Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among women tea factory workers of Nilgiri: An ergonomic study

Abstract

This research study is about the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among women tea factory workers of Nilgiri. The purposive random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The work related to musculoskeletal disorders or discomfort and the pain experienced by the workers were determined by using Standardized Nordic Questionnaire Work related activities taken as independent variable; pain and discomforts taken as dependent variable. Work related pain/ discomfort was reported in 12-month, last month and prevalence in 7 days during May 2015 to April 2016. Workers reported that musculoskeletal pain for the 12 months according to body parts  especially on the neck (80%), shoulders (60%), lower back (87.5 %), hips (80%), knees (72.5%) and wrists (25%) due to their daily activities in the factories which were lifting, lifting above the shoulder level, lifting with one shoulder, pushing, pulling loads more than 25 kgs. By implementing ergonomic interventions like improved work organization with job rotations and ample rest during work of the tea factory workers will reduce their musculoskeletal disorders symptoms and pain.