Kazutaka Kogi

Low-cost work improvements that can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders

Abstract Types of low-cost improvements that could reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders were reviewed by examining simple improvements in materials handling and workstations undertaken within a Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) project in the Philippines. Serial WISE action-training courses in four regions of the Philippines yielded many improvements relying on local resources. Over 2000 improvements resulted from participatory activities in small groups, and many of them were found to relate to actual reduction of musculoskeletal loads. Typically, these improvements, mostly implemented at low cost during the course period of about 2 weeks, concerned the use of push carts or lifting devices, better worksite layout, worktables and chairs of appropriate height, fixing handtools, better lighting, job rotation and inserting breaks. The effects of such improvements on reducing workloads were investigated by case study measurements applying electromyography, heart rate recording and posture study methods. Reduced muscular activities were found after work changes associated with improved materials transport, avoiding deep bending postures, fixing handtools or better work organization. Productivity increase was also confirmed in some cases. There was thus a variety of work improvements undertaken by managers and workers of small enterprises through voluntary training steps, often with combined effects on reducing musculoskeletal loads and improving other aspects of working conditions. This flexibility in work re-design seemed necessary in promoting multiple changes linked with a reduced musculoskeletal risk. Such examples collected from WISE training courses proved useful for various training programmes and advisory inspections. These results demonstrated the importance of undertaking multiple work improvements on voluntary basis in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in a large number of small enterprises. Relevance to industry There is a perception in industry that improvements to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders are too costly. This paper demonstrates that a participatory approach can be successful in making work improvements with very little cost. Further, the work improvements reduced the risk of musculoskeletal disorder and increase productivity.

Job content and working time: the scope for joint change

The relationship between work and time is drawing renewed attention concomitant with the general trend towards reduced hours of work and an increased flexibility in working time arrangements. Traditionally, social customs and work demands have been the principal factors in determining a work schedule. Thus specific work schedules prevailed within certain industries or occupations. However, no clear goal for working time seems to exist. Recently, vociferous demands for flexibility in working hours have given rise to many new proposals. A review of innovative working patterns reveals schemes to extend operating hours beyond normal workdays, with flexible options for workers. These new patterns have a considerable impact on job content and work organization, viz., more independent tasks, better communication and group work, multi-skilled work, work breaks, and enhanced worker participation. On the other hand, concern is growing about safety and health issues involved in working time options, such as fatigue,...

Action-oriented support for occupational safety and health programs in some developing countries in Asia

Action-oriented support programs have been increasingly playing vital roles in promoting safety and health in developing countries in Asia. This paper studied achievements of 3 action-oriented support programs: the WISE program for small enterprises, the WIND program for farmers, and the POSITIVE program for workers and trade unions. Special attention was paid to how the programs have strengthened local efforts for sustainable actions in safety and health improvements. The results showed that there were significant achievements in action-oriented support programs in the region, including a large number of improvement examples, integration into government policies, and network support through employers’ and workers’ organizations. Participatory, action-oriented training tools such as action-checklists, local good example photos, and group work methods played key roles in the effective implementation of the programs. It was of note that there were a number of local efforts to extend the coverage of action-oriented support even to hard-to-reach workers such as home-based workers, rural workers, and ethnic minorities. The efforts included the equal participation in the training by female and male farmers, shortened and weekend training programs, photo sheets showing local good examples, and reasonable fee collection for better sustainability. In conclusion, action-oriented support programs provided local people with concrete means to promote safety and health improvements. The successful programs commonly focused on local initiatives and were built on local wisdom and resources.

Ergonomics and technology transfer into small and mediumsized enterprises

The role of ergonomic interventions is discussed in relation to technology transfer into small and medium-sized enterprises within an economy and from industrialized to industrially developing countries. In view of the flexibility and other advantages of these enterprises, there is a growing potential to develop ergonomics interventions adjusted to their technology transfer needs. Recent positive experiences in technology transfer situations in small and medium-sized enterprises have shown that successful ergonomics interventions have some common features. These features include building on local practice, looking at multiple needs together and focusing on practicable solutions. Advances are further seen in action-oriented procedures where participation is especially important and in a range of low-cost solutions. It is essential to develop an integrated change strategy emphasizing (1) enabling methods that can lead people to immediate action in multiple aspects of work, (2) participatory steps with activ...

Some social aspects of shift work in Asian developing countries

As shift work spreads to industries in developing countries in Asia, attempts have been made to adjust the shift systems so as to be compatible with the local situation. Reports froms these countries, though still limited in number, indicate that effects on health and repercussions of family and social life are often noticeable. Recent examples of changing rotation shift systems in some Asian developing countries are described and the associated health and social problems are reviewed. These examples show that while physical effects are apparent, psychosocial implications of shift schedules, including those related to family and social life, are regarded by shift workers as the most troublesome. Systems with relatively long day-off periods are often used but they seem to have unfavourable effects due to fatigue and daily life inconveniences during long or consecutive night shifts. The interferences with social and family life seem to play a role in adjusting the shift system in these countries.

EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION ON WORKING SCHEDULES

Recent increase in industrialization has resulted in attention being drawn to diversity of working schedules and their interrelation with content of work. The results of joint research revealed that adaptation to industrial jobs is made difficult because of urban conditions and modern work-control systems, such as workers in flexible-working-time systems who apparently favored regular daily working cycles. Long overtime work in smaller undertakings and the spread of shift systems are two important features of industrial work schedules, each being dominant among skilled and non-skilled jobs. Another important facet is the problem of intra-shift work-rest schedules significant for machine operations and vigilance tasks. It is suggested that phases of work that become intolerable are correlated with unnatural work rhythms. More emphasis should thus be laid on both phase-shifted work and non-self-governing work, the key factor being the relevance of attained data to real work in the whole course of schedules of work and rest.

Low-Cost Improvements for Reducing Multifaceted Work-Related Risksand Preventing Stress at Work

Types of low-cost improvements that can help reduce work-related risks and prevent stress at work are reviewed by examining simple improvements achieved by participatory action-oriented programs in different work settings. Programs reviewed include WISE (work improvement in small enterprises) projects in various industries, including POSITIVE (participation-oriented safety improvements by trade union initiative) activities by trade unions, and recent mental health interventions for work stress prevention. Participatory steps undertaken commonly comprise learning local good practices, group work on feasible improvement options and consensus building on immediate actions. These common steps are found effective for achieving multifaceted improvements at low cost in short periods. Typical low-cost improvements by work improvement programs cover materials handling, workstations, physical environment and work organization, whereas those by stress prevention programs additionally cover internal communication, restful schedules and social support measures. The planning and implementation of these improvements are usually facilitated by the use of action-oriented toolkits including good examples, action checklists listing practical low-cost improvements and group work sheets. Serial intervention studies confirm reductions in workplace risks, often with productivity increase, in both work improvement and stress prevention activities. Main contributing factors leading to these positive achievements are (a) simple procedures aimed at good practices in multifaceted risk management, (b) a clear focus on locally feasible improvements that have real impact on risk reduction, and (c) the use of locally adjusted action-oriented toolkits. These results demonstrate the importance of promoting participatory programs relying on multifaceted low-cost improvements in reducing the work-related risks and stress in varied work situations.

Practical approaches to the assessment of work-related risks

SummaryThe control of work-related risks calls for practical improvements in job content and the working environment. For assessment of risks, it is essential to resort to the most practical methods in the local context. Important common methods are examination of the process, equipment and organisation of work, walk-through surveys, evaluation of risk factors in the working environment, inquiries and questionnaires as well as monitoring of various health indicators. Biological tests and other health indicators can thus only be regarded as components of overall occupational health-risk assessment strategy, with their advantages, disadvantages and limitations. Important are the validity of biological tests and the ethical aspects related to their use, such as confidentiality of data and the individual workers informed consent, preference being given to noninvasive-methods. Occupational health services should thus play a positive role by providing practical advice, training and information for participatory risk assessment keeping in view such an overall strategy that facilitates immediate preventive action. Biological monitoring should be applied when the additional guidance it provides on preventive action is essential. Proposals to use biological monitoring must emphasise this justification aspect.

Promoting international collaboration throughthe International Commission on Occupational Health

As a leading international organization of occupational health professionals, the International Commission on Occupational Health, known by its acronym ICOH in English or CIST in French, is fully committed to promoting international collaboration in the field of occupational health. Founded in 1906, ICOH continues its longstanding work, with the main emphasis on fostering the scientific progress, knowledge and development of occupational health, as stated in its Constitution. This work is further strengthened by keeping close liaison with international allies and the scientific media, including this journal.

Evaluation of training effectiveness in participatory work improvement applying a good-practice approach in small-scale workplaces

The effectiveness of a participatory action-oriented training (PAOT) programme was evaluated to know adequate types of training tools. The programme applied PAOT methods developed for improving small-scale workplaces in industrially developing countries. By means of a newly designed questionnaire, the understanding of training participants in proposing ergonomic improvements for reducing work-related risks were compared before and after serially held training workshops. The results showed that the participants increased their capabilities to apply ergonomic improvements learned from local good practices addressing multiple technical areas. Factors contributing to the training effects included the focus on locally feasible improvements, the use of action-oriented training tools such as action checklists and improvement guides and group planning of immediate changes. The training effects thus relied on the consistent use of action tools focusing on locally feasible improvements. It is suggested to promote the use of participatory training tools that can facilitate the direct application of multifaceted, locally feasible improvements.