Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder of Female Sewing Machine Operators of Hisar
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
Women’s participation in the sewing activity shows the importance and contribution of
women to economic productivity, there is need for occupational health and safety practices covering
sewing machine operators. In the light of all these the present study was conducted to explore the work
profile and working environment of sewing activity, to assess biomechanical stress in sewing activity
and to analyze visual stress in sewing activity The present study was conducted under two phases;
Phase I: Survey work and Phase II: Experimental work. Samples of 80 were selected.In the study it was
found that the maximum no. of the sewing machine operators were in the age group of 31-40 years and
belonged to upper caste (47.50%) with family income of Rs. 17,475 and activity income Rs. 6,081.25,
respectively. Forty five percent were using hand operated sewing machine and were working from last
10 years as a sewing machine operator were working 6-7 hours per day with mean garment stitched per
day was 3.19. Most of them experienced injury due to swelling of fingers. Mean age of the sewing
machine operators for the phase II study was 36.66±4.47years, with mean height 161±6.51 cm, and
mean weight 62.8±0.07 and BMI 23.73±7.03. All the sewing machine operators were having
mesomorphic body type which indicated a good body built. Regarding the environmental parameters
humidity (56.5±2.6%) and noise level (57±7.2 db) were within the range while illumination level
(262±53.06 lux) was approx half of the recommended values which leads to visual stress and
workplace temperature (29.53±2.89
0
C) was too hot and uncomfortable that leads to fatigue and
tiredness. Score of postural analysis of sewing machine operators through RULA was which 4 means
investigation and changes are required immediately and in OWAS the posture of the workers falls in
action category 2 which means changes should be considered in future planning, Similarly results
obtained by Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire revealed that the pain felt by the sewing machine
operators were more in lower back and neck (86.66%), shoulders (80%), upper back and wrist
(73.33%), than the other body parts. Hemming was found the most strenuous activity as the perceived
exertion was found highest in hemming (3.60) than, stitching (2.46) and cutting (1.66). Biomechanical
parameters revealed that the adoption of poor posture by the sewing machine operators was causing
musculoskeletal discomfort and affecting the performance and causing pain Similarly for majority of
respondents (66.6%) sewing activity RPE (3.60). Hence, on the basis of identified problems of sewing
machine operators improvements were suggested to the respondents as a part of WISE methodology to
reduce the fatigue, monotony, and exertion and a workplace was designed for the hand operated sewing
machine operators to correct the posture and work efficiently to reduce the incidence to
musculoskeletal disorders.
Description
Keywords
Musculoskeletal, Disorder, Sewing Machine Operators