XXXIII IULTCS Congress November, 24 th 27 th, 2015 Novo Hamburgo/Brazil

Transcription

1 195 Study and Evaluation of occupational health, musculoskeletal disorder and safety among worker s in cutting section of leather goods manufacturing industries using REBA techniques Kattaiya Karthikeyan 1, Kavati Phebe Aaron 2, Kaliappa Krishnaraj 3, Bangaru Chandrasekaran Centre for Leather Apparel/Accessories Development, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai Phone: karthik@clri.res.in, kphebejohn@yahoo.co.in, kkraj1968@gmail.com, bchandru@clri.res.in Abstract Ergonomic plays a key role in the performance and effectiveness of workers in any organization. In the past few years occupational health and musculoskeletal disorders MSD has been considered to have a major impact in the health and the economy of any organization as well as the nation as a whole. The aim of this study is to find out the occupational health and musculoskeletal disorders risks among the work force in Leather goods manufacturing industry. It also aims at the awareness among the workers on the correct posture at the work station and physiological condition of worker in determining the ergonomic factor to the work station. The fatigue and safety issues caused due to improper position and posture of the human body in line to the work station plays a pivotal role in the health and safety of the workers. The tools used in this study are Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). The study was carried among 73 workers in the age group of 21 to 55 in the cutting sections of leather goods manufacturing industries who were clickers and manual cutters. Comparison of current procedure followed with respect to the actual ergonomic procedure revels that are prevailing among the workers. The data collected were analysed, interpreted and validated for the issues related to MSD. Keywords: Occupational health, Safety, Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Work station. 1 Introduction Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) were first noticed by Bernardino Ramazzini, who documented the disorders that he saw in workers with insistent and irregular movements in unnatural postures. These work-related disorders of the neck, shoulder, lower back, upper limbs and locomotors organs continue to be of the interest to workers, researchers and companies due to the significant temporary or permanent disability of workers; symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling; time off from work; reduced productivity; increased worker s compensable costs; and the increasing number of associated cases coming before the courts [1]. Rongo L.M.B. states that the workers in Small Scale Industry (SSI) are reported ergonomics related injuries and illness ranging from eyestrain and headaches, musculoskeletal ailments such as chronic backache, neck and shoulder pain. No ergonomics guidelines are known for SSI. Awareness of ergonomic principles among workers in welding, spraying, painting, woodwork and carpentry and metal works are needed. The levels of awareness of ergonomics principles are low among workers in SSI compared to office workers. So, immediate measures are need for the awareness of ergonomics principles in SSI [2]. 1

2 WMSDs affect one million people each year and the most common problems are back pain, work related neck and upper limb disorders, repetitive strain injuries and lower limb disorders [3]. In a private sector in the United States, nearly six million workers experience nonfatal injuries or illness [4]. For preventing these injuries, the cause of load exposure and those aspects of the task or job that should be redesigned must be identified in order to eliminate or at least reduce that exposure. [5] Therefore immediate attention must be provided to those individuals. Any delay in such cases might result in very lengthy treatment with a long rest period and also results in other sufferings with financial losses to the individual, his / her family, surroundings and the community in turn[6]. Workrelated musculoskeletal disorders have become a major problem in many industrialized countries [7]. The aim of this study is to minimize the work fatigue among the workers in the industries [8]. In this study an effort has been made to understand and to study the various WMSD among the workers in cutting section of leather goods manufacturing industries. 2 Materials and Methods Hignett. S and McAtamney. L developed the whole body and upper limb assessment tool named as Rapid Whole Body Assessment (REBA). [9] The data s obtained by analyzing in this process are Neck, Trunk and Leg as one category and the second one are Arm and Wrist. Depending upon the body position and the awkward postures the scores are rated. REBA has added on point in analyzing the whole body postures. Analyzed data are grouped into 4 categories as mentioned in the Table 1. No special equipment is required for this process as it is very simple and confined workplaces without disruption to the workforce. A team comprising members visited the small scale industries (SSI) for studying the work postures of the operators in the Leather goods manufacturing industries. This study helps the ergonomists to understand the day to day activity of the worker on the postures, safety and health issues pertaining to it. Fig 1: REBA assessment worksheet. 2

