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The base of the pyramid: a growth framework for SMME action by Van der Merwe, Michael David
Published 2017Get full text
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Page will reload when a filter is selected or excluded.- Educators often spend a lot of time carrying out repetitive motions of the upper limbs and prolonged standing on a daily basis, exposing them to hours of ergonomic risks. This is due to awkward postures, caused by significant deviation of some major body members from the normal neutral positions. Poor ergonomics can lead to various Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), which are of serious concern for workplace safety, especially in jobs that require repetitive motions. It thus became necessary to assess the stress level associated with teaching postures and the prevalent musculoskeletal discomfort in different parts of the body. In this study, ergonomic assessment of teaching personnel at an International Secondary School and University of Ibadan, Nigeria was conducted to determine the prevalent musculoskeletal discomfort in different parts of the body. The study utilised two ergonomic assessment tools- Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) to gather qualitative and quantitative data about posture and motions during teaching activities. It was discovered that both university lecturers and secondary school teachers in Nigeria face significant ergonomic risks, primarily in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Further comparison revealed that educators in the secondary school experienced higher severity of musculoskeletal discomfort and exposure to MSD risks, compared to those in the tertiary institution. The educators of the International School had an average REBA score of 4.57, while those at the University of Ibadan had a score of 3.73. These scores indicated amedium level of MSD risk for both groups, but the educators of the International School were at a higher risk. On comparing the CMDQ outcome, it was discovered that there were major differences in the regions where discomforts were reported. While secondary school revealed higher average scores in the neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder regions, and with the neck region having a mean score of 7.003; right shoulder having a mean score of 4.550; and left shoulder having a mean score of 1.600; outcome from University of Ibadan revealed higher mean scores in the lower back and left wrist regions, with the lower back region having a mean score of 7.450 and left wrist region having a mean score of 1.030. These scores indicated a mild to moderate level of discomfort for both groups, with each facing major discomfort in unique body regions. This research highlights the significance of ergonomic evaluation and the combination of quantitative and qualitative data to identify potential interventions. 2 results 2
- Ergonomics||Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)||Teaching personnel||Work-related discomfort 2 results 2
- Energy utilisation at work in the labour-intensive building industry is of prime importance to contractors who match people to jobs. This paper provides an insight into modelling energy expenditure in a specific task, namely brick laying in various postures. It therefore takes previous "generic" biomechanical-energy prediction models, and makes the case for applying and adapting broader theoretical models to a specific occupational task. This refinement of established models provides a meaningful and valuable contribution to interpreting and predicting energy expenditure during a defined occupational task -- brick laying. Results obtained show that in the standing position, fewer muscles are brought into action. For the sitting position, the muscles are more relaxed, relieving the bricklayer of stress, but the center of gravity is still lower than the standing position. In the case of squatting, there is a lot of strain in the body by considering the muscles of the arms, legs, and back resulting in more energy released in the body. The bending position has repeated movement of the muscles at the back and the center of gravity varies. Thus, this research of energy expenditure in brick layers may be of interest to ergonomists and those interested in biomechanical-energy modelling. 1 results 1
- Taylor and Davis total productivity model has significant advantage over the traditional and more commonly used productivity models - its holistic nature. The model incorporates elements of net sales, inventory changes, wages and salary, investor's contribution, working and fixed capital. This paper presents a unique approach in the determination of the total factor productivity for a manufacturing organisation. This study is motivated by the dearth of models comprehensive enough to cover the major aspects of business apart from the usual input-output approach of productivity analysis which is limited to the output items and material/non-material resources. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the feasibility of applying Lagrange multiplier in optimising the variables and parameters of the model. The research has implications for decision making in several dimensions primarily it aids the utilisation of optimal solutions in arriving at decisions. This would avoid suboptimal decision making and promotes implementation of optimal decisions. This study is new, in that, it presents an enhanced version of a model that has been available to researchers several years back. 1 results 1
