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Human Factor Analysis of Textile Industry Workers Using Various Ergonomic Assessment Tools

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Abstract

Ergonomic concerns which include musculoskeletal disorders, cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive strain injuries and repetitive motion injuries prevail as a crucial mode of occupational ill health in the textile industry. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are major discomfort caused by manual material handling (MMH) resulting in back pain, numbness, nervousness and other functioning problems related to the bone and nervous system. This study aims to identify the actual and potential hazards in the processes like lifting, pushing, pulling, repetitiveness, bending, awkward posture, heat stress, and contact stress involved in the MMH operations in the textile industry and conduct an ergonomic assessment using the various tools like NIOSH (National institute for occupational safety and health) lifting equation (LI), Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), Rodgers muscle fatigue analysis, Strain index form (SI), 3D Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP), with heartbeat variability, volume of oxygen intake, and calorie consumption of the worker. Identifying and controlling the manual MSDs of the workers in the workplace will lead to an increase in the production rate of the organization and create stress and risk-free atmosphere for workers. According to the results obtained, the risk level of materials’ shifting from tray to examination table at the examination and packing section in industry was found high (LI > 3, RULA score = 6), whereas the risk in the shifting of materials from trolley to tray was moderate (LI = 1 to 3, RULA score > 6). NIOSH and RULA showed almost same responses, but the SI and Rodgers muscle fatigue analysis showed little bit severe than NIOSH and RULA. The heart rate of the persons, who involved in bale unloading, was measured as a range from 120–140 Bpm (heavy work posture > 100 Bpm). 3DSSPP software results showed that a severe force affected the knee and backbone of the workers during the bale handling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, 602105, India

    S. Senthil Murugan

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, 626 005, India

    S. Ponraja & D. Shyamprasad Varma

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mar Ephraem College of Engineering and Technology, Marthandam, India

    M. John Iruthaya Raj

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  1. S. Senthil Murugan
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Correspondence to S. Senthil Murugan.

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Murugan, S.S., Ponraja, S., Varma, D.S. et al. Human Factor Analysis of Textile Industry Workers Using Various Ergonomic Assessment Tools. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. E 104, 109–117 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40034-022-00255-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40034-022-00255-3

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