Description:
The IEA Technical Committee on Informal Work was established in 2023 to support the development of HFE knowledge and capacity in the informal work sector, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), while also acknowledging that the informal work sector is present and growing in certain high income countries.
Objectives:
Our specific objectives are to:
- To support the development of research tools, methods and interventions adapted to address occupational health risks and MSDs in the informal sector,
- To foster research collaboration between countries across the economic spectrum to help raise awareness and address issues related to informal work,
- To promote and facilitate exchange of HFE practitioners, students, and researchers between countries across the economic spectrum, and
- Share research knowledge and experiences about HFE in the informal work sector through webinars, publications, and symposia at national and international conferences.
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TC Chair: Prof. Clive D’Souza, PhD, MS.
Affiliation University of Pittsburgh Country: USA Email: [email protected] |
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Vice Chair Asia: Prof. Mohammad Muzammil
Affiliation: Aligarh Muslim University Country: India Email: [email protected] |
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Vice Chair Africa: Dr. Augustine A. Acquah
Affiliation: University of Ghana Country: Ghana Email: [email protected] |
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Vice Chair Latin America: Dr. Arlen Garagay
Affiliation: ASOCAFISAL- Asociación Chilena de Actividad Física y Salud Laboral County: Chile Email: [email protected] |
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Vice Chair Europe: Dr. Maggie Graf
Affiliation: Immediate past IEA Vice President/Secretary General County: Switzerland Email: [email protected] |
Recent Activities:
Monthly Zoom meetings (third Fridays every month) to exchange knowledge and experiences; plan events, webinars, and publications; foster international and interdisciplinary research collaborations.
Anyone interested is welcome to join including but not limited to individuals with research, policy and/or experience in the informal work sector. Please contact the TC Chair or one of the Co-Chairs to express your interest and/or for our monthly Zoom meeting link.
Screenshot from one of our monthly Zoom meetings, often multi-lingual with members collaboratively assisting with language translation.
Examples of prior conference symposia and sessions organized by our TC:
- 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:
About one webinar every 1-2 months, including in other languages (e.g., Spanish, Portuguese) with English subtitles or live translation.
Recordings of prior webinars can be accessed on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWSizg6-Bdu7oCpOAO4x9a9iQRwnJHVA6&feature=shared
Examples of prior webinar topics include:
- Ergonomics and Human Factors in the Informal Work Sector, July 2024
- Informal Work in Latin America: Status, Perspectives and Challenges in HFE, October 2024
- Ergonomic Design, Development, and Research in the Informal Sector in Latin America, December 2024 (featured in the image below)
If interested in a webinar opportunity, please contact the TC Chair or your regional Vice Chair.
Screenshot from our December 2024 webinar on “Ergonomic Design, Development, and Research in the Informal Sector in Latin America” featuring Prof. Gabriela Villafañez (Argentina) and Prof. Francine Falcao (Brazil).
TC contact person: Clive D’Souza at [email protected]
Reports
Semi-annual report January-June 2024