Browsing by Author "Padmini, D S"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Anthropometric Measurements of Garment Manufacturing Workers of Tirupur, Tamilnadu
    (2013) Padmini, D S
    Anthropometric data are used for proper design of workstation, equipment, furniture and many more in order to decrease awkward postures and stresses on human body due to improper design. Mismatch between anthropometric dimensions and consumer products may cause health problems such as musculoskeletal disorders, concentration deficit, and similar problems. Anthropometric data were collected fi-om 50 male and 50 female stitching machine operators aged 18-50 years enployed in garment manufacturing units. Mean and standard deviation age o f the male workers were 29.8±7.9 years and female 29±8.1 years. Twelve anthropometric measurements for sitting posture were recorded. Body dimensions such as sitting height, eye height, mid-shoulder height, elbow rest height, upper lumbar, lower lumbar and popliteal height between both genders were found to be highly significant. All the body dimensions were found to be highly correlated with age o f the workers except for lower lumbar and hip breadth as non significant. The anthropometry data of the present study was compared with studies carried out by Gite et al. (2009), Parimalam et al. (2007) and Kabir and Ahmed (2003). It was found to be significant for majority of the parameters.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Occupational Health Problems of Garment Workers
    (2011) Veninathi, A; Padmini, D S
    The giirmciit is one of tlic ninny Inhourintensive sectors that provide n gateway for developing countries to the global market. The garment industry contributes 16.63% to the foreign earnings of India and it employs over 3.S million workers. The workers in these industries are employed mainly in three different sections namcl'i cutting, stitching and tlnisliing of garments. Th.e present study was taken up in Ti ru p u r district which is situate I in the Western Tamil Nadu. Garment production in Tir jp u r , also known as “T-shirt city” , accounts for 80% of In d ia ’s total production of knitwear for export. An interview schedule was framed regarding garment workers’ socio-economic background, job history, health problems related to work and otlier health problems and accidents at worksite. Five huiidrcd and fifteen workers employed in 13 large, medium and small scale ga rment units were surveyed. The mean age of garment workers was 30 years (±.S.7). Both male (57“/i>) and female (43%) workers were employed equally. Majority of the moderate discomforts were experienced in lower extremities such as leg (99.8%), feet (95.S%) and knees (95.3%) followed by upper extremities sucli as upper hack (85.8%), low back (66.2%), mid back (65.5“/o), shoulders (65.5%) and neck (55%) respectively. There was a strong associalioii between the musculoskeletal discomforts (neck, shoulders, upper arm and lower arm) and the scctio.ns (cutting, stitching and finishing) in which garment workers were employed. F u r th e r when occupational risks factors of garment workers were compared with health problems, significant difference at two per cent level and one per cent level were found.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Unsafe Work Environment in Garment Industries, Tirupur, India
    (2012) Padmini, D S; Venmathi, A
    Garment industry is one ofthe most important strategic industries which constitute about 7% oftotal industrial production in the world and 8.3% of the total trade in industrial materials. Also, occupies more than 14% of the total labour force in the world. It employs about 40 million people in various countries of the world. Tirupur, located in Western Tamil Nadu, South India, is one of the largest knitwear garment manufacturing and exporting clusters in South Asia. It has boomed almost without interruption since the early 1970s when manufacturers began to export to Europe and today it is a leading centre of garment exports for the world market. Tirupur is also known as “T-shirt city”, accounts for approximately 80% of India’s total production of knitwear for export. The work environment in the garment industries is unhealthy and unsafe for the workers resulting in several health problems. Five hundred and fourteen workers employed in 13 large, medium and small scale garment industries in the present study the workers ere participated in a face-to-face confidential interview. The workers were exposed to an interview schedule comprising their details of socio economic background, personal habits, their knowledge, attitude, practice regarding occupational health, body parts that experience discomfort and other health problems. The aim of this study was to measure work environment parameters such as lighting, noise, temperature and humidity and also to assess the safety measures practiced in garment industries using a checklist. The study revealed that the congested work area, unergonomic workstations, poor illumination, improper ventilation, excessive noise, dust and use of personal protective equipments not in practise were the major problems faced by the workers in these industries.