Risk Analysis of Physical Disorders in Sugarcane Manual Cuttings, Planting and Harvesting Worker Using OWAS Method

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant professor, Biosystems engineering Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders due to inappropriate conditions in sugarcane Agro-Industry in Khuzestan province today are the reason for many human labor injuries in sugarcane fields. The risk of exposure to harmful agents to the musculoskeletal system is evaluated in a variety of ways such as REBA, RULA, QEC and OWAS. The aim of this study was to determine the number of musculoskeletal injuries and ergonomic evaluation of work situation by sugarcane cuttings planting, and harvesting using OWAS method. In this descriptive-analytical study, the workplaces of 20 groups of 10 workers were planted and 100 workers were cutting and harvested. Situations of workers were recorded in different situations. Then they were coded into different parts of the body based on their status according to the method studied and these codes were entered into the table and the final scores were calculated using winOWAS software. The results showed that cuttings harvesting, planting, and harvesting sugarcane were 36.37, 41.67% and 33.33%, respectively, in the most critical situation. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among sugarcane production workers is significant. Based on the results, the main problems of ergonomics are included inappropriate physical condition, lifting and carrying heavy loads and bending of the waist.

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References

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Iranian Journal of Biosystems Engineering
Volume 50, Issue 3
November 2019
Pages 557-567

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 January 2019
  • Revise Date: 15 April 2019
  • Accept Date: 24 April 2019

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