ASSESSING SEVERITY OF POSTURAL LOADING IN FOUR GARI -FRYING METHODS
Abstract
Posture at work is a source of musculoskeletal load. This is in addition to the external task-induced load depending on the task, which must be minimized to ease the work. Four working postures common to gari-frying workers in the southwestern Nigeria namely, sitting beside (SB), sitting in front (SF), alternating sitting and standing (ASS) and standing (S) were investigated to assess severity of loading in each posture. Activities of 16 fryers were videotaped and played back for assessment using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) technique. RULA grand score recorded were SB 7.00, S 6.50, SF 6.00 and ASS 5.75. Postural angles were also measured giving SB 36, S 50, SF 79, and ASS 500. RULA result has been confirmed by postural angle measurement, indicating that ASS has the least severity due to postural loading with the least bending/twisting and flexion of the back during gari-frying task. ASS posture, therefore, is recommended for gari frying in southwestern Nigeria.
References
Ali, S.S.1996. Women and food security. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Strategic Grains Reserve Storage Programme – Nucleus for National Food Security, July. Strategic Grain Reserve Storage Division of Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Abuja, 74-75.
Asota, C.N., Kaul, R.N. 1991. Pepper –mills – A Sample Survey of their types and operational problems, being part of Research Findings under the IAR – Ford Foundation Project on Technology for Women, Institute for Agriculture Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Cornell University, 2000. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Worksheet ah29@cornell.edu
Guangyan, Li, Peter, B. 1999. Current techniques for assessing physical exposure to work-related musculoskeletal risks, with emphasis on posture-based methods. Ergonomics, 42(5): 674 - 695.
Igbeka, J.C. 1993. Some Ergonomic Studies of Nigeria Women Involved in Agric. Processing. Proceedings XXV CIOSTA-CIGRV Congress. Wageningen. The Netherlands. P. 183 – 189.
Igbeka, J.C. 2003. Equipment for Processing Cassava. Personal Communication.
IITA 1990. Cassava in Tropical Africa: A Reference Manual. Int. Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan Nigeria
Kumar, R., Chaikumarn, M., Kumar, S. 2005. Physiological, subjective and postural loads in passenger train wagon cleaning using a conventional and redesigned cleaning tool. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 35: 931-38.
Mcatamney, L., Corlett, E.N. 1993. RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders, Applied Ergonomics, 24: 91 - 99.
Samuel, T.M. 2008. Effects of Working Postures on Musculoskeletal disorders among Gari-Frying Workers in Southwestern Nigeria. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering. University of Ibadan. Ibadan. Nigeria
Stellman J.M. 1998. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. 4th Ed. Vol. I. ILO office. Geneva.
United Nations. 1994. Women in a Changing Global Economy, World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, New York, United Nations, 1995, By United Nations Department for Policy Cooperation and Sustainable Development
