Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiology, South Calcutta Girls' College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India | [b] Occupational Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University College of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta, India
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. Banibrata Das, 100 Biplabi Ganesh Ghosh Sarani, Post – Bhadrakali, Dist- Hooghly, 712232, West Bengal, India. Tel.: +91 9433895285; Fax: +91 33 28480650; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Seventy five rice cultivators and seventy five control subjects were selected randomly from the villages of West Bengal, India, to evaluate musculoskeletal disorder, thermal stress, physiological stress among the rice cultivators. Modified Nordic questionnaire studies and posture analysis were performed among them by Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System. Thermal and physiological stresses were also assessed by measuring WBGT index and heart rates respectively. All of the subjects suffered discomfort at different parts of the body especially at lower back (99%), knee (91%), ankle (83%), feet regions (68%).The lung function values FVC (3.24), FEV1 (2.56), FEV1/FVC ratio (79.57), PEFR (412.0) of the rice farmers were much lower than the control group due to inhalation of dust particles in the rice fields. They also suffered from thermal (36°C) and physiological stress due to hazardous working condition and increased heart rates (148 beats/min). Thus their health and overall work performance were affected.
Keywords: Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System, musculoskeletal disorder, physiological stress, thermal stress, lung function values
