Rauf Iqbal

Safety Management Practices in Small and Medium Enterprises in India

Background Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often the main pillar of an economy. Minor accidents, ergonomics problems, old and outdated machinery, and lack of awareness have created a need for implementation of safety practices in SMEs. Implementation of healthy working conditions creates positive impacts on economic and social development. Methods In this study, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 30 randomly chosen SMEs in and around Mumbai, Maharashtra, and other states in India to evaluate safety practices implemented in their facilities. The study also looked into the barriers and drivers for technology innovation and suggestions were also received from the respondent SMEs for best practices on safety issues. Results In some SMEs, risks associated with safety issues were increased whereas risks were decreased in others. Safety management practices are inadequate in most SMEs. Market competitiveness, better efficiency, less risk, and stringent laws were found to be most significant drivers; and financial constraints, lack of awareness, resistance to change, and lack of training for employees were found to be main barriers. Conclusion Competition between SMEs was found to be major reason for implementation of safety practices in the SMEs. The major contribution of the study has been awareness building on safety issues in the SMEs that participated in the project.

Evaluation of the working posture and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among medical laboratory technicians

BACKGROUND Technological advancement in the medical laboratories has exposed the laboratory technicians to various ergonomic hazards due to nature of their work. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to analyze the working postures, to find out the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders and to investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders with individual factors, work characteristics and the working postures. METHODS The study was conducted among 60 medical laboratory technicians. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and RULA were used for this study. RESULTS Mean and SD of age, BMI and work experience of the technicians were 28.6 ± 9.04 years, 22.07 ± 4.5 and 7.1 ± 8.2 years respectively. The overall prevalence of musculoskeletal problems experienced by the technicians was 73.3% and the major affected areas were trunk, knees, neck and ankles/feet. Statistical analysis shows significant associations between musculoskeletal symptoms and VAS scores. Also a significant difference was found between the means of pre and post work shift scores of neck, low back and knee pain. Postural analysis showed that the subjects mean Score A, B and Grand Score were found to be 3.98 ± 0.8, 4.95 ± 1.6 and 6 ± 1.02 respectively. The final RULA score 6 ± 1.02 emphasizes on poor workstation design which resulted in unnatural posture. CONCLUSIONS The study highlighted the prevalence of postural and musculoskeletal problems among medical laboratory technicians. Intervention of administrative and engineering controls can significantly reduce ergonomic hazards.

Study on lumbar kinematics and the risk of low back disorder in female university students by using shoes of different heel heights

The study was taken up to investigate the effects of heel heights on lumbar kinematics and the risk of Low Back Disorder (LBD) in females. Nineteen female university students (24.5 ± 3.36 yrs) volunteered in the study. Lumbar kinematics was measured by using Industrial Lumbar Motion Monitor (iLMM). The volunteers were asked to walk for a distance of 50 meters in 3 different given conditions i.e bare foot (Heel 0), with flat heels (Heel 1) and with high heels (Heel 2). Heights of Heel 1 and Heel 2 were 1.5 ± 0.84 cm and 5.5 ± 1.70 cm respectively. The Lumbar kinematic parameters studied were- Average Twisting Velocity (ATV), Maximum Sagital Flexion (MSF) and Maximum Lateral Velocity (MLV). It was observed that all the above mentioned Lumbar kinematics - ATV, MSF and MLV increases with increase of heel heights, which in turn increases the risk of LBD. As a result of increase in Lumbar kinematic values with increase in heel heights, LBD risk has also increased. Mean and SD of the LBD risk with Heel 0, Heel 1 and Heel 2 were 16.79 ± 6.04%, 19.00 ± 7.38% and 22.11 ± 6.98% respectively. Lower stature with high heels showed higher risk of LBD than the higher stature with high heels.

