Sitting Habit and Posture Investigation of Office Employees in Nigeria

Sitting is widely acceptable posture for various office works in spite of its attendant health hazards especially in situation when inappropriate chair with misfit and poor features is used. This study investigates the sitting habit of office workers as well as assesses their postural discipline in relation with workplace design. A randomly selected sample size of 250 male and 150 female employees from four work centres in forty-five different locations of five commercial hubs were used. The result of the analysis of data from structured questionnaire administered and the anthropometric data of the respondent show the level of mismatch that exists between employee characteristics and office furniture especially the chair and how it impacts on the sitting posture of worker in offices visited. Workers sitting habit were observed to have strong association with risk factors such as type and nature of the office work, micro-ergonomics of facility arrangement of the workplace and duration of the work activities. This suggests that premium attention should be focus on reengineering of seat system in Nigeri

Kinematic Description of Hip and Knee Marker link system of Taxicab Operator

Driving automobile especially as applied to occupational driver is a very tasking activity involving a number of body segments coupled with high level of vigilance required to minimize occurrence of accidents and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). A kinematic study of each segment of human operator of technological system help to evaluate the dynamics of the link system and internal forces required in driving activities. In this work Newton’s second law of motion was applied to study the motion of human hip and knee marker link system and to develop bio-kinematic model for determining some kinematic parameters of the system. The model is capable of suggesting the variability of driver seat for effectiveness, safe and that minimise MSD in the operation of vehicle. Likewise the intensity, frequency and duration of exposure to harsh driving conditions can be regulated with appropriate threshold limit value (TLV) established

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

Anthropometry Survey of Nigerian Occupational Bus Drivers to Facilitate Sustainable Design of Driver’s Workplace

Driving is a highly demanding and responsible job in which both the driver and passengers are exposed to several occupational risks.However, poor design of driver’s workplace is a major risk factor responsible for the uncomfortable conditions which operators of this highly technological system are exposed to especially when engaged in long distance driving. This study aimed at developing anthropometric model for business bus drivers in Nigerian which will facilitate sustainable design of driver’s workplace. A sample size of 161 drivers were randomly selected among strata of operators of buses in selected motor parks in the study area for the ergonomic study. Twelve anthropometric data were collected and analysed to obtain their 5th,50th and 95th percentiles with which the anthropometric model were developed. Anthropometric model developed from 1932 data points was presented in forms of table showing measurement of sitting driver’s body parts in his workspace indicating design for average as well as extremities of 5th and 95th percentiles. The model represents a database from which designers, manufacturers of equipment, machine, automobiles and household goods can obtain relevant body measurement of the population under study in relation relevant to specific product feature and for development of sustainable workspace design

An Approach to Lifecycle Design and Sustainable Management of Nigerian Water Infrastructure

Water is one of the essentialities of life and meeting water needs is one of the cardinal millennium development goals. However, many developing countries like Nigeria are struggling with the provision of adequate potable water for the inhabitants. This paper presents results of the study on possible solutions to potable water supply in Sango-Ota area of South-Western Nigeria. Causes of consumable water supply problems in the region were first examined through literature review and site visits to some water supply facilities in Sango- Ota. The framework for lifecycle design and sustainable management of water infrastructure reported in this paper was developed to address the main problems. The framework incorporated information gathered from the literature survey, note taken on the site visits to some water supply facilities in Sango-Ota, and interviews conducted with water stakeholders. The result of the study revealed a need for inclusiveness of all stakeholders and capacity building of the local technician for effective management of the system. A project is in the works for the demonstration of the framework and for its necessary upgrade. The sustainability principles based methodology is expected to facilitate systematic innovation in the design and management of water infrastructure in Nigeria. This would in turn result in adequate water supply services for the citizens

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

DEVELOPMENT OF PREDICTIVE MODELS FOR SOME ANTHROPOMETRIC DIMENSIONS OF NIGERIAN OCCUPATIONAL BUS OPERATORS

Movement of commodities, material and men from one place to another using various automated means remains a major activity of mankind. The operation of the transportation systems placed much demand on operators’ capabilities and limitations in relation to human body dimensions. A stratified sample size of 160 drivers were randomly selected among the operators of commercial buses in six (6) selected motor parks within the study area were considered and anthropometric variables relating to seated drivers’ workplace were collected using developed and calibrated anthropometric seat, stadiometer, vernier-calipers, tape rule and bathroom weighing scale. The collected data were analysed using STATA 11.0 and Microsoft excel 2010. Descriptive statistics which included; mean, standard deviation, range and percentiles (5th, 50th and 95th percentiles) were determined. The database developed were used to describe the drivers’anthropometry. Design-Expert 6.0.8 version was used in modelling the anthropometric equations. Models were developed for buttock popliteal length, anterior arm reach and thigh clearance height from data collected for statures, weight and popliteal height sitting. The resulting models exhibited quadratic property with coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 0.88 and 0.94. These model provide significantly efficient and effective tool for predicting the studied anthropometric dimensions Automotive industries whose market is in Nigeria and other similar manufacturing companies would find this models useful in both design and manufacture of goods

INVESTIGATION OF WORK RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS PREVALENT AMONG METAL FABRICATION WORKERS IN NIGERIA

The consideration of facility engineering principles in the design of sustainable workstations in manufacturing industries remains inadequate with the increasing intensity of observed misfit between facility arrangement and human demand for comfort, safety and effective operation of work system. Associated with these inadequacies are the problems resulting from improper workplace design, ill structured jobs, chaotic workplace, adverse environment, poor human-machine system design and inappropriate management programmes. This study investigates the work related health hazards among fabrication workers in Nigeria. Participatory Ergonomic Intervention Approach (PEIA) and analytical method were employed to drive the investigation towards achieving a safe, productive and ergonomic workstation which provides significant shift in the existing paradigm in metal fabrication industry. Poor work posture such as bending, twisting, over reaching, kneeling, under hazardous environment of heat, noise, smoke, dust and optical radiation were identified as hindrances to effective operation. Likewise, health related issues as pains on the neck, back, wrist, knee, elbow, shoulder, wrist, as well as leg muscle cramp assumed significant prevalence accounting for 29% of the workforce. The study therefore suggests the development of standard anthropometric dimensions for the construction of assembly workstation for metal fabrication industry. Such workstation is capable of boosting workers’ morale, reduced Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMD) and enhanced productivity with the support of enforced legislative instrumentalit

Investigation into House-Hold Energy Consumption in Saki, Southwestern Nigeria

Energy is a major means of sustaining life hence It’s effects on nation’s economic development at both micro and macro levels. The dynamics of changes in the energy demand and supply patterns can be properly monitored through appropriate evaluation of consumption rate of available energy for effective planning. The main selection criterion considered in this study for the selection of household energy for cooking and heating, lighting, entertainment, refrigeration, and so on is population density. Energy sources considered in this investigation are electricity, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel fuel, kerosene, firewood, liquefied natural gas (LNG), charcoal and solar cells. Energy consumption for individual in a family per day per zone to their average level of income per zone were investigated to establish sources, supply, and availability in the prevailing situation of things in the study area. The result of the study indicates that 70.81% of household energy is from biomass which is very disastrous to the environment. Not less than 29.185 % and 0,004766 % of energy were obtained from fossil fuel and electricity respectively. It is evident that residents in the study area depend highly on biomass as source of household energy and much less on electricity. The result of this study have open up the ground for development of predictive model for estimation of daily household energy requirements (DHER) for Saki dwellers and for rural development plan for the area under stud