Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Bus Conductors of Udupi District, Karnataka

BACKGROUND

Government bus conductors are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the work environment and work conditions. Thus, the present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal problems among bus conductors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 237 bus conductors of government bus depots. The data were collected by interview technique on a structured questionnaire. Self-reported musculoskeletal pain over the last 12 months was the case definition.

RESULTS

The present study revealed that 62.4% of bus conductors had musculoskeletal pain. The multivariate analysis suggested that tobacco smoking, overweight or obesity, and lack of enough breaks during work were significant risk factors for the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in study participants.

CONCLUSION

Thus, to conclude, the conductors are at risk of musculoskeletal problems, which can be attributed to occupational as well as non-occupational factors.

Distinct recovery of copper and aluminum from waste electric wires using a roll-type electrostatic separator

Electrostatic separators are commonly employed for the sorting of insulating and conducting fractions of granular mixtures. However, separation of the various metals that compose the conductive fraction still represents a major challenge for the recycling industry. The aim of this paper is to identify the conditions in which a roll-type electrostatic separator could be used for distinctly recover the copper and aluminum from waste electric wires. A numerical model of particle trajectories was employed to predefine these conditions and guide the experimental study. The electrostatic separation experiments were carried out using a reverse-S-type-plate high-voltage electrode. The visualization of particle trajectories using a high-speed camera paved the way to an original design. Thus, a metallic trap was attached to the high-voltage electrode, to facilitate the collection of the aluminum flake-like particles from a mixture that also contains copper strands. With a plastic trap replacing the metallic one, to avoid electric field modification, 68.6% of the copper was recovered with a purity attaining 99%.