Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in manual harvesting farmers of Rajasthan

Abstract

Manual harvesting is a physically demanding occupation with several work-related issues in which musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) happen most commonly. The risk factors for MSDs among manual harvesting farmers are not investigated properly in low and low-middle-income nations. Therefore, a study among 140 farmers of Rajasthan, India was carried out through the usage of Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) technique to identify ergonomic risks. χ2 analysis was used to find the relationship between the MSDs and various factors. Also, logistic regression methodology was applied to get the most influencing factor for MSDs in different body regions. The lower-back, fingers, shoulders and wrists/hands were the body parts in which more than 50% workers reported MSDs. MSDs in one or more body regions were found to be associated with age, daily working in farms, farming experience, gender, hand dominance and perceived work fatigue. The age was majorly associated with MSDs in all body regions except the shoulder and neck as per the outcome of logistic regression. The outcome of RULA grand score had been found higher than or equal to 5 in 92% of the farmers which give directions for further research and changes.

Repetitive Movements in Melon Cultivation Workers under Greenhouses

“…In addition, although without being a creeping cultivation, something similar occurs with the oil palm [54]. In addition, another study in India showed that in agriculture, in general, the task of harvesting is one of the most injuring, since it obtained a score of 5 or higher with the RULA method, in most of the assessed cases [55].…”

Percepção de agricultores de soja e arroz acerca dos riscos ocupacionais

“…Nesse sentido, constatou-se que agricultores que cultivam dois ou mais diferentes tipos de agronegócios podem ter maior possibilidade de distúrbios musculoesqueléticos, devido a maior sobrecarga de trabalho, afazeres ininterruptos em posturas curvadas sem pausas e com a presença de diferentes tipos de microrganismos, dependendo da plantação. Assim, tem-se que Development, v. 9, n. 11, e739119543, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i11.9543 em lavouras inundadas, como no cultivo de arroz, o risco de infecções respiratórias, como resfriados e gripes torna-se maior, devido à umidade; porém o cultivo agrícola de soja em ambientes quentes e secos pré-dispõe a dermatites, insolações e câncer de pele, em similitude a achados encontrados em países como a Índia (Jain, Meena, Dangayach, & Bhardwaj, 2018;) e Nepal (Bhattarai, et al, 2016).…”

A Review on Ergonomics in Agriculture. Part I: Manual Operations

“…In [41], it was concluded that inattentive workers can simply surpass the acceptable pressure limits, whereas in [42], the authors found that rest breaks coupled with ergonomic positions can benefit the workers. Introduce of more ergonomic tools and rest breaks was also suggested by Jain et al [43]. In [43], the authors identified the main risk factors connected to MSDs during manual harvesting in Indian area.…”

“…Introduce of more ergonomic tools and rest breaks was also suggested by Jain et al [43]. In [43], the authors identified the main risk factors connected to MSDs during manual harvesting in Indian area. Seventy-seven percent of the participants reported pain at the low back, shoulders, neck, hands, wrists, and fingers with aging principally being related to all body pains apart from the neck and shoulders.…”