Affiliations:
Department of Engineering, Superior Polytechnic School, University of Almeria, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almeria, Spain. Tel.: +34 950 214475; Fax: +34 950 015491; E-mail: fjvazquez@ual.es
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The present study uses the RULA method to define the most favourable working conditions to lower climbing greenhouse plants, the most problematic task involved in trellising crops. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to prevent potential musculoskeletal disorders to the upper limbs in workers performing this task. METHODS: The variety of scenarios involving this task was simulated in the laboratory to evaluate different working heights, crop weights, and types of guides handled. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: From the 2,544 tests made, only some ergonomically favourable conditions were found to be met when the work was done at a height of 1.4 m, although heights of between 1.2 and 1.6 m could prove acceptable. Furthermore, the study shows the importance of the type of hanger needed to perform the work correctly, of the group of hangers tested; ergonomically acceptable handling was possible only with the new-generation ones having the lock device. In the case of using other types of hangers, it is recommended not to support weights greater than 2 kg. In addition to the above recommendations, it is considered vital to guarantee the correct organization of the workday to include recovery times from the earliest working hours, given the repetitive nature of the work, as well as to promote training sessions to avoid incorrect postures, especially regarding the limbs, trunk, wrist, and neck.
