Handicraft workers are at high risk of developing WMSDs. Further research, preferably longitudinal studies, with more emphasis on work-related factors should now be undertaken to thoroughly investigate WMSDs in this occupational group.
Gemstone polishers in Jaipur are at high risk of developing MSDs in different body regions. Sustaining a non-neutral working posture for a long duration is a major risk factor in the current work setting.
-Comfort is a well-balanced state of physiological, psychological and physical factors of a human being and its environment. This paper is aimed at identifying the factors that determine comfort in using hammer according to the users. Before the primary data collection underlying descriptors were identified from literature. Further investigation was done to validate the identified descriptors with respect to comfort in using hammer. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used to classify the descriptors into factors. Eight factors were classified (functionality, body posture and muscles, tool characteristics, etc.). Handle and hand interaction was found to be the most important factor of expected comfort followed by aesthetics. For overall comfort, functionality was found to be the most important factor followed by body posture and muscles. Moreover, fit of tool to the hand and some more comfort predicting descriptors were identified whereas overall comfort predicting descriptors identified were ease of use, no inflamed skin, functional, easy to carry, and low hand grip force supply.
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