3112 GeSec

Revista GeSec
São Paulo, SP, Brasil v. 14,

n. 11, p. 19283-19296,2023
ISSN: 2178-9010
DOI: http://doi.org/10.7769/gesec.v14i11.3112
Ergonomic analysis applied in aquaculture
Análise ergonômica aplicada na aquicultura
Evandro Bezerra Soares1

Felipe Facco Mendes Ferreira 2
Priscila Pasti Barbosa 3
Abstract
Aquaculture plays a very important role in the current Brazilian scenario, helping the income
of small families. This activity is considerably new and does not have a specific methodology
developed for the fishing activity. Due to these factors, this ergonomic analysis at work (AET)
study was carried out, with the purpose of identifying the causes of complaints of body pain
and fatigue caused by this activity. For this analysis, the Ergolândia software was used, which
is composed of several ergonomic methods. The method used in unloading was the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which deals more specifically with
lifting and transporting loads, which analyzes the weight of the load, position of hands and
feet, inclination of the trunk, height of the load is raised. Collected data and images were also
used as assistance. After carrying out the analyzes and verifying that at all stages the Lifting
Index (IL) is above the recommended level, some improvement proposals were made to
alleviate or eliminate these employee posture problems. All methodologies identified risk
levels that require immediate or short-term ergonomic intervention, aiming to guarantee the
1
PhD Student in Engineering Production by Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR), Rod. Washington
Luís, s/n, Monjolinho, São Carlos - SP, CEP: 13565-905. E-mail: evandrobezerrasoares77@gmail.com
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2090-5950
2
Luís, s/n, Monjolinho, São Carlos - SP, CEP: 13565-905. E-mail: felipefaccomf@gmail.com
3
Luís, s/n, Monjolinho, São Carlos - SP, CEP: 13565-905. E-mail: ppbarbosa2@uem.br
Ergonomic analysis applied in aquaculture 19284
safety and health of workers who carry out such activity. The implementation of measures
designed to eliminate or minimize risk may involve the allocation of significant human and
material resources, increasingly necessary for efficient management. Considering the
complexity and variability of the tasks developed, it is recommended that such a decision be
preceded by a new study using more precise risk assessment methodologies.
Keywords: Ergonomic Analysis. Aquaculture. Ergolândia. NIOSH.
Resumo
A aquicultura tem um papel muito importante no atual cenário brasileiro, ajudando a renda
das pequenas famílias. Esta atividade é consideravelmente nova e não tem uma metodologia
específica desenvolvida para a atividade de pesca. Devido a estes fatores, foi realizado este
estudo de análise ergonômica no trabalho (AET), com o objetivo de identificar as causas de
queixas de dor corporal e fadiga provocadas por esta atividade. Para essa análise, foi utilizado
o software Ergolândia, composto por diversos métodos ergonômicos. O método utilizado na
descarga foi o Instituto Nacional de Segurança e Saúde Ocupacional (NIOSH), que trata mais
especificamente da elevação e do transporte de cargas, que analisa o peso da carga, a posição
das mãos e dos pés, a inclinação do tronco, a altura da carga é elevada. Dados e imagens
coletados também foram usados como auxílio. Depois de realizar as análises e verificar que
em todas as fases o Índice de Elevação (IL) está acima do nível recomendado, algumas
propostas de melhoria foram feitas para aliviar ou eliminar esses problemas de postura do
funcionário. Todas as metodologias identificaram níveis de risco que exigem intervenção
ergonômica imediata ou de curto prazo, com o objetivo de garantir a segurança e a saúde dos
trabalhadores que realizam essa atividade. A aplicação de medidas destinadas a eliminar ou
minimizar os riscos pode implicar a afetação de recursos humanos e materiais significativos,
cada vez mais necessários para uma gestão eficiente. Tendo em conta a complexidade e a
variabilidade das tarefas desenvolvidas, recomenda-se que essa decisão seja precedida de um
novo estudo, utilizando metodologias mais precisas de avaliação dos riscos.
Palavras-chave: Análise ergonômica. Aquicultura. Ergolândia. NIOSH.
Introduction
In 2021, global fish production reached a record of approximately 179 million tons,
according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Of this
Revista Gestão e Secretariado (GeSec), São Paulo, SP, v. 14, n. 11, 2023, p. 19283-19296.
total, around 93.3 million tons were destined for direct human consumption, representing an
important source of animal protein for millions of people around the world. The fisheries
sector plays a crucial role in global food security, providing essential nutrients and
livelihoods to many coastal and inland communities (FAO - Food and Agriculture
Organization of the Unitd States, 2021).
In this sector, the importance of tilapia production in Brazil is manifested not only in
terms of volume, but also in the role it plays in the population's food consumption (Valenti,
Barros, Moraes-Valenti, Bueno, & Cavalli, 2021). Tilapia is one of the most accessible and
popular fish species in Brazil, due to its ability to adapt to different environments and rapid
growth. This makes it an excellent option for fish farming, contributing to food security and
the supply of high-quality proteins for Brazilians (Kim, et al., 2019). Furthermore, tilapia
production also plays an important role in the country's economy, generating direct and
indirect jobs in rural and urban areas, as well as promoting fish trade (FAO - Food and
Agriculture Organization of the Unitd States, 2021). Tilapia, with its mild flavor and culinary
versatility, has gained a firm place in the Brazilian diet, contributing to the diversification of
protein sources, and promoting a healthy diet. Until 2021, tilapia production in Brazil
