Ergonomic assessment of taxicabs using participatory ergonomic intervention approach among Southwestern Nigerian drivers

This work investigates the opinion of operators of taxicabs in Nigeria on some ergonomic factors influencing their safety, comfort and performance while driving. Participatory ergonomic intervention approach(PEIA) and work area analysis were used in the evaluation of ergonomicsuitability of driver-vehicle system. 1,406 drivers were sampled randomly in the study area and a minimum responds rate of 92% was achieved. Significant among the WRMD observed at the three body segments are discomforts at the right and left wrists, upper, middle and lower back, buttock and neck of the operators. The potentials of carrying out ergonomic investigation on taxicab operators through direct involvement of major stakeholders in the transportation business has been demonstrated and found very necessary in the development of user friendly vehicle for taxicab operator in Nigeria

THE PREVALENCE OF WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER AMONG OCCUPATIONAL TAXICABS DRIVERS IN NIGERIA

This work investigates the opinion of operators of Taxicabs in Nigerian on some ergonomic factors influencing their safety, comfort and performance while driving. Participatory ergonomic intervention approach (PEIA) and workspace analysis were used in the evaluation of ergonomic suitability of driver-vehicle system. 1406 drivers were sampled randomly in the study area and a minimum responds rate of 92% was achieved. Significant prevalence of WRMD reported among respondents on the four body segments are located at the neck(67%), right and left wrists(18%, 20%), upper, middle and lower back (29%, 29%, 30%), and buttock (19%) of the operators. The potentials of carrying out ergonomic investigation on taxicab operators through direct involvement of major stakeholders in the transportation business has been demonstrated and found very useful in the development of user friendly vehicle for Taxicab operator in Nigeria

Ergonomic Investigation of Occupational Drivers and Seat Design of Taxicabs in Nigeria

Repetitive trauma disorder and other work related musculoskeletal problems are prevalent among occupational drivers worldwide. This justifies the continue research and development efforts in the area of design of comfortable, safe and effective seat system by the automotive industry. The misfit seat variables are traceable to the difference between the adopted anthropometric measurement and that of the user population in the affected countries where the vehicle are exported. The objective of this paper is to investigate the ergonomic suitability of imported technological system specifically taxicab driver seat in Nigeria. Particular focus was placed to identify seat features that contribute to discomfort and work related MSDs of the operator. The application of participatory ergonomic intervention (PEI) approach is explored to achieve the objectives of this paper

INVESTIGATION INTO MECHANIZED DE-FEATHERING PROCESS AND OPTIMAL SCALDING TEMPERATURE OF EXOTIC AND LOCAL BIRDS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

The ever increasing demand for poultry meat among the non-vegetarians world-wide has imposed greater responsibility on poultry processing industry. The traditional manual method of de-feathering of fowls is gradually going into extinction with the development of different capacities of de-feathering machines for both commercial and household use. This work is focused on development of a small scale de-feathering machine and to investigate into the optimal scalding temperature which can produce scalded chicken that has no scar. Randomly sampled birds from two categories of broilers birds (local and exotics breeds) from local markets of southwestern Nigeria were considered for determination of optimal scalding temperature, duration of immersion and feather plunking force. Effective and efficient defeathering was achieved on local chicken at a scalding temperature between 80-85oC for 5minutes immersion duration, while that of exotic chicken it took place between 65-70oC for 3minutes immersion duration. Feather retention force (FRF) of each categories of bird alsovaries significantly. However the de-feathering quality was generally within the acceptable limit