OCCUPATIONAL WORKLOAD AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS OF WOMEN BUS CONDUCTORS WORKING IN HYDERABAD AND SECUNDERABAD
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Professor Jayashankar Telanagana State Agricultural University
Abstract
Buses are an important public transport facility available to a common man. These transport facilities in India are run by State-Owned Road Transport Corporation and private travel agencies. The conductor is expected to stand for prolonged periods whereas the driver sits for long duration at his seat. Today, it is widely known that many women also joined as bus conductors and therefore attention is to be drawn towards their gender and ergonomic issues. This would unable to plan suitable ergonomic interventions for their occupational facilitation and work load relief. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the occupational workload of women bus conductors, to identify their musculoskeletal disorders and to evolve suitable ergonomic interventions to overcome the occupational workload and musculoskeletal disorders.
The research design used for the study was exploratory in nature. The study was conducted in Hyderabad and Secunderabad on hundred women bus conductors. The sample was stratified first into zones and later into bus depots, and then subjects for the survey were equally drawn from the employees at each bus depot. Interview schedule was used as research tool by the investigator for the present study which was prepared in English and Telugu languages in two parts. Part A contained general information where as part B contained specific information to elicit complete information as per objectives.
According to the results of the study, among the sampled women bus conductors, 25 per cent were young adults and sixty one per cent were in their early middle age. All the respondents were educated and among them 74 per cent of women bus conductors were found to be below graduation level. It was interesting to note that one member was qualified up to Ph.D level also. Majority (93%) of women bus
xii
conductors was married and 77% were living in nuclear families. Very few (16%) of the households were found as female headed. Sixty three per cent were found to be living in small size family units. Among the women bus conductors, 83per cent were having 5 – 15 years of work experience. The results projected that except a very few freshers, all were having above 5 years of experience. As per Kuppuswamy socio-economic status scale (Ravi et al., 2013) 74% of the respondents belonged to upper lower socio economic class and 26% belonged to middle socioeconomic class.
On physical characteristics of respondents, the body mass index indicated that women in the early middle and middle age were overweight and the young adults were found normal when compared to reference standards of National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (2006). Grip strength was ranging between 15.33 kg to 18.46 kg for right hand and 14.2 kg to 16.91 kg for left hand and the variation showed an increased trend as per age group.
According to the study, women worked for slightly more time (8.44 hr) than the standard work hours (8 hr) set by the employees association.
Women bus conductors experienced inconvenience of time, lack of transportation facilities to reach home, loss of sleep due to domestic responsibilities led to their preference for first shift over the second shift. Mixed perceptions were expressed on the time at activity by women bus conductors.
As per survey, ninety two per cent of women bus conductors perceived difficulty due to repetitive strain followed by 74 and 70 per cent respectively due to awkward posture and physical load with respect to ticket issuing activity. Among the ergonomic factors, repetitive factor was found significantly associated with perceived difficulty in SR writing activity at one per cent level of significance. All the sample population expressed that physical load while handling tools during the issue of tickets as difficult.
According to the study, 70 per cent respondents experienced pain in the neck. Forty nine per cent and forty per cent reported pain in upper and lower back respectively. Less than 7 per cent reported general symptoms in the right and left upper extremities Results obtained that due to prolonged standing they also experienced general symptoms mainly in the leg region, followed by the hand region. It was also reported that most bus conductors experienced discomfort mainly in the legs and knees. Pain in all body parts was predominant by frequency and intensity.
The suggestions given by the women bus conductors, interventions were proposed for women based on their onboard duties and off the board duties. As per the suggestions given, the conductor bag was redesigned.
Description
Keywords
null
Citation
D10,096