Human Factors & Ergonomics Consultancy

putting human-centered design at the heart of transportation

A strong track record in the successful delivery of Human Factors services across a wide variety of industries.

With over 50 years’ Human Factors & Ergonomics experience across our team.

At SYSTRA, we put people at the heart of design, ensuring that systems, products, and environments work seamlessly for those who use them.

With over 50 years’ experience, our Human Factors & Ergonomics team specialises in optimising human interaction with complex systems, enhancing safety, performance, and efficiency across multiple industries. We are an accredited registered consultancy with the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (CIEHF) which demonstrates the breadth of skills and experience that our team possesses.

With expertise in human-centred design, cognitive ergonomics, risk assessment, and usability evaluation, we help organisations create intuitive, effective, and compliant solutions. Whether improving workplace safety, streamlining operations, or enhancing users’ experiences, we bring a data-driven approach to solving real-world challenges. The team bring substantial consultancy expertise in human factors & ergonomics, they are well versed in systems engineering practice and bring experience from beyond the railway domain.

Partner with us to design safer, smarter, and more user-focussed solutions – where human needs drive innovation.

Contact OUR TEAM

Industries we are active in

Our Human Factors team leverages its expertise to enhance system design, safety, and user experience across the transport sector, including rail, aviation, and construction, tailoring solutions to meet the unique challenges and requirements of each sector.

Incorporating human factors… not only helps support the safe and efficient delivery of complex engineering projects; it also ensures each system is designed with the end user in mind, encompassing those involved in the construction, operations and maintenance when in use and the public. Offering these services to the UK and Ireland markets as part of SYSTRA Limited gives us the leading-edge in developing and delivering innovative and effective solutions for our clients and communities.

JORDAN SMITH – Human Factors Team Lead

Our Approach to Human Factors at SYSTRA

At SYSTRA, our Human Factors & Ergonomics team takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to optimising system performance, safety, and usability. We combine scientific principles, industry best practices, and real-world insights to ensure that technology, environments, and processes work in harmony with human capabilities and limitations. SYSTRA considers the human at the centre of the system with input provided from project conception through to decommissioning. The Human Factors & Ergonomics team are dedicated to applying established principles, methodologies and techniques to support the design development lifecycle to optimise human and system performance.

How We Work

User-Centred Design – We engage directly with end users to understand their needs, behaviours, and challenges, ensuring our solutions are intuitive and effective.

Data-Driven Decision Making – Using advanced research methods, simulations, and ergonomics analysis, we provide actionable insights to enhance performance and reduce risk.

Human Error & Risk Management – Through systematic assessments and proactive design strategies, we help organisations minimise human error and improve safety outcomes.

Collaborative Problem-Solving – We work closely with engineers, designers, and stakeholders to integrate human factors seamlessly into every stage of the design and development process.

From initial concept to implementation and evaluation, our team brings a practical, results-oriented approach to solving complex challenges.

Whether improving workplace safety, refining user interfaces, or ensuring regulatory compliance, we help clients create environments and systems that put people first.

Learn more about our approach

Case Studies

Our Experience across Human Factors Integration and User Experience

Highly experienced in Human Factors Integration and Assurance, User-Centred design and User Experience, Behaviour and Organisational change, our team provides specialist research and engineering services for a wide portfolio of clients in the UK and abroad such as Network Rail, HS1, HS2, RSSB, Heathrow Airport, Eurotunnel, Irish Rail and more.

From Human Factors Integration for major schemes, control room design, and workload / physical assessments of specific tasks, to customer experience and wayfinding strategies, the Human Factors team has supported greenfield and brownfield projects. The focus is always on end users, by considering the impact of change on their existing work conditions, and through the identification of their needs and requirements from new built environments.

We have conducted research looking at the impact of emerging technologies on human performance and safety, and we are experienced in translating findings into national guidelines (e.g. Driver route knowledge requirements under ETCS). Our in-house research and development work has also supported the strategic organisational plans of one of the major rail schemes in the UK (Transpennine Route Upgrade).

Ready to optimise your systems for human performance? Contact us today.