Assessment of the Effect of Work Condition Variables on Work Outcome in Blue-Collar Job using Objective Research Technique

Subject Areas : Production Systems

Adinife P. Azodo ^{1 *} , Olasunkanmi Salami Ismaila ² , Olawale Usman Dairo ³ , Sidikat Ibiyemi Kuye ⁴

1 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
2 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
3 - Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
4 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Received: 2021-05-06 Accepted : 2025-06-27 Published : 2025-06-26

Keywords: Productivity, Musculoskeletal injury, Work condition variable, Lifting, Material manual handling,

Abstract :

The work condition variables' significance in achieving the organizational objective in the blue-collar jobs is proportionate to appropriate implementation and management of ergonomics principles for productivity and occupational risk factors reduction. This study adopted an objective research approach in assessing the effect of working condition variables in the material manual handling task of a blue-collar job. The data analyzed in this study were obtained from 624 male participants within the working-class age of 20-39 years through the instrumentation of a JKBK solar powered pedometer and a digital professional (LCD) stopwatch in Abeokuta, South-Western Nigeria. The data analysis showed that the participants' endurance time has a negative correlation with work rate but significantly and positively correlated with productivity at a p-value of less than 0.05. The independent t-tests analyses carried out on the work posture, load mass, handling height, loading and offloading, and lifting and lowering modalities considered disclosed p < 0.05 – significant in all cases. This study recommended load split into lesser load mass for work processes that involve awkward work posture, high handling height, loading and offloading, and lifting and lowering for a heavy load to increase productivity, work rate, and endurance time.

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