Musculoskeletal disorders among female workers engaged in papad rolling activity

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Date
2012
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PAU
Abstract
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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Keywords
Musculoskeletal disorders, Ergonomic interventions, Physiological stresses, muscular stresses, papad rolling
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