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Ergonomics observation: harvesting tasks at oil palm plantation


Citation

Ng, Yee Guan and Mohd Tamrin, Shamsul Bahri and Md Yusoff, Irwan Syah and Mori, Ippei and Hashim, Zailina (2013) Ergonomics observation: harvesting tasks at oil palm plantation. Journal of Occupational Health, 55 (5). pp. 405-414. ISSN 1341-9145; ESSN: 1348-9585

Abstract

Objectives: Production agriculture is commonly associated with high prevalence of ergonomic injuries, particularly during intensive manual labor and during harvesting. This paper intends to briefly describe an overview of oil palm plantation management highlighting the ergonomics problem each of the breakdown task analysis. Methods: Although cross-sectional field visits were conducted in the current study, insight into past and present occupational safety and health concerns particularly regarding the ergonomics of oil palm plantations was further exploited. Besides discussion, video recordings were extensively used for ergonomics analysis. Results: The unique commodity of oil palm plantations presents significantly different ergonomics risk factors for fresh fruit bunch (FFB) cutters during different stages of harvesting. Although the ergonomics risk factors remain the same for FFB collectors, the intensity of manual lifting increases significantly with the age of the oil palm trees-weight of FFB. Conclusions: There is urgent need to establish surveillance in order to determine the current prevalence of ergonomic injuries. Thereafter, ergonomics interventions that are holistic and comprehensive should be conducted and evaluated for their efficacy using approaches that are integrated, participatory and cost-effective.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Faculty of Human Ecology
Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.13-0017-FS
Publisher: Japan Society for Occupational Health
Keywords: Ergonomics; Harvesters; Musculoskeletal disorders; Oil palm; Sustainability
Depositing User: Nabilah Mustapa
Date Deposited: 12 Apr 2016 06:38
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2016 06:38
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.1539/joh.13-0017-FS
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/42253
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