continued to grow, reflecting its positive impact on both the economy and the population's
diet (Valenti, Barros, Moraes-Valenti, Bueno, & Cavalli, 2021).
Tilapia fishing in nets and the subsequent process of loading these fish into tanks on
trucks can present ergonomic challenges for the workers involved. When pulling and lifting
nets full of fish, workers may be exposed to repetitive movements, intense physical exertion,
and uncomfortable positions (Roriz, Delphinoa, Gardner, & Picao Goncalves, 2017).
Handling wet, slippery fish also increases the risk of slips and falls, especially in aquatic
environments. This can result in musculoskeletal pain and injuries, such as back, shoulder
and limb pain, as well as joint strain. It is crucial that workers receive adequate training in
ergonomics and safety at work, in addition to having access to equipment and techniques
that facilitate the safe handling of fish, aiming to minimize risks to their health and well-
being during this activity (Myers & Cole, 2009).
To identify and mitigate, or even eliminate, the ergonomic risks of tilapia fishing in
aquaculture, evaluating the process of lifting, lowering and transporting loads, the NIOSH
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) method was used. The NIOSH
method was developed to calculate the recommended limit weight for repetitive lifting tasks.
This equation was initially developed in 1981 and revised in 1991, with the aim of preventing
or reducing the occurrence of pain caused by lifting loads. It only refers to the task of picking
up a load and moving it to deposit it on another level, using both hands (Cordeiro, Arezes,
& Pinho, 2015). This equation establishes a fixed value of 23 kg which is equivalent to the
lifting capacity at a height of 75 cm in relation to the plane, for a vertical displacement of 25
cm, holding the load at a distance of 25 cm from the body. This would be an acceptable load
for 99% of men and 75% of women without causing any physical harm in repetitive work.
The following variables are defined for the NIOSH method (Iida & Buarque, 2016).
a) LPR: recommended weight limit;
b) H: horizontal distance between the individual and the load (hand position) in
centimeters;
c) V: vertical distance at the origin of the load (hand position) in centimeters;
d) D: vertical displacement, between the origin and destination, in centimeters;
e) A: angle of asymmetry, measured from the sagittal plane, in degrees;
f) F: average lifting frequency in lifts/minutes;
g) QP: grip quality.
Therefore, investigating the ergonomic part of the fishing and fish loading process is
of paramount importance to guarantee the health and well-being of workers involved in this
activity. Ergonomics plays a fundamental role in preventing musculoskeletal injuries, tensions
and chronic pain that can arise due to repetitive movements, inadequate postures and handling
heavy loads. Furthermore, taking care of ergonomics contributes to safety at work, reducing
the risk of accidents and falls, especially in slippery water environments. Investing in
improving ergonomic conditions not only protects workers' health, but also increases the
efficiency and productivity of fishing activities, making it more sustainable and ensuring the
continuity of this important industry. The application of the case study took place in the city
of Goioerê, state of Paraná – Brazil, on a small aquaculture property. This research contributes
to promoting safer, healthier and more comfortable working environments for fishermen,
contributing to a more responsible and prosperous fishing industry.
Methodology
The best tool to be used when lifting and transporting loads in aquaculture harvesting
is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method. It is a method
that focuses on transporting and lifting loads, analyzing movements, distances covered by
the load and the individual and other body postures. With the aim of finding the ideal weight
that each individual is capable of carrying without creating risks to their health in the short
or long term. The entire unloading process is carried out manually by employees, however
the part that generates the most complaints from them is the lifting, lowering, and
transporting of cargo. As this part is the biggest source of employee complaints, these steps
were chosen as the scope of this study. Once the part to be worked on in the study was
defined, data was collected from each lifting, lowering and transport of the load in the fishing
activity.
With the data collected during harvesting, they were entered into the NIOSH method
within the Ergolândia software. After entering the data into the Ergolândia software, the
results generated by the software were analyzed and the positions that had the greatest impact
on the employees' activities were scored. With the result already analyzed, some
improvements were proposed to reduce the lifting rate of all stages of lifting, lowering and
transporting cargo. Finally, after applying the improvements, an ergonomic analysis was
carried out to verify the efficiency of the method used and its effects on employees.
Results and Discussion
This AET in tilapia fishing was carried out on a small family property, located in
Goioerê - Paraná, on the border between Goioerê and Rancho Alegre, in which the work is
carried out 100% manually, without the help of conveyors, hydraulic arms or other types of
equipment. equipment that would turn this manual activity into a more mechanized activity,
making it relatively more suitable for the individuals involved in the operation. All fish
fattened on the property is passed on to fisheries in the region while they are still alive, so that
they can be used for leisure and food in the establishments. To begin the study, the boxes were
weighed, and their weights were recorded, as can be seen in Table 1.
Sampling Weight (kg)

