Incidences of MSDs Prevalent Among Indigenous Women Involved in Petty Trading in Assam

Abstract

Petty trading is a women dominated occupation of some indigenous people for income supplementation of family by selling home grown and naturally grown organic vegetables, herbs, rice, pulses etc. They sit daily to sell their products in market place for more than six hours/day round the year assuming continuous awkward posture. It is an important ergonomic aspect to focus at to understand the prevalent risk factors faced by women in this occupation. Majority of them complained of pain in both lower and upper back and was ranked I and II respectively, knees, neck and ankles were in IIIrd, IVth and Vth ranks. Some complained of numbness in lower limbs, frozen shoulders and many more. Positive correlation was found between age and level of musculoskeletal disorders among the respondents. Performance of different activities like carrying goods with head and back support in bamboo baskets, sitting in very low height or in squatting posture continuously with upper limb movement for lifting and reaching products was analysed through OWAS that revealed high value action categories which were indicative of “work postures with distinctly/extremely harmful effect on musculoskeletal system requiring immediate solution in working methods. The flexi scale measurement revealed a deviation of posture in upper and lower back from the normal walking and sitting.