Journal article
Biomechanical factors during common agricultural activities: Results of on-farm exposure assessments using direct measurement methods
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.17(2-3), pp.85-96
03/03/2020
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2020.1717502
PMCID: PMC8256625
PMID: 32069181
Abstract
Agricultural work is associated with increased risk of adverse musculoskeletal health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to quantify exposure to biomechanical factors among a sample (n = 55) of farmers in the Midwest region of the U.S. while they performed a variety of routine agricultural activities, and to compare exposure levels between these activities. Surface electromyography was used to estimate activity levels of the erector spinae, upper trapezius, forearm flexor, and forearm extensor muscle groups. Simultaneously, inertial sensors were used to measure kinematics of the trunk, upper arm, and wrist. In general, lower muscle activity levels, less extreme postures, and slower movement speeds were observed during activities that involved primarily the use of agricultural machinery in comparison to manual activities, suggesting a potential advantage of mechanization relative to musculoskeletal health. Median wrist movement speeds exceeding recently proposed exposure thresholds were also observed during many manual activities, such as milking animals and repairing equipment. Upper arm postures and movement speeds did not appear to confer excessive risk for shoulder-related outcomes (on the whole), but interpretation of the results is limited by a sampling approach that may not have captured the full extent of exposure variation. Not surprisingly, substantial variation in exposure levels were observed within each agricultural activity, which is related to substantial variation in the equipment, tools, and work practices used by participants. Ultimately, the results of this study contribute to an emerging literature in which the physical demands of routine agricultural work have been described on the basis of sensor-based measurements rather than more common self-report or observation-based approaches.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Biomechanical factors during common agricultural activities: Results of on-farm exposure assessments using direct measurement methods
- Creators
- Nathan B Fethke - Occupational and Environmental Health, University of IowaMark C Schall - Industrial & Systems Engineering, Auburn UniversityHoward Chen - Mechanical Engineering, Auburn UniversityCassidy A Branch - Public Policy Center, University of IowaLinda A Merlino - Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.17(2-3), pp.85-96
- DOI
- 10.1080/15459624.2020.1717502
- PMID
- 32069181
- PMCID
- PMC8256625
- NLM abbreviation
- J Occup Environ Hyg
- ISSN
- 1545-9624
- eISSN
- 1545-9632
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Grant note
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health U54OH007548 / Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health T42OH008491 / The Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety T42OH008436 / Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/03/2020
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984066112502771
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