Redesign for Comfort and Safety

Who would have thought school projects could turn into something big, like life-size prototypes of a jeepney and a toilet? But hey, they weren’t just made for that perfect grade. They were made for “comfort and safety.” They were school requirements turned into products of student ingenuity, all made in less than a month.

Two classes of fourth year industrial engineering students taking up ergonomics at the University of San Jose-Recoletos thought they could actually set the standards of their learning to a level higher by improving the quality of life.

That’s what Ergonomics does.

“Ergonomics is the interaction between man and the system. Its goal is promoting quality of life by fitting the material or tool to the human user,” said Dr. Juvy B. Malonjao, the only ergonomics specialist in the Visayas-Mindanao region who is also the two classes’ ergonomics professor.

Dr. Malonjao wanted the students to have hands-on experience from conceptualization to actualization. “It is an application of the things they learned in class.”

True enough, the two classes were able to show how much they’ve learned during the semester as they were able to produce two major outputs: the jeepney and the toilet.

“Ergonomic Jeepney”

The TTh (Tuesday-Thursday) class redesigned something uniquely Filipino – the jeepney.

“We Filipinos are seldom comfortable inside jeepneys,” said TTh class project chairman Rankine Ruel Novabos.

So what makes this different from the one we ride on everyday?

“In this project, we used concepts of anthropometry, the science of human measurement. We determined the extremes of people: tallest, shortest, and widest. We believe that in order for the jeep to be ‘ergonomic’, it has to accommodate these people, not only the average person,” explained Novabos.

“The entrance and aisle are spacious enough to fit a widely-built man. The step is wide enough to fit the longest shoe. And the ceiling is high enough to fit the tallest sitting height,” added Nancy Calago, the class chief anthropometer.

“The windows are also high enough for passengers to see where they are. Railings are built to ensure no head sticks out. When it rains, one only has to zip the window cover and not wait for the conductor to put them on. Also, additional roofing is placed at the rear end of the jeep to give passengers time to open their umbrellas when disembarking,” said Carlo Rae Zosa, the class fabrication committee head.

Finally, the seat height ensures comfortable posture, as it is also covered in leatherette so passengers don’t slip off their seats. The handrails have safety handles so children can also reach them. The floor is custom-made to avoid slipping or tripping. Colors and shades of blue and white are used to achieve coolness and relaxation after a long and stressful day.

As if these are not enough, the class also devised a new way of saying lugar lang. “A rope is attached near the handrail. One yanks at it to cause the metal contraption placed at the front to click against each other, signaling the driver that it’s time for him to go,” explained Novabos.

So, how about the cost? “Our teacher strictly limited our individual contribution, so we innovated. We asked around for donations and were able to raise enough funds. We were very resourceful,” said Novabos.

“Ergonomic Toilet”

The MWF (Monday-Wednesday-Friday) class also has something from its sleeve to prove they also learned a lot form Dr. Malonjao. They call their masterpiece the “ergonomic toilet.”

“Everyday and everywhere you go, you always use the toilet. However, when you use it, you sometimes find some aspects in it that should be corrected,” MWF class project chairman Ronald Pet Badayos said.

“The main objective of the project is to provide comfort and safety in using the toilet,” added class researcher Aljen Repuela.

One may ask; what is a comfort room with twice the comfort?

“The toilet’s weight is capable of carrying a heavy man. The toilet seat has a foam cover to make the user feel comfortable while sitting down and to prevent him from slipping off. The toilet cover can also be flipped to the right so that the user can lean on the tank for more comfort,” explained Badayos.

“There is also a little shower attached on the right side of the toilet bowel for easy access when using water. Also, the lavatory is enough for a tall or short person to reach it. The mirror is in eyesight level,” added Richie Wagas, class fabricator.

The toilet is presented showroom-style, complete with shower curtains, cabinets, and toiletries to showcase the complete look of the toilet. The color of the tiles and flooring are also considered to give the people a relaxing time while using the toilet.

“This ergonomic toilet might cost a lot more than the usual toilet. But the benefits you reap are good for a lifetime,” Repuela said.

Making it Happen

More than just being class projects, the jeepney and toilet were able to teach the students things not taught in class.

“There are a lot of people out there suffering from ill-designed tools and things. With our projects, we hopefully bring an awareness of ergonomics to the next level,” said Novabos, the jeepney project chairman.

“Both classes encountered trying times, but passion, patience, and hard work pulled us through,” added Badayos, the toilet project chairman.

“I’m proud of what these students were able to come up. This shows how competent our students are and how much they can contribute to the society and to the industrial engineering profession,” said Dr. Dennis Anthony Kilongkilong, chairman of the USJ-R industrial engineering department.

So, the jeepney and the toilet?

They are not just school projects. They are ERGONOMICS ingenuity.

***

WRITER’S NOTE: Both projects will be in display at the IE Laboratory until the third week of November. Interested parties may contact Dr. Dennis Anthony Kilongkilong (USJ-R IE Department Chairman) at 253-7900 local 292.