Common Health Problems and risk of MSD's amongst telephone operators working in MTNL office, in Mumbai, India

Telephone operators face unique occupational hazards – mental, physical and psychosocial.

A sample 100 female telephone operators and from Dadar in Mumbai, and Thane were surveyed by both qualitative and quantitative methods for the risk of above health problems. Quantitative analysis of risk of work related musculoskeletal disorder was assessed using RULA.

A high proportion of 32% of telephone operators have RULA index of 4 and 27% have RULA index of 3 representing Action Level 2 indicating that further investigations are needed and modifications in their posture at workplace may be required. 19% of telephone operators presented with RULA index 7 indicating that further investigations and changes are required immediately. 10% of telephone operators presented with RULA index of 5 and 12% represented with RULA index 6.

A large population of 81% of operators suffered from vision problems due to prolonged use of computers, 51% felt they were physically stressed, 27% complained of dry skin due to prolonged use of air conditioner, 26% had hearing problems due to prolonged use of head phones and on an average only 25% of the operators complained of Musculoskeletal problems. 23% faced sleep disturbances and associated mental stress and anxiety

Better personal management, health education andmore research is indicated to study the health problems in this emerging occupation.