From Strain to Efficiency: Ergonomic Equipment Design for Chicken Waste Collection

CALABARZON ranks as the second-largest producer of chicken in the Philippines, providing decent employment opportunities and contributing to the economic well-being of many families. This study evaluates the manual collection of chicken waste in poultry farms, which poses potential ergonomic hazards and causes physical discomfort to the workers assigned to this task. The energy expenditure rate was examined using the Mifflin St-Jeor Formula, resulting in an average of 1.67 kcal/min—exceeding the maximum recommended energy expenditure rate for repetitive tasks involving both arms. The researchers assessed the workers’ postures during the process using ergonomic assessment tools: the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). The REBA yielded a score of 13, indicating a very high level of risk that requires immediate ergonomic intervention. Similarly, the RULA score of 7 also reflects a very high risk. Furthermore, the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to evaluate the level of physical discomfort experienced by the workers. The upper back, lower back, and both shoulders were identified as the most problematic areas. A paired t-test revealed a significant difference between the manual method and the use of ergonomically designed equipment. Based on anthropometric data, the researchers designed and developed ergonomic equipment to replace the traditional shovel, aiming to reduce ergonomic risks and physical discomfort among workers.