Preventing occupational ailments and disorders associated with cassava mash dewatering techniques

Open Access JournalMethods in use to reduce the cyanide level in cassava were found to be dangerous to the processors. To reduce occupational hazards, cassava processors sometimes wear protective coverings such as hand gloves, overall, mouth/nose hood, eye goggles which are not comfortable. Each of the steps in cassava processing stages exposes workers to various occupationally related ailments and disorders of ergonomic origin. The operators of dewatering tools are at the risks of suffering from different ailments.The traditional processors still depend on the old technique and resources. Workers are often exposed to cyanide and many are scared of the toxic effect of cassava juice. To prevent the occupational related ailment, mash process handling machine was developed and evaluated. The obtained result by use of the machine confirms the operators’ protection. The obtained mash cake was found to meet the stake holders’ requirement of 47-50% moisture content wet bases without human contact

Determination of juice removal difficulty from mash cake in cassava mash dewatering operation

Open Access JournalCassava processing equipment operators have limited knowledge; this militates against the success recorded in the research so far in cassava mash dewatering. New dewatering schemes to make food processing economical to handle are in progress. Common dewatering processes use a variety of mechanical means such as screw presses and belt presses. Experiments were conducted using three samples of TMS 4(2) 1425 variety while evaluating the difficulty of separating juice from mash cake. Average specific cake resistance (α) of 5×1011 m/kg was obtained confirming that it is moderately easy to dewatering

Discomfort levels in four working postures in use during gari frying

Working postures adopted at work depend on the discomfort experienced as workers tend to opt for the most comfortable posture to them depending on the work at hand. The same is true for gari fryers. Four common working postures of gari-frying workers in Southwestern Nigeria are sitting beside (SB), sitting in front (SF), alternating sitting and standing (ASS) and standing (S). Discomfort levels in the identified postures were measured in 120 workers using Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire. Results of analyses indicated higher work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the low back and upper back, placing musculoskeletal discomfort in the trunk. Specifically, WMSDs occurred in the hip-buttock, knee and neck for SB, hip-buttock for SF, low leg and shoulder for S and right forearm for ASS. This implies that ASS had the least discomfort among other postures analyzed. Therefore, ASS is recommended with seat modification to incorporate short backrest for reducing spinal loading

Comparison of physical work load in four gari frying working postures in Nigeria

All physical labour requires physical exertion which indicates the level of physical workload involved. This paper examines the energy expenditure in four working postures of gari-frying (garification) workers in southwestern Nigeria. The postures include sitting-beside (SB), sitting-in-front (SF), alternating-sitting-and-standing (ASS) and standing (S). Some anthropometric data, blood pressure and heart rate, were collected from 120 processors at the beginning and close of work. Physical workload was then computed using Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Rate Pressure Product (RPP) and Barach Energy Index (BEI). The mean total energy expenditure (TEE) for the postures was SB 3.58, SF 3.56, S 3.55, ASS 3.53 MJ8hr-day. Statistical analysis of the physical workload showed significant difference (P≤0.05) between the postures with ASS and SB consistently maintaining the lowest and highest values respectively in all the indicators. Normal range of BEI was maintained throughout the gari frying task, indicating that the task is a light one. Comparison showed that S posture had the highest myocardial oxygen consumption. Processors in sitting posture had low circulatory blood pressure while it was higher for those in standing posture, particularly ASS. ASS posture by comparison, therefore, is the best posture with least energy expenditure and is recommended for adoption

A survey of improved gari frying methods

Processing cassava to gari is a storage method. Gari frying is the last operation and is still largely done manually in Nigeria. The women processors usually adopt various postures during production as appeared comfortable to them. This paper reports the survey carried out in 50 gari factories across five states (Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo) of southwestern Nigeria and the versions of Improved Traditional Garification Methods (ITGMs) in use. These were grouped into eight (ITGM I-VIII) based on operator's and workplace's characteristics, heating process and estimated output. Their modes of operation were explained and estimation of their outputs and common working postures were determined. Four working postures were identified namely, sitting beside (SB), sitting in front (SF), alternating between sitting and standing (ASS) and standing (S). ITGM VIII with operator in standing posture using both hands had the highest output, having efficient use of both hands and indicating an ergonomic balance of right and left arms as well as overcoming certain asymmetric symptoms in the workers. ITGM VIII is, therefore, recommended based on output

Effect of speed and back pressure on the performance of screw press in dewatering of cassava mash

A cassava mash process handling machine was developed and tested. Studies were conducted on the effect of screw speed at 20rpm to 100rpm at 20rpm interval. Back pressure was induced by the use of spring of 100N, 200N and 300N. Using a TMS 4(2)1425 variety of cassava, the performance of the screw press unit of the machine was evaluated. The operating parameter of the machine at 40-50 rpm produce a mash with an average moisture content of 52% moisture content wet basis. With the back pressure set at 200N as the machine standard

Study of Sexuality among Adolescent Students of a Secondary School in Ilorin, Nigeria.

