Variety of physical characteristics in industrially developing countries— ergonomic consequences

Abstract In many industrially developing countries, data concerning the physical characteristics of populations have been collected for various technical and scientific purposes and published in a very scattered way. Results obtained in 39 countries and described in 103 publications have been selected. Data evaluation is not so much concerning with the ethnic differences which are normally stressed than with the influence of biological, social, economic and geographic factors such as sex, age, health, condition, socio-occupational background, altitude or climate. The ergonomic consequences of this study affect the dimensional characteristics of the production locations or the industrial product. Some products such as cars may suit the purchaser population all over the world. On the other hand, industrial and especially agricultural machines and tools should be linked to users' characteristics. Further ergonomic considerations are related to the occasionally excessive physical strength limits of many populations in industrially developing countries. Efforts to be made, loads to lift and distances to cover over bad ground have moderate or dangerous effects according to the physical capacities of the persons in question. Highlighted as such, the actual workers' capacities have a significant effect on production and economic development. The preservation and increase of these capacities may be obtained in accordance with specific ways and means.

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