3 Table 1: REBA scores. REBA score Interpretation 1 Negligible risk, no action required 2-3 Low risk, change may needed 4-7 Medium risk, further investigation, change soon 8-10 High risk, further investigate and implement change 11+ Very high risk, implement change Subjects were studied during their regular workflow in actual setup, as this was to get the real time data. During this process it not only helped to understand the activities in the normal setting but also gave a clear idea about various postures. The Major posture for the studies are Side, Back and Top. The posture of the operators was captured using camera placed on a tripod on the required views. The images were further analyzed for the detailed studies. 3 Results and Discussions In cutting section the work is done in the standing position and they cut thick leather used for the fabrication of leather goods. As the thickness of the leather is more, it directly applies the maximum load in the cutting process. The basic cutting tools that are normally followed in small scale industries are either a small sheet of metal sharpened at one corner or a cutting blade with a plastic holder as shown in Fig.2. Since these tools are not ergonomically designed it directly applies stress on the upper surfaces of the fingers that are in direct contact with the it. And during the continous repetitive process there is deformation in the shape of the fingers. Other major causes of injuries during this operation are scratches and wounds to operator s hands and fingers. Fig 2: Tools used in the cutting section. The various areas of the palm that are affected by the tools followed in the small scale industries are shown in the Fig.3. The height of the tables and the inclination in which the cutting operation is done also affects the body posture of the operators. The cutting area of the cutting table is also taken into consideration. The angle at which the operator does the operation and the speed at which he cuts the leather is taken in to consideration. The tables are standard in sizes and the height of the operator to the tables is not ergonomically designed in many cases as they are not aware of the prolonged 3

4 consequences. As in most of the cases the study was done in small scale industries and the space was a major concern in those companies. This makes an uneasy and unsuitable workplace for the cutting operators in the leather goods manufacturing industries. Fig 3: Major area that are affected by the tools. In the pattern making section major operation cutting the leather, pasting and stitching is done by a sample maker. In this case, the cutting takes more time since the samples are done for the first time and the speed of the operation is also slow. Refer Fig.4. for the tools are that are used in the pattern making sections are not having the cushioning at the holding area. The strain acting upon the eye is also to be taken in to consideration. Fig 4: Tools used in the pattern making sections. 4

5 REBA chart gives the details of the analysis of the work done by the operators in the cutting and clicking section of the leather goods manufacturing industries. The table shows the percentage ratio of the group in which they fall as a result of the calculation done with REBA method. All the cutters fall under the category for Group 4 in the cutting section where as the 10 % of Clickers fall in group 3 and rest of 90% fall in the group 4 categorgy Table 2: REBA scores among the workers in the industries. REBA Groups CUTTERS (%) CLICKERS (%) Conclusion The tools that are being used by the operators in the cutting section are made up of hardened steel and the impression of these tools are marked on the finger. Apart from this the datas obtained from the REBA indicates that the workers are in the zone of risk related to musculoskeletal disorder. The vibration from the clicking machine has also a major impact on to the operators that is caused by the repetitive operation. The body position while working in this operations are a major concern and has to be taken in account. Vibration absorbing gloves has to provide to the employees and a proper mechanism is to be taken care in such a way that the vibration caused by the clicking machine is to arrested. In case of the cutting operators finger gloves has to be provided and flexing of the fingers and palm at regular intervals has to initiate at regular intervals. Regular break during the operation cycle has to given to the operations and they have to do the flexing of the muscles during their work. Neck and arms has to be relaxed as they are the major area were the strain concentration is maximum. Awarness amoung the workers on safety and health is to be intiated so they understand the consequence and magnitude of its impact. Apart from this there is scope for designing an ergonomically cutting tool for the cutters in the SSI. REBA is simple tool for studying the WMSD and that can be used by a SSI for analysing the body postures of the workers in any particular industries. This would help in improving the productivity as well as the health and safety among the operators in the respective organisations. 5 Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge Leather goods manufacturing industries for their support in carrying out the study at their work place. The authors also thank CSIR for providing the financial support under the XII th plan project Science and Technology Revolution in Leather with Green Touch STRAIT (CSC0201). 6 References 1. Maxcy-Rosenau-Last, Public Health & Preventive Medicine. In: Wallace RB, editor; Keyserling WM, Armstrong TJ, editors. Ergonomics and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. 14 th Edition. Appleton&Lange; Stamford, USA: , Rongo L.M.B., Tanzanyia, Are worker in small industries in Dar es Salaam aware of occupational ergonomics principle? Afr Newslent on Occupational Health and Safety, 15:14-16,

6 3. port/issue_annual_report_2007/view 4. United States Department of Labour. Workplace injuries and illnesses in Bureau of Labour Statistics, USDL , Hagberg M.Epidemiology of neck and upper limb disorders and work-place factors. In:Violante F, Amstrong T, Kilbom A, editors. Occupational ergonomics: work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and back. 1 st ed. London & Newyork, Uk&US:Taylor & Francis; , European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 4th European Working Conditions Survey, M. Hagberg, B. Silverstein, R. Wells, M.J. Smith, H.W. Hendrick, P. Carayon, and M. Perusse. Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: a Reference book for prevention, in: Detels R, McEwen J, Beaglehole R, Tanaka H, Oxford Textbook of Public Health, 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, New York, B. Sarder, N. Imrhan, Nabeel Mandahawi, Ergonomic workplace evaluation of an Asian Garment factory, Journal of Human Ergonomics 35, pp.45-51, Hignett S and McAtamney L, Rapid entire body assessment (REBA). Appl Ergon. 31(2); 201-5,