4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The results of the OWAS assessment of the
workers are shown in Table 1. According to this
technique of posture analysis 56.15% of workers are
working in acceptable posture and requires no
corrective measures. About 23.85 % workers posture
demand corrective actions in near future. Around
19.23% workers are working in posture of high risk
level and require corrective action as soon as
possible. Only 1 worker is reported to be working in
bad posture and required immediate corrective
measure. The results obtained from the REBA
assessment worksheet are shown in Table 2 and
reveals the different categories of the risk levels.
Around 10% of the workers are at very high risk
level and needs an urgent change, whereas 48.36%
workers were found at medium risk levels and needs
a necessary action. Around 30% of the workers were
at high risk level and needs a necessary change soon
whereas 10% of the workers are working in
acceptable posture. The results of the posture analysis
using RULA are shown in Table. 3. These results
reveal that all categories of the risk levels exist in
jobs postures. The table shows that left hand posture
of 29.17% workers and right hand posture of 33.05%
workers who used in performing the activities is at
high risk levels. A further investigation with an
immediate change was recommended to these
workers. The table also shows that none of the
worker is at negligible risk level. The study was done
on workers working in different sections of the
forging industry and their activities were divided in
different categories like grinding, picking & placing,
nickel plating, hammering, punching, broaching,
trimming, etc. The posture analysis was done
according to these activities using the same sequence
of OWAS, REBA and RULA. Using the OWAS
analysis method, it was observed that almost all the
workers in different sections were working in
acceptable posture while the major problem was in
the grinding section, where the major part of the
grinders were working in unacceptable posture at
high risk levels. Around 42% of the grinders were
working at high risk levels (Refer Table.6). It was
found that, if the grinders continued to work in the
same posture they suffer from the MSDs related to
neck, trunk and wrist in the near future. It was
recommended to take the corrective action as soon as
possible. However, when these sections were studied
using the REBA tool, around 20% of the grinders
were working at high risk levels and their neck, trunk
and wrist were under high physical strain. About 46%
grinders were at high risk level and needed a
necessary action soon. Around 35% of the workers in
the picking and placing jobs were at high risk levels
and needed an immediate change (Refer Table.5).
Some of the workers in the picking and placing jobs
were bending their trunk to unacceptable limit and
most of them had upper arm under high strain. The
workers were suggested to keep their trunk straight
while working. Also, in welding jobs the workers
were bending their trunk to a higher degree which
was not acceptable and they needed an immediate
change. However, in rest of the activities the workers
were working in fine posture and they may require a
necessary action. The study according to RULA
showed that most of the workers in the nickel plating
job were working in acceptable posture and a
necessary change may be required for them (Refer
Table.4).