Skip to main content

An Ergonomic Study: Bicycle Repairer in Rural India

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 135))

Abstract

The present study investigates the ergonomic risk factors associated with bicycle repairers in rural India. It aims to find a workplace design solution which can be easily implemented at low cost to avoid postural load during prolonged awkward postures adopted by this group of workers. The study comprises questionnaire survey and experimental task involving activities related to puncture repairing. In this process, stools of various heights, i.e., no stool, 100, 150, and 200 mm were utilized to avoid postural load during squatting posture. Out of the selected twenty-one repairers, four (04) were selected for the electromyographic (EMG) study of their longissimus muscle of the erector spinae while they perform the experimental tasks. The hand pain scores obtained for different hand regions of twenty-one repairers were recorded. Results show that the bicycle repairers are subjected to various ergonomic risk factors and using a stool of height 100 mm may minimize the postural load during repairing tasks and other works which involve squatting posture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Sanders, M.S., McCormick, E.J.: Human Factors in Engineering and Design. McGraw-Hill, New York (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Putz-Anderson, V., Bernard, B.P., Burt, S.E., Cole, L.L., Fairfield-Estill, C., Fine, L.J., Nelson, N.: Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 104 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Keyserling, W.M.: A computer-aided system to evaluate postural stress in the workplace. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 47(10), 641–649 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Genaidy, A.M., Al-Shedi, A.A., Karwowski, W.: Postural stress analysis in industry. Appl. Ergon. 25(2), 77–87 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chung, M.K., Lee, I., Yeo, Y.S.: Physiological workload evaluation of screw driving tasks in automobile assembly jobs. Int. J. Ind. Ergon. 28(3–4), 181–188 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wiker, S.F., Chaffin, D.B., Langolf, G.D.: Shoulder posture and localized muscle fatigue and discomfort. Ergonomics 32(2), 211–237 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Khan, M.R., Singh, N.K.: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among Indian railway sahayaks. Int. J. Occup. Environ. Health (2018) https://doi.org/10.1080/10773525.2018.1507187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Latko, W.A., Armstrong, T.J., Foulke, J.A., Herrin, G.D., Rabourn, R.A., Ulin, S.S.: Development and evaluation of an observational method for assessing repetition in hand tasks. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 58(4), 278–285 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Moore, J.S., Garg, A.: The strain index: a proposed method to analyze jobs for risk of distal upper extremity disorders. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 56(5), 443–458 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Dolan, P., Adams, M.A.: The relationship between EMG activity and extensor moment generation in the erector spinae muscles during bending and lifting activities. J. Biomech. 26(4), 513–522 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Dankaerts, W., O’Sullivan, P.B., Burnett, A.F., Straker, L.M., Danneels, L.A.: Reliability of EMG measurements for trunk muscles during maximal and sub-maximal voluntary isometric contractions in healthy controls and CLBP patients. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 14(3), 333–342 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Pradhan, A., Nayak, S.K., Pande, K., Ray, S.S., Pal, K., Champaty, B., Anis, A., Tibarewala, D. N.: Acquisition and classification of EMG using a dual-channel EMG biopotential amplifier for controlling assistive devices. In: India Conference (INDICON), pp. 1–5. IEEE Press, Bangalore (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mork, P.J., Westgaard, R.H.: Long-term electromyographic activity in upper trapezius and low back muscles of women with moderate physical activity. J. Appl. Physiol. 99(2), 570–578 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammed Rajik Khan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Khan, M.R., Singh, N.K., Shinde, D. (2019). An Ergonomic Study: Bicycle Repairer in Rural India. In: Chakrabarti, A. (eds) Research into Design for a Connected World. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 135. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5977-4_43

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5977-4_43

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-5976-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-5977-4

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics