Hyo Cher Kim

A Study on Agricultural Safety Technology for Ergonomic Intervention in Farm-work

A high prevalence of farmers work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) have been reported in precedent studies. Risk factors - physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic risk factor etc. - in farm-work were identified by previous studies. To prevent farmers from exposing to them and reduce, Agricultural Safety Technology were introduced and used on farm. The purpose of this study is to review and summarize the agricultural safety technology on farm in Korea. According to strategy principles, this technology is classified as four criteria - workload reduction by reducing awkward posture, workload reduction by using manual material handling aids, Comfort improvement by protecting worker from hot, cold environment and work efficiency improvement by workplace redesign and cultivation modification. This technology includes transporting tools, working cloth, personal protective equipment, and pesticide-proof Clothing. Anthropometric study of Korean farmers was also carried out to support the development of equipment and clothes. In long terms, it needs to precaution activity from risk factors by using cultivation modification and working improvement. Although working condition gets better and workload reduce by this technology, it required customized safety technology in each crops - rice cultivation, horticulture and livestock farming. And farmers should use the assistive technology and participate voluntarily in ergonomic intervention program.

Health Status and Musculoskeletal Workload of Red Pepper Farmers

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to survey the working environmental conditions and musculoskeletal workload(DMQ) in red pepper farmers. 155 full-time farmers(males=91, females= 64) lived in Chungnam and Jeonbuk participated in the study. To offer the fundamental data for agricultural improvement of red pepper farms, information about working farm conditions, health condition, musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs), labor intensity and musculoskeletal workload was obtained by questionnaire and interviews. The results are as follows: 1. The farmers reported sunlights, high temperature and cold/ draught as uncomfortable work environment. 2. Physical and mental fatigue in females is higher than that of males. 3. The prevalence rates of medical diagnosed diseases are higher in order of osteoarthritis, herniated nucleus pulposus(HNP), and chronic gastritis/gastric ulcer. 4. Prevalence rates of musculoskeletal symptoms more than standard 1 among the various pain areas are higher in order of low back, shoulders and knees. These results can be used practically for agricultural improvement of red pepper farms to prevent MSDs. Keyword: Musculoskeletal workload; DMQ, Red pepper, Musculoskeletal disorders; MSDs, Musculoskeletal symptoms

Development of Fruit Harvest Basket and Assessment of its Effectiveness

The purpose of this study is to develop products that prevent muscular skeletal disease of farm workers, which would bring improvement for an efficient harvesting work. A pretest for product development and a survey research was carried out to inspect the problems of current harvesting work procedure. The product was developed and assessed based on ideas to supplement and improve these weak points. A total of twenty men were recruited to evaluate the effects of harvest baskets on the upper-limb muscle activities. For the usability evaluation, electromyogram of previous working method(disuse of harvest basket , one-hand carriage of the basket) and new working method with the usage of newly-developed harvest basket was examined. The whole anterior deltoid, biceps brachii and erector spinae on both sides, which makes a total of six muscle parts, were used for this experiment. The results were analyzed using ANOVA with muscle activity(%MVC) of each three forms of work and required work time from SPSS 18.0. According to the test result, all muscles did not demonstrate any statistically significant difference, with an exception of the backbone erector(right). The muscle activity of backbone erector(right) in the work method that uses harvest basket was detected to be approximately 23% less than that of the previous working method. As such, the decrease in the amount of waist muscle usage at harvesting work would enable the prevention of muscular skeletal disease and stabilization of lumbar spine. Which in turn would increase the effectiveness and reduce personnel expense(labor costs) while enhancing productivity with a decreased working hours.

Subjective Health Assessment of Elderly Agricultural Worker

Objective: The purpose of this study was to survey of the subjective health status of the elderly farmer. Background: With increase of aged population, the health of the elderly farmer has become main concerns of the elderly in the rural community. For the effects of the factors related to quality of life, subjective health condition showed the largest influence. Method: The survey was conducted by 326 elderly farmers aged 50 and older in rural areas through structured questionnaires. Survey questionnaire consisted items of general characteristics, health-related life habits, levels of stress(SF-PWI), symptom of musculoskeletal diseases and general level of health(SF-36). For the data analysis, SPSS 19.0K was used, and analysis was conducted by using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. For the symptom prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and comparison of average level of health, chi-square test and t-test were used. Results: The results of the study are as follows. It was shown that the symptom prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders had a significant difference in gender (p<0.01). Frequency analysis on presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in each part of body showed that leg/knee region was 28.1%, back region was 26.6%, shoulder region was 18.0%, arm/elbow region was 11.9%, hand/wrist region was 8.2% and neck region was 7.2%. According to comparison of average level of health, a social functioning were the highest as score 87.3, followed by mental health(65.6) and role limitation-emotional(65.5). Conclusion: Health promotion program for the elderly and female in the rural are needed. Application: The survey of the subjective health status of the elderly should be used for planning factors to make a health improvement plan in elderly farmer.

Bio-mechanical Analysis of the Grapevine Cluster Thinning Task using Working Chair

Objective: This study examined the effects of working chair that was developed for farmers who work in grapevine’s cluster thinning. Background: Agricultural work involves some of the nation’s highest occupational risk exposures. Fruit cultivation has been recognized as one of the most hazardous crops in which to work. Grapevine cluster thinning task involve activities related to the main risk factors associated with upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Method: An experiment was designed to test the working chair. Six healthy male(25.8±4.9years) were selected as the subjects for this study. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscles activity, and Electro-goniometer was used to measure the ranges of motions of the elbow, trunk and knee. Subjective test was also carried out to examine discomfort body parts and their pain intensity. A grapevine’s working space was built for the experiment and working chair was installed on it. In order to examine the muscle activity and range of motion, subjects used to the working chair for 30 minutes for each experimental condition. Another test without working chair was also performed for comparison. %MVC was used to quantify the level of muscle activity. Results: Decreases of muscle activity was found in all leg muscles and significant decrease of muscle activity was found in left Gastrocnemius. The range of motion of the trunk and knee also decreased when working chair used. Discomfort in lower back, thigh and shank region were reduced significantly. However, in upper limbs muscle activity tended to increase in working chair compared with conventional task. Conclusion: Improvement for cushion in seat back and pan required to reduce discomfort in buttocks. Application: Overall findings verified that the working chair might help to prevent upper limb and lower back MSDs based on the current study. These results can be practically used for work improvement for the grapevine growers to prevent MSDs.