CONSTRAINTS TO THE ADOPTION OF ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES NEEDED BY GARMENT WORKERS IN GARMENT INDUSTRY IN SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study focused on Constraints to the Adoption of Ergonomic Principles Needed by Garment Workers in their Garment Industry in South-eastern Nigeria. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population consist of 267 garment workers drawn from the 19 registered garment companies in South-eastern Nigeria. Structured and validated questionnaire on Constraint to the Adoption of Ergonomic Principles Needed by Garment Workers in their Garment Industry in South-eastern Nigeria was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and t- test. The findings showed that major factors mitigating against the adoption of ergonomic principles by garment workers include ignorance about the long-term effect of occupational injury, lack of training skill and experience on ergonomics, nonchalant attitude towards one’s health among others. Strategies for enhancing the adoption of the needed ergonomic principles include public enlightenment through radio, television, talk show, billboards etc., organizing seminar and workshops for grass root awareness on ergonomic principles among others. Based on the finding of the study, it was recommended that the identified strategies for enhancing the adoption of the needed ergonomic principles should be utilized to ensure grassroots awareness and sensitization on the obvious benefits of this proactive healthcare measures for a deep and far-reaching result.