Abstract
This paper proposes a mixed ergonomic tool analysis algorithm to prioritize work-related musculoskeletal problems. This study is a cross-sectional study assessing the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) with associated risk factors among 14 male mango-harvesting farmers (all right-handed) with the mean age of 52.28 ± 7.75 years. Four tasks following mango-harvesting processes were analyzed: (1) mango harvesting, (2) mango transporting, (3) mango size sorting, and (4) mango weighing and transporting to the truck. The perceived physical exertion while working on a mango-harvesting farm was based on the Borg CR-10 with a modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Physical risk level due to awkward posture was evaluated by the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and risk due to whole-body posture in association with the level of WMSDs risk was evaluated by the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) score sheets. The subjective feelings of fatigue and posture analysis were normalized and combined using the theorem of power superposition to establish the fatigue effective index (FEI) for determining priorities to solve ergonomics-based task problems. This study indicated clearly that WMSDs are highly prevalent in mango-harvesting farmers, whereas the highest prevalence of WMSDs was reported in the right shoulder, right upper arm and lower back. The result provided the FEI of mango-harvesting farmers, ranked as follows: (1) size-sorting task, (2) weight-lifting task, (3) harvesting task, and (4) transporting task. The authors concluded that mango size sorting should be the first task to be improved to resolve the muscle fatigue problems among male mango-harvesting farmers.
Highlights
Worldwide, problems with symptoms and disorders of the musculoskeletal system are becoming common among the working population [1]
To classify and solve high-risk problems, we present the implementation of performance inputs as transformation processes and synthesize those processes with the theorem of the power superposition method, which results in a performance output in terms of the fatigue-effective index (FEI) that prioritizes the problem as the risk level to employee safety for mango-harvesting farmers
The results showed that the highest prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and muscular fatigue occurred in the mango size-sorting task because the farmers were exposed to repetitive motion injuries while working for long hours
Summary
Problems with symptoms and disorders of the musculoskeletal system are becoming common among the working population [1]. Thailand has laws governing the safety of workers in the workplace [2]. A study of investments in safety in Thailand found that industrial enterprises invested an average of USD 1397 per person in work safety. Many studies investigated how to ensure occupational safety for agriculture workers [1,4,5,6,7,8]. Most studies explored the conditions of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and supported the development of innovation. The problem analysis of WMSDs in most studies focused on a specific task, analyzed the problem, and investigated the solution [9,10]
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