Occupational Health Hazard of Workers Engaged in Food Processing Unit of Assam

Abstract

AbstractOccupational health hazards are quite prevalent among the workers engaged in food processing units. They may experience early fatigue and discomfort when performing highly repetitive tasks, working in repeated and sustained or awkward postures, performing heavy physical work and using forceful exertion. The study was conducted on 100 workers engaged in different activities of food processing units of Assam. It was revealed that respondents were found suffering from variety of work-related health hazards. While performing different activities, they used to assume unnatural postures, due to the mass productivity and arrangement of the workplace. Postural analyses of workers revealed that the majority of workers had musculoskeletal problems. Variety of joints movements were observed in maintaining different postures while the performing activities, as a result, workers were found suffering from joint paints. Cent percent of the respondent experienced very severe pains in low back, shoulder joint, knee joint and fingers. The use of age old work tools and poor workstations are reflected on the productivity of worker’s engaged in food processing units of Assam and their health status.KeywordsFatigueForceful exertionPostural analysis