Search

The purpose of this study was to quantify biomechanical and cardiovascular exposure while making beds with and without interventions (mattress lift tool and fitted sheet). Sixteen female hotel room cleaners participated in this multifactorial (tool and sheet) laboratory study of crossover design. Exertion in the upper extremity (<2) and back (<3) was consistently lower when using the tool and fitted sheet (p < 0.05). The average number of lifts per bed was reduced by 48% with an 18 s increase in cycle time per bed. Peak forearm flexor activity was significantly lower when using a tool(p < 0.05). Spinal lateral plane range of motion (p < 0.02) and maximum twisting velocity (p < 0.03) were lowest using the tool and fitted sheet together. Interventions such as a mattress lift tool used with a fitted sheet reduced the number of mattress lifts and lowered perceived exertion among hotel room cleaners while making beds., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce and evaluate two interventions, Ergo Bucket Carrier (EBC) and Easy Lift (EL), for youths (and adults) to handle water/feed buckets on farms., Background: The physical activities of both adult and youth farm workers contribute to the development of low-back disorders (LBDs). Many of the activities youths perform on farms are associated with increased LBD risk, particularly, the handling of water and feed buckets., Method: Seventeen adult and youth participants (10 males and seven females) participated in this study. To assess the risk of LBDs, the participants were instrumented with a three-dimensional spinal electrogonio-meter while lifting, carrying, and dumping water buckets using the traditional method and the two interventions., Results: For both the adult and youth groups, the results showed that the two interventions significantly decrease the magnitudes of LBD risk in many of the tasks evaluated. Overall, the use of the EBC resulted in a 41% reduction in the level of LBD risk for the carrying task and a reduction of 69% for the dumping task. Using the EL, on the other hand, is especially effective for lifting tasks (55% reduction in LBD risk). Results of the subjective response were consistent with the objective evaluations., Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potential for ergonomic interventions in reducing LBD risk during the common farming task of bucket handling., Application: Potential application of this study includes the introduction of the EBC and EL in family farms to reduce the LBD risk among youth and adult farmers., (© 2016, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.)

This paper gives an overview of the extent of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in agriculture, and a historical perspective on how ergonomics has been used to reduce the health effects of labor-intensive agriculture. A summary of exposure to MSD physical risk factors within various classes of crops, along with various administrative and engineering controls for abating MSDs in agriculture is given. These controls range from programmed rest breaks to mechanized or partially-mechanized operations. Worker-based approaches such as prone carts and platforms, and load transfer devices hold promise in combating the prevalent stooped work in agriculture. Including the worker as an integral contributor to all aspects of developing and implementing an intervention, and considering the psychosocial and socio-cultural aspects of the work environment are crucial elements of effective interventions for reducing MSDs. Despite the advent progress in new technologies in agricultural practices, reliance on labor, especially in fresh market fruits and vegetables, will always be a major cornerstone of agriculture for at least the foreseen future. It is encouraging to see the increased interest among health and safety professionals, epidemiologists, engineers, social scientists, and ergonomists throughout the world who are committed to the plight of reducing MSDs and other health problems among agricultural workers.

Hand cultivation and harvest of agricultural products constitute strenuous physical tasks. Working with labor-management ergonomics committees in agricultural settings, the UC Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center (AERC) tested an experimental rest and recovery protocol for its impact on symptoms and productivity during two types of work tasks. The experimental condition consisted of adding a 5 min rest break to every working hour in which there was no other scheduled break (e.g., lunchtime). This resulted in an additional 20 min of rest per workday. We tested the intervention in two trials: Trial one compared workers (n=66) randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group during the harvest of commercial strawberries. Trial two utilized a cross-over design (n=16 pairs of workers) to compare experimental and control conditions while workers inserted bud grafts into young 18'' high citrus trees. For both trials, workers under the experimental condition reported significantly less severe symptoms than workers under control conditions. The order in which the intervention was given, however, appeared to result in variations in productivity. We conclude that the introduction of frequent, brief rest breaks may improve symptoms for workers engaged in strenuous work tasks.

