ON THE WAY TO WORLD-WIDE ERGONOMICS A METHODICAL APPROACH TO INTRODUCE ERGONOMICS TO IDC’S A TYPICAL EXAMPLE FROM SRI LANKA

With the comprehension of its wide implications, ergonomics has become an effective discipline and a productive field of practice and study since last two dccndcs with an evwgowing demand. Yet [here scans to be a challenge to all concerned at the dawn of the new millennium; to spread ergonomics world-wide and to fill the unlilled gap in knowlcdgc and in practice in di(Iel-enl parts of the world. Among the diversified need populations, third world countries have been idcntificd as potential targets. They require critical attention, supportive sources and necessary help guidance to spread the knowledge and equally to up-lift working conditions. This paper brings the issues pertinent to the methodical approach to introduce ergonomics to Sri Lanka, where ergonomics was hardly known even by the early 90’s. This attempt in fact, became a continuous process since 1988, and until to date many intervention programmes had been planned and carried out, where several institutions involved and played cffcctivc and supportive roles to make programmes successful. The paper discusses the intervention programmes in brief, which wcrc initialed on lhe experl-base aiming Co invoduce ergonomics to the educational system and the industrial sector in Sri Lanka. The anticipated souccs of constraints and the efforts to iutcgratc into local IransacLional processes sue surfaced. The future plans and intentions are briefly discussed in the later part of the pap