Mapping ergonomics application to improve SMEs working condition in industrially developing countries: a critical review

Hermawati, Setia; Lawson, Glyn; Sutarto, Auditya Purwandini

Abstract

In industrially developing countries (IDC), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for the highest proprotion of employment. Unfortunately, the working conditions in SMEs are often very poor and expose employees to a potentially wide range of health and safety risks. This paper presents a comprehensive review of 161 articles related to ergonomics application in SMEs, using Indonesia as a case study. The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent of ergonomics application and identify areas that can be improved to promote effective ergonomics for SMEs in IDC. The most urgent issue found is the need for adopting participatory approach in contrast to the commonly implemented top-down approach. Some good practices in ergonomics application were also revealed from the review, e.g. a multidisciplinary approach, unsophisticated and low-cost solutions, and recognising the importance of productivity. The review also found that more work is still required to achieve appropriate cross-cultural adaptation of ergonomics application.
Practitioner Summary: Despite continuous efforts in addressing ergonomics issues in SMEs of IDC, workers are still exposed to poor work conditions. We reviewed factual-based evidence of current ergonomics application to inform future strategies of ergonomics in IDC, using Indonesia as a case study.

Citation

Hermawati, S., Lawson, G., & Sutarto, A. P. (2014). Mapping ergonomics application to improve SMEs working condition in industrially developing countries: a critical review. Ergonomics, 57(12), https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2014.953213

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 4, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2014
• Publication Date: Dec 10, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jul 11, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 11, 2016
• Journal: Ergonomics
• Print ISSN: 0014-0139
• Electronic ISSN: 1366-5847
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2014.953213
• Keywords: Industrial ergonomics, health and safety, small and medium enterprises, industrially developing countries, intervention effectiveness
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/741243
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2014.953213
• Additional Information: The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in Ergonomics 2014 ; http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00140139.2014.953213
• Contract Date: Jul 11, 2016