Ergonomic practices in a group of industries in the Metropolitan Region of Campinas: nature, management, and actors involved

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.

摘要：本研究旨在识别并梳理坎皮纳斯都会区（Metropolitan Region of Campinas, RMC）各工业领域所采用的人机工程学（ergonomics）实践，并基于其属性特征、管理模式及相关参与主体展开系统性分析。本研究通过发放问卷筛选出开展人机工程学实践与分析工作的工业企业，随后选取4家符合总部或分支机构界定标准、且愿意参与案例研究的大型工业企业作为研究对象。本研究主要发现显示：多数负责人机工程学工作的从业人员均来自健康与职业安全工程领域；合规检查与监管要求是工业领域推进人机工程学相关工作的重要驱动因素；业界已认可人机工程学家对工作设计的贡献；已落地的人机工程学改进措施多与工作的物理环境要素密切相关，这往往是因为相关主体更易识别此类要素；参与研究的各方主体认为，工业领域的人机工程学实践可优化工作场所内与健康、安全、生产效率及产品质量相关的各类事务。不过在说服管理层开展人机工程学改进工作方面仍存在一定困难，相关举措需充分论证其经济价值。人机工程学专家需借助多元方法、工具与策略开展工作分析，并需根据组织、业务活动及从业人员的具体特征落实人机工程学相关举措。人机工程学实践有助于明晰具体工作活动，搭建不同层级参与主体间的沟通桥梁，并推动旨在保护从业人员健康与安全的变革与优化工作，此类变革与优化可有效提升组织的运营绩效。