The Informal Work Technical Committee commenced in 2023.
Aims
To support the development of HFE in the informal sector, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs), while acknowledging that the informal sector is also growing in higher income countries.
Particularly:
- Support the development of tools adapted to address MSDs in the informal sector
- Foster research collaboration between countries across the economic spectrum
- Promote and facilitate exchange of HFE student researchers between countries across the economic spectrum
- Share research knowledge and experiences about ergonomics in the informal sector by organizing workshops and sessions at national and international conferences.
TC Chair: (Professor) Clive D’Souza
Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh
Country: USA
Email: crd85@pitt.edu
Co-Chair Asia: (Professor) Muhammad MUZAMMIL
Affiliation: Aligarh Muslim University
Country: India
Email: m.muzammil.me@amu.ac.in
Co-Chair Africa: Dr Augustine ACQUAH
Affiliation: University of Ghana
Country: Ghana
Email: aaacquah@st.ug.edu.gh
Co-Chair Latin America: Dr. Arlen Garagay
Affiliation: ASOCAFISAL- Asociación Chilena de Actividad Física y Salud Laboral
County: Chile
Email: a.garagay@gmail.com
Co-Chair Europe: TBD
Activities
Monthly Zoom meetings to exchange knowledge and experiences; plan workshops and webinars; foster international and interdisciplinary research collaborations.
Anyone interested is welcome to join including but not limited to individuals with research, policy and/or work experience in the informal sector. Please contact the TC Chair or one of the Co-Chairs to express your interest and/or for our monthly Zoom meeting link.
Upcoming and prior conference symposia and sessions organized by our TC include at:
- IEA Congress 2024, Special Session on “Physical Ergonomics and Psychosocial Hazards of Informal Work”
- ICOH 2024, Special Session on “Electronic Waste and Informal Work in LMICs”
- HFES 2023, Panel on “Environmental Sustainability, Electronics, and Ergonomics: A Tale of Two Continents”
- PREMUS 2023, Panel on “Global Perspectives on the Ergonomics of Informal Work”
Webinars:
- Ergonomics and Human Factors in the Informal Work Sector, July 18, 2024: https://youtu.be/g8HYzaGRT0U?si=5xmSRI_1dvI5CVq4
People with experience in this sector are most welcome to join but other interested people are also welcome. Please contact the Chair or one of the co-chairs to express your interest.