Agriculture (Nov 2019)

Repetitive Movements in Melon Cultivation Workers under Greenhouses

  • Marta Gómez-Galán,
  • Ángel-Jesús Callejón-Ferre,
  • José Pérez-Alonso,
  • Manuel Díaz-Pérez,
  • Iacopo Golasi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9110236
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 11
p. 236

Abstract

Read online

Musculoskeletal disorders cause serious problems that affect workers in many sectors. The objective of this study is the ergonomic analysis of melon cultivation farmers in Almeria-type greenhouses. For this, the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method has been applied after carrying out a detailed process of observing the farmers’ tasks. The study shows that 65% of the postures have a very-high-risk level, 26% high, 9% average, and no posture is found with a low risk. They also show that in 69.57% of the postures, the upper limbs are less affected than the others such as the neck, trunk, and lower limbs. Measures are proposed to improve the working conditions for workers.

Keywords