Work 43 (2012) 399–401 399 DOI 10.3233/WOR-2012-1475 IOS Press Guest Editorial Humanizing Work and Work Environment: A challenge for developing countries During the period from 1750 to 1850, numerous changes occurred in different industrial sectors in Eu- rope, starting from manufacturing to transportation, for the betterment of productivity and human wellbeing. This period is designated as the period of industrial rev- olution. In this period, the concept of interventions re- volved around the ways in which only productivity can be enhanced. Therefore application of interventions was not destined to reduce the sufferings of workers. In those days, less importance was given on human health and safety. Towards the end of 19 th century, the wave of indus- trial revolution touched India. A large number of indus- tries were developed by colonial British government with imported machineries from Europe and without humanizing the work and work environment. Workers’ awareness of health and safety was not there. In fact, demand for good working environment was absent in various parts of the globe. This age may be depicted as the Dark Age for industrial workers. Unfortunately, this age is persisting till now in different developing countries. Application of interventions in developing countries totally depends on the sustainability of these interven- tions in developing societies. Sometimes, we misun- derstand this truth and try to compare with developed countries. I am still remembering the first day of my ergonomics class and the very first lecture of my teacher Prof. Ra- bindra Nath Sen. He was describing the application of ergonomics in developing countries. In those times we were very much enthusiastic to learn about the en- hancement of productivity in unorganized sectors by the application of modern technological interventions. With a shallow knowledge about unorganized sectors, that day, it was very easy for us to think and give solu- tions on productivity related problems. I remembered that we vehemently opposed the concept of our teacher that low cost improvement through low cost interven- tions in unorganized sector was the best solution for productivity improvement. We were utterly wrong that day. It is very easy to think about the development of humanizing work and work environment in devel- oped countries but the economic differences make it very hard to think in developing countries where human health and safety is less important to think about. We can define a developing country as the country that does not allow its citizens to “enjoy a free and healthy life in a safe environment”. This is indeed a hard reality. In developing countries, man moves mountains, literally to speak, as he performs stupen- dous load handling either overhead or involving oth- er body parts. Moreover the severity of load carriage is hastened manifold as the work environment is in- variably hazardous, where the workers are exposed for more than ten hours a day on a regular basis. Our world is segregated into a group of countries with modern industries, stable political and economic situ- ations, high levels of awareness about human health, and another segment of countries with immense adver- sities like abject poverty, political turmoil and econom- ic instability. But gradually, this situation is changing and workers are now demanding for healthy and safe working environment even in the less developed coun- tries. There is another demand from other side, the demand for better productivity or more productivity. This demand, in turn, ushers an even stressful condition in industrially developing countries. This is because although enhancement in productivity is given prime importance but it is not accompanied by improvements or modifications in work pattern and environment. Demand for health and safety is a common and genuine demand both from developing and developed countries. A significant difference is observed between 1051-9815/12/$27.50  2012 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved