RESEARCH PAPER
Risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm fruit harvesters during early harvesting stage
 
More details
Hide details
1
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
 
2
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
 
3
Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
 
4
Department Of Mechanical And Materials Engineering, Faculty Of Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
 
5
School of Mechatronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia, Malaysia
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015;22(2):286-292
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study intends to investigate the associations of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among foreign labourers on a socio-economic background, occupational exposure, social lifestyle, and postures adopted during harvesting tasks. A total of 446 male respondents (263 FFB cutters; 183 FFB collectors) were studied using an interview-assisted questionnaire. OWAS was used to determine the severity of awkward posture based on videos of harvesting tasks recorded for each respondent. Analysis found that increasingly educated respondents had higher risk of developing MSDs. Shorter daily work duration and longer resting duration appear to increase the risk of neck and shoulder disorders among harvesters, which may be attributable to organizational work design. Awkward posture was a particularly significant risk factor of MSDs among FFB collectors. Among the results of the study, occupational exposure, postures and certain socio-demographic backgrounds explained some, but not all, the risk factor of MSDs among harvesters. An in-depth investigation, preferably a longitudinal study investigating the dynamic of work activities and other risk factors, such as psychosocial risk factors, are recommended.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Although the corporation expressed a policy of strict anonymity, the authors would like to thank the management of the oil palm plantations for their cooperation and participation in this study. This study was funded by the Research University Grant Scheme (RUGS) Initiative 6 (04– 01–12–1620RU) of the Universiti Putra Malaysia under the Ministry of Education, Malaysia.
REFERENCES (25)
1.
Ng YG, MT SB, MY IS, Mori I, Hashim Z. Ergonomics Observation: Harvesting Tasks at Oil Palm Plantation. J Occup Health. 2013; 55: 405–414.
 
2.
Hendra, Rahardjo S. Risiko Ergonomi Dan Keluhan Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Pada Pekerja Panen Kelapa Sawit. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Ergonomi; Sept 2009; Semarang: TI-UNDIP.pp. D11–1 – D11–8.
 
3.
Abdullah R, Ismail A, Rahman AK. Labour requirements in the Malaysian oil palm industry in 2010. Oil Palm Ind Econ J. 2011; 11(2): 1–12.
 
4.
Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, et al. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon Elsevier. 1987; 18(3): 233–227.
 
5.
Keyserling WM. Postural analysis of the trunk and shoulders in simulated real time. Ergonomics. Taylor & Francis 1986; 29(4): 569–583.
 
6.
Ismail AR, Yeo ML, Haniff MHM, Zulkifli R, Deros BM, Makhtar NK. Assessment of postural loading among the assembly operators: A case study at Malaysian automotive industry. Eur J Sci Res. 2009; 30(2): 224–235.
 
7.
Henry LJ, Esfehani AJ, Ramli A, Ishak I, Justine M, Mohan V. Patterns of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Workers in Palm Plantation Occupation. Asia-Pacific J Public Heal. http://aph.sagepub.com/content... (access: 2013.11.14).
 
8.
Chapman L, Meyers J. Ergonomics and musculoskeletal injuries in agriculture: recognizing and preventing the industry’s most widespread health and safety problem. National Agricultural Safety Database, 2004.
 
9.
Walker-Bone K, Palmer KT. Musculoskeletal disorders in farmers and farm workers. Occup Med. 2002; 52(8): 441–450.
 
10.
Holmberg S, Thelin A, Stiernström E-L, Svärdsudd K. The impact of physical work exposure on musculoskeletal symptoms among farmers and rural non-farmers. A population-based study. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2003; 10(2): 179–184.
 
11.
Nonnenmann MW, Anton D, Gerr F, Merlino L, Donham K. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck and upper extremities among Iowa dairy farmers. Am J Ind Med. 2008; 51(6): 443–451.
 
12.
Osborne A, Blake C, McNamara J, Meredith D, Phelan J, Cunningham C. Musculoskeletal disorders among Irish farmers. Occup Med. 2010; 60(8): 598–603.
 
13.
Bernard C, Courouve L, Bouée S, Adjémian A, Chrétien J-C, Niedhammer I. Biomechanical and psychosocial work exposures and musculoskeletal symptoms among vineyard workers. J Occup Health. 2011; (0): 1107180192.
 
14.
National Research Council (US). Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders, the Workplace, & Institute of Medicine. Musculoskeletal disorders and the workplace: low back and upper extremities. National Academy Press, 2001.
 
15.
Kirkhorn SR, Earle-Richardson G, Banks RJ. Ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal disorders in production agriculture: recommendations for effective research to practice. J Agromedicine. 2010; 15(3): 281–299.
 
16.
Fathallah FA. Musculoskeletal disorders in labor-intensive agriculture. Appl Ergon. 2010; 41(6): 738–743.
 
17.
Osborne A, Blake C, Fullen BM, Meredith D, Phelan J, McNamara J, et al. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among farmers: a systematic review. Am J Ind Med. 2012; 55(2): 143–158.
 
18.
Cooper C, McAlindon T, Coggon D, Egger P, Dieppe P. Occupational activity and osteoarthritis of the knee. Ann Rheum Dis. 1994; 53(2): 90–93.
 
19.
Fathallah FA, Meyers JM, Janowitz I. Stooped and squatting postures in the workplace. Proceedings of the symposium for stooped and squatting posture in the workplace; July 29–30 2004; Oakland, California, USA.
 
20.
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. OWAS (Ovako working posture assessment system) http://www.ttl.fi/en/ergonomic... (access: 2013.12.02).
 
21.
Picavet HSJ, Schouten J. Musculoskeletal pain in the Netherlands: prevalences, consequences and risk groups, the DMC(3)-study. Pain 2003; 102(1): 167–178.
 
22.
Perkio-Makela MM. Finnish farmers’ self-reported morbidity, work ability, and functional capacity. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2000; 7(1): 11–16.
 
23.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Body Mass Index: Considerations for Practitioners. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/dow... (access: 2013.11.16).
 
24.
Viester L, Verhagen EALM, Hengel KMO, Koppes LLJ, van der Beek AJ, Bongers PM. The relation between body mass index and musculoskeletal symptoms in the working population. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2013; 14(1): 1–9.
 
25.
Da Costa BR, Vieira ER. Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of recent longitudinal studies. Am J Ind Med. 2010; 53(3): 285–323.
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top