Identifying Ergonomic Risk Factors in Tread Rolling Process: A Case of Tyre Manufacturing Industry in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lankan rubber and rubber products manufacturers produce a wide range of rubber and rubber-based products. The Sri Lankan tyre-manufacturing sector contributes in high percentage to the foreign exchanges of the country. It also creates employment opportunities in Sri Lanka. The tyre manufacturing process includes lot of heavy and difficult tasks. They are manually done and creating high fatigue on the operators. Therefore, this case study aimed to identify ergonomic risk factors in tread rolling process of tyre manufacturing. Tread rolling area was situated in a blocked space in the selected plant and included many heavy activities. They were affected by environmental factors and physical factors hence study considered both types. The primary data were collected through author observation for the two ergonomic factors of worker posture and weight. Further the previously reported data for temperature, noise and light levels were considered as secondary data. This study analyzed body postures using the Quick Exposure Check method and other factors with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard. The results identified ergonomic risk only with posture, weight, temperature and light level. The noise level was within the boundary. Further this study suggested scissor carts for compound carrying, blowers to reduce the temperature, monitoring tools to examine the environmental conditions in each areas of the plant as possible solutions to reduce the ergonomic risk in tread rolling process.