Social-Life-Cycle Assessment (S-LCA): an instrument for macro-ergonomics in a globalized world?

This paper deals with the ergonomic relevance of the Social-Life-Cycle Assessment of Products (S-LCA) which was initially developed by the United Environment Programme in 2009. The S-LCA identifies social issues with an impact on stakeholders along the total life-cycle of a product. In a globalized world life-cycle aspects concerning working conditions are of growing importance. The framework and the process of the S-LCA will be discussed and first ideas linking the S-LCA with a life-cycle oriented work systems analysis will be introduced.