Occupational Health & Safety

Biography

Biography: Shalini Agarwal

Abstract

Work is an important task of human life. It is the expression of the basic need to accomplish, to create and to feel meaningful. Work area is the place where we spend most of our working hours and energy, we judge ourselves and measure our self-worth by the work we do. Rewarding work is an important and positive part of our lives but when work denies people an opportunity to utilize their creativity, intelligence and decision making ability it cause stress discomfort. The present study was conducted to study the occupational postural discomfort among workers. Research design for the present study was cross sectional cum experimental in nature. Women respondent working in different unorganized sectors were selected for the study. The sample size was 120. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select the sample using self constructed and pre-tested interview schedule along with Body Mapping Scale. Results showed that irrespective of their occupation main reasons of postural discomfort were sitting without back support, excessive pressure on the shoulders, bending of knees for long time, keeping back straight for long hours, pain in legs due to standing posture for longs. Results collected from body map showed that most of the females complained of pain in most of the body parts. Regarding type of postural discomfort, most of the respondents reported pain in neck, shoulder, muscles, joints, knee, arms, fatigue and even burning sensation in feet.The results of the findings imply that the informal sector is understood to imply the use of labour-intensive working methods as all were self-employed. The results could help in understanding postural discomfort among workers who work in unorganized sector and will also help researchers in designing comfortable work station for the workers working in these sectors which include sectors like beauty parlour, convenience stores, pottery making and many more.