Ergonomics study on Musculoskeletal Disorders among female agricultural workers of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Females are considered the backbone of the agricultural workforce. Female agricultural workers are compelled to carry out considerable amounts of manual and physically demanding tasks in the agricultural fields for long periods of time. This continuous and excessive work may cause the development of musculoskeletal disorders. For this study 50 female agricultural workers (17 to 20 years of age) were selected randomly from the villages of West Bengal. A modified Nordic questionnaire on feelings of discomfort was completed over a five-year period. . From the analysis of the questionnaire it was observed that most of the subjects suffered discomfort, especially at the wrists, shoulders, hands, lower back and knees. Subjects suffered discomfort during work, after work and during sleep at night. By considering the results of the study it was revealed that spading is the most strenuous task.

Keywords: Female Agricultural Workers, Potato Cultivators, Working Posture, MSD.