CHAPTER 4

4. PRIMARY ERGONOMIC SURVEY

4.1. INTRODUCTION
In this research various ergonomics methods and techniques have been used and applied to
obtain information related to musculoskeletal disorder and risk factors. Ergonomics evaluation is
done by observational methods with the help of some tools of ERGOFELLOW SOFTWARE
such as Image analysis, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Survey is done by making the
questionnaire related to work, working conditaion and work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs) to get about actual problem existence.
4.2 OBSERVTION METHOD
This method needs to observe the procedure of the work by vendor and the positions of their ody
posture during performing their job. The observation method has two way is through by video
analysis or image capture. By this method, the position of body posture like awkward or normal
position can be defined and also can findout the angles of each position of every body member.
These data will analysis by a tool assessment such as RULA(Rapid Upper Limb Assessment)
[13]
4.3. ERGOFELLOW SOFTWARE USED
The software was developed by FBF SISTEMAS in 2009 and it is very useful for ergonomicsts
and for all professionals in the area of occupational safety and health. The software
ERGOFELLOW has 17 ergonomic tools to evaluate and improve workplaces conditions, in
order to reduce occupational risk and increase productivity.[14]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

NIOSH (Revised Lifting Equation)

OWAS (Ovaco Working Posture Analysing System)
RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment)
REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment)
SUZZANE RODGERS
MOORE E GARG (The Strain Index)

7. DISCOMFORT QUESTIONNAIRE
8. QEC (Quick Exposure Check)
9. LEHMANN
10. IMAGE ANALYSIS
11. VIDEO ANALYSIS
12. ANTHROPOMETRY
13. CALCULATION OF FORCE
14. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
15. HEAT STRESS
16. NOISE EXPOSURE (OSHA)
17. TYPING EVALUATION
From those tools only three tools has been used i.e. IMAGE ANALYSIS, VIDEO ANALYSIS,
RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment).
4.3.1 IMAGE ANALYSIS
Image analysis is very important in the Eggonomics, mainly for evaluation of position and
determination of points and angles. In this software, user can open an image , move it with the
scrolbars , apply polar and linear grids, and calculate angles.
4.3.2 VIDEO ANALYSIS
Video analysis is very important in the Egonomics , mainly to evaluate posture, time in each
posture, time of the work cycle, and improvement in the task act. In this software user can load a
video, play it in three different speeds, increase zooms, regulate the sound and pause at any point
during the execution.

4.4 DESIGN OF QUESTIONNARE

To get the information about the existence of problems related to vendor and working area, one
questionnaire is made (Hindi and English) containing the questions related to, whole information
of vendors (age, weight, height, working years) MSDs problems, working conditions, working
environment, compatibility, working hours, the problem faced during working. (The
Questionnaire is shown in appendix 1)
4.2. ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL DISORERS WITH QUESTIONNAIRE

A survey is done on 20 vendors by asking those questions (with the help of Hindi sheet) to them
and data are analysed.
Information of vendor is given the Table 4.1 and Results are shown graphically in fig. 4.1
Total number of vendors 20
Age

- 21 to 46 years

Working hours

Sl

Name

- 5 to 6 hours

Age

Weight

Height

no
1
Sandip Jogdane
26
60
5.5
2
Netish Desai
35
65
5.7
3
Ekbal Khan
40
68
5.3
4
Samir Mujmule
28
70
5.7
5
Rum Wnkhade
46
68
5.6
6
Nilesh More
30
60
5.2
7
Imran
43
67
5.5
8
Amon Sakat
32
69
5.1
9
Sagar Jogdande
28
70
6
10
Pandit
26
68
5.7
11
Suraj Solanki
32
66
5.4
12
Pappu
27
63
5.6
13
Chotu
23
58
5.4
14
Anil kumar
42
69
5.7
15
Ashok Desai
32
61
5.5
16
Sumit Amle
40
70
5.1
17
Vikash Pande
29
60
5.3
18
Nikil Bisandre
30
65
5.7
19
Soyal Khan
32
63
5.2
20
Mridul akat
28
70
5.6
Table 4.1: Information for vendors participated in the survey

