Risk Assessment of Workers in Polyhouses of Haryana
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Date
2014
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CCSHAU
Abstract
The present study was conducted to find out the risk among workers of four different types of polyhouses
(Hi-tech, NVPH, WIT and AINSH) in Haryana state. The information regarding number, area and type of polyhouses and subsidy provided by Govt. of India and Haryana on polyhouse farming was collected from respective district horticulture offices of Haryana State. Season wise climatic data (temperature, humidity, light, air contaminants, level of CO2 and solar radiation) of different polyhouses was taken to find out the difference of climatic data between polyhouses and conventional farming as well as within polyhouses. Workers form three district were examined on the basis of involvement pattern in polyhouse farming, satisfaction regarding workplace and organizational facilities and problems faced by workers at
workplace. For the ergonomic study, 15 women workers of polyhouses of Karnal district were selected on the basis of good health status. Results depict that in Haryana State 614 different types of polyhouses were found under the area of 17,71,121 m2 . The total area under polyhouse farming was 0.49% of total cultivated area in Haryana State. Maximum number of polyhouses (92) and area (2,76,470m2) were found in Karnal district. Regarding environmental parameters, temperature, humidity, dust and CO2 level in polyhouses of Karnal district 19.80C, 63.9%, 255.1ppm, 6841ppm) was significantly higher (CD-0.9, 1.7, 25.9 and 33.5) than polyhouses of Ambala district (17.9 0C, 61.1 %, 222.6 ppm, 650.8 ppm) and Hisar district
(17.40C, 60.18%, 221.3 ppm, 640.6ppm). Findings explain that concentration of temperature humidity and CO2 was found higher in WIT polyhouses, i.e. above 50 percent 40 percent and 50 percent, respectively in comparison to conventional farming in all month. In NVPH and WIT polyhouses climate was at extreme danger with heat score of 1820F and 2230F, which depicts that if workers continue to do work in this environment can have threat of possible heat stroke. Workers (62.79%) were involved in polyhouse type of farming from last 2-3 years and found to be working for 5-8 hrs (73.25%) daily. In polyhouse farming, workers were spending most of their days (280 days) on tying activity followed by bed making (245 days) and bed washing (242 days). Karnal workers were found to be exposed to higher temperature and humidity and were facing high problem of burn skin ( =2.04) degradation in quality of work ( =2.00), vomiting Regarding physiological parameters, in working condition heart rate of WIT polyhouse workers (103.5b.min-1) was found to be significantly higher in comparison to workers of NVPH (96.16 b.min-1), Hi-tech (92.16 b.min-1), AINSH (92.9 b.min-1) and conventional farming (87.6 b.min-1). Though blood pressure of the workers from WIT (62/98mmHg) and NVPH (61/94mmHg) polyhouses was found significantly lower in comparison to workers of other polyhouse. ( =2.00) and headache ( =2.10) in comparison to workers of Hisar and Ambala districts. Bed making and bed washing activities were
done in sitting posture with flexion motion. High degree of flexion was illustrated in tying, pruning and harvesting activities with flexion of 1220, 1080 and 900, respectively. The maximum forwarded deviation (increase) in angle was observed in bed washing (202±2.6), sowing (200±2.1) and field preparation (199±1.6). On the basis of OWAS and REBA analysis the posture of workers during bed washing, tying and pruning was inappropriate with recommendation of necessary change in
posture for activity. Regarding physiological parameters, in working condition heart rate of WIT polyhouse workers (103.5b.min-1) was found to be significantly higher in comparison to workers of NVPH (96.16 b.min-1), Hi-tech (92.16 b.min-1), AINSH (92.9 b.min-1) and conventional farming (87.6 b.min-1). Though blood pressure of the workers from WIT (62/98mmHg) and NVPH (61/94mmHg) polyhouses was found significantly lower in comparison to workers of other polyhouse. High concentration of temperature, humidity and carbon-dioxide were significantly affecting the heart rate, blood pressure and lung function capacity of the workers of WIT and NVOH polyhouses. Lung function capacity and heart rate of the workers from WIT polyhouse was found to be significantly (P<0.05) lower in comparison to other polyhouses with conventional farming. On the basis of study working environment of Hitech polyhouse was found significantly appropriate for workers with temperature of 170C -210C in winter and 280C-320C in summer, humidity of 63%-71% in winter and 40%-
53% in summer and CO2 of 350 ppm-523ppm in winter and 378ppm-490ppm in summer.
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manpower, biological phenomena, inorganic compounds, area, seasons, purification, summer, agreements, irrigation, costs