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Electronics technicians are prone to develop Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorder (UECTD) owing to the awkward posture, repetitive motion and static loading associated with the routine tasks of multi-testing, soldering and desoldering. In the Philippines, validation using Rapid Upper-Limb Assessment (RULA) yielded a score of 5.774 requiring intervention as a result of an Action Level 3 classification. A two-phase study approach, Quality Functional Deployment (QFD), KANO model, Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and Anthropometry results were used as inputs in the design stage. QFD revealed 168 relationships between engineering and customer requirements, and 48 correlations with technical requirements. Six “attractive”, five “one-dimensional” and three “indifferent” engineering attributes were generated from the Kano Model analysis. Meanwhile, the determined contradictions during the designing stage were resolved using TRIZ. The resulting engineering attributes based on QFD, KANO and TRIZ were matched with the 5th to 95th percentile upper extremity anthropometric dimensions to determine the best fit and the ensuing optimal attributes were used to construct the design model. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of combining TRIZ, QFD principles, KANO Model Analysis, and Anthropometry in achieving the target ergonomic and functional design objectives tailored after user requirements to mitigate a real-world occupational hazard.

The Philippine garments industry has been a driving force in the country’s economy, with apparel manufacturing firms catering to the local and global markets and providing employment opportunities for skilled Filipinos. Tight competition from neighboring Asian countries however, has made the industry’s situation difficult to flourish, especially in the wake of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2015 Integration. To assist the industry, this research examined one of the more common problems among sewing machine operators, termed as Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). These disorders are reflective in the frequency and severity of the pain experienced by the sewers while accomplishing their tasks. The causes of these disorders were identified and were correlated with the frequency and severity of pain in various body areas of the operator. To forecast pain from WMSDs among the operators, mathematical models were developed to predict the combined frequency and severity of the pain from WMSDs. Loss time or “unofficial breaktimes” due to pain from WMSDs was likewise forecasted to determine its effects on the firm’s production capacity. Both these predictive models were developed in order to assist garment companies in anticipating better the effects of WMSDs and loss time in their operations. Moreover, ergonomic interventions were suggested to minimize pain from WMSDs, with the expectation of increased productivity of the operators and improved quality of their outputs.

In the Philippines, the supply of engineering graduates produced per year is lower than the demand as local industries are becoming engineering-related. This poses a challenge to academic institutions to fill this gap. Assessment reveals low graduation rate in the Engineering programs in the Philippines, where approximately 35.4% of the students are working at the same time. With the aim to help these students prevent possible retakes, the proponents explored and analyzed the effects of workload on academic performance and the factors associated with it. NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was utilized to measure students’ workload in this study. Recommendation presented in this research are interventions to support physical and mental health to better cope in a high workload environment, which will in return translate to better work and academic performance thus an increase in graduation rate.

Among the protective materials, powder coating is one of the leading and most innovative segment of paints and coats. It started in the 1950's as electrical insulations, continued to grow and expand up to the present, being used in the architecture industry. This study aims to provide manpower utilization in aluminum production line, to increase its capacity and to provide proposed production plan and production layout. Different techniques such as work sampling and time study were used. This resulted to identification of the need for additional eight (8) in powder application, additional of two (2) booths for powder application and workstation re-layout to address the critical path in each workstations.

Productivity among manufacturing production lines can be considered as a crucial part since this can result in improved production and utilization of the available resources. Effective utilization of manpower comes with advantages such as reduction in costs, clarity in performing tasks, saves both money and time and less wastes in resources. In this study, work sampling technique was utilized to measure the manpower utilization of the company. It was observed that current efficiency was 33.67%. Recommendations such as re-assignment of tasks and workers per workstation, additional employees that will sustain the deficiency in the current production, strictly followed production schedules, and lastly, fully utilize the capacity of the machines is expected to increase its production capacity.

Jewelry making is a labor-intensive process for which Filipino craft workers are very well known. Jewelry makers are considered as inactive workers and they must sustain contorted sitting posture for long periods. This study aims to investigate the factors of body discomfort by analyzing various ergonomics risk factors present in the workplace. Moreover, the task analysis intends to have a comparative assessment between symptomatic and asymptomatic workers. The methodology consists of Revised Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, Body Discomfort Assessment using Borg’s CR-10 Scale, Video Based Assessment, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Anthropometric and Workplace Design Components direct measurements. In addition, Multiple Linear Regression and Logistic Regression are used for data analysis. The result primarily shows that working height mismatch, sitting posture, working duration and sitting mobility significantly affect the perceived body discomfort. Furthermore, recommendations are made to reduce the risk of developing work-related disorders.

While it plays a vital role in a country’s economic development, port operations host a wide spectrum of health problems and work-related diseases. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, severity, and significant risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among stevedores in a Philippine break-bulk port terminal. The stevedores were asked to identify the work-related musculoskeletal symptoms they had experienced over the last three months. In this cross-sectional study, the results showed that self-reported prevalence and severity of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms were significantly higher in the upper and lower back, shoulder, and forearm regions. Some of the identified risk factors associated with the severity of musculoskeletal symptoms are age, work experience, number of working days per week, vessel work assignment, type of steel commodity, level of job satisfaction, and perceived job security among others, suggesting that the etiology of this condition is multifaceted.