Years

of Working hours

experienc
e
3
12
20
4
20
6
15
7
3
2
6
2
2
17
8
15
5
8
4

5
6
6
6
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
6
5
5

Those all surveyed sheet is analysed and it is seen that many vendors was facing the MSDs
problem in various body parts. The percentage of vendors suffering from MSDs in different

parts of the body are as back 70%, Neck 75%, Shoulder 55%, Wrist 40%, Leg 45%, Knee 50%,
Arm 40%, Elbow 35%. The result is shown graphically in Figure 4.1.
80
70
60
50
40

YES(%)

30

NO(%)

20
10
0
Leg

Knee

Back

Arm

Shoulder

Elbow

Wrist

Neck

Figure 4.1.: Graph of % of vendors suffering from MSDs problem in different body parts.

4.3 ANALYSIS OF WORKING POSTURE

Image analysis tool of ERGOFELLOW SOFTWARE and standard ROM (Range of Motion)
(Table 2.2) containing the value of angle of different body parts movement are used to analyse
posture. Photography and video are taken during working. Photo and freeze frame from video
records are subjected to analyses. Posture angle is determined to help of photos. Measurement of
the angle between the angle between the body parts, the length of working time for specific
repetitive harmful postures and effort on the vendors is taken into account. Those angles of body
parts movements are comparable with the table 2.1 and table 2.2 to get information about MSDs
problems. Following figure shows the vendor posture analysis with the help of image analysis
tools by drawing the different analysis on the image during the work.

Vendor- 1 selected for analysis was Sandi Jogdan , Age-26, Weight-60 and Height-5.5 feet

Fig 4.2 a: posture during work

Fig. 4.2 b: diagram with posture angle

Vendor 2 selected for analysis was Pappu, Age-27, Weight-63 and Height-5.6 feet

Fig 4.3 a: posture during work

Fig 4.3 b: diagram with posture angle

From above observation, it is seen that the posture is not suitable for working as the neck and
trunk forward bending angle is not in a neutral angle (see table 2.2). Lower arm and upper arm
too much angle to the body, also long duration static position is seen during working which is
very much harmful for the body. Flexion, forward bending, in the hip-joint and back can cause
lordships in the lumbar region.
4.4 RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) ANALYSIS:
4.4.1 FOR VENDOR -1
Angle
Neck Angle

Degree
25o

Trunk Angle

450

Upper arm

300

Lower arm

45o

Wrist

160

Leg

Balance

Lower arm- across the midline of the body, Wrist-wrist is bent away from the midline, Wrist
twist- twisted away from handshake position, neck- twist, trunk-twist, leg and feet are well
supported and in an evenly balanced posture
RESULT

From this it is seen that the score of RULA assessment is 7 i.e. high risk of MSDs problem.
Hence there is need to investigate the working posture and action must take as early as possible
to avoid further discrepancies.
4.4.1 FOR VENDOR -2
Angle
Degree
Neck Angle
20
Trunk Angle
5
Upper arm
30
Lower arm
45
Wrist
15
Leg
Balance
Lower Arm- across out side of the body,Wrist twist- twisted away from handshake position,
Neck- twist, Leg and Feet are well supported and in an evenly balanced posture.
RESULT

From this it is seen that the score of RULA assessment is 5 i.e. high risk of MSDs problem.
Hence there is need to investigate the working posture and changes are required soon.
4.5. OVEARALL SURVAY RESULT
ACTIVITY
TOOL
Vendor made RULA

SCORE
7&5

RISK LEVEL
High

ACTION
Investigation

&

and served food

changes required

at ground level in

immediately

standing position
WMSDs

Shoulder, neck,
Elbow, back,

High

Change working
posture

Leg,

4.6. CONCLUTION
From the above analysis, it was confirmed that the working place is not suitable for working and
vendors. Vendors are going through the MSDs problem and there is need to study, analysis that
working area, to get a proper method or technique or remedy all those problems.