2. making A Difference: Ergonomics For Children In Developing Countries

Résumé: Children are not smaller versions of adults. Behaviour patterns specific to children pose them at greater risk of environmental hazards than adults. Ergonomics is the science of matching human interaction with the proximate environment. Conventionally ergonomic principles were applied on adult work places to ensure safety of the working environment. With emerging scientific evidence, child environments are being a focus to apply ergonomic principles. The school environment has a strong impact on children's health since they spend much of the daytime within schools during critical developmental stages of their life. Distinct behaviour patterns of children pose them at greater risk of environmental hazards than adults. Traditional ergonomics focused mainly on adult environments especially in factories, office environments and other work places. Children spend a considerable amount of time during the day in a school environment. One of the crucial parameters of the environment is the ergonomics which plays an important role in influencing the health of school children. Therefore, the school, the “work place” of children is no exception to the introduction of ergonomics.

Publié dans la revue: الوقاية والأرغنوميا