Between end of April and early June, RMI has commissioned Beyond Audits to conduct two assessments within the mica supply chain in Jharkhand: an Ergonomics Needs Assessment and a Gender-Responsive Needs Assessment. These projects aim to generate a detailed, evidence-based understanding of working conditions and social dynamics affecting mica workers and communities, with a strong focus on improving wellbeing, safety, and inclusion—particularly for women.
The Ergonomics Assessment identifies physical risk factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders in mica processing and sorting, across both formal sites and informal or home-based work. It examines posture, repetitive movements, load handling, and work conditions using tools like RULA/REBA, video analysis, and worker interviews, and recommends low-cost improvements to reduce strain without affecting productivity.
The Gender-Responsive Needs Assessment examines how gender shapes workers’ experiences, risks, and access to resources in the mica supply chain. Using participatory methods such as interviews, focus groups, and PRA tools, it identifies gender-specific challenges related to working conditions, pay, health, education, discrimination, mobility, and exposure to risks like harassment and child labor. Importantly, this assignment engages a broad set of stakeholders, including workers, supervisors, community members, local leaders, and service providers, to capture diverse perspectives and better understand structural and social dynamics. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that findings are comprehensive and grounded in local realities.
Overall, the assignment aims not only to identify risks and gaps but also to deliver practical, context-specific solutions for RMI to improve working conditions, advance gender inclusion, and enhance the sustainability and ethical standards of the mica supply chain, reinforcing both workplace standards and community empowerment pillars. By July, the findings will enable us to adjust our programmatic approach and integrate new insights into our on-the-ground programs.
