Affiliations: Post Graduate Campus, National Institute of Design,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Prabir Mukhopadhyay, Post
Graduate Campus, National Institute of Design, GH-0 Extension Road, Gandhinagar
382007, Gujarat, India. Tel.: +91 79 23244515; Fax: +91 79 23244518; E-mail:
prabirdr@gmail.com, prabir@nid.edu
Abstract: Background: Stone carving at Jaipur in Rajasthan state of India, is
a traditional craft employing a large number of local youths. As an unorganized
sector problems are many ranging from lack of benefits to occupational
ergonomic issues of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders(WMSDs) and injury to
body parts. Study Design: Twenty five male workers were selected in
each of the three sections of a stone carving unit. The focus was to identify
different ergonomic risk factors associated in this profession from the field. Methods: Still photography and video photography was used to record
different activities. Different types of non invasive tools like Rapid Entire
Body Assessment (REBA), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Occupational
Repetitive Action Index (OCRA) were used. Psychophysical measures were
investigated by Body part discomfort map, rated perceived exertion scale and
visual analogue scale. Objective measurements (heart arte and skin temperature)
were recorded with stop watch and digital thermometer. Results: The
working heart rate after 30 minutes of work was 112.4 beats per minute
categorizing the work as moderately heavy. Postural analysis by REBA indicated
high score (13/13). Similarly postural analysis by RULA showed high score
(7/7). These indicate vulnerability of many of the postures to musculoskeletal
disorders and injury. Conclusion: The study indicates that majority of
the activities are in the high risk category and demands immediate ergonomic
intervention in the form of tool, workstation and process design. This could be
done by involving different Non Government Organizations (NGOs), political
parties, and the Human Rights Department both at the center and at the state
level.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomic risks, posture, repetitive activities, strain index
