Human Factors Engineering: A Crucial Need for Bangladesh’s Development
Human Factors Engineering (HFE), also known as ergonomics, is essential for enhancing safety, efficiency, and well-being in various sectors. It examines how humans interact with systems, drawing from psychology, engineering, and design. In Bangladesh, where rapid industrialization and urban expansion are underway, the application of HFE is critical yet remains limited. This gap poses significant challenges for productivity, safety, and sustainable development across the nation.
Bangladesh’s economy heavily relies on labor-intensive sectors such as garments, textiles, construction, shipbreaking, transport, and agriculture. Millions of workers are employed in these industries, often facing long hours, repetitive tasks, and poorly designed workplaces. The lack of systematic HFE considerations has led to high rates of occupational injuries, work-related illnesses, and decreased efficiency. Poorly designed machinery and inadequate workstation layouts frequently result in errors, accidents, and musculoskeletal disorders. These issues highlight a mismatch between system design and human capabilities, rather than individual worker negligence.
The garment industry exemplifies the urgent need for HFE. As a backbone of Bangladesh’s export economy, it employs a predominantly female workforce in crowded factories. Despite improvements in safety following major industrial disasters, ergonomic risks persist. Prolonged sitting or standing, inadequate lighting, and poorly adjusted sewing machines contribute to physical strain and mental stress. HFE principles emphasize that productivity cannot be sustained when human well-being is compromised. However, many factories continue to prioritize efficiency through extended labor hours and output targets, neglecting ergonomic redesign.
Broader Implications of Human Factors Engineering
Beyond industrial applications, HFE is vital in transport and infrastructure. Bangladesh faces alarmingly high road traffic accident rates, often attributed to reckless driving. However, systemic issues such as poorly designed roads, confusing signage, and inadequate pedestrian facilities contribute significantly to these accidents. Public transport systems, particularly buses and ferries, often overlook human factors like fatigue and cognitive overload, leading to predictable human errors.
In public administration, the limited focus on HFE has negatively impacted service delivery and governance. Rapid digitalization efforts, including e-governance platforms, aim to enhance efficiency but often fall short due to poor usability and complex interfaces. Citizens with low digital literacy or disabilities struggle to navigate these systems, highlighting the need for user-centered design. HFE emphasizes that technological solutions must align with users’ cognitive and contextual realities to avoid excluding vulnerable groups and undermining public trust.
Several structural constraints hinder the integration of HFE in Bangladesh. Awareness among policymakers and industry leaders is low, with ergonomics often viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. Existing labor laws and safety regulations are rarely enforced to embed HFE principles. Additionally, academic and professional capacity in ergonomics is limited, resulting in a shortage of trained practitioners.
Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of integrating HFE are substantial. Ergonomically designed systems can reduce errors, downtime, and health-related absenteeism, leading to improved productivity and quality. Socially, HFE promotes safer workplaces and better health outcomes. In governance, human-centered design enhances accessibility and citizen satisfaction. Importantly, HFE aligns with sustainable development by fostering efficient, safe, and socially responsible systems.
Moving forward, Bangladesh must adopt a multi-level strategy to mainstream HFE. This includes integrating ergonomic standards into labor regulations, training managers and engineers, and expanding academic programs in ergonomics. International buyers and development partners can also play a role by encouraging compliance with HFE standards. Ultimately, embedding HFE in industrial, administrative, and technological systems is crucial for transforming human limitations into strengths, ensuring a more human-centered and sustainable development trajectory for Bangladesh.
