Ergonomics Awareness and Employee Performance: An Exploratory Study

Segun Oluwaseun Olabode; Atinuke Regina Adesanya

doi:10.25167/sm2017.028.11

##plugins.themes.libcom.datePublished##: 2020-11-25

Vol 17 No 4 (44) (2017)

Ergonomics Awareness and Employee Performance: An Exploratory Study

Segun Oluwaseun Olabode

, Atinuke Regina Adesanya

Economic and Environmental Studies

Sekce: Articles

https://doi.org/10.25167/sm2017.028.11

Abstrakt

The study examined the effects of ergonomics on employee performance by ascertaining the level of ergonomics
awareness in Nigerian organizations, identifying the factors hindering the use of ergonomic, and the best practices
and methods adopted by various organizations across industries. Despite a knowledge of importance to a growing
number of researchers in Nigeria, there is still a dearth in knowledge of ergonomics design and its implementation
in Nigeria. This can be observed in the low level of its adoption. The study adopted an exploratory approach through
the review of literature. It was seen that several factors have hindered the efficient implementation of ergonomics
in Nigeria which ranges from awareness, insufficient relevant studies, personnel considerations, resources
constraints, technological changes, communication and integration disconnection between employees and
equipment designers. Also, some best practices and methods adopted by various organizations across industries
were identified to include, but not limited to: integration of human element into work design, ergonomics maturity
levels (reactive, preventive, proactive and advanced) and quality of workspace (office design, furniture and spatial
arrangements, lightings and heating arrangements, noise level). It is, however, recommended that researchers in the
field of ergonomics and practitioners in the industry should intensify efforts in carrying out relevant study,
organizing conferences and seminars as well as media publicity on why ergonomics should be part of our daily
activities. It is also recommended that organizations should orientate and train employees on ergonomics so that
they will be aware of the benefits derivable from it and be able to fit into the organization’s designs. Lastly, they
should integrate employee/human element into ergonomics design process by getting detailed anthropomorphic
data, which may bridge the communication disconnect between employees and ergonomic designers.

##plugins.themes.libcom.download_files##

pdf (English)

##plugins.themes.libcom.cit_rules##

Olabode, S. O., & Adesanya, A. R. (2020). Ergonomics Awareness and Employee Performance: An Exploratory Study. Economic and Environmental Studies, 17(4 (44), 813–829. https://doi.org/10.25167/sm2017.028.11

##plugins.themes.libcom.share##

##plugins.themes.libcom.licence##

Tato práce je licencována pod Mezinárodní licencí Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0.

Reference

Adaramola, A. A. (2013). Ergonomics practice in Nigeria today. SAGE Journal 57(1): 1103-1103.
Google Scholar

Adeyemi, A. O. (2009). Case study of ergonomics awareness among library staff of two universities in South-Western Nigeria. Ife Psychologia 17(1): 243-253.
Google Scholar

Adeyemi, A. O. (2010). ICT facilities: Ergonomic effects on academic library staff. Library Philosophy and Practice E-journal 12(3): 1-5.
Google Scholar

Aguinis, H. (2009). Performance management. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc..
Google Scholar

Ahankoob, A.; Charehzehi, A. (2013). Mitigating ergonomic injuries in construction industry. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering 6(2): 36-42.
Google Scholar

Asante, K. (2012). The impact of office ergonomics on employee performance: A case study of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). Kumasi: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Repository.
Google Scholar

Asaolu, A. O.; Itsekor, V. (2014). Ergonomic computer workstation considerations for library staff. International Journal of Academic Library and Information Science 3(2): 22-26.
Google Scholar

Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (2012). Workplace ergonomics reference guide. Available at:http://cap.mil/Documents/CAP_Ergo_Guide.pdf. Accessed 15 December 2017.
Google Scholar

Dunmade, E. O.; Adegoke, J. F.; Agboola, A. A. (2014). Assessment of regonomics hazards and techno-stress among workers of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). Australian Journal of Business and Management Research 4(1): 27-34.
Google Scholar

Ergo Squad (2012). Importance of ergonomics. Available at: http://adapt-uk.com/importance-of-ergonomics.html. Accessed 2 July 2017.
Google Scholar

Exemplis Corp. (2014). Ergonomics and employee productivity. Available at: http://www.sitonit.net/content/dam/exemplis/downloadslisting/white_papers/straight_talk_ergonomics_140123.pdf. Accessed 12 july 2017.
Google Scholar

Gabčanová, I. (2011). The employees: The most important asset in an organisation. Human Resources Management & Ergonomics V(1): 1-12.
Google Scholar

Golden, L. (2011). The effects of working and firm performance: A research synthesis paper. Geneva: International Labour Office.
Google Scholar

