Abstract
The study evolved ergonomic principles needed by garment workers for garment finishing in Southeastern Nigeria. Specifically, it determined important ergonomic principles necessary for garment finishing, ergonomic principles already adopted by garment workers and ergonomic improvement needed by the garment workers. Survey research design was adopted. Population was made up of 267 garment workers drawn from 19 registered garment companies in the area of the study. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean, and improvement need index. Findings show 15 important ergonomic principles for garment finishing which include; improving visibility by contrasting the colour of the garment being inspected from the colour of the work surface (X = 3.83), titling the work surface towards the operator while pressing to help improve visibility (X = 3.75), providing adjustable chairs with proper back support and cushioning for hand sewers (X = 3.74), among others. None of the 15 identified important ergonomic principles were being practiced by the garment workers. Thus, there is need for ergonomic improvement in the 15 identified important ergonomics principles needed for garment finishing. It was thus recommended among others that the needed ergonomic principles should be packaged into a training manual for occupational health and safety education for the garment workers.