Safety and Ergonomics Indexes Applied to Sustainable Supply Chain Evaluation: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Globally, Safety and Ergonomics are aspects that contribute to organization sustainability. Several indicators and metrics (I&M) are used to manage and evaluate such aspects; however, their study is scattered throughout the literature and applied heterogeneously to different levels and parts of the production processes. The objective of this chapter is to conduct a systematic literature review of the most frequently used, I&M, as well as their purpose for Supply Chain (SC) evaluation in its transformation into a sustainable activity and digitalization age. The method followed the PRISMA Guidelines to determine those Safety and Ergonomics I&M most widely used in the SC; they were classified by the economic sector, the quantity, and the supply chain components most evaluated by them. A total of 367 different indicators and metrics were found in 107 selected articles; 95.3% showed use of safety indicators, while 51.4% resorted to ergonomics indicators. Indicators’ purposes on SC evaluation such as management lagging and leading were identified as some of the most important. Also seen was a growing interest in this type of research worldwide and, thus, an opportunity for research in the primary sector since manufacturing is the most studied component in the SC. In addition, the I&M were found to achieve only a partial evaluation of the SC and, thus, were deemed ineffective in evaluating all its components.