Ergonomics SA : Journal of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa - Volume 21, Issue 2, December 2009

Another year has come and gone and we are well settled into the year 2010. What an exciting year this is going to be for South Africa as we open ourselves up to the world during the Soccer World Cup in June and July of this year.

Stress, strain and fatigue are words that have a variety of meanings and are used in different ways. For present purposes, they are used in relation to an exposure-outcome model that regards stress as the total demand or load acting on the person. The two most common outcomes resulting from exposure to excess stress are strain and fatigue, which in the present paper are seen as states of the whole person, rather than localised responses. Table 1 contrasts stress, strain and fatigue, seen as global ergonomic issues that act at the level of the whole person, with individual exposures that have local health outcomes. In the following discussion, 'stress' 'strain' and 'fatigue' are discussed at the macro-ergonomic or job / organisation level, rather than the micro-ergonomic or task / workspace level.

The garment manufacturing process involves tasks such as fabric laying, pattern making, cutting, stitching, checking, ironing and packing. A preliminary ergonomics evaluation of the checking section indicated that the workers in this section experienced postural discomfort. A work-station was designed considering factors such as type and nature of activity, time spent on the activity and productivity. The new work-station was a height adjustable table, with an adjustable tilting surface. This table was evaluated and the results indicated a reduction in the postural stress.

Relative to other industries in South Africa and construction industries worldwide, the construction process generates a disproportionate number of fatalities, injuries. Further, the industry is associated with disease, the direct and indirect cost of which contributes to the cumulative cost of construction. Designers influence construction ergonomics directly and indirectly. The direct influence is as a result of design, details and method of fixing, and depending upon the type of procurement system, supervisory and administrative interventions. The indirect influence is as a result of the type of procurement system used, pre-qualification, project time, partnering and the facilitating of pre-planning. The purpose of the paper was to present the results of studies conducted among architectural practices and architectural technologists in South Africa to determine their perceptions and practices relative to construction ergonomics. The following constitute the salient findings: Cost, quality, and time are more important to architectural practices and architectural technologists than construction ergonomics and project health and safety (H&S). Ergonomics during the use phase is more important to architectural practices and architectural technologists than the other phases. A range of design related aspects impact on construction ergonomics. Construction ergonomics is considered / referred to more by architectural practices than architectural technologists relative to most design, procurement and construction occasions and relative to most design related aspects. Experience predominates in terms of the means by which ergonomics knowledge was acquired. A range of aspects have the potential to contribute to an improvement in knowledge and the application of construction ergonomics. The paper concludes that architects and architectural technologists contribute to construction ergonomics, but there is potential for, and a clear need for, enhanced contributions. Recommendations include the inclusion of construction ergonomics in architectural and architectural technologist tertiary education and continuing professional development (CPD).