Nigeria automobile service industry is labour intensive with high level of work-related injuries among its workforce. This research assessed work-space (WsD) and work-method designs (WmD), level of compliance with recommended standards (RSs) and effects on workers' wellbeing. Clearances for services in 55 supine positions and 45 stand-up workbenches' (SUWb) heights were measured and compared with RSs. Questionnaires were completed among 252 workers to measure prevalence of work-related injuries. Descriptive statistical procedure and Chi-Square tests were conducted using SPSS. 94.4% of workers suffered from low back, 43.5% neck and 40% knees pains among others. Averagely, 43.33±7.3cm and 67±0.15cm were measured for supine position clearance and SUWb heights with 15.03±14.3 and 26.55±16.23 percentage deviations respectively from the minimum RSs. Automotive mechanics may be prone to back, hand and/or wrist related problems and Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Ergonomics trainings, use of mechanical devices and protective equipment will reduce injuries connected with the job.
The primary aim of this study is to develop a model for estimation of the cooling requirement of residential rooms. Fuzzy logic was employed to model four input variables (window area (m 2), roof area (m 2), external wall area (m 2) and internal load (Watt). The algorithm of the inference engine applied sets of 81 linguistic rules to generate the output variable in Cooling Load rating. A paired t-test was carried out using SPSS version 20 package, with the results of human professionals' calculations for each assessed rooms compared with the model generated Cooling Load capacities for the same set of variables. The human calculation and model results were observed to be strongly correlated (r=0.880, p<0.001) with no significant difference between the two sets of variables (t19=-1.697, p>0.001). On the average, human calculation values were 221.5 points lower than model calculated values (at 95% confidence interval [-447.55, 4.50]). The study proposed a model to size the cooling capacity of residential rooms. The model is capable of providing results comparable to that of human professionals in the application area. It is simple and can find its usefulness among building consultants/professionals and home owners.
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