An Ergonomic Approach to Health Status and Problems Among Women in Building Construction Industry
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Date
2017-06
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
In India, construction industry is the largest employer of unorganized sector next to agriculture sector. Women are almost unskilled labourers and they face serious problems related to work, viz., wage discrimination, gender and sexual harassment, unhealthy job relationship, lower wages and health problems. This study was conducted in Dharwad city with the objective to analyze the health problems of women in building construction industry. A sample of 120 women respondents were selected for study and a sub sample of 30 women respondents were taken to assess the postural problems. The tools and techniques used for the study were omron automatic blood pressure monitor and grip dynamometer was used to record the blood pressure and grip strength of both hands of respondents. Body map and Rate of Perceived Exertion scale was used to identify the pain and severity of pain in the body. Rapid Entire Body Assessment scale was used to assess the postural discomfort and risk score while performing load carrying activity. Majority of the respondents belonged to middle age group of 34-42 years who were having normal blood pressure. Load carrying was the main activity and cent per cent of women carried all types of load; as high as 50 per cent of the women transferred 632.36 kgs of load per day. Maximum per cent women had reported health problems due to load carrying activity. Upper back pain had highest mean score of 4.73 and pain in lower back had highest mean score of 4.68 depicted very severe pain. Cent per cent of the women experienced very high risk with REBA score of more than 11+ while performing load carrying activity and implement change in their posture. There was highly significant reduction in grip strength of both hands at the end of the day.