In most developing countries such as the Philippines, solid waste collection is done manually, exposing the solid waste collectors to health risks. The study determined the prevalence of respiratory health problems, one of the most common health issue among these workers. The study was done at Location XYZ, and found that the prevalence of respiratory problems among solid waste collectors is at 19%. Binary logistic regression was used and found 13 significant factors contributing to the incidence results: the age of the worker, his height (m), his body mass index (BMI), number of hours of sleep, drinking frequency, number of alcoholic drinks consumed, personal protective equipment (PPE) frequency of use, decision latitude, social support, management feedback, discrimination, years in service, and whether or not he went through a job training. Based on the statistically significant factors, ergonomic interventions were recommended to help mitigate the health problems of solid waste collectors.

It is estimated that in about 30 countries, approximately 13 million people are directly engaged in small scale mining. Small scale mining activities centre on the production of gold in many countries, including the Philippines. These activities heavily rely on manual labour that include frequent or heavy lifting, pushing or pulling heavy objects, prolonged awkward postures, vibrations, and repetitive, forceful, or prolonged exertion of the hands. Thus, workers are exposed to risk factors associated with Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WMSD). This study aims to estimate the prevalence of Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) in small scale gold mining and extraction in the Philippines through the occurrence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms (WMSS). A survey, using modified Nordic questionnaire, of 124 miners from different mining sites showed 95 % of the interviewees perceived WMSS in at least one part of their bodies, with highest prevalence in lower back (65 %), shoulders (60 %), and neck (54 %).

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a cumulative trauma disorder of the hand and wrist, is one of the most common disabling injuries experienced by video-display terminal (VDT) operators. The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretically based operational quantitative predictive model of the risk of work-related CTS among VDT operators. A total of 100 female VDT operators, who performed a variety of office functions, were studied at a major midwestern university. Data were collected on job exposure, anthropometry and posture factors using questionnaires, direct observation and video-recording. Discriminant analysis and logistic regression were performed to develop the operational models. The results of the study indicated the following: (1) percentage of workday working with a VDT was the most significant factor and accounted for 60% of the variance explaining the causation of musculoskeletal discomforts associated with CTS; (2) discriminant function with six variables (i.e. work duration, trunk incline, wrist extension, wrist ulnar deviation, overall anthropometric measure, weighted anthropometric measure) correctly classified 73% of the CTS group and 72% of the non-CTS group; (3) using the logistic regression model, the probabilities associated with changes in the predictive variables as affecting CTS risk are presented such that increasing the daily work duration from 1 h to 4 h increases the probability of CTS risk from 0.45 to 0.92. The results of the study suggest that the main causation of CTS is job design, the secondary (and lesser cause) is posture associated with the workplace design and the least contributing factor to CTS causation is the individual's anthropometric make-up.

A total of 100 female VDT operators, who performed a variety of office functions, were studied at a major midwestern university. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of job exposure, posture, psychosocial and personal factors on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) comparing between CTS and non-CTS subjects. The results of the study suggest that the main causation of CTS are long periods of continuous typing activity, static and bent postures of the wrist, seating posture and the individual's wrist size. It was found that CTS subjects spent longer time and a greater proportion of their work involving keyboarding than the non-CTS subjects. CTS subjects tended to assume more extended and deviated wrist postures as well as forward leaning seating postures than the non-CTS subjects. Furthermore, non-CTS subjects were found to have wider wrists than the CTS subjects.

The “tingi” or retail concept has been a part of the Philippine culture. Filipinos embrace the concept since it allows them to buy conveniently at a lower cost and without the pressure of buying in bulk. In addition, due to the rapid growth rate of Retail Industry in the Philippines, retail companies are aggressively expanding its market security by putting up more stores. Given this aggressive expansion, manpower working in convenience stores will also increases and which may result to increase number of employees experiencing muscle fatigue. This study aims to determine the associated possible factors affecting the severity of muscle fatigue experienced by convenience store employees. A survey questionnaire was distributed to one hundred thirty seven (137) respondents. Twelve (12) factors were considered and analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. Results showed that six (6) factors namely, age, length of stay, working hours, type of work (selling area and security) and customer count were significantly contributors to the occurrence and severity of muscle fatigue.

This study aims to propose a comprehensive and reliable instrument to measure the perceived quality of destination websites. The tool evaluates destination websites according to four quality factors integrated from existing tools: information completeness, credibility, usability, and persuasiveness. Filipino domestic tourists were asked to use the tool to evaluate four provincial tourism websites in the Philippines. Measurements were taken for every factor. An initial reliability analysis was done to remove questionnaire items that weaken the Cronbach's alpha of the instrument. Then, principal component analysis was used on the remaining items to check the unidimensionality of the tool. This analysis reduced the original four factors into three, namely influence, completeness, and usability. Credibility and persuasiveness merged into a single factor, called influence, while completeness and usability were confirmed to be standalone factors. Scores for every factor as well as an aggregate score of all three factors, called the User-Perceived Quality (UPQ) score, were computed. The scores were used to draw comparisons between the websites used in the study. Design and managerial implications are also discussed. A final reliability analysis showed that the proposed tool gave higher measurement reliability (measured by Cronbach's alpha) than other existing tools. Hence, the tool developed, called the User-Perceived Quality Scale, is put forward as a potential standard framework for evaluating destination websites.