Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of human behaviour and their performances and applying it to design. It assesses the risk factors involved in the work by analyzing their working postures and their working environment.

Ergonomics plays a significant role in all workplaces to improve the well-being of individuals and their performances. It makes their tasks easier and faster, thus improving their productivity.

Handicrafts is one of the most significant industries in India producing employment in a wide sector. The work of the artisans requires intense labour and a long-time duration to create beautiful art pieces. But due to the awkward postures while working and constant repetitive movements, a lot of the artisans face permanent musculoskeletal disorders when ignored.

Even though ergonomics is assessed for all corporate workplaces, there are very few who do an ergonomic assessment for the handicraft industry. But it is very significant and mandatory for this industry since the majority of the work has immense drudgery involved with a poor working environment. Hence, it is required to promote better postures for the artisans and to improve their efficiency and health.

To assess ergonomics, there are various instruments and assessment methods developed. Each assessment method assesses particular risk factors and body parts. Through observation and survey, the score of the risk factor of each body part is calculated. In the end, either equations or tabular columns, the amount of risk involved in the work is calculated to give suitable interventions for them.

Ergonomic Analysis

One of the ergonomic assessment methods developed is called ART (Assessment of Repetitive tasks). It is used to assess the risk factors of repetitive tasks. It assesses the frequency and repetition, awkward postures such as the head, neck, back, arm and wrist posture, finger grip, force and additional factors such as breaks, work pace, psychosocial factors and time duration.

ART ergonomic assessment method is used for assessing the ergonomics of the artisans of Bhavani Jamakkalam. Through observation, the risk factors are assessed to get a risk score. A score of 0 -11 is considered low risk, 12 - 21 is considered a medium risk and 22 or more is considered high risk. For jamakkalam, the exposure score is 29, which is considered a high risk.