THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES IN OFFICE ERGONOMICS: IMPLICATION FOR SAFETY, HEALTH AND WORKERS’ PRODUCTIVITY IN KATSINA STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Issues concerning ergonomics have become central to office occupational safety and health due to the prevalence of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders which cause worker discomfort, disability, and loss of productivity. In Nigeria, upper extremities disorders such as wrist pains, pains in the upper back region, shoulder pains, ulna neuropathy, neck disorders, and eye syndrome are common epidemics among typists, secretaries, computer users and other related office jobs with negative socio-economic consequences. The purpose of this paper is to present the result of an investigation of the current office ergonomic situation of Katsina State Local Government offices in Nigeria with its implication for workers’ safety, health, and overall productivity. The methodology adopted is the qualitative strategy of inquiry using 210 questionnaires with a section having open-ended questions designed to ask respondents to speak their minds concerning the nature of ergonomic facilities of their offices, nature of office work policy (ergonomic policy) and their level of ergonomic awareness. Using thematic network analysis, the responses from that section of the questionnaire were organized into themes, patterns, and categories based on three deductive themes (ergonomic facilities, ergonomic policy, and ergonomic awareness) as key concepts in the investigation. From the analysis of the responses, it was found that the ergonomic scenario of Local Government offices in the Katsina State of Nigeria in terms of office facilities, office ergonomic (work) policy and level of ergonomic awareness are poor and that workers are exposed to the dangers of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders and other related occupational diseases. Despite the fact that the study area for this research was Local Government Offices in Katsina State, Nigeria, the findings and implications are relevant to other government offices in the country. Therefore, the conclusion of this study is that the office environment of Katsina State Local Governments in Nigeria needs to be improved for the general safety, health and overall productivity of the workers.