Application of ergonomic interventions in the informal sectors of India

Abstract

A large proportion of the labor force in India (90%) is directly employed in the informal sector, which is notably higher than in othercountries. Most employees work on a contract or temporary basis. Labor laws are generally not applicable to informal sectors.Among them, there is a lack of awareness of occupational safety and health, which includes less attention to industrial hygiene, poorhousekeeping, and poor employee protection. In 2001, the problem of integrating the informal economy with the formal economy waswidely discussed at the International Labor Conference. We need to include one more issue: work comfort applications in the informalsectors. Many of these workers suffer from various types of work-related disorders. It is noted that through the use of low-cost measures, their conditions can be improved. Several interventions have been developed and applied across various informal sectors in India through an ergonomics-involved approach. A detailed study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of these interventions. It is necessary and important to apply precise interventions and find out the behavioral approaches of users to the use of interventions. As the informal sector grows steadily in various developing countries, ensuring the comfort of workers is becoming a challenge in these parts of the world. Surprisingly, low-cost health interventions can increase the productivity of the informal sector by up to 30%. Workrelated musculoskeletal disease (WMSD) is also prevented. Proper implementation of ergonomic interventions can ultimately improve the occupational health of informal workers as well as the nation's economy.