Female Sewing Machine Operators Research Articles

Evaluation of psychological occupational health constraints according to the Karasek model among female sewing machine operators in Tunisia

Evaluation of psychological occupational health constraints according to the Karasek model among female sewing machine operators in Tunisia

The association between works related musculoskeletal body discomfort and ergonomic risk level among female sewing machine operators in Sri Lanka.

Background: Work related musculoskeletal discomfort can occur in any region of the body. It affects sewing machineoperator’s activities of daily living and quality of life directly or indirectly. Poor ergonomics is a major contributor towork related musculoskeletal discomfort that develops over time. It is important to find out the association between workrelated musculoskeletal body discomfort and ergonomic risk level among female sewing machine operators of selectedgarment factories in western province, Sri Lanka.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was preceded, with a study population of one hundred and thirty-seven(137) female sewing machine operators within the age of 18-50 years at selected garment factories in the western provinceof Sri Lanka.Conclusion: Of the total sample, 72.99% operators presented with musculoskeletal discomfort. Qualitative and quantitativedata were obtained using a pre-validated questionnaire; Cornell musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire and RapidEntire Body Assessment (REBA). The mean age of study population was 33.55±1.64years. The highest prevalence ofdiscomfort was reported in neck (53.94%) and lower back (69.2%) regions. The mean ergonomic risk level was 8.42±0.16which is 50.36% in study population. The majority of the sewing machine operators were in high ergonomic risk levelin western province of Sri Lanka and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was more in the lower back and neckregions where the ergonomic interventions should have implemented.

Evaluation of ergonomic working conditions among standing sewing machine operators in Sri Lanka

BackgroundStanding Sewing Machine Operators (SSMOs) are engaged in highly repetitive operations, and work while standing during their entire working hours. This leads to discomforts and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). However, there is a dearth of research in SSMOs’ working conditions.Objective: Aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of MSDs and related ergonomic risk factors among SSMOs in the Sri Lankan textile industry.Methods: The sample included 552 female sewing machine operators. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires which included demographic, job-related factors and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire [CMDQ], along with the application of validated ergonomic tools (Rapid Entire Body Assessment [REBA] and Strain Index [SI]) to assess the ergonomic risks amongst them. The inter-rater reliability test ensured the reliability among observers. An individual regression model was developed for each body parts to assess the associated risk factors.Results: The highest occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms were in knee, foot, thigh, lower leg and lower back of SSMOs. REBA grand score (4–11) indicated that workers’ postures were at medium, high and very high risk levels necessitating evaluation to change. Moreover, SI indicated medium and high risk of upper extremity disorders. Finally, regression models revealed associated risk factors with musculoskeletal symptoms among various body parts including age, Body Mass Index (BMI), marital status, SSMO experience, job satisfaction, job stress, daily walking distance to the boarding place/factory, interest in job rotation and satisfaction with the design of sewing machine.Conclusion: The findings highlighted that the prevalence of discomfort and MSDs in the lower limbs were higher than in the upper limbs among SSMOs. The findings revealed the working conditions of SSMO and emphasised the need for ergonomic interventions to minimise the MSDs among them. Relevance to industryThe findings highlighted ergonomic risks among SSMOs and associated risk factors which will help managers and researchers better understand the working conditions of SSMOs. The identified risk factors could be considered during the implementation of standing sewing operation layouts and during the selection and allocation of new employees.

Long-term prognosis for neck-shoulder pain and disorders: a 14-year follow-up study

ObjectivesThe long-term prognosis for neck-shoulder pain and disorders and the impact of shoulder exposure among former sewing machine operators were investigated in a 14-year follow-up study.MethodsInformation on neck-shoulder pain and...

