Chapter 1-5 Ergonomics

Ergonomics Thesis: Applying Manual Handling on Agricultural
Work and Techniques
A Research Paper
Presented to
University of Batangas
College of Engineering
Industrial Engineering Department
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements
in Ergonomics
Prepared by:
Adarlo, Richard Angelo Q.

Orense, Armand Rei T.
Chen, Ansel Ray-Tien B.
Llave, Divina M.
Andal, Kent M.
Comia, Ian
IE 4-1
Submitted to:
Miss Noemi Panganiban
December 2019
Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction
In March 2001, agricultural health leaders should be easily able to
recognize that the prevalence and human and economic costs of
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) make them one of the highest agricultural
safety and health priorities. Instead, musculoskeletal disorders in agricultural
workplaces remain largely unremarked. Currently, they are overlooked in most
surveillance and prevention programs.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are so common among
experienced farmers and farm workers that many perceive them as no more
than normal and inevitable consequences of farm labor. However, even when
limited to the poor sources of data currently available on the extent of these
injuries in agricultural workplaces, there is reason for new, high priority concern.
We believe that the overall incidence of these injuries in the nation's agricultural
workplaces likely exceeds 60 per 1000 workers, placing agriculture squarely
among those industries with the highest recorded rates. This estimated
incidence rate yields a total of over twenty times as many musculoskeletal

injuries and illnesses as estimated pesticide injuries and illnesses in US
agriculture annually (Blondell, 1997). Musculoskeletal injuries and diseas es
likely affect the production agriculture workforce more frequently during their
working years than any other safety and health problem. Disability due to
musculoskeletal injuries and diseases incurred during their working years affect
the production agriculture workforce more frequently and more severely than
any other safety and health problem during the remainder of their working years
and, for many, for the balance of their lives. Work-related musculoskeletal
disorders are largely preventable, often with relatively simple and inexpensive
modifications to work methods, tools, or tasks. In other instances, effective
prevention may require rethinking work processes or arrangements. In either
case, the payoff for improved prevention can often be measured in both
improved work health and performance and improved productivity if thinking
about prevention is juxtaposed with thinking about improving production
practices.
Farmers some of the highest risks of work-related musculoskeletal injury
and disease in the nation. However, the problem is little recognized within or
without agriculture and is not currently given high prevention and research
priority by most farm safety groups or organizations. Most of the known injuries
in the industry that can be considered are mainly caused by prolonged hours of

work that affects the production of good quality products of the nation,
incapacitating the nation primary source of our GDP consumption.
Why are musculoskeletal disorders not our number one prevention priority
in agricultural workplaces? This is the question we pose for agricultural health
and safety professionals. Once the true extent, incidence, severity, and cost of
work-related musculoskeletal disorders in American agriculture become more
widely recognized, we believe this problem will become our highest farm safety
priority.
Definition of the Terms
Agricultural Worker – a person who is employed in agriculture, usually a manual
worker. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/agricultural-worker In
our study, it is a person who demonstrates the proper motions to fulfill his
agricultural duties
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) – Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are
injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s movement or musculoskeletal
system (i.e. muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, etc.).
https://ergo-plus.com/musculoskeletal-disorders-msd/ In our study, we are

looking mostly at disorders such as tendinitis (mainly for trigger finger), Lateral
Epicondylitis, and biciptal tendinitis.
Agricultural Workplace – An area of land, especially together with a house and
other buildings, used for growing crops or keeping animals.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/farm The working
environment of the agricultural worker, which in this case would be fields and
piggeries.
Materials Handling – Farming or agricultural equipment or devices used in
farming procedures.
Significance of the study
 To provide evidence of the problems and discomfort faced by everyday
farmers.
 To connect the Industrial Engineering Department to another problem that
can be solved through their expertise and research.

 To educate students on the importance of the agricultural sector and how
innovations are needed to maintain its stability.

