ERGONOMIC Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialforschung Forschungsgesellschaft

The ERGONOMIC Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialforschung Forschungsgesellschaft was a Berlin-based research institute and professional-services provider specialising in ergonomics, occupational safety and human-centred design. According to its own website, it described itself as a point of contact for commissioned research and services across all ergonomic specialist fields since 1978. Its work combined scientific research with practical consulting for companies, standards bodies and professional associations. The institute's service portfolio covered hazard assessments (Gefährdungsbeurteilung), occupational health and safety in the workplace, procurement support, design and testing, software testing, development support, research projects, expert reports and opinions, training and instruction, congress organisation, and usability engineering. Its thematic focus areas included energy efficiency and lighting, speech recognition, the ecology of energy-saving lamps, products for screen work, standards for human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, noise from computers, light and health, lighting of screen workplaces, sick buildings, and office furniture concepts. ERGONOMIC also maintained an active publication programme, producing books and writings, congress proceedings, CD-ROMs and contributions to standard reference works. Its website listed national and international reference lists, indicating a client base that extended beyond Germany. It engaged with standardisation committees and professional associations, positioning itself at the intersection of ergonomics research, occupational health regulation and product design. On its homepage the institute announced that it would cease its commercial activities as of 31 December 2023. The statement noted that because the institute's activities were closely tied to its name, the name would be affected by the closure. This makes ERGONOMIC a defunct commercial entity as of the end of 2023, although its published research and reference materials remain part of the ergonomics literature.

The ERGONOMIC Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialforschung Forschungsgesellschaft was established in 1978 and operated from Berlin, Germany. According to its own website, it served as a point of contact for commissioned research and services across all ergonomic specialist fields since that year. The institute's name combined the concepts of ergonomics with labour and social research, reflecting a dual orientation toward workplace design and broader social-scientific questions. Over its decades of operation, ERGONOMIC built a portfolio that spanned research, consulting, testing and training. Its services included hazard assessments, occupational health and safety in the workplace, procurement support, design and testing, software testing, development support, research projects, expert reports, training and instruction, congress organisation, and usability engineering. This breadth positioned it as a bridge between academic ergonomics and practical application in industry and public institutions. The institute engaged with standardisation committees and professional associations, and maintained both national and international reference lists. Its thematic work addressed energy efficiency and lighting, speech recognition, the ecology of energy-saving lamps, products for screen work, standards for human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, noise from computers, light and health, lighting of screen workplaces, sick buildings, and office furniture concepts. It also published books, congress proceedings, CD-ROMs and contributions to standard reference works, and participated in international ergonomics and work-with-computing contexts such as WWDU/WWCS and the ILO Encyclopaedia. On its homepage, the institute announced that it would cease its commercial activities as of 31 December 2023. The statement explained that because the institute's activities were closely connected with its name, the name itself would be affected by the closure. This announcement marked the end of ERGONOMIC as an active commercial entity, though its publications and reference materials remain available in the ergonomics field.

• 2023

  The institute announces on its homepage that it will cease commercial activities as of 31 December 2023.

• 1978

  ERGONOMIC Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialforschung Forschungsgesellschaft is founded and begins offering commissioned research and services in ergonomics.

Applied ergonomics research institute and consultancy serving industry, standards bodies and professional associations, combining scientific research with practical workplace and product design services.

• Gefährdungsbeurteilung (hazard assessment)

  Assessment services for workplace hazards as part of occupational health and safety.

• Usability engineering

  Human-centred design and evaluation services for software and products.

• Software testing

  Testing services with an ergonomic and usability focus.

• Expert reports and opinions

  Gutachten/Expertisen on ergonomic and occupational safety matters.

• Training and instruction

  Training and Schulung services in ergonomics and occupational safety.

• Congress organisation

  Organisation of professional congresses and events.

1. 1ERGONOMIC Institut official websiteergonomic.de
2. 2Wikidata entry for ERGONOMIC Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialforschung Forschungsgesellschaftwikidata.org