Tirthankar Ghosh

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder: An Occupational Disorder of the Goldsmiths in India

Background: Gold ornament making industries are one of the widespread small-scale industries of India. These industries belong to the unorganized sector of the state. A large number of goldsmiths are working there for prolonged period in cross leg posture at semi-confined workstation. Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify Occupational Disorder of the Goldsmiths in India. Materials and Methods: In the spresent study, 120 male goldsmiths were randomly selected from the Davangere district of Karnataka. A detailed questionnaire study on discomfort feeling was done by the modified Nordic questionnaire, which considering the information about work nature, job stress and discomfort feeling. The existing workstations were assessed by the measurement of work areas. Analysis of body posture by rapid upper limb assessment was done to evaluate the work stress during their job. Results: From the analysis, it was revealed that MSDs were the major problem of the goldsmiths. The activities of the goldsmiths were also highly repetitive. Moreover, the questionnaire study revealed that most of the workers were affected by occupational disorder like pain at neck (80%), shoulder (20%), wrist (45%), and low back (75%) and also eye problem like irritation (30%) and burning sensation (70%). They also perform their job in hazardous postures. It was recorded that the workstations were poorly illuminated (19 Lux) in respect to precision work. Accidents like cut and burn occurred frequently due to the unsafe condition of the workstation. Conclusions: From the observation and analysis of the result it was concluded that health of the goldsmiths were highly affected improper body posture and workload. Twisting, bending, and over-reaching are the resultant of poorly designed workstation. These actions force them into a non-neutral position that increases the overall discomfort and pain at the lower back, neck, and shoulders. Moreover, lack of proper illumination at work site also exerts an additional adverse effect on the health of the goldsmiths.

An Ergonomics Study on Posture-Related Discomfort and Occupational-Related Disorders Among Stonecutters of West Bengal, India

Stonecutting and setting are important tasks in a construction site. A field study was conducted to assess occupational-related disorders and to conduct ergonomics assessment among stonecutters. The study focused on (a) the duration of work per day, (b) the working environment and working activities and (c) the feeling of discomfort in different parts of the body. A detailed posture analysis was performed with the Ovako working posture analysis system (OWAS). It was observed that stonecutters worked continuously in awkward postures during stonecutting and setting. Consequently, they suffered from discomfort in different parts of their body, specifically in the lower back, knees and shoulders, which mainly prevented them from continuing their work. This study also revealed that stonecutters had to work in congested work areas with a poor level of illumination. The noise level and dust particles emitted during stonecutting activities could affect stonecutters.

Effect of an ergonomic intervention on muscle fatigue and respiratory stress of goldsmiths during blowing pipe activity in India

OBJECTIVE One of the main activities of the goldsmiths is Blowing Pipe. The blowpipe is to expand and shape the gold beads by means of positive pressure produced by careful, controlled oral expiration. Objective of this study was to assess the effect of ergonomic intervention on facial muscle fatigue and respiratory stress of goldsmiths to continue their work. PARTICIPANTS For this current study 100 male goldsmiths were selected from the Davangere District of Karnataka. METHODS This study used the questionnaire, Examination of Pulmonary Function, Measurement of peak expiratory flow rate and electromyography of three major facial muscles. Three primary types of ergonomic interventions were provided to the goldsmiths. Subjects were interviewed at the end of each week to ascertain intervention acceptance. From the analysis of subjects preference, the hand air pipe was selected by. RESULTS A large number of goldsmiths complained of respiratory symptoms in this industry. Reduced lung volumes and peak expiratory flow rates of goldsmiths was found, presumably from heavy pressure generated by using blow pipe. This work habit also increases the fatigue of facial muscles, at the end of the day. CONCLUSION It was found that, by implementing the ergonomic intervention can reduce facial muscle fatigue and respiratory stress of goldsmiths.

Respiratory problems of workers in the zarda industry in Kolkata, India.

This study was undertaken to assess the pulmonary and respiratory problems of workers in a zarda factory. A total of 70 permanent zarda workers (50 manufacturing workers and 20 office ones) were studied in a factory in Baguihati, Kolkata, India. The study included (a) completion of a questionnaire (on pulmonary and respiratory problems), (b) measurement of physical parameters, (c) spirometry and (d) measurement of peak expiratory flow rate. At the same time, the worksite was analyzed with an OSHA-recommended ergonomics checklist. Many zarda manufacturing workers complained of respiratory symptoms. Continuous exposure to the tobacco processing environment reduced the workers’ lung volume and peak expiratory flow rates. Our study indicates that zarda manufacturing workers may have respiratory and pulmonary disorders related to exposure to tobacco dust in their work environment.

A study on factors of dissatisfaction and stress of the blacksmiths resulting from the organizational culture in the surgical instrument industry of India

Background: It is important to understand what motivates workers and the extent to which the organization and other contextual variables satisfy them. The aim of the study was to determine factors of dissatisfaction resulting from the organizational culture among the blacksmiths involved in the surgical instrument industry. Materials and Methods: Fifty male surgical blacksmiths each of the skilled and unskilled groups of the forging section were selected. Organizational Role Stress Scale was used to measure the individuals’ role stress and several forms of conflict within an organization. Also, the organizational culture and personal involvement in an organization was measured among the surgical blacksmiths. Results: The mean score for total role stress for Skilled was 71.7 and for unskilled was 77.2. The most frequent type of organizational culture was reported to be hierarchy, both by skilled and unskilled surgical blacksmiths, followed by market and clan culture. Conclusion: This study shows that the skilled surgical blacksmiths have lower level of stress and conflicts in comparison with unskilled surgical blacksmiths. Both skilled and unskilled surgical blacksmiths estimated their level of personal involvement as low and indicated insufficient involvement in work teams. The satisfaction of the employees with their status and role in the organizational culture was also poor for both skilled and unskilled surgical blacksmiths.

Impact of injuries on work performance among the surgical blacksmiths of West Bengal

The manufacture of surgical instruments is one of the leading small-scale industrial sectors in West Bengal, India. The present study was undertaken to assess the rate, type and cause of injury incidents among surgical blacksmiths and whether these incidents affected the work performance of the blacksmiths. A cluster of 216 skilled and 225 unskilled blacksmiths (male), engaged in the manufacture of surgical instruments, was selected from Baruipur subdivision as study subjects. The study included: 1) completion of a questionnaire; 2) measurement of physical parameters; 3) incident records; 4) statistical analysis of the data. The present study revealed that the blacksmiths suffered very frequently from work-related injuries. The number of injuries that occurred during 2004 – 2005 for skilled and unskilled blacksmiths was 1413 and 1610 respectively. Unskilled blacksmiths were disproportionately affected. These injuries resulted in a high rate of lost workdays, i.e. 517 and 742 workdays for skilled and unskilled workers respectively. The study thus indicated that surgical blacksmiths are highly prone to injuries in their occupation, mostly affecting the fingers (23% and 23%) and back region (21.7% and 22%) in both groups, which consequently affected their health, productivity and work performance.