The results of questionnaire and interview surveys conducted in Mitaka and Musashino cities are presented for investigating of residents' evaluation of their urban environment, particularly regarding its attractiveness. A special attention was paid to residents' evaluation with regard to anxiety associated with traffic accidents and urban crimes. The urban infrastructure and residents' responses were examined using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Attractiveness associated with the urban environment was classified into two categories: "attractiveness in daily life" and "attractiveness in non-daily life." The residents valued opportunities for relaxing and living in comfort. In non-daily life, the residents specifically valued improved living conditions and harmony between the natural environment and commercial facilities. They attributed crime anxiety to trees, narrow streets, obstructed views, dark areas and a gloomy atmosphere. Residents regarded violent crimes as being prevalent, but considered trespassing and property crimes infrequent. The residents' anxiety about traffic accidents was caused by reckless driving habits, narrow streets, lack of separation between roadway and pedestrians' ways, heavy traffic, and obstructed views. Residents cited main roads and intersections as locations of anxiety, which con-curred with frequent accidents.

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Based on the authors' genealogical-demographic data of a Bedouin-origin clan in south Jordan which settled down in 1948, this paper aimed to report the long-lasting effects of increase in fertility induced by sedentarization on the labor force proportion, defined as percent of persons aged 15-64 years. The results highlighted that this proportion had an inverse relation with the total fertility rate and tended to fluctuate up to the present time with an interval of several decades, suggesting that a Bedouin-origin sedentarized group met alternately with the phase of high fertility and low proportion of labor force and the other phase of an opposite pattern. At present, unemployment of males, who have been engaged in subsistence and cash-earning work, was high especially in younger groups basically due to the narrow land of the clan (only 35 hectares for 456 people in 2005) for agri-culture and the limited opportunities for cash-earning jobs. Taking into consideration that Bedouin-origin people sedentarized according to the government policy, it is needed for the government to support rural development plans of sedentarized Bedouin peoples.

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Globalization brings along complexity, competition and change as anticipated by working in teams, quality enhancement of human resources and a change of mind-set to be more holistic in approaches. Enhancement of expertise, widening of the horizon, developing added values as well as preparedness to carry out management of the future have to be built and developed. Conditioning and customizing programs through formal and informal education and training should also be carried out in bridging existing gaps, filling needs and solving key problems. New proper and appropriate curricula must be developed together with encouraging the change of mind-set. It is essential to attain the highest capabilities to work in a team and to think and act holistically, as well as to enhance human relations capabilities in communicating the research results. By so doing, the gaps between research and implementation and between theory and practice need to be bridged; the felt real needs of the target groups could thus be filled; and the root causes of the problems faced in any activity could be solved in a sustainable manner. In implementation, a SHIP (Systemic, Holistic, Interdisciplinary and Participatory) approach must be conducted for identifying, analyzing and solving the problems so as to attain sustainable results. In defining the technology being used, it must be comprehensively assessed through six criteria so that it can be technically, economically, ergonomically and socio-culturally sound, save energy and preserve the environment. Through this total approach, work organization and work systems and their products are expected to be more humane (healthier, safer, comfortable, efficient), competitive and sustainable, as prerequisites for survival and continual development.

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The International Ergonomics Association plays a leadership role in shaping the future of ergonomics. Having formed nearly 50 years ago for researchers to meet and exchange their findings, it still provides a wide range of opportunities for promoting research and teaching. In 2006, the TEA is also an outward looking organisation with linkages to governments, international agencies and other professional associations. We have many opportunities to extend our engagement with industry and the community through the TEA communication strategy and Technical Committees. Whilst the TEA now has 20 Technical Committees that demonstrate the diversity of ergonomics research there is a growing trend towards integration of specialist areas. The emergence of a holistic approach to research and application of ergonomics is making a new direction for the ergonomics profession. Apart from the role of a technical specialist, the Ergonomist is also a team member with a range of other stakeholders. To be effective in practice, the Ergonomist needs to be a good communicator and "agent of change" who can mentor others to develop simple cost effective interventions. Research is fundamental to the science of ergonomics. Evaluation of interventions remains a major component of future ergonomics research. Sustainable positive outcomes based on a holistic approach will result in a broad uptake of ergonomics findings. In industry future challenges relating to psychological health in developed countries and the informal sector in developing countries are emerging as new areas for research and application of ergonomics.

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Recent experiences in the action-oriented use of ergonomic checkpoints in different work settings are reviewed. The purpose is to know what features are useful for healthy work design adjusted to each local situation. Based on the review results, common features of ergonomic checkpoints used in participatory training programs for improving workplace conditions in small enterprises, construction sites, home work and agriculture in industrial-ly developing countries in Asia are discussed. These checkpoints generally compile practi-cal improvement options in a broad range of technical areas, such as materials handling, workstation design, physical environment and work organization. Usually, "action check-lists" comprising the tiles of the checkpoints are used together. A clear focus is placed on readily applicable low-cost options. Three common features of these various checkpoints appear to be important. First, the checkpoints represent typical good practices in multiple areas. Second, each how-to section of these checkpoints presents simple improvements reflecting basic ergonomic principles. Examples of these principles include easy reach, fewer and faster transport, elbow-level work, coded displays, isolated or screened hazards and shared teamwork. Third, the illustrated checkpoints accompanied by corresponding checklists are used as group work tools in short-term training courses. Many practical improvements achieved are displayed in websites for inter-country work improvement networks. It is suggested to promote the use of locally adjusted checkpoints in various forms of participatory action-oriented training in small-scale workplaces and in agriculture partic-ularly in industrially developing countries.

