Track: Human Factors and Ergonomics Competition

Abstract

The jeepney is the most popular kind of public transportation in the Philippines for its accessibility and affordability. Over the years, the features of jeepneys have improved through modernization, yet there are still issues, particularly in the workstation design, that need to be addressed to reduce the vulnerability of jeepney drivers to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In this study, the working condition of modern jeepney drivers at ABC Transport Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative was assessed through observations with ten (10) drivers using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (focusing on the major processes involved such as driving, reaching, and payment), interviews with twenty (20) drivers using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and the gathering of anthropometric measurements of thirty-seven (37) drivers. Results from RULA and REBA showed that medium risk was present, requiring further investigation to implement the necessary changes, while the NMQ results revealed that 46.11% of the drivers experienced discomfort in at least one body part, of which 46.99% of them had trouble during the last seven days prior to the interview. Spearman rank-order correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between the NMQ scores and the RULA and REBA scores of the three major positions involved—driving, reaching, and payment. The results of these assessments, as well as the anthropometric measurements of the drivers, served as the basis for creating an ergonomic design for the workstation that provides greater comfort and safety.