High Risk Tasks for Musculoskeletal Disorders in Agricultural Field Work

Abstract

Agricultural work involves heavy physical exertion and is characterized by evidence of high rates of musculoskeletal disorders. Currently ergonomics is a low priority for injury and illness prevention in agriculture. However, based on costs and incidence rates ergonomics risk factors should rank among the highest farm safety priorities. Analysis of field work jobs by the University of California with support from NIOSH yield an industry generalizable set of high risk tasks which should have high intervention priority. These are: repetitive and awkward forward flexion, repetitive lifting and carrying heavy loads, and highly repetitive hand work.

◾ Ergonomic Analysis and Abatement Recommendations to Reduce Musculoskeletal Stress in Warehousing Operations: Case Study

“…Carrying bags while picking fruit on ladders puts a significant static compressive load on the low back of workers, especially when they lean away from the ladder to reach for fruit Fulmer et al, 2002). Transferring containers of fruits, vegetables, and plants also has been identified as a risk factor for LBP Janowitz et al, 2000;Meyers et al, 2000;NIOSH, 2001;Chapman et al, 2004).…”

“…Prolonged extreme trunk flexion (>60°) is commonly found in farm tasks such as pruning, weeding, labeling, and harvesting crops (Meyers et al, 1997NIOSH, 2001). Fruit harvesters have also been found to work for significant durations in severe flexion, especially when trees are below 3.4 m in height Meyers et al, 2000;Fulmer et al, 2002).…”

“…Lifting heavy objects such as fully loaded totes or bins is a common problem for vegetable and fruit farmworkers Meyers et al, 2000;NIOSH, 2001;Fulmer et al, 2002). Lifting more than 50 lb (22.7 kg) occurs routinely on farms and is considered a major risk to farmworkers (Chapman and Meyers, 2001).…”

“…Harvesting presents similar risk factors involving wrist posture and hand repetitions (which can exceed 15 per minute), as well as static loads NIOSH, 2001). The combination of high hand force and repetitive hand exertions also occurs during pruning and harvesting at vineyards Meyers et al, 2000;. On many dairy farms where milking remains predominantly manual, intense hand and arm motions are still required (Stal, 2000).…”

Analysis and Improvement Methods of Unsafe Posture Associated with Various Agricultural Works

“…이러한 위험요인들에 따라 농작업자들에 발생하는 주요증 상은 요통, 건염(tendonitis), 수근관증후군(carpal tunnel syndrome), 관절염 등으로 보고되고 있다 (Hansson, 1990;Hildebrandt, 1995;Nemeth et al, 1990;Putz-Anderson, 1988 (Brackbill et al, 1994;Gomez et al, 2003;Meyers, 2001;Meyer et al, 1997;Walker-Bone and Palmer, 2002;Xing et al, 1999 (Bae et al, 2011;Fathallah et al, 2008;Jin, et al, 2009) (Buckle et al, 1986;Chung et al, 2003;Corlett et al, 1986;Grandjean and Hunting, 1977;Li and Buckle, 1999;Pinzke, 1994 1997;1998;2000). …”