Assessment of Musculoskeletal Risks in Manual Preparation of Garlands in Ludhiana

The floral industry in Ludhiana supports a large unorganized workforce engaged in manual flower garland preparation, yet little attention has been given to their ergonomic health and safety. This study aimed to assess the demographic and work-related characteristics of garland makers, identify ergonomic risk factors leading to musculoskeletal problems and to recommend appropriate preventive measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 garland makers working in major floral hubs of Ludhiana. Data were collected using a self-structured interview schedule and ergonomic assessment tools such as Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART). Results revealed that 43.8 per cent of respondents belonged to the age category of 31–40 years, half of the respondents had education upto secondary level, 62.5 per cent worked for 6–8 hours per day and 31.2 per cent were working all seven days a week. Ergonomically unsafe seating postures were common, with 31.2 per cent working in floor-seated positions. Work-related fatigue was reported at moderate (42.5%) levels, with the back (50.0%), waist (43.75%), and arms (41.25%) being the most affected body parts. Stringing flowers to the needle was identified as the most fatigue-inducing task by 76.25 per cent of respondents. Ergonomic assessment showed a RULA score of 6, indicating the need for immediate changes, while the ART exposure score of 22 categorized the task as high risk for upper limb disorders. The findings clearly demonstrate that flower garland making involves ergonomic hazards due to repetitive movements, awkward postures and insufficient recovery time. The study emphasizes the urgent need for ergonomic interventions such as improved seating and workstation design, posture correction, task variation, and structured rest breaks to reduce musculoskeletal risks and improve occupational health and productivity among garland makers in the unorganized sector.