The relevant socio-demographic variables which may influence sexual behaviour and the level of awareness of the adolescents on risky sexual practices and sexually transmitted diseases were assessed using a descriptive cross sectional survey of the sexual behaviour of 196 adolescent secondary school students (10 - 19yrs) in Ilorin-Nigeria. The subjects were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Forty-three percent of the subjects selected were females and fifty-seven percent were males. The results showed that the knowledge of the respondents was high on issues relating to STDs and HIV transmission and prevention but was low when awareness of individual STDs was considered. This study reveals that forty percent of the respondents had at least one previous experience of sexual intercourse and a higher proportion of males were sexually experienced. The subjects showed a clustering of age of sexual initiation between the ages of 14 and 18 years. The most frequent debut partners were schoolmates and neighbours accounting for seventy percent of the responses. Audio-visual means were the most common means by which the respondents obtained information on sex and sexuality with films being the single most important source for 25 percent of the respondents. The internet was also shown as an emerging source of information for adolescents. Finally, significant relationships were identified as existing between the gender of respondents and a history of previous sexual experience and also between their age and history of previous sexual experience. There was no significant relationship found between the religion and history of previous sexual experience among the respondents

Comparative evaluation of four different cassava peeling devices

Manual method predominates in the cassava peeling industry in Nigeria as more than 70% of the processed cassava in the market passed through manual process. Mechanical option has come to the forefront since other processing methods are discouraged based on their deficiencies. This work investigates improvements recorded with mechanical method over the manual method, and the inherent challenges of stakeholders in the industry. Three cassava peeling machines namely, BASICON, FATAROY and WAMABCO, were selected under the mechanical method. Manual method was also evaluated under similar test conditions. Performance evaluation was carried out on each cassava peeler to assess their fuel and power utilization, cost and ease of operation. Manual peeling process recorded an average peeling efficiency of 100% and average percentage tuber flesh loss of 5.5%. The BASICON cassava peeler had an average peeling efficiency of 96% and average percentage tuber flesh loss of 75%. The FATAROY cassava peeler had an average peeling efficiency of 72% with 23% average percentage tuber flesh loss. The WAMABCO cassava peeler had an average peeling efficiency of 64% and average percentage tuber flesh loss of 14%. The energy consumption rate obtained for the FATAROY cassava peeler was the best of all. The three cassava peelers evaluated performed 10 times faster than the manual method adopted for cassava peeling operation. The capacity of each of the machines was less than 800 kg/h, which is too small for industrial application. Manual method was the slowest and the most expensive, but offered a superior quality output. Small-scale processors therefore require suitable cassava peelers to aid the peeling operation of cassava in Nigeria’s cassava processing industry

Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Disposition to Condom Use Among Adolescent of a Secondary School in Ilorin.

The increasing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and the HIV crisis among young people on the African continent has brought more focus on the reproductive health of adolescents across the continent. To protect Nigeria’s large adolescent population would require good information on HIV/ AIDS. This study is a descriptive cross sectional survey of the knowledge of 196 adolescent secondary school students in Ilorin on HIV/AIDS and their willingness to use condoms. It was conducted between July and December 2005 and its objectives include the assessment of the level of awareness of the adolescents on HIV/AIDS and their disposition to use condoms. The results showed that forty-three percent of the subjects were females and fifty-seven percent were males. Their ages ranged from 10 years to 19 years with the mean being 16 years. The knowledge of the respondents was high on issues relating to STIs and HIV transmission and prevention but was significantly low when awareness of individual STIs was considered. Also related to this is the ambivalence of the respondents to condom sales and distribution. While many of the respondents opined that condom distribution was wrong, many of them also signified the willingness to use a condom if it is made available. The results showed relatively good knowledge of HIV/AIDS and remarkable interest to the use of condoms by the studied population.KEY WORDS: Condom, Adolescent, HIV/AIDS