 To provide researchers data and information from which analysis can be
conducted for conclusions to be made.
Scope and Limitation and Delimitation

The study aims to identify key ergonomic problems in the life of an
average agricultural worker and the musculoskeletal disorders related to his
work. The limits are to the energy spent by the farmer to conduct his duties and
has to be properly timed to work with his schedule. Also, the farmer may be
specialized in one are of agriculture and not necessarily in others. The farmers
are limited to the equipment and crop or animals they can afford to raise.
The study is aimed specifically at agricultural workers on the open field and not
related to the consumers whom they supply or the management they work for.
The focus is on these workers who cultivate and harvest the raw materials.
Statement of the problem
The study aims to determine the Musculoskeletal Disorder among
Farmers considering the behavior. Specifically, this study sought answers to the
following questions:
1. Is there a significant relation between age and accumulative trauma disorders
in modern day farmers?
2. Do female farmers experience more pain than female farmers?
3. Does repetitive movement affect the farmers pain?

4. Are harvesting crops more painful than removing insects from the crops or
pruning shears?
Conceptual Framework
Research was conducted using IPO research as shown below:

Theoretical Frame Work
Figure A: Work-related mental health disorders are similar to MSDs in that risk
is affected by a diverse range of psychosocial hazards, and assessment and
control procedures need to be holistic with a high level of participation by
workers; it is therefore useful to look at the characteristics of tools and
resources developed recently for workplace use in managing mental health risk.

It might seem reasonable simply to incorporate use of such tools within MSD
risk management procedures like Cumulative Trauma Disorder risk indicator.

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES
Related Literatures
1. Current Information on the Scope of Musculoskeletal Disorders in
Agriculture
According to Briones (2017),
as the Philippine economy expands, its structure changes.
The output share of agriculture fell by 14 percentage points over the perio
d 1986-2015 while its employment share fell by 21 percentage points.
And while agriculture still provides employment for a sizable 29 percent of
workers, its output share is only 10 percent.
Hence, productivity of the average worker in agriculture is only about a thir
d of the average worker.

2. Ergonomic Hazards in Agriculture
Meyers (1998) in reviewing the work of the University of California
Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center for the past decade has cited
three general risk factors as both endemic and of highest priority
throughout the agricultural industry.

3. Successful Intervention Programs in Agricultural Workplaces
A forthcoming NIOSH publication entitled Simple Solutions (2001)
highlights many of the most successful of these intervention. Keys to
success in this work have been:1) cooperative partnership with involved
farmers and farmworkers throughout intervention development and trial;
2) applied focus on commodity or crop specific tasks and tools; 3)
intervention evaluation focused on health as well as ergonomics
outcomes; and 4) fitting interventions to accepted production methods to
encourage adoption and minimize worker displacement
4. Reference Points Found in Agriculture at Risk
Bismark’s (1999) states that work-related musculoskeletal
disorders develop slowly over months and years of repeated stresses.
The risk factors themselves are ubiquitous, found in most jobs. Left
unaddressed, musculoskeletal disorders can result in lifelong pain and
permanent disability. As understanding about them has grown,
recognition and diagnosis have literally exploded to make them the most
frequent and most costly of work-related injuries in most industries.
However, despite their growing priority among occupational health
professionals, they have largely escaped recognition, prevention and

control in most agricultural safety programs. While these injuries were
known in 1987, they escaped notice in Agriculture at Risk.
5. Prevention, Intervention, and Intervention Effectiveness Evaluation
According to Maranan (2011), first, and less obviously, there is
need to interact on a continuing basis with the commercial companies that
are expected to produce and market emerging interventions. This applies
especially to those that are crop or commodity specific in focus.
Second, new extension funding and programs are needed to
expand the focus of farm safety programs and existing production
programs to recognize and address the problems presented by poor
ergonomics in terms of both production inefficiencies and worker health
and safety
6. Tasks in Agriculture that Create a Greater Risk of Injury
Kahan (2008) defines: Harvesting fruits and vegetables - Reaching,
bending, and carrying heavy picking tubs all place stress on the worker’s
muscles.
Handling animal feed - Large, unwieldy bags of feed are awkward,
and the act of emptying them into feeding troughs requires a twisting
motion that can injure the worker’s back. Weeding in fields and plant

