Low-Cost Ways of Improving Working Conditions: 100 Examples from Asia (ILO, 1989, 190 p.): CHAPTER I: WORK ORGANISATION AND WORKSTATION DESIGN: (introduction...)

Low-Cost Ways of Improving Working Conditions: 100 Examples from Asia (ILO, 1989, 190 p.)

(introduction...)

INTRODUCTION

(introduction...)

Selection of examples

Types of improvements

The potential for action

Contributions of case studies

CHAPTER I: WORK ORGANISATION AND WORKSTATION DESIGN

(introduction...)

1. Workstations

2. Materials handling

3. Housekeeping, storage and access to work locations

4. Job content and work schedules

CHAPTER II: THE PHYSICAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT

(introduction...)

1. Lighting

2. Heat and noise

3. Handling, use and storage of hazardous substances

4. Guards and other safety devices

5. Safe working procedures

CHAPTER III: WELFARE FACILITIES FOR WORKERS

(introduction...)

1. Sanitary facilities

2. Facilities for beverages and meals

3. Recreation, child care, and transport facilities

(introduction...)

It seems obvious that work should be organised in ways which make the best use of workers skills and abilities, and that unnecessary difficulties should be avoided. In practice, however, many jobs are much more difficult than they need to be.

Improvements in work organisation and workstation design are particularly closely related to productivity. Thus the improvements in this chapter are not only low in cost, they may actually pay for themselves very quickly in terms of increased production and better quality. There are three reasons for this connection with productivity:

- improvements in work organisation and workstation design can directly improve productivity, for example by eliminating or combining tasks, by permitting more rapid task execution, by shortening handling distances and by reducing the likelihood of errors;
- such improvements also reduce the fatigue of the workers and permit more rapid recovery, which indirectly contributes to productivity;
- many of these improvements also affect the motivation of workers and thereby the likelihood of production increases and higher quality.

In addition, it should be kept in mind that these improvements reduce the likelihood of accidents and of the costs and damage associated with them.

This chapter gives examples of improvements in workstation design, materials handling, housekeeping and storage, job content and work schedules. They show that it is often easy and inexpensive to make jobs easier, less stressful, more motivating and more efficient.