Houshang Shahnavaz - Center for Ergonomics of Developing Countries (CEDC)
Emeritus - Center for Ergonomics of Developing Countries (CEDC)

Technology and technological development has contributed enormously to economic growth, social progress as well as reduction of many sources of accidents, injuries, diseases and stresses and offered new and more effective preventive and treatments methods. With the technology many new opportunities have been offered for better life style, improved quality of life and increased productivity of the production and service systems. However, technology is a double blade sword with both good and bad sides. Improper use of technology as well inappropriate technology transfer definitely creates opposite effects and could develop many new problems, such as diseases, accident and injuries leading to decreased quality of life and unproductive systems. In the industrially developing countries (IDC), unfortunately, the bad side effects of technology is more pronounced than it good side. IDC have tried to achieve economic growth and development by importing technology, both hard and soft wears, which is designed for the industrialized world (IC). Due to many differences in technical, environmental, cultural and socio-economical spheres between the technology supplier and the user, this policy of blind technology transfer has not been always successful. As a result, most IDCs are paying an unacceptable high price in terms of human suffering, sickness, high rate of accident and injuries, social tensions as well as very low rate of productivity and product quality which leads to low rate of return for capital investment. In the industrialized world with rapid technological development the sphere of social and occupational health, general and occupational safety has expanded considerably in all sections of the society. Through scientific examination of work and working environment, occupational hazards, physical and mental stresses, industrial diseases and work-related accidents are surveyed in greater detail. Preventive programs, standards, regulations and enforcement of standards concerning ergonomics, occupational hygiene, safety and hazard control have become an important part of work environment activities and management responsibilities, especially when planning and designing production plants and products. The joint effort of employers, employee organization, and government organizations as well as the establishment of joint industrial safety councils has contributed a great deal to employees’ health, well-being and improved quality of working life. Proper use of the economic growth achieved by industrialization has been widely responsible for social progress and better quality of life. It is true to say that the wealth in the industrialized world is mainly of applied technological origin and is primarily the product of applied science and technological knowledge. In these countries with the gradual industrialization, appropriate social structure for dealing with consequent problem of industrialization has been established and the safety culture has been rooted more strongly in the societies.