nurseries - This task requires workers to spend long periods of time
bending at the waste, straining the muscles of the lower back.
Composting animal manure - A single producing dairy cow can
leave farmers with 150 pounds of manure every day. This can be
composted into powerful fertilizer, but it must first be collected,
transported, and emptied into the composting area.
7. Mitigation of musculoskeletal problems
Vyas (2009), in her article entitled “Mitigation of musculoskeletal
problems and body discomfort of agricultural workers through educational
intervention”, conducted a study about WMSDs among 120 Indian farmers
(60 males and 60 females) and also developed an educational
intervention to improve conditions for workers in terms of safety. A body
map and Visual Analogue Discomfort 11-point scale (VAD) were used for
data gathering. The results showed that all of the respondents had some
degree of MSDs, especially in the neck, shoulder, upper arm, and fingers.
8. Ergonomic design
Bhattacharyya and Chakrabarti (2012), in their paper entitled
“Ergonomic basket design to reduce cumulative trauma disorders in tea
leaf plucking operation”, showed that tea leaf plucking operation is the
main task in tea plantation including some WMSDs risk factors. Their

study was done in India among 180 female workers who worked on tea
farms. As plucking needs some severe body effort, ergonomics
interventions will create safer conditions. In this study, some methods and
questionnaires, such as the methods of Occupational Repetitive
Assessment (OCRA), Quick Exposure Check (QEC), Heart rate
monitoring, NMQ and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), were OCRA
outcomes that confirmed the existence of the risk of WMSDS. In this
study, and considering the gathered data, a new basket was designed.
Two baskets – traditional and new design – were compared during usage
in terms of certain physiological indicators, such as heart rate, energy
expenditure, and rating of perceived exertion. These indicators showed
the effectiveness of the new basket design in terms of work physiology
and ergonomics.
9. Prevalence and changes in chronic diseases
Cha et al (2009), in her study and related article entitled
“Prevalence and changes in chronic diseases among South Korean
farmers”, which was done on a case series study among the registered
data of the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, assessed the
prevalence of chronic diseases among women farmers and compared it to
other occupational groups. In this study 39,060 cases were assessed. All

of the cases were divided into three occupational groups “self-reported
farmers, manual workers, and non-manual workers” according to the
classification of Korean standards. This study showed that chronic disease
prevalence, especially disc problems and arthritis among the female
farmers, was more than for other occupational groups. Visiting doctors by
the female workers was also more frequent than for the men.
10. Musculoskeletal Disorders and Materials Handling
Bernard (1997), as our understanding of musculoskeletal disorders
has grown, so has our recognition of their widespread incidence to the
point that they are now considered the most prevalent and costly of all
work-related injuries (NAS, 2001, Bernard, 1997). Musculoskeletal
disorders have been definitively associated with repeated or continued
exposure to well-identified risk factors including: highly repetitive tasks,
awkward positions of body segments and awkward, whole body postures,
heavy loads and avoidable material handling, sustained vibration, and
other musculoskeletal disorder hazards. All commonly found in agricultural
work.

11. Falls From Agricultural Machinery
Elkind, 2008; Rogers et al., 2000, strengthening the assumption of the
protective role of this variable. This result may be interpreted by considering that
by developing familiarity with the machine through routine upkeep and
inspection, the operator can make more intelligent decisions to reduce the safety
hazards related to the machine. In this light, preventive interventions could be
designed to enhance this expertise, in particular for novice operators who are not
supported by the protective role played by work experience. Engaging training
methods using behavioral modeling techniques, as hands-on demonstrations and
behavioral simulations
12. Occupational Ergonomics
WHO (1985), there are some factors that create or aggravate work-related
disorders, such as work demands, social and cultural factors, work place
characteristics, and environmental factors. In this respect, as ergonomics covers
all of the mentioned farms, it has an important role in occupational health. In
addition, WMSDs as one of the main ergonomic concerns, are known to be a
common problem for the majority of female workers (NIOSH, 1995; OSHA, 2000;
Parimalam, Kamalamma, & Ganguli, 2005). Otherwise, in most working cases in
agriculture, some sort of musculoskeletal problem occurs according to the
physical demands on the body, awkward postures, prolonged standing and
kneeling, stooping, bending, and repetitive muscle activities. Assuredly, these

