uergonomiske

Uergonomiske is a term used especially in Danish and Norwegian to describe products, tools, or environments that do not conform to ergonomic principles. It refers to designs that fail to accommodate human anatomy, capabilities, and limitations, potentially causing discomfort, awkward postures, or excessive physical or cognitive strain.

Common characteristics of uergonomiske designs include inadequate seating support, limited adjustability, misaligned controls or handles, awkward reach distances, poorly labeled or unclear instructions, sharp edges, repetitive or forceful motions, and glare or poor visual access. Such features may lead to musculoskeletal problems, fatigue, reduced precision, and lower productivity.

Health and safety guidelines in many regions emphasize reducing non-ergonomic risk by promoting ergonomic design. In practice, distinguishing uergonomiske from ergonomic designs involves assessing fit to users through anthropometric data, task analysis, user testing, and risk assessment. Standards and best practices, such as user-centered design, adjustable interfaces, adequate lighting, and workflows that minimize repetitive strain, guide improvements.

To reduce uergonomiske conditions, designers and organizations employ ergonomic evaluation during development, involve end-users in testing, and apply iterative redesign. The term functions as a negative descriptor, highlighting the need for better alignment between human factors and product or work-system design.

Etymology: from the prefix u- meaning "not" and ergon from ergonomics, the study of human-system interaction.