Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea (대한인간공학회지)

Ergonomics Society of Korea (대한인간공학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Ergonomic Assessment for Manual Materials Handling of Livestock Feed by Elderly Farmers in Korea

  • Kim, Insoo (Rural Development Administration, National Academy of Agricultural Science) ;
  • Lee, Kyung-Suk (Rural Development Administration, National Academy of Agricultural Science) ;
  • Kim, Kyung-Ran (Rural Development Administration, National Academy of Agricultural Science) ;
  • Chae, Hye-Seon (Rural Development Administration, National Academy of Agricultural Science) ;
  • Kim, Sungwoo (Rural Development Administration, National Academy of Agricultural Science)
  • Received : 2015.04.14
  • Accepted : 2015.06.11
  • Published : 2015.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate appropriate weight for aged farmers in manually handling livestock feed in bags using ergonomic methods. Background: In the livestock industry in South Korea, despite the trend of aging of labor manpower, heavy items are still manually handled in many farms. In particular, among stockbreeding works, the handling of feed in bags weighing 25~30kg is reported as a cause of frequent injuries and musculoskeletal system diseases. However, studies on the standard for recommended weight allowed considering the physical characteristics of aged farmers older than 60 years with greatly decreased physical strength and muscle strength are insufficient. Method: To evaluate appropriate weight for handling of heavy livestock feed in bags, physical techniques for measuring recognized levels of physical work loads, the NLE (NIOSH lifting equation) a method that is an observation type technique, and an ergonomic modeling technique to predict compressive force imposed on L5/S1 were used. Subjects who participated in the experiment were organized into two groups of males/females with mean age exceeding 60 years, and lifting tasks were evaluated for nine weight levels. Results: Based on the results of psychophysical measurement, females showed a tendency of more drastic increases compared to males when weight was over 19kg. The results of estimation of regression models for the weight, 18.0 kg ($r^2=0.97$) and 15.3kg ($r^2=0.97$) were evaluated as stable load for males and females, respectively. In addition, both the observation type evaluation and ergonomic model evaluation showed stable loads in a range of 15~18kg. Conclusion: Given the results of the study, the weight of the feed in bags currently distributed to farms can become a cause of not only overexertion but also farm work related disasters such as musculoskeletal disorders and safety accidents. Providing livestock feed in bags weighing not more than 19kg for aged farmers is judged desirable, and managerial improvement for this matter is considered necessary. Application: The results of the present study can be utilized as useful data for institutional improvement of the weight of livestock feed in bags.

Keywords

References

  1. Borg, G., Borg's perceived exertion and pain scales, Human Kinetics, 1993.
  2. Chaffin, D.B. and Park, K.S., A longitudinal study of low back pain as associated with occupational lifting factors. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 38, 662-675, 1973.
  3. Drury, C. and Pizatella, T., Hand Placement in Manual Materials Handing, Human Factors, 25(5), 551-562, 1983. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872088302500509
  4. Fathallah, F.A., Musculoskeletal disorders in labor-intensive agriculture. Appl Ergon, 41, 738-743, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2010.03.003
  5. International Organization for Standardization. International Standard ISO 11228-1, Ergonomics - Part 1: Lifting and Carrying. 1st ed, Geneva, 2003.
  6. John Howard, M.D. and LenWelsh, M., Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication, 2007.
  7. Kim, I., Kim, K.R. and Lee, K.S., Ergonomic Interventions to Prevent Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders incurred by the Weight Lifting Tasks in Livestock Feed Manual Material Handling. Asian Conference on Ergonomics and Design (AECD). Session III-I, 2014.
  8. Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA). Guideline for the Safety of Manual Materials Handling (KOSHA GUIDE G-75-2011). 2012.
  9. Kroemer, K.H.E., Kroemer, H.J. and Kroemer-Elbert, K.E., Engineering Physiology: Bases of Human Factors/Ergonomics, 2nd ed., Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1990.
  10. Marriott, H.E. and Lamb, K.L., The use of ratings of perceived exertion for regulating exercise levels in rowing ergometry. Eur J Appl Physiol, 72, 267-271, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00838650
  11. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), MAFRA Notification-No.2014-106: Feed Standards and Specifications 2014, http://law.go.kr/LSW/admRulLsInfoP.do?admRulSeq=2100000009316 (retrieved March 16, 2015).
  12. Mital, A. and Asfour, S., Maximum Frequencies Acceptable to Males for One-hand Horizontal Lifting in the Sagittal Plan, Human Factors, 25(5), 563-751, 1983. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872088302500510
  13. NIOSH, Work practices guide for manual lifting, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication, 1981.
  14. NIOSH, Applications manual for the revised 1991 NIOSH lifting equation, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication, 1991.
  15. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health): Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 1-52, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1994.
  16. RDA, The performance evaluation and the effect analysis of convenience equipment, 2010.
  17. RDA, Safety management guidelines for older farmers, 2006.
  18. Sanders, M.S. and McCormick, E.J., Human Factors in Engineering and Design, 7th ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1992.
  19. Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Survey 2013, http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/7/6/index.board?bmode=download&bSeq=&aSeq=313081&ord=4 (retrieved March 16, 2015).
  20. Wang, M.-J., Carg, A., Chang, Y-C., Shih, Y-C., Yeh, W-Y. and Lee, C-L., The relationship between low back discomfort ratings and the NIOSH lifting index, Human Factors, 40(3), 509-515, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1518/001872098779591377