Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture: Ergonomics risk assessment and its prevention among Indian farmers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Indian farmers have musculoskeletal disorders as agriculture is a physically demanding occupation. OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study is to identify ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among different groups of farmers. The other objective is to investigate how MSDs affect farmers’ daily lives and interfere with their activities. METHODS: Farmers were evaluated for the repetitiveness of work and MSDs using the standard Nordic questionnaire, ergonomic assessment tool (REBA), and ART tool. RESULTS: Low back portions were the most affected body parts, followed by the knees (OR = 0.352; 95% CI = 0.280–0.598), shoulder (OR = 0.657; 95% CI = 0.405–1.066), neck (OR = 0.510; 95% CI = 0.350–0.743), ankle or foot (OR = 0.815; 95% CI = 0.556–1.196), and upper back region (OR = 0.681; 95% CI = 0.463–1.002). The REBA method found that most of the postures in farming are very dangerous. The ART tool showed that most of the activities are repetitive. Working long hours (90%) and monotony at work (87.5%) are the main psychosocial factors, followed by pressure to finish within a given timeframe (71.4%) and injuries related to MSDs. CONCLUSION: Farmers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders in various body parts (lower back, knee, neck, shoulder, and upper back) due to squatting, stooping, and other constrained working postures during agricultural activities. rolonged working hours, repetitive movements, and MMH are ergonomic risk factors forFurthermore, p MSDs.