Converting laundry work of women in underdeveloped countries from risk of musculoskeletal disorders to a sustainable intervention: A design with holistic approach

Abstract

More than half of the population in impoverished areas around the world, which lack sufficient energy and water, do not have washing machines. Due to a lack of resources and economic reasons, the mechanical task of modern washing machines requiring electrical energy can only be done through hand washing. Additionally, water fetching and laundry work are predominately assigned to women due to socio-cultural dynamics in disadvantaged areas. The repetitive motions involved in washing over extended periods of time, coupled with awkward body positions, often lead to musculoskeletal disorders in women. This study aims to improve women's work safety and living conditions through a product design for laundry washing. First, the ergonomic risk associated with women's body postures while washing clothes on the floor was evaluated to better understand the impact of the intervention and rapid upper extremity assessment (RULA) method was used for this purpose. Subsequently, the design process for a manual washing product, which operates without electricity, can handle bulk laundry and facilitates easier and more ergonomic work instead of directly scrubbing clothes, was initiated as a remedial intervention. Recognizing that laundry work is a multidimensional experience in women's lives beyond its ergonomic aspects, a holistic design methodology was adopted, incorporating various design approaches to create concepts that better integrate with the lives of woman users. Insights gained from these design approaches were then combined with the conceptual design method to generate design proposals. At the end of the study, the developed manual washing machine design performed improved RULA analysis scores and biomechanical loading outcomes compared to hand washing.