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Thesis

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2012 - 20133
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Subject: Home Science × End date: 2013 × Start date: 2010 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Musculoskeletal disorders among female workers engaged in papad rolling activity
    (PAU, 2012) Gupta, Ritu; Bakhshi, Rupa
    Present investigation was carried out to study work environment, postures adopted, musculoskeletal disorders and physiological stresses faced by women engaged in papad rolling activity and to design and evaluate suitable ergonomic tools/interventions for humanizing their work environment. Study was conducted in two phases: field survey and field experiments. Field survey was conducted on 200 respondents selected purposively from Ludhiana district. Data revealed that respondents spend 4-6 hours in papad rolling activity. Postural analysis using RULA (mean score 5.5) indicated that respondents were working in poor posture. Job Strain Index (mean score 30.81) indicated that job is hazard prone. Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders as perceived by respondents indicated that majority of respondents revealed the symptoms of transient backache, wrist/elbow strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, picondylitis, tendonitis, cervical and lumbar spondylosis. Therefor e, based on results of survey conducted and suggestions made by respondents, a rolling board was designed (6 cms high) and their work nvironment was modified. These were tested on 25 subjects selected for field experiments. Results revealed that designed rolling board and improved workplace conditions reduced heart rate (5.20%), energy expenditure (13.50%), total cardiac cost of work (15.99%), physiological cost of work (14.24%), perceived exertion (136%), angle of deviation of spine (3.01%), grip fatigue (6-7%), pinch fatigue (7-9%), and back muscles fatigue (7.49%) including body discomfort and symptoms of MSDs. RULA interpretation indicated that posture of subjects improved by using designed rolling board. Work output of the subjects increased and they were more satisfied and comfortable with the intervention.
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    Assessing Organizational Deception in Interpersonal Communication using Information Manipulation Theory (IMT)
    (PAU, 2013) Mittal, Ritu; Randhawa, Varinder
    The study was conducted to test the applicability of Information Manipulation Theory (IMT) in Indian context, prevalence of deception inorganizations and the reasons thereof. Survey design was used to collect information from the faculty of PAU by presenting violated stimulus material measuring four dimensions of message manipulation i.e. quantity, quality, relevance and manner to test the claims of the theory. All the violations were perceived as deceptive. Hence, the study proved that IMT theory is applicable in Indian context. Quality violation was perceived as most deceptive while quantity violation was perceived asleast deceptive form of information manipulation. Prevalence of deception was explored in respect of personal and academic purposes. For both the purposes, quantity violation (2.99) was found to be most widely prevalent followed by relevance (2.70), manner (2.49) and quality (2.48) violation.Overall deception mean (2.67) showed that faculty sometimes violates the information for varied purposes. Quality violation which was perceived as most deceptive was reportedly least prevalent while, quantity violation which was perceived as least deceptive was found to be the most prevalent form of deceptive communication. Reasons for violation were studied under three subheads i.e. personal factors, social factors and organizational factors. Among personal factors pleasing high- ups came out as prominent reason for deception followed by lack of skill, personality and home- work interface. Among social factors, maintaining social relationships emerged as foremost reason followed by unharmonious relationship, history of reciprocity, social undermining and apprehensions about misuse of information. Regarding organizational factors, unhealthy competition came out as foremost reason for deception followed by role conflict, organizational reward system, organizational climate and organization system. Among personal, social and organizational factors, organizational factors (2.79) were reported as the prominent factor followed by personal (2.76) and social factors (2.63). Hence, information manipulation is widel y prevalent even in academic community and the prominent reasons emerged to be rganizational factors. It can therefore, be inferred that organization must take measures to reduce sycophancy, minimize role conflict, streamline reward system and promote healthy work environment for improving overall organizational output and productivity.
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    Occupational Health Hazards Faced By Unskilled Women Working At Construction Site
    (PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2012) Karuna Bharara; pushpinder
    Present study was conducted with an objective to study work and working conditions, extent of occupational health hazards faced thereof and to develop and implement an educational intervention for ensuring same of women engaged as unskilled labourers at construction sites in Ludhiana city. Survey was conducted on randomly selected 80 such women using both objective and subjective research tools. Result revealed that their attire was hazardous as they wore synthetic sarees, unstable headgear and no shoe ware. All were engaged in unskilled work: load carriers, sorting and washing bricking or mixing concrete cement. There were no facilities for child care and refreshments at work site, no privacy to pass urine, and faced gender-biased issues too. Major risk factors perceived by them were: uneven and muddy ground, unsupported and steep ladders, and obstructed pathways, polluted air and water, noise, unhygienic and stinking surroundings. They perceived repetitive and strenuous nature of job, hazardous workplace and bad work posture also risk factors along with lack of medical facilities and safety measures. Incidences of Sun burn, sun stroke, dehydration, cough/chest infection, sore throat, skin allergies, boils, stomach ailments, contagious diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (repetitive strain injury, cramps, cervical and low back pain); and reproductive hazards (UTI, miscarriage and premature deliveries) were also high. Respondents reported skin abrasion, falls, slips, trips, crushing and pinching of body parts, burns, sprains, cuts, bleeds and swelling of body parts in recent past. Extent of occupational hazards was perceived to be very severe in the areas of work, worker and work place.