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Personal computers are one of the commonest office tools in Malaysia today. Their usage, even for three hours per day, leads to a health risk of developing Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS), Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), low back pain, tension headaches and psychosocial stress. The study was conducted to investigate how a multiethnic society in Malaysia is coping with these problems that are increasing at a phenomenal rate in the west. This study investigated computer usage, awareness of ergonomic modifications of computer furniture and peripherals, symptoms of CVS and risk of developing OOS. A cross-sectional questionnaire study of 136 computer users was conducted on a sample population of university students and office staff. A 'Modified Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for office work' technique was used for evaluation of OOS. The prevalence of CVS was surveyed incorporating a 10-point scoring system for each of its various symptoms. It was found that many were using standard keyboard and mouse without any ergonomic modifications. Around 50% of those with some low back pain did not have an adjustable backrest. Many users had higher RULA scores of the wrist and neck suggesting increased risk of developing OOS, which needed further intervention. Many (64%) were using refractive corrections and still had high scores of CVS commonly including eye fatigue, headache and burning sensation. The increase of CVS scores (suggesting more subjective symptoms) correlated with increase in computer usage spells. It was concluded that further onsite studies are needed, to follow up this survey to decrease the risks of developing CVS and OOS amongst young computer users.

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Development process brings the positive as well as negative impacts. Among others, the negative impacts include the extinction of some medicinal plants. The research issue is what strategy can be used for preserving the medicinal plants while little attention is given to them. A research action was thus started for preserving and conserving these plants. Methods used were participatory observation, field surveys, and demonstration-plots. The action consisted of: an awareness program, a preparation phase and the establishment of a park of medicinal plants. In doing that, the Systemic, Holistic, Interdisciplinary and Participatory (SHIP) approach was applied. Up to now, the results found are: 1) the aware-ness program was conducted several times; 2) two pieces of lands were provided from the provincial government of Bali and from the local community; 3) the field surveys identi-fied about 200 kinds of medicinal plants in the house yards, government offices, hotels and median strips of roads; 4) in the traditional medicine texts (lontar), more then 500 kinds of medicinal plants were found to be cited; 5) the medicinal plants were classified into wooden trees, shrubs, grasses, watery plants, epiphytes and parasitic plants. It is concluded that preserving and conserving the medicinal plants in Bali is urgent and that there is a willingness to do that with the active support of the stakeholders. It is encouraging that good examples have already been established in Ubud, Tampaksiring and Karangasem. Therefore, it is recommended to establish a medicinal plants park in Bali since it will have multiplier effects.

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Workers' conditions in accordance with their place of work are different from one area to another, especially in this reformation era where there are immense alterations in politics shown from the centralized government shifting to decentralization and district autonomy. Ergonomics problems in Indonesia are reviewed. In home industries, workers have to adjust themselves to their jobs, and ergonomic improvement may face significant impediments especially in small-scale industries. It is necessary to create or identify the most plausible model to be implemented in accordance with the conditions of districts, including low awareness about the relation between ergonomics and workers' productivity in producing goods and services and working processes scattered often at their own houses. As conditions conducive to ergonomics programs, district-level willingness to improve and increase the wealth of their society, recognition by businesses about the impacts of ergonomics on productivity and reduction of medical treatment costs may be mentioned. Labor unions support ergonomic improvements at production processes, and professionals and academicians are ready to assist, whereas national banks and foreign investment may encourage new technologies including ergonomics aspects. It is important to strengthen ergonomic improvement efforts in Indonesia through establishing district ergonomics improvement networks and ergonomics peer leaders with the support of continual training starting from the training of core leaders at the province level and extending to peer leaders at district level. This training should be made as simple as possible in order to facilitate innovations toward changes. Finally assistance is needed by the mentor teams in order to periodically monitor the improvements undertaken.

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A methodology is developed in diagnosing the effect of job organizational factors on job satisfaction in two automotive industries in Malaysia. One hundred and seventy male subjects of age 18-40 years with the mean age of 26.8 and standard deviation (SD) of 5.3 years and the mean work experience of 6.5 years and SD of 4.9 years took part in the study. Five job organizational factors were tested in the study including job rotation, work method, training, problem solving and goal setting. A job organization questionnaire was designed and was based on respondents' perception in relation to job satisfaction. The results showed that job organization factors were significantly related to job satisfaction. Job rota-tion, work method, training and goal setting showed strong correlation with job satisfaction while problem solving had intermediate correlation in the first automotive industry. On the other hand, most job organization factors showed intermediate correlation with job satisfaction in the second automotive industry except the training factor which had low correlation with job satisfaction. These results highlight that job rotation, work methods, problem solving and goal setting are outstanding factors in the study of job satisfaction for automotive industries.

