Faramarz Helali

Using Ergonomics Checkpoints to Support a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention in an Industrially Developing Country (IDC)—A Case Study

To achieve ergonomics awareness in 3 subsidiary companies, an intervention team was formed. The aims of this study were to implement basic ergonomics through a participatory ergonomics intervention process that can support a continuous learning process and lead to an improvement in health and safety as well as in the work systems in the organization. The findings of this study (i.e., method, continuous learning and integration) were key to making the participatory ergonomics intervention successful. Furthermore, 4 issues of the ergonomics checkpoints (i.e., work schedules, work tasks, healthy work organization and learning) for assessing the work system were found suitable for both changing work schedules and for improving the work system. This paper describes the result of this project and also the experiences gained and the conclusions reached from using the International Labour Office’s ergonomics checkpoints in the industries of industrially developing countries.

Participatory ergonomics intervention in an industrially developing country--a case study.

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.

Macroergonomics in industrially developing countries : case study Iran

A case study on macroergonomics in industrially developing countries (IDC) is presented. The experiences from industrialized countries (IC) show that consideration of macroergonomics is a significa ...

Implementing "Job Enrichment" with using Ergonomic Checkpoints in an 'Appreciative Way' at a Manufacturing Company in an Industrially Developing Country and its Meta-reflection

The aim of this study was to create ergonomics and human factors awareness and wakefulness in a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company with emphasis on understanding the importance of improving safety, health, and work condition. The study sought to develop and implement one kind of “Job enrichment” with the purpose of improving employees’ competence and also to motivate participation at the workplaces in an ‘appreciative way’. The survey approach was used. Data was collected from 60 selected individuals from different organizational levels using the participatory ergonomics process that entailed the use of an actionchecklist and ergonomic checkpoints, as well as the review of organizational documents. Eighty seven percent of these study participants were male while the remaining 13% were female. The participants had an average age of 38 years with the standard deviation of 9.74. They had 11.81 years of service in average with the standard deviation of 9.76. In the data collection procedure, technical sessions, based on action learning, which lasted for 30, 25 h, or 1657 man h, was also held for the participants. In the data collection, the participants were made to study the action-checklist before and after completing the ergonomic checkpoints. This resulted in a 0.3 percent improvement in the technical capabilities of the participants and improved their social skills and their interest in participation in the company during this study. Based on the analysis of participants’ feedbacks on the implementation of different work evaluation approaches and their reflection from learning, key findings were made through intentional learning, based on a systemic pre-intervention ergonomics work process on how the participants could be empowered in technical and social skills.