ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we present the Brazilian Standard called “NR-17 of Ergonomics,” which is a regulatory standard that all Brazilian companies are required to comply with to attend the Labor Law. An evolution of the Brazilian standard of ergonomics is presented. This chapter also presents three case studies of Ergonomic Analysis of Work performed in a textile industry to exemplify the application of the Brazilian standard. The Ergonomic Analyses of the task of transporting and moving trolleys/buggies with cones of textile yarn are shown at three different times—in 2013, 2016, and 2019—with different technologies: this demonstrates the evolution of the technology used in the transport process. In Case Study 1, the production model belonging to what we currently call Industry 2.0 (2nd generation industry—Manual Activities); Case Study 2 has characteristics of Industry 3.0 (3rd generation industry—Mechanized Activities); and Case Study 3 has characteristics of Industry 4.0 (4th Generation Industry—Automated and Robotized Activities). The Ergonomics Management system that the company implemented since 2012 is based on the Standard NR-17 for Ergonomics, and the objective of the system is to implement ergonomic improvements in workstations and production processes to satisfy and comply with Brazilian labor legislation.
