Postural Discomfort and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Painters - An Analytical Study

Aim: The current investigation was to examine the intensity of body discomfort and various musculoskeletal disorders experienced by painter community due to their occupational habitat. Methods: A questionnaire was developed systematically with high competence with the current standard, which includes general profile sheet, occupational profile sheet and a modified Kromers body discomfort scale (Kroemer et al., 1987). These tools were used to gather information from the respondents. A sample of fifty two male painters aged between 19-75 years were interviewed randomly and mined various socio-demographic, socio-economic and health information. Data on occupational history, accidents, and leisure time activities were also collected. This paper focused on the intensity of pain due to prolonged standing and other postures during painting activities. Result: The prevalence of occupational health hazards has been reported to be high among painter community in India. The study revealed that the painters were engaged in rigorous hand-intensive jobs for many years, this subsistence activity led to rigorous and permanent discomforts in different parts of their body as an occupational health hazards. Conclusion: From the findings of the study, it can be concluded that painters faced many occupational health hazards. The current study focused on musculoskeletal disorder and uncertainties due to the nature of high risk associated painting jobs. The study revealed that the painter’s communities were highly susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders, especially severe leg pain. Most of the interviewed painters were highly concerned about high risk areas (activities on scaffoldings). So for safeguarding the painter communities from high potential professional, physical and physiological health risk, the government must entrust contractors for providing standard and modernized safe working environment, safeguarding tools and risk incentives.