An ergonomic study on musculoskeletal health hazards among sawmill workers of West Bengal, India.

The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among the sawmill workers of Kolkata and to identify the causative factors behind the development of such discomfort. For this study 110 male workers were randomly selected. For the symptom survey, modified Nordic questionnaire on detail discomfort feelings was performed.

Effect of exercise and heat-load on simple reaction time of university students.

Visual and auditory simple reaction times for both right and left hands of young university male students were recorded with a simple reaction timer, before and after an exercise schedule without and with elevated temperatures in a climatic chamber. The results indicated a decrease in both visual and auditory reaction times after the exercise, but a marked increase in them was noticed when exercise was performed at elevated temperatures. The difference in reaction times in preferred and nonpreferred hands was negligible at rest, i.

Respiratory problems of workers in the zarda industry in Kolkata, India.

This study was undertaken to assess the pulmonary and respiratory problems of workers in a zarda factory. A total of 70 permanent zarda workers (50 manufacturing workers and 20 office ones) were studied in a factory in Baguihati, Kolkata, India. The study included (a) completion of a questionnaire (on pulmonary and respiratory problems), (b) measurement of physical parameters, (c) spirometry and (d) measurement of peak expiratory flow rate.