postures will result in fatigue, illness, and accidents. In addition, the inadequate
knowledge of workers about agricultural health and safety leads to the most life
threatening situations.
13. Working in Agriculture

ILO (2009), agriculture is defined as: “Agricultural and forestry activities
carried out in agricultural undertakings including crop production, forestry
activities, animal husbandry and insect raising, the primary processing of
agricultural and animal products by or on behalf of the operator of the
undertaking as well as the use and maintenance of machinery, equipment,
appliances, tools, and agricultural installations, including any process, storage,
operation or transportation in an agricultural undertaking, which are directly
related to agricultural production” (Hurst & Kirby, 2004).
14. Respiratory Health Hazards in Agriculture
World Health Organization (WHO) in 1962 as any person engaged either
permanently or temporarily, irrespective of legal status, in activities related to
agriculture (4). Agriculture was in turn defined as embracing all forms of activity
connected with growing, harvesting, and primary processing of all types of crops;
with breeding, raising, and caring for animals; and with tending gardens and
nurseries. Thus, the term comprises a spectrum of pursuits, from growing to
processing, and a wide range of commodities. This definition has been used in

the present review, but it is recognized that there are some settings that may in
part be considered agricultural and in part manufacturing.
15. Gender differences in work-related risk factors associated with low
back symptoms
However, most previous studies that examined the interaction between
physical and psychosocial factors for LBS have indicated the presence of
interaction (Devereux, Buckle, and Vlachonikolis 1999; Huang et al. 2003;
Fernandes et al. 2009; Lapointe et al. 2009). The findings of this study and
previous studies support the theoretical models proposing that the causes of
NSS and other musculoskeletal symptoms are multifactorial, and that these
factors may interact (Davis and Heaney 2000; Buckle and Devereux 2002; Karsh
2006). These interactions, in turn, are most likely to increase the risk of
musculoskeletal symptoms and its consequences
16. Identifying Measures to Reduce Musculoskeletal Disorder Risks in
Residential Construction
Karsh’s (2006) Theories and models that describe how MSDs are caused
rely on the interaction of a number of different factors. Some of these theories
focused on biomechanical mechanisms while others focused on psychological
mechanisms. Force, posture, repetitiveness and vibration are frequently

described in literature as major biomechanical factors contributing to MSDs
causation.
17. Effect of individual and work parameters on musculoskeletal health of
manual agriculture workers
Bhardwaj (2019), some theoretical models have proposed that the role of
physical and psychosocial factors in the development of MSD is complex or
involved complex relationships. Given the clear evidence on the connection
between psychosocial factors and depression, in which each of the predictors is
linked with MSD, there is an urgent need to examine this complex relationship.
18. Intervention development to reduce musculoskeletal disorders: Is the
process on target?
Ergon (2016), to assist in manual handling activities, technological
evolution has progressed from mechanized tools, to automated systems, to
collaborative interactive robots, and of late, to wearable exoskeleton devices. On
international and local levels, legislation, standards and codes of practices have
been introduced in an attempt to minimize the presence of hazards in the
workplace and reduce their levels of associated risk. However, the advancement
in technology, such as the introduction of industrial robots, collaborative robots,

