OCCUPATIONAL WORKLOAD & MUSCULOSKELETAL
DISORDERS OF
PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO
BUS CONDUCTORS
Purpose of the study:
·
Buses are an
important public transport facility available to a common man and RTC is a
state corporate employing many workers.
— Many studies were available on bus drivers
but bus conductors occupational problems were not many available in literature.
— The nature of
work of every occupation has its own entity. Similarly the bus conductor work
also requires more physical and interactive skills than the intellectual
knowledge. The nature of bus conductor is entirely different from other
occupations since it is service sector for public.
— In the urban metropolitans bus commuters
would be many due to its area of operation and reach.
— The
new generations of women transformed the traditional patriarchal social
structure and are taking up professions that were previously male-dominated
profession. In this view, the challenges and problems of women who work in male
dominated occupations in transport industry also need to be explored.
— Today many women also joined as bus
conductors and attention is to be drawn to understand their occupational
workloads and musculoskeletal disorders.
— Planning suitable ergonomic interventions for
occupational facilitation and work load relief as per the need identified
through study is very important to the well being of the workers and for productivity
improvement.
Therefore, the present study is planned to investigate with the
following objectives.
Objectives
To understand through review on
1. The Occupational workload of public transport workers with reference to
bus conductors.
2.
Their Musculoskeletal
disorders
3.
The Social
factors of women bus conductors
4.
The need for ergonomic
interventions for bus conductors
Review of
literature
The review was
arranged in the following sequential order for the purpose of understanding occupational
workloads and MSD of RTC – as an occupational sector.
1. Occupational workload of women bus conductors
2. Musculoskeletal disorders of women bus conductors
3. Socio factors of women bus conductors
4. Ergonomic interventions to overcome the occupational workload and
musculoskeletal disorders.
Occupational
workload of women bus conductors
Somashekar et al., (2012) found various
occupational problems and challenges faced by women bus conductors working in Bangalore Métropolitain
Transport Corporation (BMTC) Organization.
The findings showed that shift work was an occupational problem.
Standing for long hours was found to be the reason for musculo -skeletal
problems among women bus conductors. Job dissatisfaction was also found due to
over work load occupational stress, dual role, lack of leave facilities, low
salary, shift hours and health hazard.
Bhagyashri et al., (2013) conducted
a study to understand the prevalence of hypertension among bus
conductors and to determine the occupational and social factors associated with
it. Study found that the prevalence of
hypertension was 14.8%. Prevalence of hypertension was gradually increased as
the duration of service increased and it is highest among those (36.3%) whose
duration of service in the department was more than 30 years An upward trend in
prevalence was observed with increase in age, duration of service was
statistically confirmed.
Musculoskeletal
disorders of bus conductors
Charan (2014) in a study examined 300 conductors employed with Karnataka State Road
Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan. It was found that the
hand-held ETMs (Electronic Ticketing Machine) demonstrated a saving in time and
energy in issuing bus tickets as these gadgets dangle around their necks.
Moderate neck disability was identified by 37 per cent in their most productive
years. The result showed that men (75.7%) between the ages 35-40 years (57%),
working for eight hours/day (50.7%) and using the gadget for around two to
three years (53%) were the worst affected.
Gangopadhyay et al., (2012) undertook a study among 100 randomly selected male bus conductors in
Kolkata and assessed the physical,
physiological parameters and working postures. The study revealed that
discomfort leading to musculoskeletal disorders mainly affected the leg
(93.3%), knee (83.3%), shoulder (80%) and back areas (56.7%). The conductors
suffered from extreme physiological stress due to prolonged working hours there
by affecting their health and work performance.
Social factors of women bus conductors
A study by Kadam 2012 found that, it is important to achieve a balance
between paid employment and personal life among the women bus conductors and
that Work life balance is a joint responsibility of employers and employees’. A
sympathetic concern towards the employee needs by formulating work life balance
policies and flexible working arrangements were expected by bus conductors
which influence employees’ choices in terms employment. Work life balance
enables them to work better. Careful planning and personal effort was important
for balancing work and personal life. It has been suggested that the women bus
conductors should plan, prioritize and schedule as efficiently as possible. It
has been suggested that, the employers can facilitate work life balance with
many schemes that can attract employees and satisfy their needs.
Ergonomic
interventions conducted
Poulsen et
al., 2007 described a
project which was conducted to improve the health and well-being of 3500
Copenhagen bus drivers. More than 200 interventions were implemented towards
improving lifestyle and controlling private stressors and inappropriate
management. Three years after the interventions were launched, follow-ups
revealed remarkable improvements such as reductions in stress and body pains,
an increase in satisfaction, and improvements in management and the drivers’
cabin