An integrative approach for evaluating work related musculoskeletal disorders

OBJECTIVES To develop a framework for evaluating the work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). PARTICIPANTS The proposed framework was tested on 15~jewellery manufacturing workers working at Chinchpokhli region in Mumbai, India and on 15 students studying in a management institute of Mumbai, India. METHODS The framework has been broken into three phases. Phase 1--Ergonomic-risk evaluation; Phase 2--Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) evaluation and Phase 3--Clinical examination. Ergonomic-risk evaluation determines the relationship between work relatedness and musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) evaluation tries to assess the presence of discomforts/disabilities in different body regions, through subjective evaluation tools. Ergonomic-risk evaluation involved QEC, PLIBEL and posture analysis by RULA. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) evaluation involved administration of self reported questionnaires. Clinical examination involved muscle grading by a physiotherapist and back strength measurement. RESULTS The framework suggested that ergonomic risk evaluation techniques, self reported body part questionnaires and physical measurement of physiological/biomechanical transients may have a relationship and can be used for the evaluation of work related musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSION The proposed integrative approach will help in developing stage wise intervention strategies for work related musculoskeletal disorders.

Work related musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory technicians

Medical laboratory technicians are a unique group of healthcare professionals who are at risk for developing work related musculoskeletal symptoms. The study was conducted using 49 laboratory technicians working in the department of laboratory medicine in Mumbai hospitals. Several measures were obtained: Quick Exposure Checklist (QEC), Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), RULA and REBA. Results show that the most prevalent body regions were lower back (30.61%), upper back, knees (20.40%) and neck (18.36%). The QEC analysis showed that the neck (93.4%) has the highest level of exertion followed by the wrist (69.1%), back (62.7%) and shoulder (54.3%). The analysis of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) revealed significant differences in the morning and evening scores for neck (p<0.005), low back (p<0.012) and knees (p<0.023). A significant difference was also found in hand grip measurements before and after the 8 hour shift, similar as for pinch grip measurements. RULA and REBA scores for various activities varied from 4 to 7 and 5 to 12 respectively. Scores of RULA and REBA indicated that risk was very high and further investigations were required. The subjective evaluation of workstations revealed that 22.4% felt the workstation height was inappropriate and an objective evaluation showed that the dimensions of the laboratory work benches were not appropriate. Stress and pain were evident from the findings of NMQ and QEC. Ergonomics intervention was recommended to reduce WRMSDs for the medical laboratory technicians.

LIFTING CAPACITY AMONG INDIAN MANUAL MATERIALS HANDLERS USING PROGRESSIVE ISOINERTIAL LIFTING EVALUATION

Purpose: Weight of the load which is to be lifted and its characteristics are considered to be important risk factors for low back disorders (LBD) among manual material handlers. Determining the amount of load a person can lift is important in minimizing the incidence of LBD. The objective of this study was to determine the lifting capacity, adopting two lifting techniques at two levels among male construction workers using progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation (PILE). Methods: One hundred and forty-three male construction workers with minimum 1 year of work experience and without any acute illnesses participated in this study. Workers were advised to perform PILE using two lifting techniques (stoop and squat) and at two lifting levels (waist and shoulder). Results:: The mean lifting capacity was found to be 24.50 ± 5.10, 21.20 ± 5.54, 19.76 ± 4.08 and 17.25 ± 5.18 kg, respectively, for floor to waist-stoop, floor to waist-squat, floor to shoulder-stoop and floor to shoulder-squat categories. The lifting capacity decreased by 19.40% and 18.54% when the vertical distance was increased from waist to shoulder adopting stoop and squat techniques, respectively. Conclusion: Lifting capacity for construction workers has been determined using PILE, and it was found to be more during stoop technique of lifting at floor to waist level.