1 25
2 27
3 24,5
4 29
5 28
6 26
7 27
8 23,5
9 30,5
10 26
11 30
12 27,5
TOTAL 324
Table 1 – Weighing the boxes with the caught fish.
Source: Own authorship
After having all the weights written down, the median value was discovered to be used
in the Ergolândia software. The total weight was 324 kilograms, and the average was 27
kilograms. With the median of the weights found, the next step is to determine the Frequency
Factor of the NIOSH method, which is the number of times per minute that employees carry
the boxes. For this purpose, the 12 boxes were timed from beginning to end, the result is found
in Table 2.
Sampling Time (seconds)

1 216
2 213
3 207
4 219
5 205
6 206
7 201
8 204
9 211
10 215
11 214
12 209
TOTAL 2520
Table 2 - Time for each box.
The duration of the ergonomic analysis lasts 42 minutes and an average time of 3.5
minutes. The calculation was performed to discover the frequency that will be used in the
analysis, using Equation 1.
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑠
𝐹=
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠)
Using Equation 1, considering 5 surveys in an interval of 3.5 minutes, a frequency of

1.43 was obtained. The result of 1.43 had its value rounded to 1 (observed in the Ergolândia
Frequency Factor Table line), thus generating a frequency factor (F) of 0.94 for all analyses,
as the height between the floor and hands vary between less than, equal to and greater than 75
centimeters. The duration of the work was 1 hour. The first stage analyzed was the lifting of
the box, where the fish had just been captured by a fishing net and passed from the net to the
transport box (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - Employees preparing to carry out the first survey.

For this survey, as the employees were in the water, it was not possible to make
changes to the vertical and horizontal distances covered by the box, the only possible change
was to reduce the weight of the load (Table 3).
NIOSH Method Before After

H - Horizontal distance between feet and hands 30 cm 30 cm
V - Vertical distance between the floor and hands45 cm 45 cm
D - Vertical distance traveled by the load 60 cm 60 cm
A - Trunk twist angle 0º 0º
F - Frequency Factor 0,94 0,94
QP - Handle quality 1 1
P - Mass of the load being lifted 27 Kg 20 Kg
LPR - Recommended weight limit 14,674 Kg 14,674 Kg
IL - Lift Index 1,840 1,363
Table 3- First load lifting.
After the fish are placed inside the box, it is lifted and taken approximately 2 meters
to be removed from the dam. As the work is carried out by only two employees, this stoppage
is extremely necessary, but very harmful (Figure 2).
Figure 2 - Employees transporting the box to the side of the dam.

The transportation stage cannot be changed due to employees carrying out the
activity in water up to their waists. The possible change in this situation was the reduction
in the weight of the load. The data and results collected in this small transport are in Table
4.

V - Vertical distance between the floor and hands 122 cm 122 cm
Table 4 - Transport the box while it is still in the water.
When the employee reaches the side of the dam, he lowers the load. This unloading
process is one of the most difficult stages, because in addition to the weight of the box and the
wingspan, there is also a slope in the ground that causes the trunk to twist (Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Employee lowering the load on the side of the dam.

The inclination that employees are subjected to while hindering also helps, as with
the inclination the vertical distance covered by the box is smaller, however in this situation
the employee has to twist the trunk to be able to lower the load. In this situation, the
improvements involve weight reduction and the implementation of a 40 cm platform on the
side of the dam to reduce the distance traveled by the load. As can be seen in Table 5.

