Abstract:
This study aimed to identify and understand the ergonomic practices adopted in the industries in the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (RMC), according to their nature, management, and social actors involved. We applied questionnaires in order to find which industries conducted ergonomic practices and analyses. Following this, we selected four large sized industries that conducted ergonomic practices and analyses as defined by their main offices or individual branches, which were available for taking part in a case study. The main findings in this study demonstrated that many of the professionals in charge of ergonomics work in health and occupational safety engineering fields. Inspection and regulation compliance are relevant drivers in the conduction of ergonomic initiatives in industries. The study showed the acknowledgment of the contribution from ergonomists in the conception of work. The ergonomic improvements that were implemented are closely related to the physical aspects of work, often because these are easier to be identified by the actors involved. The actors involved consider that the ergonomic practices in the industries improve the affairs related to health, safety, productivity, and quality at the workplace. There are some difficulties in convincing managers to undertake ergonomic improvements, with the need of justifying the economic value in these initiatives. Ergonomics experts are understood to use different methods, tools, and strategies, which they can resort to in order to understand work, with the responsibility of carrying out ergonomic initiatives according to the specific characteristics of an organization, its activities, and its workers. Ergonomic practices allow understanding a certain activity, establishing a dialog between the actors involved in the various hierarchical levels, and contributing to changes and improvements that aim to preserve the health and safety of workers. These changes and improvements enrich the performance of organizations.
Keywords:
Ergonomics; Ergonomic analysis; Management; Industry