EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON PSYCHOSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF AUTOMOBILE WORKERS PERFORMANCE - AN ERGONOMIC STUDY

The COVID-19 lockdown has had a significant negative impact on the automotive industry, particularly on the small and medium-sized businesses and daily wage workers who rely on autonagar industrial area as their main source of income. Employees experienced increased physiological and psychological stress during the lockdown period. Many people lost their jobs, finding work and surviving for food and shelter became worse for daily wagers. To suggest the behavioural changes needed to improve the quality of worker performance there is need of worker motivation during the work that suits the type of work and design of work including adequate rest period needed during a working shift. Consequently, it is felt necessary to study the behaviour including estimation the heart rates of various groups of workers after determining their maximum heart rate including maximum limit of continued work. This comparison can help workers achieve better performance at their workplaces having prescribed training to enhance their work efficiency and health conditions. Out of 307 samples, 110 participants had a limit of continuous work that was less than their maximum working heart rate while performing a task, demonstrating the need for better posture, work rest breaks, and customised work study models to improve performance, persistence and to lower stress levels. Continuous employee monitoring is a challenging task. However, improved worker productivity and employee health benefits support socio-cultural advancement of the firm's products and services.