and exoskeleton robots can occur at a rate with which the creators of these
guidance requirements cannot match.
19. Workstyle and Musculoskeletal Discomfort (MSD): Exploring the
Influence of Work Culture in Philippines
Karsh’s (2006) study has theoretical implications for MSD analysis and
prevention. Karsh's (2006) integrated model highlighted where contextual risk
factors for meat processing fit in a causation model. This study provides support
for Karsh's model, where wider cultural, social and economic influences can be
critical precursors to exposure to physical and psychosocial MSD risk factors in
the industrial workplace.
20. Agricultural environment
Vogel (2015) due to the difficulties in diagnosing the etiology of these
injuries, it is often very hard to pinpoint single or exact cause of such of injuries
within the work environment. Work related musculo-skeletal disorders are
injuries and pains as a result of damage to soft tissues such as tendinitis or
tenosynovitis or a situation of nerve compression leading to the development of
Carpal Tunnel or Cubital Tunnel injuries.

Chapter III
This chapter provides the description of the research method, subject of the
study, materials, the procedures and statistical treatment utilized in analyzing the
data/information that were gathered.
Research Design
The purpose of a historical research design is to collect,verify and
synthesize evidence from the past to establish facts that defend or refute a
hypothesis. This study is a quantitative type of research that compost of
numerical values in order to arrive on a certain action. Graphs and tables are
presented in this type of research ,it is equipped with statistical and comparable
data that can be synthesized that are being practiced and experienced by the
farmers from Barangay Sabang Lipa City, Batangas.
Observations, interviews and a short questionnaire were utilized in order
to conduct the study of Cumulative Trauma Disorder of the farmers. A
questionnaire was issued to assess the CTD. With the aid of these, the
identification of CTD and the factors connected to the pain each farmers
experienced became viable. Therefore the application of certain ergonomic
principles were noticeable. The data was acquired by interviews, questionnaires

and through physical observation, the problems faced by the farmers were
identified and solved as well as the identification of Cumulative Trauma Disorders
among local farmers.
The use of statistical tools was applied to the data collected to identify the
factors affecting the pain local farmers were experiencing.
Participants of the Study
All the farmers that corresponds to agricultural line of work is subjected to
this study. Workers regarding of their age ,work experience or work load are all
treated as one sample. Farmers that typically work 8 hour shifts were observed.
The participants are experiencing such discomfort that are significant as to
Cumulative Trauma Disorder; which is our main focus to our study.
Data Gathering Instrument
The data gathering instrument was conceptualize by reading different
concepts and studies regarding ergonomic problems and the musculoskeletal
disorders related to agricultural work.
The research instrumentt will be a questionnaire. The questionnaire is
divided into two parts: the respondent’s profile and questionnaire proper. The
profile included all the information about the respondent -- his/her academic

background, years of work in the field of agriculture, and type of agricultural
products. On the other hand, the questionnaire proper included the profile of the
respondent and two parts questionnaire. These subtopics were measured
through scales of 4 for Always, 3 for Often, 2 for Sometimes and 1 for Never.
Questionnaires are ways for participants to get involved and talk about
their views. In addition, the interviewees are able to discuss their perception and
interpretation in regards to a given situation. It is their expression from their point
of view.
Validation of the Research Instrument
In this study, our Ergonomics instructor validated our works. The instructor
guided the researchers along the process as well as in giving reminders to finish
the paper. The researchers gave their instructor the draft of the research and
then were given correction. After which the paper was returned, revision and
editing was made by the researchers.
Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers constructed a set of questions to be answered by the
farmers of Sabang Farm; comments and feedbacks were given orally by the
Sabang councilor while waiting for the respondents like the labor to finish with the
questionnaires. They have distributed it to opposite gender as they vary in their
jobs and tasks daily. Questionnaires were collected right after they have

