APPRAISING OFFICE ERGONOMIC MEASURES IN THE SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MINNA

Abstract

Accidents that occur in offices are frequently due to poorly designed office environment and improper office procedures. From 1991-2004 the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reported that musculoskeletal disorders accounted for nearly 42% of all lost time. This accounts for only lost time which underestimates the true nature of problems as many individuals continue to work with pain and discomfort. The study aimed at appraising office ergonomic measures in the school of environmental technology of federal university of technology, Minna, the objective of this study is to provide such information to improving human health, safety and performance at workplace through the application of sound workers and workplace principles. The study is criteria – based in which questionnaires were administered to selected 65academic staffers who met the research criteria. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between Staff Assessment of Ergonomic Measures and Standard Ergonomic Measures. Regression analysis was used to determine the impact of SEM on SAEM. The Pearson correlation reveals a positive moderate significant relationship between standard ergonomic measures and staff assessment of ergonomic measures (r is 0.561, while its P < 0.001). Findings reveals that standard ergonomic measures contributes additional benefits of unstandardized coefficient = 0.527, t = 8.135 and P < 0.005. It can be concluded that a reasonable correlation exists between staff assessment of ergonomic measures and standard ergonomic measures practice at workplace. The regression prediction findings indicate that additional improvement on the level of staff's assessment of ergonomic measures will spring up enormous benefit to prevent musculoskeletal disordersat workplace. The study recommends adequate training and awareness of staffers as regard to office ergonomic measures.