Posture analysis of handloom weavers using RULA (Rapid upper limb assessment)

Pages: 267-270
Kangjam Victoria Devi and S. Visalakshi Rajeswari (Department of Resource Management, Faculty of Home Science, Avinashilingam Deemed University for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)

The study is aimed to analyse the postures adopted by the traditional handloom weavers. A sample of 42women using three types of handloom (14 from Loin loom, 14 from Throw shuttle loom & 14 from Fly-shuttle loom users) from Imphal East and Imphal West districts of Manipur were selected for the study. In Manipur, because of the tradition in vogue and geographical isolations, entire textile operation is still considered as cent per cent women activity only. The tool used for the analysis of the study was RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment).The samples were video graphed, data transfered to the RULA sheet to arrive at the scores for each body part concerned. Using RULA analysis fixing the wrist and arm score to neck, trunk and leg score in the fitment table showed that the final score was 7.0 for loin loom users. Similar computations for throw shuttle and fly shuttle loom users revealed a value of 6.8 and 6.5 respectively, for which it is interpreted that the postures need further investigation and it is inevitable and has to be implemented soon.