ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS AMONG WOMEN WORKERS OF CASHEW PROCESSING UNITS AND WORKPLACE ERGONOMIC INTERVENTIONS
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Date
2019
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Publisher
MPUT, UDAIPUR
Abstract
Indian cashew industry has a high untapped potential to support the livelihood of cashew
farmers, provide numerous employment opportunities and improve returns through global
trade. The production as well as productivity of cashew is highest in the state of Maharashtra.
Cashew processing poses many health hazards to the workers. Objectives of study were to
study gender participation in Cashew Processing Units, to identify the occupational risk
factors causing occupational hazards in Cashew Processing Units, to find out prevalence and
symptoms of diseases related to risk factors, to assess Musculoskeletal Disorders experienced
by women workers in Cashew Processing Units and to introduce intervention in identified
women dominant tasks and to conduct ergonomic assessment for its impact.
The present study was conducted in two districts namely Raigad and Ratnagiri of Konkan
region of Maharashtra state. Respondents working for more than 5 years were selected, that
comprised a sample of 120 women for data collection and 90 for three ergonomic
interventions. Interview schedule was prepared for gathering demographic, work profile,
gender participation and health status of cashew processing women workers. Assessment of
occupational risk factors was done with MMERT, for assessing musculoskeletal disorders
SNMQ was used. A questionnaire prepared by ICMR, NIOH Ahmedabad was used to elicit
information on BOHS from total sample of 20 doctors. Ergonomic interventions planned on
cashew grading workstation included, a) ‘workstation platform’ for cashew grading. b) ‘stool’
for cashew grading and c) introduction of improved tool for ‘Cashew shell separation tool
‘and ‘Cashew kernel peeling tool’.
In the selected six cashew processing operations gender participation was women exclusive
and women dominant. Overall scores of risk factors suggest that skill requirement under
mechanistic aspect was a major stressor in the operation of grading of kernel. The overall
average scores for risk factors related to cashew processing operations required ‘minimum
manual materials handling, seating arrangement under biological aspect depict that there was
high risk in grading of kernel, separation of cashew shell and peeling of kernel. Considering
this as a risk factor, an intervention was planned to provide work table and stool compatible to
human dimensions. Working environment was comfortable under environmental aspect while
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doing all cashew processing operations. Intervention was planned to introduce new tools for
separation of cashew shell and peeling of cashew kernel under technical aspect.
Most of the operations were done manually which involved a lot of musculoskeletal effort
resulting into discomfort while performing various cashew processing operations. Among
these, separation of cashew shell, peeling of kernel, and grading of kernel recorded highest
pain score in different body parts which indicated need for ergonomic intervention. Regarding
data collected on BOHS, it was observed that the doctors have never treated the patients
working in cashew processing units, and they were unaware about the hazards and risk factors
of working in cashew processing units.
Strain index scores were calculated for right and left hand of separation of cashew shell and
peeling of cashew shells. Reduced strain index scores during pre and post intervention
indicated decreased risk for distal upper extremity disorder of respondents.
The results indicate that ergonomic intervention of ‘newly designed workstation’ i.e. ‘cashew
nut grading platform and stool’ were very effective for the women working in cashew
processing units in Konkan region of Maharashtra. Data during intervention shows that
designed workstation and improved tools gave immense improvement in work output, seating
arrangement and posture improvement.
Description
Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards among Women Workers of Cashew Processing Units and Workplace Ergonomic Interventions
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Citation
Waikar G. And Singh S.