A study on musculoskeletal disorders of stone masonry workers in high hills of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand
Loading...
Files
Date
2021-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Stone masonry work is one of the main economic activity after agriculture at hilly areas, it supply the bulk of varying aggregates to the construction industry within the region and beyond. Stones are widely used building material for commercial as well as for residential purpose. It includes construction of residential units buildings, roads, walls, bridges and so on. Therefore workers who are involved in stone masonry work performed various activities like extraction, breaking, loading and unloading, crushing, shaping and layering of the stones are at the state of high risk of occupational hazards. All above stated activities are very injurious to their health. Therefore the present study was purposively conducted in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand in Nainital district under Dhari block. From Dhari block 5 villages were purposively selected (Paharpani, Manjuli, Meladob, Johnpokhra, Sheelalekh). A total of 120 stone masonry workers were randomly selected from these respective village. The results revealed that while performing these activities/ operations, by manually they were suffering from physical, ergonomic, biological, environmental, psychosocial and respiratory hazards and they totally ignoring this due to zero job option. Accident, injuries, and musculoskeletal discomfort were most common among them. Along with that material handling was also done manually by workers in hilly areas. They used to carry heavy loads on their head (67%) shoulder (16.32%),hand (4%) without using any load carrying device or vehicle due to ignorance. Majority 88.33 percent of the workers felt musculoskeletal discomfort. Majority 95 percent of the workers were adopting awkward posture during task. Maximum 84.16 percent workers were working in forceful motion. Around 39 percent of the workers stated that the tools were poorly designed.53.33 percent of the workers were at risk of physical hazards while lifting, followed by 54.16 percent workers experienced vibration in hands while performing activities like extraction, breaking, crushing and shaping. 83.33 percent of the workers felt fatigue during and after activities. Maximum 84.16 percent of the workers reported that activities they were performing cause pain. High RPE score of 9 was found during breaking activity, whereas the lowest score of 5 was found during shaping and layering activities. Results of REBA 45.33 percent workers were lies under AL4 which interprets high risk level and immediate change was required,33.33 percent workers in AL3 (medium risk and change is required soon), 16 percent of the workers comes under the action level AL5 (very high risk, and required immediate change now). Similarly in case of RULA 48 percent workers were lies under AL7 which interprets high risk level and immediate change was required, 34.66 percent workers in AL5- AL6 (medium risk and change was required soon), 17.33 percent of the workers were fall under the action level AL3 - AL4 (low risk, change may be needed).Results for WERA shows that majority 82.66 percent of the workers involved in various activities were fall under the medium action level that indicating (Task is need to further investigate and required change). The correlation coefficient values shows that musculoskeletal discomfort are dependent on age, work pattern and mode of load and had a significant relationship with these independent variables. A significant relation was found between age and level of musculoskeletal discomfort in various body parts with respect to activities in Chi square test. After analysis all issues in stone masonry work ergonomically sound wooden trolley was designed for workers involved in loading and unloading for eliminating the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among them.