Gender Sensitive Protective Technologies for Tea Pluckers
India is one of the largest producers of tea where women from high hill sub temperate zone mainly perform all tea plantation activities to earn their livelihood. The study on tea plucking was undertaken in North Western Himalayan Range in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh to asses the existing practices in complete operation of tea plucking, identification of problems of users, use of correct postures, gaps in technology if any and to design, modify and implement corrective measures in the form of protective devices and technology and right posture to reduce the drudgery and improve efficiency of workers. The data were gathered in four phases viz. survey, tool designing, trials and adoption. The physiological and environmental stresses on workers (N=60) while plucking tea leaves were studied vis a vis work output and health status of tea pluckers due to problems faced. The major problems faced were identified as lack of protective measures in the form of available tools and technologies, repetitive work causing injury and fatigue resulting into drudgery. During the study and observation of tasks in traditional method, the most important areas needing intervention emerged as cuts on fingers, bruises on shoulders, stress on back, injuries, wounds and snake bites etc. Detailed analysis of these problems emphasized the need to evolve protective technologies to safeguard the workers from these constant problems to lessen the drudgery and improve work conditions. Therefore, the following gender-sensitive protective technologies were developed, tested and finally accepted by the users (majority of the tea pluckers were women). I Protective Finger Blades-for plucking tea leaves; ⅡBasket with built-in umbrella -for protection from rain, sun, shoulder and spine injuries; ⅢProtective clothing included wraparound, waterproof dress and gum shoes -to lessen distance and easy mode of collection of leaves. An Educational Kit (Pamphlets, Booklets, Film shows and Awareness campaigns) was developed to make larger number of users aware of the benefits of adoption of these protective devices. The findings showed after adoption of these practices and technologies, that there was significant reduction in the average heart rate at work (2.34％); average energy expenditure (-5.35*); total cardiac cost of work (20.9％); physiological cost of work (20.06 beats) and grip strength (60.60). Hence, it is recommended to multiply and disseminate these protective devices for use by tea pluckers in all places where tea plucking is being done. Use of the educational kit that was developed in the form of pamphlets, booklets and especially by showing films is highly useful in popularizing these devices. Thus, it is suggested to multiply the protective devices for use by the tea pluckers to reduce drudgery and improve efficiency of users.
Jatinder Kishtwaria Aruna Rana
Prof. and Head, Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Himachal Pradesh Research Associate, Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Himachal Prad
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-4
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）