FATIGUE CAUSED BY LABOUR IN STANDING POSTURE OF A SPINNING MILL (REPORT I)

Abstract

The finishing and inspecting process of cotton cloth at spinning mill is a job performed by female workers who keep standing and do not shift their position. Moreover, the job requires the workers' steady gaze. From this point of view, the change of asthenopia and circumference of their lower legs while working in a spinning mill, particularly, are examined. 1. The average bodily size and power of these workers are: height 153.53cm, weight 52.82kg, circumference of chest 83.05cm, Vervaeck's index 88.69, visual vision 1.42 (left), 1.30 (right), grip 24.00 (left), 23.88 (right) Thus, in all the items of the list (exceptgrip ) the workers are superior to the average girl students of high schools in Japan. In grip alone the former is somewhat inferior to the latter. 2. By means of flicker test their asthenopia has been investigated. The results obtained indicate that the further the job progresses, the more the fatigue increases. This is ture of both the 1st and 2nd shifts. (The job is done in two shifts) Buta greater degree of fatigue is shown by the 1st shift. The explanation seems to be that the 2nd shift which starts the job much later than the 1st shift naturally stay longer at home and so have their asthenopia more accustomed to activity, hance less fatigue. 3. The swelling of lower legs resultant from the job is caused to both the shifts and both side legs, and increases with the progress of the work. But the bulging has been found to be greater among the 2nd shift. The reason is probably that the 2nd shift stay longer at home before the job than the 1st shift, 2nd so perform a larger amount of household work, perhaps in standing posture. To sum up, worker's fatigue at spinning mill is that resultant from light labour below medium degree. However, the job being done in shifts the fatigue is much aggravated, if they do not take enough rest or their mode of life if inadequate at hame before setting about the job.