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Currently, in many hospitals in Indonesia, the Occupation Safety and Health Committee in the Hospital (OSH-CH) is evenly distributed. It is based on the instruction of the Health Department of the Republic of Indonesia that obliges each hospital to establish the committee the main function of which is to prepare necessary equipment for risk management essential in the hospital. OSH-CH must also be responsible for upgrading the accreditation process of the hospital as to work units on occupational safety, fire control and disaster preparedness. However, in fact, OSH-CH has insignificant power as many people, especially the manager of the hospital, may expect. OSH-CH tends to be stagnant and irresponsive. In other words, it tends to be non-professional. The reasons are: (1) the staff of OSH-CH work as part-timers, (2) they have minimum understanding about OSH, (3) they do not have incentive and enough budget, (4) it is only to show that the hospital "obeys" the orders of the authorities, (5) managerial support within the hospital is minimal, and (6) there are no significant cases of work-related accidents and illnesses. These explain the reasons why OSH-CH has no significant power and the progress of its program is so slow. For some large hospitals this often leads to inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the organization, and in some cases it may even tend to create difficulties in conducting risk control. Based on these reasons, it is recommended to establish an autonomous OSH work unit that operates on the basis of structural and formal organizational operations. The paper aims to discuss the proposed concept of the autonomous OSH work unit established in hospitals, particularly for large hospitals. It is urgent to develop long-term capacities of the unit to sustain its reliability.

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The issue of corporate social responsibility is nowadays becoming popular around industrial communities. The support for the issue has initially spread since the adoption in 1998 of the ILO Declaration concerning fundamental principles and rights at work and then followed up by industries in developed countries. A case study was done from February to August 2006 at a handicraft company in Bali in order to find out the core application of the issue at the enterprise level. The study was conducted by observation in the field of the factory and suppliers, taking photos and interviewing management and employees of the company. The results of the study show that the company has already executed the activities that reflect the application of the core principles. The activities included programs which concerned not only the business corporate community but also wider communities. With regard to the business corporate community, the company had improved the conditions related to ergonomics and occupational health and safety. The improvement was done by referring to the external audit. At the national community level, the company had participated in the recovery measures of national disasters by helping small industries revive. It is hoped that this core program is soon copied by other companies considering that it is very beneficial to the communities and companies.

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Ergonomics as a scientific method was familiar in industrial regimes. Its trajectories have rapidly grown up to multiple dimensions in which the socio-technical aspects are inherent. Since ergonomics has promoted a new perspective in view of the relationships among the man-machine-systems, it has brought the remarkable progress compared with mono-spec-trum in a mechanistic perspective. In the case of Indonesia, the functioning of ergonomics is urgent as the national productivity level is still less optimal. Since Indonesia has no established policies in societal life quality empowerment, it is important to overcome the insecurity on social welfare for securing sustainability. Since the ergonomics philosophy has promoted a humanity perspective in the country, it is necessary to use it as a means of enhancing productivity in order to achieve societal prosperity. Nevertheless, shaping the social prosperity by counting on ergonomics is insufficient, the development of policies and strategic plans should be addressed by identifying existing mapping of the roles of stakeholders in multiple perspectives. This paper is focused on describing ergonomics-based foresight and its prospectus for shaping the social and welfare security in Indonesia by analyzing its roles in social development.

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There are so many definitions for ergonomics terms such as human factors, human factors engineering, human engineering, human factors psychology, engineering psychology, applied ergonomics, occupational ergonomics, industrial ergonomics and industrial engineering. The most inclusive terms are ergonomics and human factors. Both represent the study of work and the interaction between people and their work environmental systems. The main objective is especially fitting with the need to design, develop, implement and evaluate human-machine and environment systems that are productive, comfortable, safe and satisfying to use. The work of the ergonomists in Indonesia - most of them are acade-micians - have one thing in common, i.e. with the appropriate type of ergonomic approaches to interventions; there would be improvements in productivity, quality of working conditions, occupational safety and health (OSH), costs reduction, better environment, and increase in profits. So many researches, training, seminars and socialization about ergonomics and OSH have been done concerning micro-to-macro themes; but it seems that we are practically still running at the same place up to now. In facts, workers are still work-ing using their traditional or obsolete methods in poor working conditions. Accidents are still happening inside and outside industry with the main root-cause being human "unsafe behavior" and errors. Industrial products cannot compete in the global market, and so many manufacturing industries collapsed or relocated to foreign countries. This paper discusses such a roadmap and review what we ergonomists in Indonesia have done and where we are going to? This review will be treated in the field of ergonomics and OSH to take care the future Indonesia challenges. Some of the challenges faced are care for the workers, care for the people, care for the quality and productivity of work, care for the new advanced technologies, care for the environment, and last but not least care for the nation.

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