Postural Analysis of Women Involved in the Spice Packing Activity

Abstract

In spice industry, women workers spend time in performing different activities. Women generally work under number of strains like inefficient tools, awkward posture and poor environmental conditions that not only affect their work efficiency but also their health adversely. The present study “Postural Analysis of Women Involved in the Spice Packing Activity†was undertaken to find out the health status of women workers involved in spices industry and to measure the ergonomic cost of work in the spice packing activity. Random sampling technique was used in selecting 60 women involved in spice industry. RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) posture analysis sheet was used to access working posture. The results revealed that maximum number (37) of respondents always used the sitting posture while performing the packing activity. Majority of the respondents sometimes spent more than 3 hours while performing the packing activity. Majority of the respondents reported the problem of itching in neck, swelling in feet and stiffness in wrist. The results of RULA analysis depicted the high risk in the working posture while packing the spices.