Title: Comparison of disassembly effort and ergonomic hazards in dismantling electronic appliances by formal and informal recycling sectors in developing countries

Authors: S. Harivardhini; Amaresh Chakrabarti

Addresses: IDeaS Lab, CPDM, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India ' IDeaS Lab, CPDM, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Abstract: The objectives of the research reported in this paper are to: 1) study the roles of formal and informal recycling sectors in developing countries in dismantling electronic appliances that have reached their end of life (EoL); 2) identify and evaluate the factors contributing to occupation hazards associated with dismantling of three computer electronics products: CRT monitor, CPU and PCB; 3) compare these factors (disassembly effort and ergonomic hazards) among the two sectors (formal or informal) in order to identify, which sector has high occupational hazards; 4) compare these factors among each other in order to find, if there is any correlation between them. The methodology adopted includes: data collection by interviewing dismantlers, video recording of dismantling processes, and identifying various dismantling processes involved in e-waste recycling in developing countries from literature and data analyses in order to assess and compare disassembly effort and ergonomic hazards.

Keywords: appliance dismantling; disassembly effort; ergonomic hazards; EoL products; end of life; electronic appliances; formal recycling sector; informal recycling sector; developing countries; CRT monitors; CPU; PCBs; printed circuit boards; occupational hazards; electronic waste; e-waste recycling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2015.070569

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2015 Vol.8 No.2, pp.111 - 131

Received: 02 Jun 2014
Accepted: 31 Dec 2014
Published online: 10 Jul 2015 *

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