Workplace Efficiency Improvement for Jeepney Drivers in Metro Manila

Background: The jeepney is the most popular means of transportation in the Philippines. A jeepney is a long utility vehicle, like a mini-bus, manufactured by local companies, that can accommodate from 13 to 23 passengers. The current design of jeepneys, however, exposes its drivers to musculoskeletal discomfort and unnecessary motion. Aims: The study aims to identify any physical ergonomic hazards in the jeepney driver’s workspace and to develop an analytical model of the workspace that will address any identified hazards and improve driver comfort. The re-design aims to improve the awkward postures and eliminate the unnecessary tasks that are currently performed by jeepney drivers. Method: The dimensions of the jeepney were evaluated against anthropometric measurements previously collected from 100 drivers. Postures assumed by the drivers were evaluated using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). An analytical prototype of the driver’s workspace was developed using Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) software. A number of design considerations were included in two alternative options for the workspace redesign for the fare collection component of the driver’s tasks and two alternative options were identified for the design of the money holder in the analytical prototype. Results: Based on the analysis conducted, the dimensions of the driver’s workspace were not fitted to 95th percentile of the population. The workstation resulted in awkward driving postures which were identified using the RULA with scores of 3 and 4 for hands on steering wheel and hand on shifting gear, respectively. The action of reaching backward to provide passengers with change, as evaluated from the task analysis, was proven to be unnecessary. The proposed re-design of the jeepney driver’s workspace was able to incorporate appropriate dimensions that enabled the proper location of vehicle controls, considering anthropometric constraints of reach, height, strength, and posture. RULA scores obtained from an analytical simulation showed a decrease in awkward postures. Responses by jeepney drivers were also favourable for the re-design of the fare collection system. Conclusion: The proposed re-design of the jeepney driver’s workspace was able to address the problems encountered by drivers. However, there is a need to make a full-scale prototype in order to test its overall acceptability. This study may be used by future researchers to further improve the design of the jeepney. Manufacturers could also tackle issues of vibration and force exerted on the steering wheel, pedals, and while shifting gear, which can also influence driver discomfort.