Postural Assessment of Indian Excavation Workers and Prototype Design of Virtual Iron-Pan

Abstract

The study was conducted among excavation labourers of the construction sites for five different tasks.  Five postures were selected from the video recorded at the time of data collection.  Analysis of static/dynamic working postures and loads on the various body parts are being done using computer software's which is not possible manually nowadays.  In this study, the postures of excavation labourers were assessed using CATIA software during five various excavation operations. Digital Human Analysis (DHM) was developed in the CATIA software for study. RULA, REBA, biomechanical and lifting analysis were performed to detect body risk and loads on the L4/L5 segment of the vertebral column. CATIA software reveals that the excavation labourers are working at high risk.  The result evaluated by RULA and REBA for all five working postures indicates that all postures require investigation and need immediate change. The result shows that biomechanical loads at the L4/L5 segments are higher than the NIOSH recommended limit for the task of throwing soil and receiving the pan by some outside labourers.  Almost the same effect was observed when lifting of iron-pan where the labourers work in the flexion position. New prototype iron-pan was developed and re-analysis to compare the results with new working techniques in CATIA.   This showed that the prototype iron-pan proposed helps to reduce the ergonomic risk during excavation and related work.  The CATIA software also provides better results by better evaluation of working postures of labourers at excavation sites.