24-08-2012, 04:19 PM
The application of ergonomics in rural development: a review
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Abstract
The importance of ergonomics issues in rural development is highlighted in this paper. Some examples are given of the contribution
that ergonomics has already made to industrially developing countries, cases which are mainly concentrated in the industrial sector.
Key areas for future ergonomics research are identi"ed, focusing on the needs of communities living and working in the agricultural
sector where most of the population in the industrially developing world is located.
Introduction
In industrially developing countries (IDCs), the majority
of the population are engaged in farming activities,
some in small-scale enterprises and relatively few in factory
or industrial work. Much of the power required for
farming activities, such as ploughing, harvesting, weeding
and sowing, is derived from human energy, some from
animal power and little from engine power. Most of these
farming activities can cause fatigue and work-related
illnesses, which in turn reduce productive capacity. The
multi-disciplinary nature of ergonomics can play
a unique role in the protection of people's health and in
the prevention of work-related health hazards. Ergonomics
can do this by integrating concepts from the social
sciences with technological advances to enhance productive
capacity and improve people's health. This paper
illustrates the importance of ergonomics to rural development
and demonstrates how appropriate attention to
ergonomics has brought, and can still bring, bene"ts.
Ergonomics and rural development
Rural development has a number of de"nitions but it
generally refers to the process of change in rural societies
or communities. It has generally been held that rural
development is driven by three main elements, economic,
social and human, which interact together to bring about
change. It is proposed here that technological factors, to
improve the performance of rural production systems,
should also be considered a major contribution to the
process of development. All four elements need to be
considered seperately but, more importantly, also at
the interactive level in order to promote development.
The interaction between social and economic factors is
well documented * hence the science of socio-economics.
Ergonomics achievements in developing countries
Ergonomics and its applications attempt to harmonise
work and the working environment to raise productivity
and work e$ciency and promote individual well-being
through optimising the e!ort of the worker or user.
Much of the ergonomics research in developing countries,
to improve productivity, has been focused in the
industrial sector; little work of an ergonomics nature has
been done in small-scale or subsistence agriculture. It is
a neglected area, but and one that has considerable
potential for improving and sustaining the quality of life.
Some examples of the contribution that ergonomics has
made in developing countries, but mainly in the industrial
sector, are given below.
Future needs of ergonomics
Ergonomics has already made some contribution to
development in IDCs, but it has been unstructured and
patchy. Many studies reported in the literature relate to
ergonomics in the industrial sector of developing countries.
However, given that the majority of the population
in developing countries live and work in the agricultural
sector, more attention needs to be directed to agriculture.
Some areas for future research in developing country
agriculture are suggested below.
Concluding remarks
This paper has shown the relevance and application of
ergonomics to a number of important issues in rural
development. Furthermore, it has shown how a neglect of
the human-technical interactions might also inhibit development.
In order to achieve sustainable development,
ergonomics issues must be fully addressed alongside social
and economic issues. Ergonomics has already
achieved some successes in the industrial sectors in developing
countries, for example, through improved factory
environments, improved work organisation and
improved work e$ciency. The agricultural and forestry
sectors in Europe and North America have also bene-
"tted from ergonomics.