This book presents the select proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Humanizing Work and Work Environment 2024 (HWWE 2024) held in Kolkata, India, in December 2024, organized by the Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta in association with the Indian Society of Ergonomics, International Ergonomics Association and American Society of Safety Professionals (India Chapter). Main theme of this conference is ‘Ergonomics for Everyone - Future Challenges in Health, Safety and Design’. This book entails original, peer-reviewed research articles on the interdisciplinary field of Ergonomics and Human Factors, including Occupational Health in organised and informal sectors, safety at work, and intervention for all with special emphasis on the physically challenged to the role of ergonomics in work, sports and exercise physiology. This volume can be a useful resource for researchers, academicians, students, practitioners, and policymakers that contribute to constructing the human factors and ergonomics approach across various domains, and productive sectors.

Professor Somnath Gangopadhyay is an Academic, Ergonomist, and Work Physiologist with a career spanning more than three decades. He is currently a Professor and former Head of the Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, where he also serves as In-Charge of the Occupational Ergonomics Laboratory and Founder Coordinator & Head of the Sports Science Department. He began his professional career at Bhilai Steel Plant, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), as an Ergonomist & Work Physiologist. In 1997, he joined the University of Calcutta as a lecturer and has since contributed to research and teaching. Dr. Gangopadhyay has published over 325 research papers in national and international journals. He is a fellow (FCIEHF) and chartered ergonomist (C.ErgHF) of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (UK), Fellow of the Association of Biomedical Scientists (FABMS), Fellow of the Physiological Society of India (FPSI) and Fellow of International Ergonomics Association (FIEA). He is the chair of the Scientific Committee of Occupational Health in Small Scale Enterprises and Informal Sectors (SCOHSSEIS) of International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH).

Dr. Tamal Das is currently an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Physiology, Vidyasagar Metropolitan College, University of Calcutta, with over 13 years of teaching experience. Dr. Das obtained his Postgraduate degree in Physiology with First Class from the University of Calcutta in 2000, followed by a Doctorate in 2008. He subsequently worked as a research associate in the Indo-US Collaborative Project funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) from 2010 to 2012. Dr. Das’s primary research specialization lies in occupational ergonomics, with emphasis on occupational health of informal sector workers. With more than 22 years of research experience, he has conducted studies across diverse worker populations including porters, foundry and brick kiln workers, jute mill and cement industry workers, heavy metal engineers, brass and blacksmiths, potters, tailors, typists, carpenters, sand core workers, handloom weavers, agricultural workers, bus conductors, online delivery executives.