POSTURAL AND PHYSICAL – STRAIN ASSESSMENTS; MAJOR FACTORS FOR ERGONOMICS AND SAFETY CONSIDERATION IN RAILWAY INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA
The document looks into the ergonomics and safety aspects of the railway maintenance workers in Nigeria stating the physical strain and hazards involved in the profession. It shows high rates of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) among others sustained from repetitive movement, awkward positioning and poor ergonomic measures. Moreover, they encounter additional exposure from other environmental factors such as high temperature, poor equipment and poor infrastructure. Basic measures such as provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and enhanced safety training have been done, but there are systemic issues that remain, for example inadequate mechanized tools and absence of appropriate ergonomic protocols. This work argues in favour of holistic ergonomic approaches in managing work related health issues, safety and improving worker’s productivity. Some of these are provision of superior instruments, devices and programs for posture improvement, mechanical devices for lifting and training. To reduce risks and improve working conditions in Russia, it is advisable to introduce international norms such as ISO 11226 for static postures and ISO 5349 for vibration exposure. Postural assessment methods such as RULA, REBA and OWAS have been perceived as essential methods of great importance for the evaluation and the control of ergonometric risk factors. This poses a high opportunity for the Nigerian railway sector to implement ergonomic solutions and focus on effective strategies to address existing problems.
