An ergonomic study of women workers in a woolen textile factory for identification of health-related problems

Abstract

The observational cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 100 women workers who volunteered, outlines their cardio-respiratory and musculo-skeletal profile before, during and at end of work. In addition, information on their health status in general was collected in advance.Contrary to expectation, there was no significant change in respiratory function. However, the musculo-skeletal problems were found to be abundantly present with pain in 91% of the subjects. Region-wise mapping of pain revealed that postural pain in low back was present in 47% while in neck was 19%. Scapular muscles on the right side were involved in stabilizing shoulder, which never went overhead. On the contrary, left shoulder was raised as high (>90 degrees) in spinning action, while pulling thread. This muscle work involved trapezius, deltoid and triceps action concentrically in lifting and while coming to starting position slowly, eccentrically. There was no pause since the wheel continued to spin the thread continuously, unless a worker opted to stop the work. Accordingly, left wrist and hand were in holding contraction while the right wrist and hand holding the handle were also in a fixed position with wrist in flexion with supinated forearm. Though the overall job was light as per peak HR, there was pain due to fatigue and grip strength weakened by around 10%, at the end of the day's work. In conclusion, pain and fatigue were found to be the main problems for women in the spinning section of the small-scale industry under this study. Women have to take up dual responsibility of a full-time job as well as the domestic work. It was considered that ergonomic factors such as provision of a backrest and frequent rest periods could remediate the musculo-skeletal symptoms.

Implementing Sustainable Ergonomics for Power-Loom Textile Workers

“…Knutsson [10] also provides a model to summarize possible mechanisms of disease in shift workers. Metgud et al [11] conducted an observational cross-sectional study of a sample of 100 women workers with respect to their cardio-respiratory and musculoskeletal profile before, during and at the end of the work. Sant et al [12] have studied the adverse effect of smoke/flue on lung functions of glass factory workers of Firozabad district.…”

Identification of a suitable working posture for female workers engaged in golden thread work

“…A similar study was conducted on carpet weavers by Choobineh et al [19] who studied the prevalence of MSD symptoms in different body regions and showed that shoulders (47.8%), lower back (45.2%), wrists (38.2%), upper back (37.7%), neck (35.2%) and knees (34.6%) were the most commonly affected regions among the weavers. Metgud et al [20] also studied on the MSD of women workers in a woolen textile factory and reported occurrence of pain in the lower back (47%) and neck (19%). In a study on handloom weavers [21] it was reported that the occurrence of MSD was high in lower back (75%), upper back (73.4), shoulder (68%) , elbow (65%), wrist (70.3%), and neck (57.8%).…”

“…An industry is identified in central India, where operators are mostly women operators and 91% of them are suffering from work related MSDs [3].…”

Physiological Workload of Hill Farm Women of Meghalaya, India Involved in Firewood Collection

“…due to frequent bending posture while cutting firewood in repetitive motion, carrying heavy loads, forceful exertion etc. Majority of the subjects involved in repetitive nature of work had shoulder and wrist pain which may lead to Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) in long run [26,27]. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning.…”