Neck–Shoulder Pain and Work Status among Former Sewing Machine Operators: A 14-year Follow-up Study

Purpose A total of 243 Danish female sewing machine operators lost their jobs in 1996 because of outsourcing. The aim was to investigate the employment status during follow-up from 1996 to 2008, and to estimate to what extent former neck-shoulder pain had an impact on later work participation. Methods Assessment of neck-shoulder pain was based on questionnaires completed in 1994. The Danish Register-Based Evaluation of Marginalization (DREAM) register was used to describe employment status during the follow-up period. Register data were explored by sequence analyses and graphics, and the association between neck-shoulder pain and work participation was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results In all, 987 working years were lost during follow-up, and a sequence index plot revealed interrupted and heterogeneous courses of incomes. The odds ratio between neck and shoulder pain and a work participation score less than 75% was 1.49 (95% CI 0.84-2.67). Conclusions After outsourcing of the textile industry, the former sewing machine operators had decreased work participation and frequent transitions between different income types. Previous neck-shoulder pain tended to be associated with poor work participation. The results suggest that increased attention should be to given to dismissed workers from other industries that become outsourced, especially unskilled workers with similar work-related health limitations. Additionally, we concluded that time-to-event measures in research involving employment status are insufficient because of the many transitions that take place in working life.

Assessment of Postural Discomfort among Female Sewing Machine Operators

Assessment of Postural Discomfort among Female Sewing Machine Operators

A Pilot Study on Work-Related Neck-Shoulder Pain among Sewing Machine Operators

Prevalence of neck-shoulder pain among sewing machine operators is well known. It may be due to the nature and incorrect posture used by sewing machine operators while performing sewing work. However, up till now there is no empirical evidence that can be used to relate the risk factors that would results towards the development of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators. The main objective of this study is to identify and investigate the risk factors that result in neck and shoulder pain among Malaysian sewing machine operators. Twenty female sewing machine operators took part in answering a survey questionnaire to investigate the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators. The survey questionnaire was divided into five sections: socio-demographic, work background, workload information, physical exposures and physical musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by workers. Having done that, sewing machine operators who have been screened with neck and/or shoulder pain was evaluated with Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) to determine the level of workplace risk factors. Subjects without neck and/or shoulder pain were excluded. Results of the study shows that all sewing operators were expose to risk of prolonged sitting, repetitive task and working at high speed. Ninety five percent of sewing machine operators had experienced neck and/or shoulder pain and 80% of them were exposed to high work risk factors that require them to undergo further investigation. Shoulder pain was found to be strongly correlated with high work risk factor among sewing machine operators (p<0.05). In conclusion, occurrence of shoulder pain among sewing operators is due to posture and nature of sewing work.

Investigation of musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risk factors among female sewing machine operators in Turkey

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risks in female sewing machine operators at a textile company. The study sample comprised all female sewing machine operators in the company. The sample included 283 sewing machine operators. Data were collected through the use of the adapted Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and by direct observations via the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) to determine ergonomic risks. RULA is a validated tool for assessment of ergonomic risks. The mean age of the women was 30.2 (SD: 8.4) and the mean number of years of employment was 13.4 (SD: 5.5). The highest prevalence rates for the women’s musculoskeletal symptoms were in the trunk (62.5%), neck (50.5%), and shoulder (50.2%). Of the women, 65% had experienced musculoskeletal pain or discomfort over the last 6 months. Pain intensity of these symptoms was assessed with a visual analogue scale. The average pain intensity of the women was found to be 3.5 (SD: 2.8). Results of the RULA scores were found to be quite high. There were no employees who received RULA scores of 1–2, which indicates acceptable postures (all scores >5). The final RULA scores of 6.9 indicate that the participants’ postures at their work stations need to be investigated immediately. Relevance to industry This study based on the RULA method allowed to perform a rapid and quite correct evaluation tolls for SMOs. For this research population, the research findings provided fundamental data on the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risks among Turkish female SMOs.

