Affiliations: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,
Landwirtschaft-Gärtnerische Fakultät, Berlin, Germany | Leibniz-Intstitute for Agricultural Engineering
Potsdam-Bornim e.V., Potsdam, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Martina Jakob, Leibniz-Intstitute for
Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e.V., Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469
Potsdam, Germany. E-mail: mjakob@atb-potsdam.de
Abstract: Previous European studies [3,4,10,13] have shown a high
prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) among milking parlor operatives,
affecting at least 70% of the staff. The aim of the project was to find
correlations between workplace design and prevalence of MSD. For this a data
collection was carried out questioning the parlor operatives using a modified
Nordic Questionnaire [6]. On farm parlor specifics and bovimetrics of
milked cows of a randomly-selected shift were measured. After that data was
combined to compare the workplace design and the occurrence of MSD. The results showed that 94% of the female and 71% of the male workers suffered from
MSD. The work place analysis revealed that women regularly worked above
shoulder level and had to tort and bend more often than men because of the
gender specific anthropometrics and the workplace design. The survey took into
consideration that not only milking is considered strenuous but other farm
tasks as well. The results also demonstrated that there is a need to take
action to improve modern milking parlors. The existing helping devices are not
sufficient to reduce the workload; reorganizing the work tasks, work schedule
and the work place design is suggested.
