It supports research and practice of the human factors discipline and its applications across a range of sectors including healthcare, defence, energy, construction, nuclear, and the workplace.
2024 saw CIEHF celebrate its 75th anniversary, being first founded as the Ergonomics Research Society in London in 1949. Now the Institute has a growing membership across numerous countries and works to raise awareness of the benefits and impact of human factors, as well as supporting professionals to build rewarding careers.
CIEHF is the leading membership organisation for human factors professionals across the UK. It provides advice, knowledge, and support to members, offering a community of like-minded people engaged in human factors. Explore its membership below and head to their website to find out more.
75 years of the CIEHF, 1949 – 2024
1940
Ergonomics first emerges as a discipline in the military sector in order to ensure people could operate technologies correctly. Growing research occurs exploring interactions between people, equipment, and their environments.
1949
Distinguished physiologists and psychologists meet in London to form the Ergonomics Research Society (ERS). It becomes the first professional body for ergonomists in the world.
1957
The International Ergonomics Society is formed with ERS as one of the founding members. The Ergonomics journal is first published.
1960
Loughborough sets up the first university ergonomics department. The first undergraduate course begins two years later.
1969
The first issue of ERS News is published to members, and the journal Applied Ergonomics is launched. A conference on ‘The City in the Year 2000’ is held with predictions of a six to seven-hour working day and a four or five-day working week.
1970
The ERS celebrates its 21st birthday and membership fees rise from £4 to £5. The Applied Ergonomics journal goes on sale for £2.50, described by ERS News as “rather expensive for all but those most favourable inclined to its subject matter.”
1972
ERS membership exceeds 600 and the annual Conference Dinner is a medieval feast held at Caldicott Castle in Cardiff.
1977
The ERS becomes the Ergonomics Society (ES) in recognition of the increasing focus on the professional application and practice of ergonomics. ERS News changes its name to The Ergonomist.
1978
The Ergonomist magazine celebrates 100 issues. The National Coal Board advertises for an ‘ergonomics or human factors specialist,’ offering a salary of £3,400 to £7,395.
1982
The ES forms an office of President.
1985
The Ergonomics Society becomes a registered charity and a company. Council members become trustees.
1986
The six-page 200th issue of The Ergonomist magazine is published. At the University of Nottingham, an ergonomics lecturers can earn from £8,020 to £15,700.
1991
The ES reaches 1000 members and the first office for the society is opened in Loughborough.
1995
The 300th edition of The Ergonomist magazine is published, now up to eight pages.
1996
The Ergonomics Society’s first website is launched.
1999
ES celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a human factors exhibition at the London Science Museum.
2003
Membership of the Society reaches 1350 members, and The Ergonomist magazine publishes its 400th issue.
2008
The Ergonomics Society creates the position of Chief Executive.
2009
The ES is renamed to the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors. This reflects the popular usage of both terms and emphasises the breadth of the discipline. The 60th anniversary is celebrated with an exhibition at London’s Design Museum.
2012
Human Factors training becomes mandatory for all RAF personnel. The Ergonomist magazine publishes its 500th issue.
2014
A Royal Charter is granted to the Institute, and so becomes the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF). Eligible members receive chartered status for their specialism.
2017
A professional competency checklist is trialled for individual member applications and is later introduced for all accreditation types.
2020
Human factors experts respond rapidly to the Covid-19 pandemic by collaborating on a series of guides published by CIEHF. Topics include the design and operation of ventilators, working from home, and creating safe workplaces.
2024
CIEHF celebrates its 75th anniversary with an exhibition, Think Human, at Derby’s Museum of Making.
