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This study evaluated the ergonomic performance of drivers’ workstations in southwest Nigeria. Fifty urban buses selected from ten brands were investigated by direct measurement. The buses were mini-A and midi-B. Vertical and horizontal distances of the seat reference point to the pedal and steering wheel, with the seat dimensions were considered. The anthropometric dimensions of 150 male bus drivers were taken from South-west Nigeria. The results revealed that the values for driver’s seat height from the cabin floor, seat backrest height, seat shoulder level width and low back width were 44.00- 50.00cm, 53.00-58.15cm, 40.00-50.00cm and - 40.15cm respectively as against 39.15- 43.00cm, 38.75-49.49cm, 34.60-43.59cm and 45.73-53.25cm respectively in the urban bus workstations. It is concluded that the drivers’ workstations in the urban buses were not ergonomically fit for the bus drivers since the anthropometric dimension of the Nigerian male bus drivers were not considered in the designing of the buses.

The influence of torrefaction pretreatment on the properties of briquettes made from the blends of sawdust (SD) and cassava peel (CP) was studied. These feedstocks were combined at mixing ratios of 90/10, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70 and 10/90 for untreated and torrefied conditions. The physical and combustion properties were determined using standard methods. Results obtained at all mixing ratios show that the fixed carbon, volatile ignitability, and calorific value increase with the increase in the torrefaction temperature. Further results show that the physical and mechanical properties yield better result through water preconditioning. This work established that high quality briquettes with improved strength and caloric value could be produced from discarded SD and torrefied CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]