Ergonomic assessment of male street hawker

Abstract

Working culture and ergonomics of any individual plays an important role in the physical and mental health of the person. The study about male street hawkers and the ergonomics assessment which carries hawkers’ musculoskeletal condition along with physical condition are combined and their impact is widespread. They are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability affecting the psychosocial status of affected people as well as their families and caretakers. In all occupations, incorrect body posture is the most important cause of musculoskeletal disorders. The study was aimed to examine 40 random street hawkers and their working posture using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. It was analyzed that around 70 % of hawkers had a medium to high risk of developing work related musculoskeletal disorder. Trunk, upper arm and lower arm postures were mainly contributing to the REBA score, putting street hawkers at high risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder. Ergonomic intervention to reduce musculoskeletal disorders includes engineering improvements which include rearranging, modifying, redesigning equipments which eliminates and reduces the hazard due to improper body posture and long working hour cycles. Mechanization of the stalls to reduce the musculoskeletal strain is possible. In areas, where mechanization is not possible, ergonomically correct measures to avoid musculoskeletal disorders are to be taken.