Reference Evapotranspiration, Rainfall, Moisture index, Aridity index, Water availability
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Date
2019
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Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was conducted on “Ergonomic Assessment of Postural and Musculoskeletal Discomforts Experienced by Female Workers Engaged in Flower Cultivation”, with objectives; to study the work profile and working conditions of female workers engaged in flower cultivation; to assess the postural and musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by respondents during flower cultivation and to develop an ergonomic intervention for risk prone activities in flower cultivation to reduce postural and musculoskeletal discomforts. Field survey was conducted on female workers engaged in flower cultivation in marigold fields in Ludhiana district. A total number of 120 female workers were randomly selected as respondents from these marigold fields. A pre-structured interview schedule was used to identify various work related risk factors faced by respondents; work related drudgery scores, body disorders and hazards experienced by respondents and to ergonomically assess the postural and musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by respondents. The musculoskeletal problems of respondents were assessed by using subjective scales i.e. Postural Discomfort Scale (Corlett and Bishop 1976), Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Kuorinka et al 1987) and Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (Varghese et al 1994). Objective techniques i.e. OWAS, RULA and REBA were used to assess the work related postural and musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by respondents. Results revealed that average age of respondents was 43 and half of the respondents had personal monthly income in the range of Rs. 8000-9000 / month. Respondents faced various work related risk factors like environmental, personal, psychological, sanitation, ergonomic, musculoskeletal, safety and gender biased while working at work place. Work related drudgery scores were calculated and harvesting activity was found to be the most drudgery prone activity. Whereas, „body ache‟ and „something stuck in eyes‟ were found to be the main work related body disorders and hazards experienced by respondents respectively. Regarding coping mechanisms adopted by respondents to treat their problems, it was found that large majority of respondents ignored the disorder. Respondents felt pain in lower back, neck, upper back and shoulders. OWAS (Ovako Work Assessment System), RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment System) and REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) showed that squatting with stretched arms, Squatting with side twist, Squatting and half forward bending with stretched arms were under under medium risk and corrective measures are recommended in the near future. Whereas, harvesting of flowers with full forward bending posture was under very high risk category where implementation of change was recommended immediately. Remedial measures in the form of booklet were suggested to reduce postural and musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by female workers engaged in flower cultivation.