Physiological Effects of Backpack Packing, Wearing and Carrying on School Going Children

Thirty male school children from primary school, aged 12 years, were selected to carry backpacks of 10% body weight where 0% body weight was used as a baseline. Heart rate and blood pressure tests were conducted on the subjects. Subjects had walked on a treadmill for 20 min at each load condition at 1.1 m/s. This was done in both cases when subjects followed the normal pattern of packing and wearing and when they followed the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) recommendations. Heart rate was recorded before, during and 5 min after walking on treadmill whereas blood pressures were measured before and immediately after trial, and at 3 and 5 min after every trial. The results showed a significant difference in heart rate, blood pressure and its recovery for 10% body weight load conditions before and after recommendations. The packing, carrying, wearing of backpack should be done as per the AOTA guidelines.

Comparative analysis of gait kinematics of male and female construction workers while carrying asymmetric loads in different modes

In order to determine the gender differences in gait pattern during load carriage, 6 male and 6 female construction workers performed load carrying activity for four different load conditions. The loads included a baseline condition in which subject carried no added load. Subjects walked at self-selected speed along the walk way stepping two Kistler Force Plates with load and without load for 15 minutes. Load carried was 20% of subjects body weight. Results demonstrated certain sex specific differences on kinematic pattern in walking. Changes in various walking variables like speed, stride width, stride length, cycle time, double limb support, steps per minute were reported. Walking pattern of both males and females was affected by different modes of load carriage. Males reported maximum exertion during shoulder load whereas females had maximum exertion during hand load. Overall exertion measured by Borg-RPE Scale was found to be more among females as compared with males during the activity. It is important to take careful consideration while giving loads to males and females. Head load is recommended for females and back load for males when carrying 20% of body weight load. In summary, womens gait is characterized by greater changes than men. Characterizing unique gait patterns of women and men during load carriage in construction work may be beneficial for detecting the early stages of walking abnormalities that may lead to pathology with ageing affecting their work life.

Relationship of Heart Rate with Oxygen Consumption of adult male workers from Service and Manufacturing Sectors

The purpose of the present study was to find a relationship between Heart Rate (HR) and Oxygen Consumption of industrial workers. HR and Oxygen Consumption of 135 adult males from service sector and 49 adult male from manufacturing sector in the age group of 40-50 years were measured by direct (breath-by-breath technique using Cortex Metamax 3B) measurement using computerized Bi-cycale ergometer. The correlation coefficients of HR with oxygen consumption of Service and Manufacturing sectors were 0.82 and 0.81 and Mean Square Error were 24.02 and 29.54. These two group were merged (135+49=185) and an Experimental group was formed (Phase I). In Phase II Prediction equation for oxygen consumption was developed from the regression analysis. The correlation coefficient of HR with oxygen consumption was 0.82 and Mean Square Error (MSE) was 24.27. In Phase III 100 new subjects (Validation group) were chosen at random from service and manufacturing sector. There oxygen consumption was determined by using laboratory technique and also by prediction equation developed in phase II. Test-retest correlation values showed high correlation coefficient 0.85 and MSE 16.24. The higher correlation value shows the accuracy of the prediction equation developed in the present study.

A study of subjective visual disturbances in jewellery manufacturing.

Subjective Visual Disturbances are silent adversaries that appear over a period of continued exposure and arise when the visual demands of the tasks exceed the visual abilities of the user. Jewellery manufacturing activity involves precision designs, setting the metal and stones, polishing and filing which requires higher visual demand. Therefore, it is expected that the jewellery manufacturing workers may experience subjective visual disturbances. This study was taken up with the following objectives 1) To study the presence of subjective visual disturbances among jewellery manufacturing workers and compare the same with VDT operators 2) To study the effect of work exposures on subjective visual disturbances and 3) to ascertain whether subjective visual disturbances have any permanent vision related problems. The study was carried out on jewellery manufacturing workers, VDT operators and on graduate students. The symptoms of subjective visual disturbances were identified using a questionnaire developed by Sheedy (2003). Viewing distances were measured and visual angles were calculated. The eye check--ups were also carried out. The subjective visual disturbances were higher in jewellery manufacturing workers. The findings suggest that work exposure has an impact on the causation of subjective visual disturbances. No pathological conditions of the eyes were observed.