Grainger, L.; Forest, I. L.; Hamilton, A. (2013). Cumulative trauma disorder. Available at:http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/cumulative-trauma-disorder. Accessed 14 June 2017.
Google Scholar

Gutnick, L. (2007). A workplace design that reduces employee stress and increases employee productivity using environmentally responsible materials. Available at: http://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1150&context=theses. Accessed 31 May 2017.
Google Scholar

Heskett, J. (2006). How important Is quality of labor? And how is it achieved? Available at:http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/how-important-is-quality-of-labor-and-how-is-it-achieved. Accessed 25 May 2017.
Google Scholar

Humantech Inc. (2012). Ergonomics maturity curve self-assessment. Available at: http://www.humantech.com/special/Program%20Self%20Assessment%204%20quads.pdf. Accessed 8 August 2017.
Google Scholar

Ikonne, C. N. (2014). Influence of workstation and work posture ergonomics on job satisfaction of librarians in the federal and state university libraries in Southern Nigeria. IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science 19(9): 78-84.
Google Scholar

International Ergonomics Association (2017). Definition and domains of ergonomics. Available at:http://www.iea.cc/whats/. Accessed 29 May 2017.
Google Scholar

International Labour Organization (2011). A skilled workforce for strong, sustainable and balanced growth: A G20 training strategy. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/g20/summits/toronto/G20-Skills-Strategy.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.
Google Scholar

Ismaila, S. O. (2010). A study on ergonomics awareness in Nigeria. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 4(5): 731-734.
Google Scholar

Khedkar, E. B.; Pawar, P. Y. (2015). Review of literature on organizational ergonomics. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Management Studies 5(4): 454-458.
Google Scholar

Mallon, J. (2010). Ergonomiics: What's real and what's not. Ohio: Penton Business Media Inc.
Google Scholar

Mathis, R. L.; Jackson, J. H. (2009). Human resource management. Mason, OH, USA: South-Western Cengage Learning..
Google Scholar

Medical Device Usability (2016). Proactive ergonomics, reactive ergonomics and medical device manufacture. Available at: http://medical-device-usability.com/blog/proactive-ergonomics-reactive-ergonomics-andmedical-device-manufacture/. Accessed 8 August 2017.
Google Scholar

Momodu, B., Edosomwan, J.; Edosomwan, T. O. (2014). Evaluation of ergonomics deficiencies in Nigerian computer workstations. Journal of Ergonomics, S(4): 8-10.
Google Scholar

Neumann, W. P., Ekman, M.; Winkel, J. (2009). Integrating ergonomics into production system development: The Volvo powertrain case. Applied Ergonomics 40(3): 527-537.
Google Scholar

O’Neil, M. (2011). Office ergonomic standards: A layperson’s guide. Available at: http://www.knoll.com/research/downloads/WP_ErgoStandards.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.
Google Scholar

Obi, O. F. (2015). The role of ergonomics in sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria. African Journal Online 27(1): 50-62.
Google Scholar

Occupational Safety and Health Academy (2017). Introduction to ergonomics: OSHA study guide. Available at:https://www.oshatrain.org/courses/studyguides/711studyguide.pdf. Accessed 15 May 2017.
Google Scholar

Oladeinde, B. H.; Ekejindu, I. M.; Omoregie, R.; Aguh, O. D. (2015). Awareness and knowledge of ergonomics among medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297590003_Awareness_and_Knowledge_of_Ergon. Accessed 31 May 2017.
Google Scholar

Omoneye, O. (2016). Effect of ergonomic hazards on job performance of auditors in Nigeria. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management 6(2): 33-44.
Google Scholar

Pinder, A. D. J. (2015). Literature review: Barriers to the application of ergonomics/human factors in engineering design. London, Health and Safety Laboratory: 1-33.
Google Scholar

Shruti, S. (2012). Relationship between work environment and productivity. International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications 2(4): 1992-1995.
Google Scholar

Taiwo, A. S. (2010). The influence of work environment on employee performance: A case of selected oil and gas industry in Lagos, Nigeria. African Journal of Business Management 4(3): 299-307.
Google Scholar

Tasiu, M., 2016. Assessment of ergonomic adaptability practices among selected construction craftsmen in Abuja. [Online].
Google Scholar

Thao, L. T. T.; Hwang, C. J. (2011). Factors affecting employee performance: Evidence from Petrovietnam Engineering Consultancy. Available at: http://ir.meiho.edu.tw/ir/bitstream/987654321/2774/2/FACTORS+AFFECTING+EMPLOYEE+PERFORMANCE.pdf. Accessed 22 May 2017.
Google Scholar