impacts of hive types were closely related to the heights impacts but the impacts were prolonged in the case of Langstroth hive (Figs. 4 and 5). The delay time in frames removal and fixing back in the Langstroth hives was the major causative factor of prolonged bending ( Fig. 6). Cutting of honey comb from Langstroth hive frames was not as easy as from bar(s) (Fig. 7) in Kenyan hives.
This was in agreement with the assertion of Taylor (1978) that, the best hive for African honey bee is the KTB hive. The delay time in harvesting honey from Langstroth hives aggravated more profuse sweating in particular, on the part of team leader.
The impacts on the crews differed slightly. Together, these impacts corroborated those ergonomic studies ’ findings in wood based and related industries previously reported across the globe (Bjoring, 1998; Bjoring and Hagg, 1998; OSHA, 2000; Chhokar, 2006; Balimunsi et al. 2011; Jerie, 2012;
Albizu- Urionabarrenetxea et al . 2013; Jazani and Mousavi, 2014). This study has clearly revealed that beekeeping in Nigeria lacks improved ergonomic conditions and it is characterized by loss of honeybees’ genetic and wood resources, loss of yield and low productivity.
Appropriate beekeeping principles and harvesting technologies should be geared towards improvement of ergonomic conditions using time efficient hives and ergonomic standard stand height. The study recommended ergonomic guideline of 80-84cm stands height with hives falling buffer for