A field study on the work load and muscle fatigue at neck-shoulder in female sewing machine operators by using surface electromyography

To study neck and shoulder work-related muscle fatigue of female sewing machine operators. 18 health female sewing machine operators without musculoskeletal disorders work in Beijing garment industry factory as volunteers in participate of this study. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and 20% MVC of bilateral upper trapezium and cervical erectors spinae was tested before sewing operations, then the whole 20 time windows (1 time window = 10 min) sewing machine operations was monitored and the surface electromyography (sEMG) signals simultaneously was recorded after monitoring the 20%MVC was tested. Use amplitude analysis method to reduction recorded EMG signals. During work, the median load for the left cervical erector spinae (LCES), right cervical erector spinae (RCES), left upper trapezium (LUT) and right upper trapezium (RUT) respectively was 6.78 ± 1.05, 6.94 ± 1.12, 5.68 ± 2.56 and 6.47 ± 3.22, work load of right is higher than the left; static load analysis indicated the value of RMS(20%MVC) before work was higher than that value after work, the increase of right CES and UT RMS(20%MVC) was more; the largest 20%MVE of bilateral CES occurred at 20th time window, and that of bilateral UT happened at 16th. The work load of female sewing machine operators is sustained "static" load, and work load of right neck-shoulder is higher than left, right neck-shoulder muscle is more fatigable and much serious once fatigued.

Ergonomics issues among sewing machine operators in the textile manufacturing industry in Botswana

Universally musculoskeletal disorders are among the leading causes of low productivity in today's work environment. The situation is reportedly even worse in developing countries with appalling working conditions in many industries. In addition, there is often an acute lack of awareness of ergonomics issues, education and training programmes, and certification within developing countries. Numerous studies internationally have highlighted musculoskeletal risk factors associated with the textile industry and garment-making jobs because of highly repetitive work in awkward work postures. The objective of this study was to identify and describe possible ergonomics deficiencies in the workstation of sewing machine operators in a textile industry in Botswana as well as their perception of workload and bodily discomfort. This study focused on one textile manufacturing factory in Botswana where 157 female sewing machine operators were recruited as participants. A modified Corlett and Bishop body map questionnaire and the NASA TLX were administered and relevant anthropometric and workplace layout measurements were collected. The results of the study revealed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Back, neck and shoulder discomfort are highly prevalent among these sewing machine operators. This study proposes intervention strategies including the re-design of the workstations and seating and the provision of training in basic ergonomics principles for improving the work-life of these operators and provides a base for further research on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among sewing machine operators in developing countries.

Occupational 50 Hz magnetic field exposure measurements among female sewing machine operators in Hungary

Occupational magnetic field (MF) exposure is less thoroughly characterized in occupations typically held by women. Our objective was to characterize occupational 50 Hz MF personal exposure (PE) among female sewing machine operators. We measured the full shift PE of 51 seamstresses, who worked in two shifts (6-14 and 14-22 h) according to their normal work routine. Measurements were conducted using EMDEX PAL meters at chest level. The average duration of the measurement periods was 449 min (range 420-470). The average arithmetic mean exposure for all women was 0.76 microT (range 0.06-4.27). The average of maximum values was 4.30 microT (range 0.55-14.80). Women working with older sewing machines experienced higher exposure than women working on newer sewing machines. For women (n = 10) who operated sewing machines produced in 1990 or earlier, the average arithmetic mean exposure was 2.09 microT, and for women (n = 41) who operated sewing machines produced after 1990, the average arithmetic mean was 0.43 microT. We conclude that women working as sewing machine operators experience higher than average occupational MF exposure compared to other working women. Most important determinant of the women's personal MF exposure was the age of the sewing machine the women operated.

Associations between repetitive work and endocrinological indicators of stress

In the present study the impact of repetitive work on endocrinological indicators of stress were studied in a sample of 96 female sewing machine operators mainly carrying out repetitive work and 46 members of a control group, also women, mainly carrying out process monitoring. Individuals performing highly repetitive and high-speed precision tasks were hypothesized to have more catabolic (measured as total plasma cholesterol, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), immunoglobulin-A (IgA) and prolactin, urinary catecholamines and cortisol) and less anabolic metabolism (DHEA-S and free testosterone) compared to individuals in occupations with more varied work. Repetitive work was assessed on the basis of job category, classifications based on observations of work task, and self-reported psychosocial work environment. The sewing machine operators were found to exhibit more catabolic (measured as plasma HbA1c) and less anabolic metabolism (measured as free testosterone) compared to members of the control group. No differences were observed between job categories in other measured endocrinological indicators. Participants classified as having repetitive work had higher concentrations of IgA and lower concentrations of free testosterone and urinary adrenaline compared to participants having non-repetitive work. In conclusion the results indicate that adverse psychosocial work environment was associated with increased catabolic metabolism. An association between self-reported adverse psychosocial work environment and low anabolic metabolism could not be demonstrated.

Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and shoulders in female sewing machine operators: prevalence, incidence, and prognosis

OBJECTIVESTo assess the occurrence and persistence of two restrictively defined neck-shoulder disorders among sewing machine operators. To assess factors associated with the development of neck-shoulder disorder and prognostic factors for...

Identification of neck-shoulder disorders in a 1 year follow-up study. Validation of a questionnaire-based method

A cohort of 243 female sewing machine operators were studied by questionnaire and clinical examinations with the purpose to study the efficiency of a screening questionnaire-based method to identify prevalent and incident cases of neck-shoulder disorders. The cross-sectional correlation between self-reported neck-shoulder complaints scores and clinical signs of a neck-shoulder disorder was high. An assessed cut-of point of complaints could identify 90% of all cases fulfilling the criteria of rotator cuff tendinitis, while the complaint score with regard to clinical signs of myofascial pain syndrome was about 67%. In the follow-up analyses, incident clinical signs of disorders at 1 year follow-up were used as ‘golden standard’ in the validation of screening criteria, which included a defined increase of symptoms. Apparently increase of symptoms did not seem to be the optimal criteria for identification of incident cases. Alternatively a cut-of point of regional complaints in close relation to clinical examinations is recommended.

CULTURE, SOCIAL CLASS, AND INCOME CONTROL IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN GARMENT WORKERS IN BANGLADESH

This article looks at the income-related experiences of women workers in Bangladesh in the export garment industry, the first modern industry in the country to employ large numbers of women. The analysis draws on in-depth interviews with 34 female sewing machine operators at five factories. Despite the traditionally low economic autonomy of Bangladeshi women, the women's ability to control their income was varied, and in fact, a substantial number of the women workers exercised full control over their wages. Socioeconomic background affected women's income control by shaping both the symbolic meaning of women's income and the ability of male kin to fulfill their traditional obligations to women. With the exception of some young unmarried workers, women's employment in the garment industry had not posed a significant challenge to patriarchal family relations.

Energy expenditure and energy - nutrient consumption of female textile workers

Energy expenditure and consumption of 91 female sewing machine operators were investigated. It is found that average energy cost of sewing task is 2.76±0.19 kcal per minute. Average daily energy expenditure of subjects was 2812±135 kcal while their energy consumption was 1895±68 kcal. The study revealed that the subjects had an insufficient intake of most of the nutrients as well as energy.

Effects of Goal Specificity and Performance Feedback to Work Groups on Peer Leadership, Performance, and Attitudes

This study reports findings from a field experiment in which specific goals and performance feedback were provided to nominal "teams" of female sewing machine operators. Specific goals and feedback from management were associated with significant improvements in group cohesion and goal commitment in addition to improvements in product quality. However, overallsatisfaction and intrinsic job satisfaction decreased. These findings, together with decreases in turnover, are examined within a longitudinal comparison group design. Results are discussed with reference to theoretical and practical issues in field research and work systems redesign.

Problems with Reactive Instruments in Field Research

This study sought to examine problems in assessing field experiments with conventional survey-based data gathering methods. Two phenomena are examined: (a) increases in reactiveness, and (b) the recalibration of survey scales. The theoretical dimensions of such changes are discussed, including such processes as consistency, saliency, priming, and raised expectations. Methods of identifying these sources of contamination within two-group experimental designs are presented and illustrated with data from a recent field experiment involving 78 female sewing machine operators. In this instance, survey-data gathering processes increased "reactiveness," suggesting a general increase in the salience of experimental variables to subjects; and, scale recalibration appears to have occurred with respect to a primanV intervention variable. Methods of reducing or accommodating these possible sources of contamination are discussed, together with their implications for the protection of human subjects.