ABSTRACT
Initially ergonomics focused almost exclusively on the “man-machine” interface and while some may have put the emphasis on the design of tools and machines, others were more concerned with human factors. Irrespective of where the focus was, some argued that this critical interaction between the two main components of any work station was a closed loop, with any ergonomic intervention being at a micro-level. Fortunately, there is now a general consensus that any work site is influenced by many other factors, not least among them the physical and social environments within which work is done (see Figure 1). Acknowledging the importance of taking a panoramic view in any ergonomic assessment, the concept of macro-ergonomics developed. The query that arises is: What are the complimentary roles of micro-and macro-ergonomics in industrially developing countries (IDCs)? This question is important because microergonomic needs may, on superficial analysis, seem to be all that is required in the IDC context
Most IDCs are characterized by poor to appalling working conditions with a predominance of semi-skilled, semiliterate manual laborers. While human resources have been identified as a key component in developing industries, in many labor-intensive situations workers are often pushed beyond their physical capabilities, being required, for instance, to maneuver objects often in excess of 60-80 kg, or to stack 3.5 kg bricks at a rate of 20-25 lifts per minute in hot, unpleasant, working environments. Cognizance must also be taken of the fact that many workers are under-nourished, live in very menial dwellings, and have to travel (most often walking) long distances to and from work. Another characteristic of IDCs is the high rate of unemployment: potential workers, desperate for a job, are likely to put up with suboptimal conditions without complaining — victims of the system which creates a self-perpetuating negative spiral.
