Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Brick Industries of India

Work-related musculoskeletal (MSDs) disorders include all MSDs that are aggravated by work & the circumstances of its performance (WHO, 2003) or any existing disorder, physical or non-physical, which employees relate to their work is classified as a work related disorder (Swedish Work Environment Authority, 2005). Therefore,the study was undertaken to find out the WMSDs faced by the workers, engaged in raw brick making unit of brick factory workers with primary objective to identify the specific ergonomic risk factors by using descriptive-experimental research design. The workers were illiterate & performed the activities near about 12 hours. They were experiencing the pain/discomfort arising from work; with the body parts most commonly affected being the low back, hand/wrist, shoulders, neck & upper back. Besides these, a number of ergonomic & psychosocial risk factors involved which can result in health hazards. Various Checklists and OWAS postural analysis showed that corrective measures are required immediately in various activities. Statistical analysis showed that significant relationship exists between type of activity & year of working with musculoskeletal pain/discomfort.