Gender and Ergonomics: The Recognition of Women’s Occupational Diseases

Abstract

Scientific international papers have been selected to show the underrepresentation of women’s occupational diseases in many countries. Women musculoskeletal disorders are included although represent the first claims of working women not only in Europe. Lack of ergonomics in gender work concept is the cause of women occupational illnesses but more ergonomics should also play a role in ameliorating the gender gap recognition. Job title and summary description of work activities are not fair in representing women’s exposure. Dual task (or double actions) and multitasking are examples of poorly studied women’s work activities. Only some specific studies in the health care sector show multitasking work demand towards higher performance among nurses. The increase in fatigue towards occupational diseases, due also to this exposure, represent another ergonomics challenge. Ergonomic observation of women work can help to identify inequities in each step of the process to overcome gender bias, occupational health diseases included.

Keywords: gender, ergonomics, occupational diseases, dual task, multitasking, compensation claims

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1001344