Plan training with demonstration, practice and sign-off criteria. Include timings, a realistic practice scenario from my work, and a short check for understanding with answers.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Workplace or task: [describe]
Concern: [injury, exposure, hazard]

List hazards to check, questions for workers, measurements, standards, and corrective actions. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Product or process: [describe]
Users and goals: [who uses it and why]

Plan a usability or usefulness test and criteria. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel and Debugging software; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Question: [what to test]
Resources: [equipment, samples, time]

Draft a protocol with design, controls, measurements and analysis. Lay it out as a table with steps, owner, timing and what could go wrong, then list the decisions I still need to make.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to estimate time or resource requirements for ergonomic or human factors research or development projects.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel and Python; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Project: [equipment, research]
Tasks: [list]

Build a timeline with durations, dependencies and buffer. Lay it out as a table with steps, owner, timing and what could go wrong, then list the decisions I still need to make.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word.
Operation: [survey, photography]
Requirements: [accuracy]

Draft criteria and specs. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to 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.

Context: We use Python and C++; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Process: [describe]
Data: [results]

Write a recommendation with evidence. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to analyze complex systems to determine potential for further development, production, interoperability, compatibility, or usefulness in a particular area, such as aviation.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to 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.

Context: We use Simulation software and Statistical software; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Design or system: [describe]
Inputs and physics: [loads, flows, behaviours]

Propose a model, its assumptions and equations, and starter code or spreadsheet formulas, then a way to validate it.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to 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.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel and Statistical software; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Question: [what to test]
Resources: [equipment, samples, time]

Draft a protocol with design, controls, measurements and analysis. Lay it out as a table with steps, owner, timing and what could go wrong, then list the decisions I still need to make.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to investigate theoretical or conceptual issues, such as the human design considerations of lunar landers or habitats.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Task or product: [describe]
Concern: [strain, error, exposure]

Suggest observation methods, measurements, standards and literature. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

I work as a human factors engineer / ergonomist. Part of my job is to 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.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and SAS; the work draws on psychology, design and engineering and technology.
Design or system: [describe]
Inputs and physics: [loads, flows, behaviours]

Propose a model, its assumptions and equations, and starter code or spreadsheet formulas, then a way to validate it.