Background The importance of human factors/ergonomics (HFE) is well established in all high-reliability systems but only applied in the healthcare sector relatively recently. Across many sectors, low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) lag behind more economically developed countries in their application of this safety science, due to resource and, in some cases, awareness and expertise. Most previous applications of HFE related to occupational ergonomics rather than healthcare safety. Methods The paper details how the reputation of HFE is being developed within healthcare communities of Latin America (LatAm), through increasing awareness and understanding of its role as safety science in the healthcare sector. It starts by articulating the need for HFE and then provides examples from Mexico, Colombia and Peru. Results The practical examples for research and education illustrate a developing awareness of the relevance of HFE to the healthcare sectors in LatAm and an appreciation of its worth to improve health service quality and patient safety through healthcare community engagement. A new LatAm Network of HFE in Healthcare Systems (RELAESA) was formed in 2019, which has provided a platform for HFE advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion There is a real opportunity in LatAm and other LMIC health services to make more rapid and sustainable progress in healthcare-embedded HFE than has been experienced within healthcare services of more developed nations.

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Desde hace varios años se ha reconocido que, para aumentar el impacto de la Ergonomía en las organizaciones, es necesario tener un enfoque sistémico. Objetivo: presentar los resultados del diagnóstico macroergonómico realizado en cinco organizaciones colombianas con el Modelo de madurez de Ergonomía (MME), una herramienta que permite evaluar la capacidad de una organización para introducir, aplicar y desarrollar la Ergonomía. Materiales y métodos: en el modelo se evalúa un conjunto de "factores influyentes", que conducen a un análisis sistémico de la organización, para clasificarla en uno de cinco posibles niveles de madurez. Resultados: las organizaciones evaluadas se ubicaron en el menor nivel de madurez del MME: "desconocimiento".

The incidence and prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is currently one of the most important challenges facing the mining sector. This paper proposes a procedure to prevent these diseases, based on the active participation of workers. The procedure was structured in four stages: hazard identification, risk assessment, proposal of improvements, and implementation and follow-up. To support the application of the procedure, a set of ergonomic methods and tools appropriate for mining work were proposed. The main results of the application of the procedure in an underground mine in Peru are shown, demonstrating its practical value, as well as its usefulness in the improvement of working conditions and in the creation of a preventive culture. The proposed procedure is expected to serve as a reference in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in mining works.

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