National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 16710‑2:2025.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee PH/9, Applied ergonomics.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2025.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) (as EN 16710‑2:2016) and was adopted without modification other than those given below. It was assigned to Technical Committee ISO/TC 159, Ergonomics, Subcommittee SC 1, General ergonomics principles, and adopted under the “fast-track procedure”.

Source documents for 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 have been updated to ISO 6385:2016.

A list of all parts in the ISO 16710 series can be found on the ISO website.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

The ergonomic design approach involves considering human capabilities, skills, limitations and needs. It is developed on the basis of a decision process, which calls upon not only scientific and technical knowledge data provided by existing standards but also expression of the “know-how” capitalised by the intended user population. Know-how and other knowledge data provided by standards can only become meaningful when based on preliminary analysis of real-work.

Ergonomics design focuses on the actual activity of operators. The methodology described in this document therefore increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the machinery or system being designed; improves human working conditions; and reduces adverse effects on health, safety and performance.

This methodology can lead to one or more suitable solutions embracing situations to be confronted by future users. Applying this will raise productivity, improve work quality, reduce technical support, maintenance and training needs, and will enhance user/operator satisfaction.

Application of this methodology will be most effective when management is closely involved (adoption, communication, etc.).

Extensive ergonomics knowledge exists in relation to organizing and establishing an efficient design process. Applying this knowledge, this present document structures a user-based approach and proposes corresponding requirements for project managers. This approach complements existing design methods and requires reference to ergonomists.

This process concerns both established, as described by ISO 12100, and emergent risks and their association with the independent evolution of any system, user variability and conditions of equipment usage.

In this respect, the methodology for work analysis presented in this document is based on the resultant design being at least partly determined by anticipated future developments, especially those indicated by the client.

This is a shared procedure, in which the client provides specifications detailing the knowledge helpful to a design suited to the needs and expectations of users. Examples of the contribution of an ergonomics design approach to preparing specifications are included in informative Annex A.

Design based on an ergonomics process is necessary to meet any “performance obligation” (i.e. obligation of result).

This document complements knowledge generated by work activity analysis to enhance the quality of references and other solutions validated within a participative framework. This is indeed the case when a compromise solution cannot be found in relation to a specific point because the underlying knowledge cannot be validated. This document facilitates orientation towards a shared final decision.

1 Scope

This document describes a procedure for analysing human activity in relation to specifying and refining the human component in the design or redesign of machinery and work systems.

NOTE 1 The ergonomics methodology described in this document could also be applied to the design or redesign of products and non-work systems.

This document is intended to assist project leaders in implementing human and physical resources, methods and schedules as well as in preparing the documents necessary to meeting related requirements.

The ergonomics methodology described can be applied to all different stages in design projects from the earliest concept to the final “prototype” or “mock-up”, whatever the industrial field or sector.

The objective of this standard is to achieve a solution that takes into account as many situations as possible which all users - including operators, maintenance staff and installers, may encounter. This will ultimately allow improved usability of the machinery and more robust technical solutions, combined with significantly greater system resilience, user autonomy and accessibility.

NOTE 2 Examples of the application of the methodology described in this document are provided in Annex A.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 General requirements in specifying the human components

4.1 User experience and resultant activity

4.2 Limitations of the scientific and technical knowledge provided by existing ergonomics standards

5 Fundamentals

5.1 Participatory approach

5.2 Work analysis

6 Elements of methodology

6.1 Analysis of overall work situation components

6.2 The “activity-focused work system”

6.3 Principles of work activity analysis

6.4 Knowledge validation process

7 The work activity in the design process

8 Recording the process and reporting the outcomes

8.1 Traceability

8.2 Assessment outcome and validation

8.3 Assessment report

9 Coherence with other standards

Bibliography

BS ISO 16710-2:2025

Ergonomics methods - A methodology for work analysis to support design

Current

Published:

31 Oct 2025