A study on musculoskeletal disorders in garment industry

Abstract

Indian Garment industry is one of the largest Asian industries. Studies show that occupational hazards can cause human, social, and economic losses. When the workers are made to work in ergonomically unacceptable workplaces, they become potent to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD). Preventing the MSDs can help reduce absenteeism, and early retirement, improve productivity, and promote safety at the workplace. In this study, the risk of MSDs in the sewing operators was analyzed. Initially, data on the operators were collected through physical observations, interviews, and video footage. Analyzing the videos and physical observation of the operators, critical postures of the operators are chosen for the assessment. A systematic scoring method called Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) was used to assess a group of 43 operators. The results of the study stated that, among the 43 operators, 38 are in a medium risk level and 7 are in a higher risk level. The reasons for the risk levels included both individual and external factors. The resulting conclusions helped in understanding the risk and conveying better ergonomic intervention that can contribute to reducing the MSD in operators.