Table 5 - Load drop on the side of the dam.
After the boxes of fish are removed from the water, they undergo another lifting, before
transport begins until they reach the scale for weighing (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - Employee lifting the load on the side of the dam.

At this stage, the horizontal distance between feet and hands decreased due to the
employee being able to get closer to the box, due to the slope that the terrain itself provides.
The modifications made at this stage are the reduction in the weight of the load and the
implementation of the 40 cm platform that allows the employee to get closer horizontally to
the load and also a reduction in the vertical distance traveled by the load. The other data and
results of this second survey are presented in Table 6.

Table 6 - Second load lifting.
Transport the cargo until it reaches the transport truck (Figure 5).
Figure 5 - Employee transporting the load to the truck.

As it is a load carrying, the box is a short horizontal distance between the feet and
hands and, there is no torso twist angle, and the only modification is to try to reduce the lift
index (IL) and the recommended weight limit (LPR) is the reduction in load weight. The data
and results of transportation to the truck floor are in (Table 7).

Table 7 - Transport the load to the truck floor.
The last stage of the AET is lifting the load to the truck floor (Figure 6).
Figure 6 - Lifting load to the truck floor.

The V value decreased due to the implementation of a 15 cm platform (Table 8).

Table 8 - Go down to place the load on the floor.
Conclusions and Implications
The objective of this work was based on the collection and analysis of results through
the Ergolândia software, using the NIOSH method within the software to investigate the
harm caused by inadequate postures, repetitions, loads exceeding the limit weight, among
others, and put together a plan of action to eliminate or minimize this harm to employees.
The sum of all before the improvement proposals was 10,056, with an average of 1,676.
After the improvement proposals, the sum was 7.114 with an average of 1.185, that is, there
was a reduction of 29.26% in the lead rates with simple modifications. It is clear that simple
modifications can bring great benefits that were previously difficult to imagine, such as a
simple action of reducing the weight of boxes would bring great benefits to employees.
Even with the results generated by the software in hand, it is extremely difficult to
implement the changes, not because of the cost or implementation, but because of the breaking
of paradigms that are difficult to break, such as explaining to employees that they need to
make more trips with the boxes lighter is more advantageous for their health. Among other
factors, the fact that the work is related to live cargo makes its reckless reaction to the change
in the way it operates understandable. Thus, with the implementation of improvements and
the change in some actions and mentality of employees, unloading with boxes having a
smaller load would be the best option, the ideal would be to reduce the weight even further,
but it would not be the best option because in the case of live cargo and the possible refusal
of employees to make many more trips to perform the same service. Even though taking more
trips made it possible to prove their benefits in terms of quality of life, operating time (which
can be extended) and consequently greater income.
References
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workplace. International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene (SHO).
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webofscience.ez31.periodicos.capes.gov.br/wos/woscc/full-
record/WOS:000350559600112
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unitd States. (2021). FAO Yearbook. Fishery
and Aquaculture Statistics 2019/FAO annuaire. Statistiques des pêches et de
l'aquaculture 2019/FAO anuario. Estadísticas de pesca y acuicultura 2019. Retrieved
from FAO: https://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CB7874T
Iida, I. (2005). Ergonomia: projeto e produção. Blücher.
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byproducts as a fish-meal in tilapia aquaculture. Ecotoxocology and Environmental
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Roriz, G. D., Delphinoa, M. K., Gardner, I. A., & Picao Goncalves, V. S. (2017).
Characterization of tilapia farming in net cages at a tropical reservoir in Brazil.
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doi:10.1016/j.aqrep.2021.100611
Submetido em: 30.09.2023

Aceito em: 01.11.2023

3112 GeSec

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Revista GeSec

São Paulo, SP, Brasil v. 14,

Ergonomic analysis applied in aquaculture

Análise ergonômica aplicada na aquicultura

Evandro Bezerra Soares1

Results and Discussion

Sampling Weight (kg)

Sampling Time (seconds)

Using Equation 1, considering 5 surveys in an interval of 3.5 minutes, a frequency of

Figure 1 - Employees preparing to carry out the first survey.

NIOSH Method Before After

Figure 2 - Employees transporting the box to the side of the dam.

NIOSH Method Before After

Figure 3 - Employee lowering the load on the side of the dam.

NIOSH Method Before After

Figure 4 - Employee lifting the load on the side of the dam.

NIOSH Method Before After

Figure 5 - Employee transporting the load to the truck.

NIOSH Method Before After

Figure 6 - Lifting load to the truck floor.

The V value decreased due to the implementation of a 15 cm platform (Table 8).

NIOSH Method Before After

Conclusions and Implications

Submetido em: 30.09.2023

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