answered the survey. All of it was kept safely. Moreover, the researcher
evaluated and tallied the answers of the respondents to have the final results.
The result gave the researchers the knowledge on how do the respondents vary
in their ideas and opinions with the topic given. Following tool were used to
identify certain details that the researcher will need in order to asses the risk
concerning their disorders. One of the main tool that the researchers used is the
CTD risk factor which are to be discussed at Chapter 4 - Results and Discussion.
Statistical Treatment of Data
The following statistical tools were used in the study.
Responses to the questionnaire by the farmers of Barangay Sabang, Lipa City
based on their current movements, pains and discomfort they experience,
causes, risk, and severity of the pains and discomfor will be statistically analyzed
with the data requirements of the study.
Farmers will be statistically analyzed with the data instruments of the study.
Descriptive statistics such as mean, and weighted mean are considered.
Mean. This is the sum of the values divided by the number of values.
Weighted Mean. This is the average of all the means of the questions within this
battery section. To have a “weighted” average put in the weights.

The frequencies from which the mean was based were from a three- point Likert
scale: 3- Good, 2- Bad, 1- Problematic. The verbal interpretation is based on the
following scale:
Option Scale Range Verbal
Interpretation
3 2.50- 3.00 Good
2 1.50- 2.49 Bad
1 0.50- 1.49
Problematic

CHAPTER IV
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
This chapter includes the presentation, analysis, interpretation of the data
gathered. It provides the results and discussions that will make the readers to
have a better grasp and understanding of proofreaders and their beliefs,
practices and experiences.
Figure 1:
Type of Work M F
Harvesting Crop 3 3
Removing Insects 5 2
Pruning Shears 4 3
Total 12 8

According to Figure 1, there is a trend toward males bearing the brunt of
hard labor, making them more susceptible to pain. This is what the data on the
table shows when comparing the male and female samples.
2.
Table 2:
Age Significance Gender Significance
X Y Relationship X Y Relationship
Age Spa S Gender Spa NS
Age Spb NS Gender Spb NS
Age Spc NS Gender Spc NS
Age Hpa NS Gender Hpa NS
Age Hpb NS Gender Hpb NS
Age Hpc S Gender Hpc NS
The data on Table 2.1 shows that there is a significant relationship between
age and pain, leading to the inference that pain is higher the more you age.

The data from Table 2.2 shows that there is no significant
relationship between gender and pain. They do not affect each other in obvious
ways.

Table 3:
Tally of
Tally severity Percentage
Cutting grass using
hands 10 57 46.72%
Moving crops 4 29 23.77%
Adjusting Clothes 6 36 29.51%
Total 20 122 100.00%
The data from Figure 3 shows that the most severe pains from the
neck, hands, shoulders, Lower back and foot pain are most likely to derive from
cutting grass using hands because such a repetitive movement can cause
damage or injury to the hands.

Figure 4:
Tally of
Type of Work Occurrence
Harvesting Crop 15
Removing Insects 17
Pruning Shears 17
Total 49
The data from Figure 4 shows that pruning shears and removing insects
may be a source of more pain than harvesting the crop. This is perhaps due to
more monotonous and meticulous searching for bugs and more effort when using
the shears to cut down excess grass. The data from figure 2.2 shows that there
is no significant relationship between gender and pain. They do not affect each
other in obvious ways.

Table 5
Recurring of Pain in Specific Body Parts
Body Part Mean Verbal Interpretation
Neck 2.30 Sometimes
Shoulder 2.55 Often
Hand 2.75 Often
Lower Back 2.40 Sometimes
Feet 2.50 Often
Weighted Mean 2.95 Often
As shown in the table above, all the mentioned body parts are mainly used
for manual agricultural work which causes to experience pain. Among all the
parts, the majority of the respondents reported that they experience pain mostly
in their hands as it is used in every activity especially in handling tools for
harvesting, planting, grass cutting and other farming activities. It had a mean
score of 2.75 with a verbal interpretation of Often.
The least reported to experience pain is the neck. It had a mean score of
2.30 with a verbal interpretation of Sometimes. The reason why neck experience
less pain is because it is highly flexible and allows the head to turn and flex in all
directions. It does not specifically doing manual handling work for any activity
unlike the hand.
Proper grip of farming tools and time to time resting is highly encouraged
to avoid the occurence of pain and future implications.

CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
This part gives a summary of the whole research conducted, presents the
findings and gives recommendations.
Summary
The research undertaken has proven to the affect of pain on agricultural
workers. After agricultural workers were interviewed and surveyed, the data was
organized and analyzed to discover certain conclusions. There is a trend toward
males bearing the brunt of hard labor, making them more susceptible to pain.
The age and pain are proportional to each other. The most severe pains from the
neck, hands, shoulders, lower back and foot pain are most likely to derive from
cutting grass using hands because such a repetitive movement can cause
damage or injury to the hands. There is no significant relationship between
gender and pain. They do not affect each other in obvious ways.
1. Is there a significant relation between age and accumulative trauma disorders
in modern day farmers?
2. Do female farmers experience more pain than female farmers?
3. Does repetitive movement affect the farmers pain?

4. Are harvesting crops more painful than removing insects from the crops or
pruning shears?
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is a serious problem of CTD that agricultural workers
suffer and have to endure.
Recommendations
 Consider wearing personal protective equipment for farming like boots, long
sleeves, hat, farming/gardening gloves, etc.
 Other body parts shall be considered for a wider scope of research.
 The study can be used for future researches and as a source of data


Chapter 1-5 Ergonomics

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Ergonomics Thesis: Applying Manual Handling on Agricultural

Work and Techniques

Adarlo, Richard Angelo Q.

Miss Noemi Panganiban

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

In March 2001, agricultural health leaders should be easily able to

recognize that the prevalence and human and economic costs of

musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) make them one of the highest agricultural

safety and health priorities. Instead, musculoskeletal disorders in agricultural

workplaces remain largely unremarked. Currently, they are overlooked in most

surveillance and prevention programs.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are so common among

workplaces likely exceeds 60 per 1000 workers, placing agriculture squarely

incidence rate yields a total of over twenty times as many musculoskeletal

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

agriculture annually (Blondell, 1997). Musculoskeletal injuries and diseas es

modifications to work methods, tools, or tasks. In other instances, effective

prevention may require rethinking work processes or arrangements. In either

improved work health and performance and improved productivity if thinking

about prevention is juxtaposed with thinking about improving production

Farmers some of the highest risks of work-related musculoskeletal injury

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

incapacitating the nation primary source of our GDP consumption.

in agricultural workplaces? This is the question we pose for agricultural health

work-related musculoskeletal disorders in American agriculture become more

Definition of the Terms

Agricultural Worker – a person who is employed in agriculture, usually a manual

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) – Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are

https://ergo-plus.com/musculoskeletal-disorders-msd/ In our study, we are

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Epicondylitis, and biciptal tendinitis.

Agricultural Workplace – An area of land, especially together with a house and

other buildings, used for growing crops or keeping animals.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/farm The working

Materials Handling – Farming or agricultural equipment or devices used in

Significance of the study

 To provide evidence of the problems and discomfort faced by everyday

can be solved through their expertise and research.

innovations are needed to maintain its stability.

conducted for conclusions to be made.

Scope and Limitation and Delimitation

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

average agricultural worker and the musculoskeletal disorders related to his

Statement of the problem

The study aims to determine the Musculoskeletal Disorder among

1. Is there a significant relation between age and accumulative trauma disorders

in modern day farmers?

2. Do female farmers experience more pain than female farmers?

3. Does repetitive movement affect the farmers pain?

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

Research was conducted using IPO research as shown below:

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

is affected by a diverse range of psychosocial hazards, and assessment and

control procedures need to be holistic with a high level of participation by

workers; it is therefore useful to look at the characteristics of tools and

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

risk management procedures like Cumulative Trauma Disorder risk indicator.

Campuses: Hilltop | MH del Pilar | Pallocan East | Pallocan West | Lipa

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES

1. Current Information on the Scope of Musculoskeletal Disorders in

as the Philippine economy expands, its structure changes.