Ergonomic Evaluation of Task Performed by Workers in Manual Brick Kiln
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Date
2023
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Abstract
The present study was conducted in Jorhat district of Assam. The study intended to find out the work-related health problems prevalent among the workers engaged in brick kiln activities. The ergonomic risk factors causing health problems were also examined in the study. The measures to minimize work related health problems among the brick kiln workers were also discussed. Three subdivisions of Jorhat namely Jorhat, Mariani and Titabor were selected performing for the study based upon the brick kiln industry. A total of 306 workers from the selected brick processing industries were selected from the total population of the brick industry on the 95% level of confidence.
Findings revealed that among the surveyed workers, 59 per cent were male and 41 per cent were female workers and mostly 81 per cent were married. Most of the workers were under the age group of 41-50 years. Most (53) of the workers in the age group of 51-60 years were involved in the brick industry from 4 to 6 years followed by 46 numbers in the age group of 61-70. Only 11 of the workers were engaged from 7 to 9 years in the age group of 61-70. Loading of bricks to bake was found to be highly involved activity (Rank I). This was followed by arranging brick to dry (Rank II) and stacking brick (Rank III). The workers engaged in brick kiln industry worked for 10 to 12 hours daily. On an average of 2 hours of the break was found to be taken by the respondents for their lunch and rest period in all the brick processing units as surveyed. In the present study of ergonomic risk factors in brick kiln industries was studied in terms of postural analyses, types of muscular efforts, perceived exertion, REBA score etc. Findings of the study revealed that highest RPE score (Rating of Perceived Exertion) i.e., 4.25 was observed while performing molding brick which was followed by loading brick to fire with the mean RPE score of 4.23. While performing these activities the workers sit and stand in a continuous awkward posture. Arranging bricks to dry recorded the lowest RPE score of 2.47.
From the data it was observed that during performance of all the activities the workers felt highest discomfort in thighs, lower back in standing type of activity followed by neck, wrist and shoulder in sitting and squatting postures. Majority 97.71% reported knee pain followed by 94.12% suffered low back pain and shoulder pain 93.79%. Around 66 per cent of the workers
felt the pain always whereas, 28 percent of the workers had the pain sometimes, followed by 6 per cent of workers who never had pain during activities. It was observed that 38 percent of the workers suffered from less acute incidences of body pains whereas 45 percent of the workers had negligible incidences which was followed by acute incidences i.e., 17 percent. From the analysis of collected data, it was observed that as age, years of involvement increase prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder among the worker was higher. To improve the musculoskeletal health of kiln workers, workers should be trained in occupational safety and ergonomic principles. They should be encouraged to use personal protection aids like the lumbar belt to reduce lower back issues, the duration of rest should be split into short breaks, workers should be motivated to change their postures periodically with various stretching practices to relieve excessive muscular stress, tasks should be rotated between males and females, among age groups and BMI categories periodically as these factors are associated with musculoskeletal issues. Trolleys should be used not only in brick carrying but also in mould carrying. Moulding box and other hand tools should be redesigned ergonomically, and the use of already redesigned hand tools (i.e., spade, trowel, etc.) must be promoted.