ASSESSING SEVERITY OF POSTURAL LOADING IN FOUR GARI -FRYING METHODS

Abstract

Posture at work is a source of musculoskeletal load. This is in addition to the external task-induced         load depending on the task, which must be minimized to ease the work. Four working postures com-         mon to gari-frying workers in the southwestern Nigeria namely, sitting beside (SB), sitting in front (SF),        alternating sitting and standing (ASS) and standing (S) were investigated to assess severity of loading         in each posture. Activities of 16 fryers were videotaped and played back for assessment using Rapid         Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) technique. RULA grand score recorded were SB 7.00, S 6.50, SF                                                                                                           0        6.00 and ASS 5.75. Postural angles were also measured giving SB 36, S 50, SF 79, and ASS 50 .         RULA result has been confirmed by postural angle measurement, indicating that ASS has the least        severity   due   to   postural   loading   with the   least   bending/twisting   and   flexion   of the   back   during gari-        frying task. ASS posture, therefore, is recommended for gari frying in southwestern Nigeria.