3RD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON TECHNOLOGY - ENGINEERING & SCIENCE - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2017-02-09)

Ergonomics Effect(s) Of Industrial Machinery Optimization On Handlers: A Case Study Of Packaging Machines In Some Food Producing Industry, Southwest Nigeria
This study evaluated ergonomics effect(s) of optimizing industrial machinery on the handlers. The main objective was to establish a relationship between human factor consideration and the asset utilization (AU). The AU, over a period of one year, was computed for 45 packaging machines in 6 large-size food producing industry located in Southwest Nigeria. A machine hazard/safety checklists were used inform of questionnaire to carry out inspections of the machinery and the subjective perceptions/ opinions of operators with respect to their work load and exposures to machine related hazards. 82.2% of the machinery were rated good (AU above 90%). 92.8% of operators reported environmental load (machine speed been too fast (76.5%), excessive noise (68.8%) and the job shop design not supporting natural posture (65%)), 91.1% reported physical load (high value of repetitiveness efforts (96.3%)) and high level of stress (81.8%) (mental load). The statistics test result showed a weak relationship between the AU and the operators’ good comfort perceptions (OGCP) (r = 0.025, p=.870). The independent sample t-test showed that AU had statistically significantly higher means of good percentage ratings (92.9 ± 4.8) compared to that of the OGCP (39.187 ± 17.07), t(88) = 20.321, p = .000. Hence were significantly different. The study concluded that the ergonomics factors maintained around the machines were rated below the emphasis placed on its high production and quality. The operators under study craved for inclusion of more ergonomics measures to enhance their comfort levels.
Adeyemi H. Oluwole, Akinyemi O.O., Makinde A., Adenuga A., Ojo O.P.