Overview
ISO 26800:2011 - Ergonomics: General approach, principles and concepts - defines a high-level, human-centred ergonomics framework for the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, tools, equipment, systems, organisations, services, facilities and environments. The standard lays out core ergonomics principles and concepts to ensure designs are compatible with people’s characteristics, abilities, limitations, needs and values throughout a product or system life cycle. Its guidance aims to improve safety, performance, effectiveness, efficiency, reliability, availability and maintainability while protecting and enhancing health, well-being and user satisfaction.
Key topics and requirements
- Human-centred principles: Design components should be fitted to intended users rather than forcing users to adapt to systems. Early and continued involvement of users and stakeholders is emphasised.
- Target population: Identification and description of the intended user group (physical, cognitive, cultural and contextual characteristics).
- System concept: Treats products and services as interacting elements (humans, machines, environments) within a defined context of use.
- Load–effects concept: Differentiates external load (demands imposed by a system) and internal load (human responses), and addresses fatigue and strain.
- Usability and accessibility: Defines usability (effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction) and accessibility (use by a population with wide range of capabilities), applying these criteria when evaluating designs.
- Criteria-based evaluation: Requires evaluation against ergonomics criteria to verify safety, performance and user well‑being.
- Ergonomics-oriented design process: Integrates ergonomics throughout the design life cycle, including requirements, evaluation and conformity checks.
- Terms and definitions: Standardises key vocabulary (user, worker, work system, fatigue, load, etc.) to support consistent application.
Practical applications
ISO 26800:2011 is used to:
- Guide ergonomic requirements during concept and detailed design of consumer products, industrial equipment, digital interfaces and services.
- Inform risk assessment, usability testing and accessibility reviews.
- Serve as a reference for procurement specifications and regulatory compliance that involve human factors.
- Support organizational design, work systems and process improvements to reduce injury risks and increase productivity.
Who should use this standard
- Designers, ergonomists and human factors specialists
- Project and product managers integrating ergonomics into development processes
- Managers, workers and user representatives involved in design decisions
- Procurers and standards developers seeking ergonomics references for procurement or normative documents
Related standards
- ISO 6385 - high-level standard for work systems and ergonomics of work design.
- ISO 9241-210 - human-centred design for interactive systems (complements usability guidance).
Keywords: ISO 26800:2011, ergonomics, human-centred design, usability, accessibility, ergonomics-oriented design process, human factors, ergonomics standards.
