Musculoskeletal Disorder Faced by Women Workers in Cashew Nut Processing Industries of North-East India

Abstract

In the cashew nut industries, women are mainly involved in cashew nut shelling and peeling activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the occupational health hazards and risk of injury faced by the women workers employed in the cashew nut processing industry. The study was conducted in four cashew nut processing industries: two each in Selsella and Mankachar blocks of Meghalaya and Assam, respectively. Ten female workers from each industry comprising a total of 40 workers, who have normal physiological characteristics, were selected randomly. RULA and QEC tools were used for the assessment of health hazards of the women workers. Discomfort survey was done to investigate the intensity of pain in different body parts. The results of the study showed that the workers of cashew nut industries were exposed to high occupational health and safety risk due to poor working environment, awkward working posture, repetitive and tedious job.