Volume : IX, Issue : IV, April - 2019

STUDY ON ERGONOMIC DISCOMFORT AMONG SELF–HELP GROUP WOMEN INVOLVED IN LARGE–SCALE CHAPATTI MAKING

Geetha Suresh, Malini Jayasurya

Abstract :

Self–help group women have a lot of success stories for the method of functioning, revenue generation and scaling up, across India. This study is about one such group from Hosur, Tamilnadu, involved in large–scale chapatti making. The objective of the study was to assess the physical discomforts of self–help group women while making chapattis in large scale and to assess the work environment with their productivity. The women are making around 8,000–9,000 chapattis per day per group manually for the last 15 years. The total women involved in chapati making were around 70, with age group varying between 30 and 62. Though there was no correlation between age and Body Mass Index (BMI), there was a significant correlation between BMI & rolling, BMI & frying process for few groups. Further, the study revealed the physical discomforts caused during this process and the severe stress on muscles and tissues created by the awkward postures used. Using Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire (CMDQ), the most pain point scores were observed and it showed that 75% of the pain was in the wrist and shoulder during kneading and portioning process and about 80% of women had severe wrist, shoulder and back pain while rolling, whereas about 85% of members felt the leg, knee and the wrist pain while frying. The discomforts caused by work place environment were contributed more by heat and temperature, which is produced at the gas fryers while frying chapattis. The clinical significance of pain for rolling process was more among 2 groups compared to other groups and was due to the improper layout planning and space constraints at the work unit. An awareness programme for a period of six months on posture positioning, proper seating, exercise and yoga could potentially reduce the pain and discomforts caused. This study is a continuous process and focusses on the long–term intervention activities.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

STUDY ON ERGONOMIC DISCOMFORT AMONG SELF-HELP GROUP WOMEN INVOLVED IN LARGE-SCALE CHAPATTI MAKING, Geetha Suresh, Malini Jayasurya INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH : Volume-9 | Issue-4 | April-2019

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