Challenges of ergonomics in South Africa

摘要

South African organizations and the public have to realize that ergonomics is not another marketing tool but a value adding activity. There is real need for organizations to accept a participative culture that already exists in the country. Ergonomics will not solve all the problems at work, but will establish intervention programmes to implement and support any technological or system changes. Ergonomics related problems will be identified and amicably solved on a win-win basis.Ergonomics solutions must not be seen only in engineering terms. Improvements and solutions can be achieved through total quality management and work organisation. More traditional routes of workplace design and worker training would also provide the required solutions. Ergonomics considerations and requirements can be found across all functions of any organisation.