Human Factors and Ergonomics: How to Design Work for Humans | Sara Pazell

In every manmade job, place, and activity, design plays a pivotal role in shaping our experiences. Sadly, many designs miss the mark by neglecting the profound psychosocial impact they wield. This is where Dr. Sara Pazell steps in. As a dynamic design strategist, she empowers companies across industries to embrace human-centered work by integrating designs that ensure not only functionality but transformative success.

Dr. Pazell is the managing director and principal consultant at Viva Health at Work and podcaster of WhyWork. At Viva, Sara leads companies to find solutions for human factors and ergonomics design across industries like mining, transportation, healthcare, retail, finance, food and beverage, sport and fitness, and government organizations.

In this episode, Dart and Sara discuss:
- The job of a work design strategist
- Ergonomics and human factors in design
- Why companies should consider psychosocial factors in design
- The 7 principles of a human-centered organization
- How to generate excitement and engagement when designing work
- Improving design using failure modes analysis (in reverse)
- How to contextualize design for success
- The best and worst ways to generate new ideas
- And other topics…

Dr. Sara Pazell is a principal work design strategist, WhyWork podcaster, and managing director and principal consultant at Viva Health at Work. At Viva Health at Work, Sara leads companies in finding solutions for human factors and ergonomics design and work practices across industries like mining, transportation, healthcare, retail, finance, food and beverage, sport and fitness, and government organizations.

In the past, Dr. Pazell has served as a healthcare professional, an executive business manager for health and surgical care facilities, and a trainer for business, leadership, and health and fitness training companies. She has helped publish various case studies and articles around work design and received her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland, where she is an Industry Fellow.

Resources mentioned:
International Ergonomics Association: https://iea.cc/
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society: https://www.hfes.org/
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia: https://www.ergonomics.org.au/
Charted Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors: https://ergonomics.org.uk/
Jobs to Be Done, by Jim Kalbach: https://www.amazon.com/Jobs-Be-Done-Playbook-Organization/dp/1933820683
How Buildings Learn, by Stewart Brand: https://www.amazon.com/How-Buildings-Learn-Happens-Theyre/dp/0140139966

Connect with Sara:
Viva Health at Work: https://vivahealthgroup.com.au/
WhyWork Podcast: https://whywork.com.au 

Work with Dart:
Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.