Hand-harvest work in wine grape vineyards is physically demanding and exposes workers to a variety of ergonomics risk factors. Analysis of these exposures together with data on reported work-related injuries points to the risk of back injury as a prevention priority, in particular the lifting and carrying of tubs of cut grapes (weighing up to 80 pounds) during harvest. Our study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention — the use of a smaller picking tub — on the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms among workers during two harvest seasons. Reducing the weight of the picking tub by 19% (to below 50 pounds) resulted in a five-fold reduction in workers’ post-season musculoskeletal symptom scores, without significant reductions in productivity.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) crashes are among the leading causes of injury and death among youth in the agriculture industry. It is hypothesised that youth are involved in ATV-related incidents because they cannot effectively activate the vehicle's controls. This study evaluated potential discrepancies between the required activation forces of the controls of fifty-four utility ATVs and the strength of male-and-female youth of varying ages (6–20 years old) and strength percentiles (5th, 50th, and 95th). The activation forces of the ATVs' controls were measured experimentally, while the youth's corresponding strength was retrieved from the literature. The results of this study demonstrated a physical mismatch between the forces required to operate ATV controls and youth's strength. Turning the handlebar, pressing the footbrake, and pushing the ATV off are the most difficult tasks for ATV operation. These discrepancies compromise the youth's ability to ride ATVs, increasing their risk of crashes. Practitioner summary: Previous studies indicate that some youth engage in ATV incidents because they cannot activate the vehicle's controls. We measured the forces required to operate eight ATV controls and compared them with the youth's corresponding strength. Our results demonstrated physical mismatches between the forces required to operate ATV controls and the youth's strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Youth ATV operators typically have a diminished field of vision compared to adults. • Limited vision in youth compromises control and perception, increasing crash risks. • Findings provide data to update ATV safety guidelines and prevention strategies. Problem: All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) cause a distressing number of fatalities and injuries among farm youth in the United States. The number of severe injuries caused by ATV crashes on farms, which stood at 25 children in 2019, is expected to rise due to increased ATV sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing research into children's injuries has explored physical capabilities like anthropometry, strength, and visual acuity. Yet, studies assessing youths' physical ability to operate ATVs remain limited. This study tests the hypothesis that diminished vision field in young ATV operators raises crash risks. Methods: This study used SAMMIECAD digital human modeling system to simulate and compare the field of vision of youth and adult ATV operators. The simulations incorporated 3-D mockups of ATVs, humans, sprayer tanks, windshields, and obstacles. Ten utility ATVs and children of both genders across nine ages (8–16) and three height percentiles (5th, 50th, 95th) were evaluated. Results: Simulations showed that young ATV operators generally have a more restricted field of vision than adults, particularly those aged 6–11 years. Discussion: Visual limitations hinder riders' ability to see ATV controls, potentially leading to vehicle control loss. Moreover, they impair environmental perception during riding, compromising youths' ATV operation abilities and increasing crash risks. Practical Applications: These findings offer crucial data in support of modifying ATV safety guidelines. Additionally, they can guide youth occupational health professionals in preventing ATV-related incidents in agricultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continuing challenge for ergonomists has been to determine quantitatively the types of trunk motion and how much trunk motion contributes to the risk of occupationally-related low back disorder (LBD). It has been difficult to include this motion information in workplace assessments since the speed at which trunk motion becomes dangerous has not been determined. An in vivo study was performed to assess the contribution of three-dimensional dynamic trunk motions to the risk of LBD during occupational lifting in industry. Over 400 industrial lifting jobs were studied in 48 varied industries. The medical records in these industries were examined so that specific jobs historically categorized as either low, medium, or high risk for occupationally-related LBD could be identified. A tri-axial electrogoniometer was worn by workers and documented the three-dimensional angular position, velocity, and acceleration characteristics of the lumbar spine while workers worked at these low, medium, or high risk jobs. Workplace and individual characteristics were also documented for each of the repetitive lifting tasks. A multiple logistic regression model indicated that a combination of five trunk motion and workplace factors predicted well both medium risk and high risk occupational-related LBD. These factors included lifting frequency, load moment, trunk lateral velocity, trunk twisting velocity, and trunk sagittal angle. Increases in the magnitude of these factors significantly increased the risk of LBD. The analyses have enabled us to determine the LBD risk associated with combined changes in the magnitudes of the five factors. The results indicate that by suitably varying these five factors observed during the lift collectively, the odds of high risk group membership may decrease by over ten times. These results were related to the biomechanical, ergonomic, and epidemiologic literature. The five trunk motion and workplace factors could be used as quantitative, objective measures to redesign the workplace so that the risk of occupationally-related LBD is minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Adoption of the stooped posture in the workplace is widespread throughout the world in agriculture, construction, and mining. This type of posture has been established as a risk factor for developing low back disorders (LBDs). The purpose of this study is to evaluate a personal weight transfer device as a possible intervention to reduce the load on the lumbar spine, thereby reducing the risk of developing LBDs. Eighteen healthy subjects performed stooped posture tasks in a laboratory study designed to simulate harvesting of low-growing crops. Results showed that when wearing the device in the static stooped posture, biceps femoris activity was reduced by 17%, lumbar flexion was reduced by 12%, ankle plantar-flexion increased by 5%, and the lumbar erector spinae of those subjects who did not experience flexion-relaxation of the erector spinae was reduced by 26%. Hip and knee flexion were not significantly altered. Therefore, the device may be beneficial for those with existing LBDs, and who use the stooped posture routinely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue including the aging agriculture workforce, musculoskeletal disorder risk factors and the Swedish agricultural health and safety.