The Impact of Harvesting Height on Farmers’ Musculoskeletal Tissue
Chun-Yao Wang,
Ying-Fang Hsu,
Chi-Yu Chuang,
Po-Chen Hung,
Hsiao-Chien Huang,
Chiou-Jong Chen,
Shinhao Yang
Affiliations
Chun-Yao Wang
Environmental Sustainability Lab, Center for General Education, CTBC Business School, No. 600, Section 3, Taijiang Boulevard, Annan District, Tainan City 709, Taiwan
Ying-Fang Hsu
Environmental Sustainability Lab, Center for General Education, CTBC Business School, No. 600, Section 3, Taijiang Boulevard, Annan District, Tainan City 709, Taiwan
Chi-Yu Chuang
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Chang Jung Christian University, No. 1, Changda Road, Gueiren District, Tainan City 711, Taiwan
Po-Chen Hung
Division of Occupational Hygiene, Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor, No. 99, Lane 407, Hengke Road, Xizhi District, New Taipei City 211, Taiwan
Hsiao-Chien Huang
Environmental Sustainability Lab, Center for General Education, CTBC Business School, No. 600, Section 3, Taijiang Boulevard, Annan District, Tainan City 709, Taiwan
Chiou-Jong Chen
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Chang Jung Christian University, No. 1, Changda Road, Gueiren District, Tainan City 711, Taiwan
Shinhao Yang
Environmental Sustainability Lab, Center for General Education, CTBC Business School, No. 600, Section 3, Taijiang Boulevard, Annan District, Tainan City 709, Taiwan
This study aimed to examine whether different agricultural work patterns may cause MSDs in different body areas and assess their severity. In previous studies, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been recognized as an occupational disease in agricultural workers. However, not all MSDs resulting from agriculture occur in the same body areas or have similar severity. This study conducted a questionnaire survey to inquire about the body areas and severity of MSDs among fruit farmers. A total of 212 valid answers were collected. Subsequently, their main harvesting postures were classified into three groups to examine the differences in MSD occurrence and severity among those groups. The results indicate that the harvesting posture did result in different severities of MSDs in certain body areas. Raising hands above the shoulders caused significantly higher MSD severity in the neck, shoulder, upper back, and elbows despite the same standing posture. Additionally, those who squatted, bent, or kneeled had a significantly higher severity of MSDs in the shoulders compared to those who stood but did not raise their hands above their shoulders. This study confirmed that the different harvesting heights of fruits can affect farmers’ posture, leading to differences in the body areas affected by, and severity of, MSDs.
