Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

Neena Vyas ¹, Aruna Rana ¹, Seema Sundhu ¹, Madhu Dadwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

In spice industry, women workers spend time in performing different activities. Women generally work under number of strains like inefficient tools, awkward posture and poor environmental conditions that not only affect their work efficiency but also their health adversely. The present study “Postural Analysis of Women Involved in the Spice Packing Activity” was undertaken to find out the health status of women workers involved in spices industry and to measure the ergonomic cost of work in the spice packing activity. Random sampling technique was used in selecting 60 women involved in spice industry. RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) posture analysis sheet was used to access working posture. The results revealed that maximum number (37) of respondents always used the sitting posture while performing the packing activity. Majority of the respondents sometimes spent more than 3 hours while performing the packing activity. Majority of the respondents reported the problem of itching in neck, swelling in feet and stiffness in wrist. The results of RULA analysis depicted the high risk in the working posture while packing the spices.

Keywords

Posture, Musculo Skeletal Disorders, Spices, Grip Strength.

Full Text

   

Neena Vyas ¹, Aruna Rana ¹, Madhu Dadwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, College of Community Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

The impact of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) is pervasive and prevalent across a wide spectrum of occupations, as is evident across the globe through the numerous studies conducted. However, there are few studies that document the prevalence of MSDs of women in India as the country's farming community constitutes more than 58 per cent of the Indian work force. Thus in the present study an attempt has been made to analyze the prevalence of MSDs in women farmers involved in transplanting of vegetable saplings. The study was carried out on thirty women of Simbalkhola village where women were mainly involved in vegetable growing. Green chilies, brinjal were transplanted with both traditional and improved sapling transplanter. The results revealed that the working heart rate of the women was 122 bpm^-1 while working with the traditional method in comparison to 116 bpm^-1 while working with new sapling transplanter. The postural analysis showed much of bent in the trunk and neck area while working in the traditional method as compared to the slight bent while working with the sapling transplanter. Further, the technology usage satisfaction was seen among the women users with slight alterations and additional feature like handles on both the sides along with a sapling carrier bag.

Keywords

Ergonomic, Technology, Sapling Transplanter, Hill Farmer.

Full Text