Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

ERGONOMIC COMPLIANCE: A PILOT STUDY OF ONE FACULTY AT A ZIMBABWEAN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION

Tecla Mlambo, Churchill Chirubvu, Shamiso Muteti

Work-related injuries and diseases are a major cause of concern worldwide. Despite the emergence of information technology and sedentary office work in third world countries like Zimbabwe, there is paucity of literature pertaining to ergonomic compliance. Certain ergonomic principles if adhered to can prevent work related musculoskeletal problems. We sought to analyse the level of compliance to workspace design ergonomic principles at one faculty of a Zimbabwean academic institution. We analysed the compliance to ergonomic principles among a cross section of randomly selected offices in 2011. The analysis covered information technology hardware, furniture and potential sources of stress using a questionnaire and checklist adapted from Marmaras and Papadopoulos (2003). Data were analysed descriptively. Participants were 36 employees, mostly female (83%) who held secretarial positions (58%). Most compliant aspects of the workstations were information technology hardware (80.5%) and the least compliant was furniture (45%). Information technology hardware and work environment were ergonomically friendly but positioning of the devices was not. There is need to upgrade the furniture as it had numerous shortcomings leading the workers to assume nonergonomically friendly postures.