Determination of Lifting Index for Paddy Storage Activity Performed by Farm Women

Abstract

AbstractStorage of paddy grains is a manual handling postharvest activity, which is predominantly performed by farm women of Assam. Manual handling and lifting are major causes of work-related health problems. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) usually occur when there is a mismatch between the physical requirement of the job and physical capacity of human body. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are important causes of work incapacity and loss of work days (Das and Gangopadhyay, 2005). In such cases, the determination of optimum weight for manual lifting by farm women is essential. The present study was undertaken to determine Recommended Weight Limit (WRL) and Lifting Index (LI) for paddy storage activity. Thirty farm women in the age group of 25–35 years who had been involved in paddy storage activity for 10 years were selected for the present study. The frequency of lifting was 0.72 lifts per minute, and duration was found to be moderate duration. The average weight of the load carried by farm women was found to be 14.03 kg. The Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) for storage activity by the use of conventional basket was found to be 6.54 kg. Lifting index of storage of paddy grains by farm women was found to be 2.14, which is higher than accepted limit (LI < 1) and indicates that farm women suffer from lot of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) or injury and design modification is necessary for reducing health hazards and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) of farm women in storage of paddy grains.KeywordsLifting index (LI)Recommended weight limit (RWL)Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)