Design development scopes towards occupational wellness of women
workers: Specific reference to local agro based food processing industries in
NE India
Issue title: Humanizing Work and Work Environment: A
challenge for developing countries
Affiliations: Faculty of Home Science, Assam Agricultural
University, Jorhat, Assam, India | Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
Note: [] Address for correspondence: N. Bhattacharyya, Faculty of Home Science, Assam
Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India. Tel.: +91 376 2340090;
Fax: +91 376 2340011; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Women workers constitute one of the most vulnerable segments of the
country's labour force. They often face different workplace health challenges
than men do. They are engaged in a range of work that extends from heavy,
monotonous, repetitive jobs, which are in many times experienced with low-paid
and involves in long hours of work. Women's workplace health problems are
frequently compounded by getting more of the same at home – the "double
jeopardy" of domestic work [1]. Specific issues to improve the workers
motivation leading to enhancement of productivity and improving occupational
health and safety were addressed. Context specific application of ergonomics
principles were studied in the process of designing of work related equipment
of local fruit processing units, as well as in tea industry, covering 180
subjects selected purposively. Ergonomic risk factors prevailed among the
workers associates productivity and relevant health issues were quantified
using QEC, RULA. NMQ was used to gather data on prevalence of CTDs among the
workers. Pineapple peeling, tea leaves plucking were found highly labour
intensive, done manually. Postures scores found were very high. WRMSDs were
prevalent among the workers. Scope for ergonomic design intervention was
observed to improve productivity and occupational health.
Keywords: Fruit processing, ergonomic intervention, productivity
