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Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad (Telangana State)
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ThesisItem Open Access ERGONOMIC EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A FIXED FRAME WORKSTATION FOR FABRIC EMBELLISHMENT WORKERS(Professor Jayashankar Telanagana State Agricultural University, 2016) DOLLA ESTHER; MRUNALINI, M.India is a hub for its traditional crafts and is estimated to have around 2682 handicrafts and 491 handlooms clusters. Fabric embellishment is one of the handicraft sectors which operate in clusters in Lucknow, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Delhi, Agra, Kashmir, Mumbai, Ajmer and Chennai of India. Fabric Embellishment is a value adding property to the fabric or garment. Among several embroidery works aari embroidery is one of the hand embroidery carried out with an aar needle. They work for long hours in prolonged kneeling or cross legged postures on the floor around the wooden frame without any seating aids and were also prone for developing musculoskeletal symptoms. Work is repetitive in nature, continuous and demanding not only visual attention but also precise movements of upper limbs. Such work profiles warrant immediate attention for an in depth ergonomic evaluation for safeguarding productivity and health of workers. Existing fixed frame workstation provides scope for finding alternate workstation designs that can facilitate workers. A study was taken up with the following objectives. 1. To evaluate the ergonomic compatibility of the existing fixed frame work stations for fabric embellishment workers. 2. To identify the design needs and develop ergonomically modified fixed frame workstation design using CAD modeling. 3. To fabricate modified fixed frame fabric embellishment workstation and evaluate its compatibility over the existing. The study was taken up in twin cities of Telangana state formerly part of Andhra Pradesh namely Hyderabad and Secunderabad. An exploratory research design along with observation followed by action research was planned. A modular research tool to conduct interview was developed taking Ergomaster software module as reference and standardized. Sample was selected using proportionate random sampling technique and 150 workers from five zones of the twin cities were selected as respondents. An observational enquiry was conducted on a 30 sub sample drawn from the surveyed sample to collect the information on anthropometry of the subjects, existing workstation layouts, measurements, design needs and preferences. Based on the evaluation results, a workstation design criteria and prototype layout of workstation was evolved using Auto CAD 2010 software. The prototype design was fabricated and evaluated with 6 subjects for its ergonomic compatibility over the existing model. The general information revealed workers were only men, mostly young age, mesomorphic built and in normal range of BMI. As per the stature workers were found below the value of 75th percentile range of reference population. To study the design of workstation, the design features, dimensions, materials and finishes and other special provisions were physically observed. Mismatch was observed between the workstation and anthropometry of the subjects with reference to the desired dimensions suggested by Chakrabarti (1997). It was found that working height was more than the recommended values, while the work station depth, clearance and width were within the recommended values. The workers reported low compatibility perceptions due to seating comfort, working height and access to tool and materials. It was also reported that there was no provisions for storage of the materials. Subjects‟ responses on perceived compatibility and the perceived difficulty rating on embellishment tool and material handling, work, posture was also studied. Results revealed medium compatibility and difficulty rating with the tool and material handling and was attributed for the lack of storage facility and access to materials. Workers perceived that the task of stitching was moderate to highly difficult. Age, experience was found to be significantly contributing to the variation for the perceived difficulty in the task. The task on repetitive strain index was found to be hazardous as per the intensity of exertion, efforts per minute, wrist position and duration of work hours. Significant association was found between perceived compatibility and perceived difficulty rating proving that low compatibility means high degree of difficulty. Stooped and awkward body postures were adapted during work as per RULA were not ergonomically compatible. Based on the opinion and suggestions given by the workers design guidelines were framed. Two levels of workstation designs one with chair level seating and the other floor level seating were evolved using Auto CAD 2010 software. Ergonomically compatible feature included in the designs were flexibility in workstation height, stainless steel frame to prevent rust, screw to hold the frames tight in position and spool for holding thread; wooden chair with inbuilt draws for storage of tool and materials, low back rest and foot rest for posture comfort. A prototype model was fabricated with the mentioned features and was evaluated over the existing by six users. The post evaluation results revealed that workers‟ perceived compatibility with modified workstation was significantly more over the existing. The study concluded that work station improved with due consideration to the users‟ needs and anthropometrics contributed to comfort in working. The study contributes to improve the occupational well being of embellishment workers who are most important part in handicraft sector.ThesisItem Open Access Gender And Impulse Buying(Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University;Hyderabad, 2000) Moorty, Kameshwari; Renuka, S.ThesisItem Open Access Gender And Impulse Buying(College Of Home Science ; Angrau ; Hyderabad, 2000) Kameshwari Moorthy