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Ergonomics Standards & Legislation

Getting to grips with national and international standards in Ergonomics and Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is not easy. Standards are developed by many different people representing a wide range of interests. Experts outside the standardisation process have strong and valuable views, but often fail to contribute because the process of standardisation is confusing and bureaucratic. The purpose of these articles is to help you understand what is going on and keep up to date.

More specific information on standards can be obtained from Tom Stewart , Managing Director of System Concepts' who chairs various national and international standards committees.

Where can I read ergonomics and usability standards on the web?

Standards bodies make money by selling standards, so you will not find the full text of any standard freely available on the web. Standards are also subject to copyright laws and so cannot be duplicated or photocopied. British Standards are available from the British Standards Institution (BSI) - just follow the link below:

BSI Information Communications Technology Standards

BSI Health and Safety Standards

You can also buy ergonomics standards on-line from ISO

The following articles give more detail about standards published by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) Sub-Committee 4 (SC4) who are responsible for standards on the Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction.

Published international standards on the Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction
This table lists the main standards published in recent years by ISO/TC159/SC4 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction including amendments and revisions. 

The revision of ISO 9241 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction - current status
Following the completion of the seventeen part International Standard ISO9241, Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction, work is underway on a major revision and restructuring to incorporate other relevant standards and make the ISO9241 series more usable. This article describes the new structure, the principles agreed for the revision process and gives the current status of the new parts (as at March 2008). 

Other standards on the Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction under development
This table lists the other main standards under development by ISO/TC159/SC4 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction.

International Standards Organisation
This link takes you to 'ISO Online' in a new window, for an introduction to international standards, the structure of ISO and a list of technical committees. And much more.


Special Report: Are Ergonomics user interface standards more trouble than they're worth?
This special report reviews the history, progress and results of one area of international standardisation: the ergonomics of human-system interaction.


Guide to Display Screen Equipment Regulations
This comprehensive and practical guide to the display screen regulations is written by Tom Stewart.