Health Status of Grinders in Different Foundries in West Bengal

Chandan Das; Suman Das; Debamalya Banerjee; Amalendu Samanta; Bidyut Kumar Bhattacharyya

doi:10.52756/ijerr.2019.v20.001

Chandan Das Department of Production Engineering, J.U., Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Suman Das Department of Mechanical Engineering, Swami Vivekananda Institute of Science & Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Debamalya Banerjee Department of Production Engineering, J.U, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Amalendu Samanta Department of Occupational Health, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, West Bengal, India
Bidyut Kumar Bhattacharyya Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIEST, Shibpur, West Bengal, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52756/ijerr.2019.v20.001

Keywords: Discomfort feelings, health status, posture analysis, RULA, Stress analysis

Abstract

The most significant operation to produce products in manufacturing sector in West Bengal is grinding. There is always a need of high human involvement to successfully plan and execute it. The body postures of the grinders are not correct and scientific in different grinding units. Prolonged working hours exceed the capacity of the grinder’s causes’ uneasiness, elevated risk of chronic pain, increase heart rate and developed body stresses. Prolonged working hours exceed the physical capacity of the workers that causes’ body discomfort, physical fatigue, joints pain, sprain of ligaments in different soft tissues. Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD), body fatigue and strain injuries are very common health problems of grinders in different micro, small & medium scale grinding units in West Bengal. The productivity and cost benefits of this unit are highly related with the physical capabilities and physical comfort of the grinders. The data of musculoskeletal disorder of workers was collected, evaluated and validated by using RULA and Discomfort Questionnaire. It was observed that lack of Ergonomic planning and unergonomic body postures increase the muscular stresses & muscular disorders which affect the health status of grinders. The significant reduction of body stresses and correct body postures were required to improve the quality of work and health status of the grinders.

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