- Three feeding trials, the first of nine weeks duration, the second and third of ten weeks duration each were carried out to investigate the protein utilisation by broiler chicks fed three premixes. In the first trial three diets with different premixes were fed to the broiler chickens. The premixes used sanders broiler starter and finisher premix (premix 3), Roche zoodry broiler premix (premix R) and Dizengoff vitadiz B.P (premix D). The starter rations contained 23% crude protein and energy level of 2970 Kcal ME/kg diet. The finisher rations contained 20% crude protein and energy level of 2940 Kcal ME/kg diet. Records of average weekly live weight, feed intake and body weight gain; feed conversion ratio, body weight gain per gram protein intake were taken, while the dry matter digestibility, nitrogen digestibility and nitrogen retention trials were carried out at the fourth and eighth weeks. There were significant differences (P<.0.05) in ail parameters tested except in the dry matter digestibility coefficient. Birds fed premix S and those fed premix R had the best performances. In the second trial the premixes used were the same as in the first experiment. At the starter phase the birds were divided into three dietary treatments based on different premixes. All the diets had 23% crude protein and the energy level was 2970 Kcal ME/kg diet. The birds fed the different premixes showed significant differences (P<0.05) in their average weekly live weight, feed intake, and body weight gain; feed conversion ratio, dry matter digestibility coefficient, carcass trait, weights of wings, back, breast, total edible meat and total bore; crude protein content (dry natter basis) of organs, blood glucose, liver glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (LGOT) and liver xanthine dehydrogenase. Birds fed premix S and those fed premix R had the best feed utilization and carcass characteristics. For the finisher phase each of the three treatments of the starter phase was further divided into three, and the three treatments of a finisher phase obtained from a single treatment of the starter phase were allocated to three different premixes. Thus there was a total of nine treatments at the finisher phase. All the diets contained 20% crude protein and the energy level was 2940 Kcal ME/kg diet. The birds fed the different diets showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all parameters except in their nitrogen retention, weights of spleen, lungs, breast, abdominal fat, and total hone, blood glucose, plasma albumin, plasma globulin, serum total protein, serum albumin, serum creatine and LGCT. Birds fed premix S at the starter and finisher phases had the best feed utilization and carcass characteristics. In the third trial the premixes used were the same as in trials one and two. At the starter phase the experiment was designed so that the diets contained three different premixes with two levels of palm oil (1% and 2%). There was a total of six dietary treatments. All the diets were isocaloric (about 3000 Kcal/Ag diet) and isonitrogenous (23% crude protein) . The birds fed the different premixes showed significant differences (F<0.05) in ail the parameters tested except in the average weekly body weight gain, dry natter digestibility coefficient, weights of feathers, viscera, liver, spleen, kidney, lungs, abdominal fat and total bone; blood urea nitrogen, plasma components, serum total protein, globulin, uric acid, creatine, and creatinine; and LGCT, Birds fed premix R with 1% or 2% oil and birds fed premix S with 2% oil had better feed utilization while birds fed premix R with 1% or 2% oil had the beat nitrogen retention and carcass characteristics. For the finisher phase each of the six treatments of the starter phase vas divided into three, and the three treatments of the finisher phase obtained from a single treatment of the starter phase were allocated to the three premixes, thus making a total of eighteen treatments at the finisher phase. All the diets were Isocaloric and Isonitrogenous. Birds fed the different premixes showed significant (P< 0.05) differences in all parameters measured except in their total nitrogen output, nitrogen retention (grams), plasma globulin, serum globulin and serum creatine. Birds fed premix R at the starter and finisher phases with 2% oil had the best feed utilization and carcass characteristics. It was concluded that premix S and premix R gave satisfactory results in respect of broiler feed utilization, nitrogen retention and carcass characteristics, when fed throughout at the starter and finisher phases or interchangeably at the starter and finisher phase, with or without palm oil. However 2% palm oil can be added to improve the performance of the birds. The need for establishing appropriate combinations of premixes to be used for broiler production in Nigeria was highlighted, it was also suggested that standards be established for the premixes used in Nigeria. 1 results 1