[Ergonomics in the context of mining]

After a short historical account of ergonomics, the speaker exposes its objectives: amelioration of working conditions, elimination of tasks that are beyond the worker's abilities, search for working norms and conditions according to men's needs and aspirations. He then enlarges on the ergonomical methods: measure and quantification of tasks, reckoning of the working situation in its whole, multi-disciplinary approach and thus necessity to set up teams, participation of the workers concerned. He stresses that the iron and steel industry and the mining industry have taken a leading part in ergonomics and that this part has been amplified by the support of the departments of the European Communities.