Ergonomics in Sri Lanka : a means to productivity development

• Sri Lanka has declared 1996 as the 'Year of Productivity'. With a significant share of her national income being diverted for defence and security, productivity development becomes supreme for Sri Lanka's economic survival. Ergonomics or human factors which is a science well known for improving working conditions, is hardly known in Sri Lanka. Ergonomics applications enhance job satisfaction and productivity and maximise the product or systems quality by improving usability. A recent survey of three randomly selected large industrial work establishments in Sri Lanka revealed that much mismatch exists between workers and the machinery they are forced to work with, which hampers productivity and causes friction in the work places. A series of lectures conducted by an ergonomist among different professional groups and university students helped to create considerable awareness of the science of ergonomics. The participants were convinced that ergonomics can contribute immensely to productivity development in the country. Some strategies for ergonomics education in Sri Lanka which can also be adopted in other similar industrially developing countries are proposed.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Industrial Work Environment

Industriell produktionsmiljö

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)