Occupational health problems among farm workers engaged in polyhouse activities
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Date
2021
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study entitled “Occupational health problems among farm workers engaged in
polyhouse activities” was conducted with the objective to analyse various occupational health
problems faced by workers engaged in three types of polyhouses Naturally Ventilated
Polyhouse (NVPH), Anti- Insect Net Shed House (AINSH) and High Technology Polyhouse
(Hi-Tech) activities; and to suggest measures for reducing occupational health problems of
farm workers engaged in various polyhouse activities. Study was conducted in two parts i.e.
Field survey and Field experiment. For conducting the field survey, forty polyhouses were
selected purposively from Ludhiana district. From all the selected polyhouses sixty
respondents were randomly selected. A self structured interview schedule was used to assess
the workplace and to study the occupational health problems faced by polyhouses workers.
Subjective Ergonomic scales like: Postural Discomfort Scale, Standardized Nordic
Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Rating of perceived exertion were used to assess the
discomfort level of respondents in polyhouses. A total of twenty subjects from the sample of
field survey having the permissible limit of physiological parameters were selected for field
experiment. Objective assessment scales like: Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Rapid
Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS), Angle
of deviation, Grip strength and Pinch strength were analyzed to assess musculoskeletal and
postural problems of subjects. Results revealed that respondents working in polyhouses rated
that highest musculoskeletal discomfort was felt in shoulder with mean score of 3.25,
followed by lower back (Mean score=3.18) and buttock (Mean score=2.37) region. In NVPH
and AINSH polyhouses, Harvesting and maintenance of polyhouses, in Hi-tech polyhouses
bed making and use of fertilizers activities were the highest risk rating activities by
respondents. Postures like full bending, standing for long hours, squatting were the most risky
postures adopted by respondents during polyhouse activities. Various measures were
suggested in the form of booklet to reduce occupational health problems of the respondents.
Two tools i.e. Load Carrying Trolley and Multi Purpose Step Trolley were developed and
tested on the basis of feasibility and acceptability scores to know their acceptability which
shows that acceptability level for Load Carrying Trolley and Multi Purpose Step Trolley was
high in term of musculoskeletal factor and tool factor.
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Citation
Gupta, Shruti (2021). Occupational health problems among farm workers engaged in polyhouse activities (Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.