Assessment of musculoskeletal discomfort in carrying head load by rural women and combating through ergo solutions
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Date
2014
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
Rural women in Haryana carry heavy loads on their head fetching fuel, fodder and water covering long
distances over wavy and undulated paths. This causes fatigue and discomfort to the worker resulting in low work
efficiency along with deterioration of her health. Hence, the present study attempts to determine the work profile of
rural women carrying head load and health hazards faced by them. The study was conducted in three phases. In
phase I, field survey was done on 100 rural women respondents to study the work profile and health hazards in load
carrying activities. In phase II, field experiment was done on 10 subjects to know the details of load carried on
head, the ergonomic assessment of carrying fuel wood as head load by rural women and WMSDs faced by them. In
phase III, the head load manager (HLM) developed by Mrunalini, 2011 was given as an ergo solution for its
feasibility testing in reducing the WMSDs. Results reveal that rural women worked for an average of 14.5 hr/day,
spending about one-third share for load carrying related activities (5.24 hr/day). Seasonal variations occurred in
fetching fuel, fodder and water. Frequency of lifting water was more in summer, fuel in winter and fodder in rainy
season. Main reasons behind carrying head load were their family needs and no other choice. Majority of them
were facing the problem of backache for more number of days. Problem of miscarriage was prevalent in the sample
as 40% of them faced it either once, twice or even thrice. They adopted bad ergonomic posture while lifting and
carrying loads i.e. bending their back while lifting (92%) and continuous raising of both the hands above shoulder
level while carrying loads (97%). All of them felt exhausted after performing the load carrying activity and used to
have certain level of discomfort in different body parts which were temporary for majority of them. Fodder was
found to be the heaviest load among all the materials (42.8 kg). They walked for 4.1 km with a speed of 3.4 km/hr
spending 2.6 hr with such a heavy load on their head. They carried green fodder which was 81% of their body
weight followed by fuel (71%), water pot (49%) and dung pot (34%). Materials lifted on head were having different
shapes, area, volume and density. The dry fodder of cylindrical shape had highest volume (0.7 m
3
) as well as
surface area. Ergonomic assessment showed a significant increase in pulse rate (27.9 b.min-1), HR (51.7 b.min-1),
EE (8.32 kJ.min-1) whereas there was decrease in the exhale capacity of lungs (10.2 lit.min-1). On RPE, load
carrying was perceived as moderately heavy activity (3.01), load lifting as light activity and load landing as very
light activity. Grip strength reduced after performing the activity. There was deviation in spinal angle in terms of
lumbar region by 2.7 percent and cervical region by 2.1 percent during carrying the load on head. REBA and
OWAS postural while load carrying part was critical involving high risk in the adopted posture and needed an
immediate correction in the posture. BPDS in carrying head load was highest in the low back, head, mid back,
neck, upper arms and feet. Hence, Head Load Manager developed by Mrunalini, 2011 was used as an ergo solution
and tested for its feasibility in reducing the WMSD while carrying head load. Its ergonomic evaluation revealed
that it was effective in reducing the physiological and biomechanical stress and WMSDs but discomfort at
shoulders increased. User’s assessment envisages that the HLM needed modifications to make it user-friendly.
Accordingly, the modifications were made on the basis of anthropometric dimensions of Haryana rural women,
load dimensions and user’s opinion. The modified product was renamed as Head Load Carrier. Its prototype model
was made from cane but other materials were also sought for its development at local level. Hence, ANSYS
(simulating software) was used to compare Al-alloy and ABS material to find out the better one on the basis of
weight, durability and cost. ABS material was found appropriate for being lighter in weight, low cost and more
durable, hence, recommended for development of HLC at local level.
Description
Keywords
developmental stages, Manpower, Biological phenomena, Irrigation, Meat, Energy resources, Land resources, Farmyard manure, Diseases, Planting