Macro-Ergonomics Intervention in a Medium Sized Company in Iran: Teheran Urban Suburban Railway Operation Company (Metro)

摘要

Ergonomics literature provides ample evident of many successful ergonomics interventions and their positive impacts for both employees and employers. However, two-thirds of the world's population in industrially developing Countries (IDC) has little or no access to the vast knowledge base that makes ergonomics such an important tool for work environment and productivity improvement. The intervention process model is based on three fundamentals, that is; Management Support, Knowledge Support and Employees ¨Participation. The process started with employee's training, team working and feedback system which is developed with the help and as the results of the three fundamentals. For the successful continuation of the process, it is also necessary to have a functional progress assessment system, recognition & reward system as well as a communication net-work system. Thirty three of the company's top and middle mangers took part in a three day workshop. The workshop was aimed to collectively formulate company vision and develop the related goals for reaching the defined vision. Management capacity of the organization was directed towards a collective effort for this purpose. In a participatory process using ‘Future Workshop' technique, participants analysed various problems that were experienced. Problem catalogues were developed for each goal and the problems were ranked in order of importance. ‘Logical Frame Work Approach (LFA)' was used to analyze problems. Feasible and applicable solutions were developed for achieving the desired goals. Proposed solution were later verified at two ‘Special Groups' and finally approved by the ‘Coordinating Group' for application. After two years of project progress and doing several interview and questionnaire studies the results show that most problems were analysed and solutions were developed and approved for implementation. The company is continuing successfully with the intervention process.