Anthropometric Characterisation Of Manual Workers In The Food Manufacturing Industry In Nigeria

Abstract

Manual lifting is a necessary job duty that is frequently associated with occupational damage. The   main goal ofstrategies to lower the risk of injuries is to make sure that workers are physically capable of performing essential jobduties safely. The aim of this study was to investigate anthropometric characteristics associated with manual liftingactivities. Three hundred and eighty-four (384) subjects comprising 337 males and 47 females from three (3) foodmanufacturing companies participated in the survey. Measurement of the body segments was done using anthropometer,vernier caliper and the weighing scale and analysed using statistical analysis of measures of dispersion and 2 tail t-test analysis at 5% significance level to find the relationship between the male and female population. The results indicated that there is no significant difference between the Wrist-to- Foot and the Knee-Joint-to-Leg-Wrist. However, the other twelve (12) body segment measurements show there are significant differences in the means of the male and the female population. Conclusively, the human body plays a crucial role in the design of human-machine interfaces (HMI). This study has highlighted the necessity of conducting a robust anthropometry survey in Nigeria for the user population. Such information can be utilised to set up the workspace in a way that will improve its ergonomic suitability, functional efficacy, and human convenience.Keywords: Anthropometry, Characterisation, Musculoskeletal, Ergonomics,