Ergonomic practices in Africa: Date palm work in Algeria as an example

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the call for the application of ergonomics in developing countries, the African share of ergonomic studies is modest. Date palm farming is considered one of the most important economic resources in hot and dry areas. In African countries, including Algeria, there exist millions of date palms. Date palm work can be precarious and associated with higher rates of work related musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to:1. Reveal how the workers climb the trunk of the date palm to get to the crown. 2. Detect the amount of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in date palm trees work, and how to combat it. METHOD:The descriptive method was used. RESULTS: Objective 1, Majority of date palm workers are still using the traditional methods, i.e. free climbing, and belt aided climbing. However, a minority of workers have started using modern methods i.e. ladders, climbing devices, and modern technology (e.g. hydraulic lifts). Objective 2, the workers complained about WRMSDs presence in the shoulders, hands, wrists, lower back, hips knees, and feet. Efforts to combat these WRMSDs are personal, educational and scientific efforts. CONCLUSION: Regarding climbing, the traditional methods are still dominant, and the use of technology is very limited. As regards WRMSDs, date palm workers complain about their presence in many parts of the body.

Prevalência de Dores Musculoesqueléticas em Trabalhadores Rurais: Uma Revisão de Literatura

“…Na pré intervenção foram encontrados resultados de prevalência que indicaram que as regiões lombar (46,7%), joelho (46,7%), ombro (28,9%) e cotovelo (15,8%) haviam sido as mais acometidas por dor. Semelhante a este, o estudo de Mokdad et al (2019) encontrou resultados de prevalências superiores em punhos/mãos (100%), pés (94,5%), ombros (93%), lombar (91%) e joelhos (87,5%); quando comparado ao primeiro estudo, o estudo de Mokdad et al revela porcentagens de incidência duas vezes maiores em seus avaliados. Ng et al (2015), avaliaram a prevalência de dores em agricultores nos sete dias que antecederam a avaliação e durante 12 meses que precederam a mesma.…”

Musculoskeletal Disorders in Agriculture: A Review from Web of Science Core Collection

“…In turn, the use of artificial intelligence, sensors and automation reduce MSDs (the Philippines, Sweden, Finland, Italy and USA) [221][222][223][224][225]. In contrast, traditional cultivation with low levels of mechanization usually present MSD in the upper extremities (India, Brazil, Algeria, USA and South Korea) [36,95,124,[226][227][228]. The same occurs in organic or alternative agriculture where MSDs are more prevalent due to the use of more traditional farming techniques (Thailand and USA) [229,230].…”

“…The prevention of MSDs and, consequently, the improvement in working conditions render agricultural operations (including livestock, fishing and forestry) more sustainable (India, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Iran, Thailand, Algeria, the Philippines, Finland, USA, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Belgium, Portugal, Canada, Italy, France, Sweden, Spain, Poland and Greece) [24,58,87,89,104,107,110,111,114,118,121,124,126,127,140,142,146,148,159,175,184,194,201,209,226,.…”

“…There is a need for preventive guidance for the agricultural sector in Thailand (Thailand) [237]. Individual, educational and scientific efforts are necessary to reduce musculoskeletal risks in the cultivation of date palms in Algeria [226]. Women (in India) working in rice cultivation were assessed using RULA and indirect methods.…”

“…In date palm cultivation in Algeria, the technology is limited; therefore, traditional methods are used that involve greater risks of suffering from MSD [226].…”