Participatory Ergonomics Intervention in an Industrially Developing Country—A Case Study

Abstract

In industrially developing countries, a few ergonomists have directed great efforts towards developing ergonomics awareness among managers and workers in organizations. There is little research on the degree of their success, though. Furthermore, access of organizations to ergonomics knowledge is usually very difficult, especially in industrially developing countries. Thus, building ergonomics awareness is certainly the first phase of the process. Three companies from one industry (44 people: 14 females and 30 males) participated in a project aimed at improving their work system. At the beginning, we needed to create a common goal and ensure participation with appropriate ergonomics tools. The findings of this study were the key issue for the ergonomics intervention (i.e., a shared vision, awakened need of change and learning). Further, to build ergonomics awareness and develop a continuous learning process in the company, it was necessary to use more ergonomics tools through workers' participation in different workplaces.

Ergonomics Intervention to Reduce Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Lead Mine

“…In this respect, some studies at the international level and in particular in developing countries have been conducted, which applied the simultaneous use of these methods for improving the ergonomics of working environments. For example, in a study that Helali and associates conducted in one of Iranian industries, using concurrent engineering and management control such as holding multiple ergonomics training courses for workers, supervisors and managers, improving lighting and ventilation of the working environment, appropriate design of workstations, using the appropriate tools and chairs and reducing the load weight, they were able to improve the ergonomic situation in the studied factory (10).…”

“…Due to the researchers' efforts, ergonomics interventions in the Iranian industries gradually expanded. Among these interventions, Choobineh and Helali studies in various industries can be cited (4,9,10).…”

Implementing 'Awakened Need of Change' for Applying Ergonomics to Work System with Macroergonomics Approach in an Industrially Developing Country and its Meta-Reflection

“…This method has also been used in IDCs as an ergonomics tool in studies carried out by, Helali and Shahnavaz (1998); Sanda (2006); and Helali (2008; and also see Sanda et al, (2011) the using it further of here as a tool in problem-indentification workshop [7,8,41,44,64,65].…”

“…This has been shown in the results of ergonomics intervention work at Glucosan factories from 1995 to 1997 [40][41][42] and also three subsidiary companies in Iranian industries [43,44].…”

Identificación de malestares músculo-esqueletales en una planta de manufactura en Los Olivos, Lima-Perú

“…Durante la década del noventa y a inicios del nuevo siglo, surgieron muchos estudios en los que se implementó y evaluó el impacto de realizar intervenciones para mejorar diversas condiciones de trabajo, no solo en el sector manufactura sino también en el área de servicios (Helali et al, 2008;Moore y Garg, 1996;Moore y Garg, 1998;Rosecrance y Cook, 2000;Vink et al, 1997).…”