Simulation is ubiquitous during design. However, due to its concern (the living, cultural and social work activity), ergonomics is confronted with ontological and epistemological questions, distinct from those of the engineers. From our perspective, designing entails coping with unpredicted future work, experiencing novelty due to design but also contradictions and debates about values between heterogeneous actors. Based on this view, the aim of this communication is to make a contribution for developing simulation as a resource for an ergonomics participatory design process.