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Harvesting Ground-Level Crops: A Biomechanical Assessment and Ergonomic Intervention

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  038021,  2003 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.14190) @2003
Authors:   Gary A. Mirka, Gwanseob Shin, Yu Shu, Zheng Li, Zongliang Jiang, Theresa Costello
Keywords:   agriculture, harvesting, ground crops, ergonomics, back injury

Observation of standard work practices for the harvesting of small ground crops such as sweet potatoes and cucumbers reveal long-term static, full flexion of the torso. The implications of these postures of the torso in relation to fatigue and spinal stability are being more closely considered in the biomechanics literature. Specifically, there are concerns with regard to the changes in the properties of the viscoelastic structures that support the spinal column (longitudinal ligaments, interspinous ligaments and the intervertebral discs. The focus of the current project was in the biomechanical assessment of these work postures as well as some preliminary work in the development of ergonomic interventions aimed at reducing these loads. The results of the biomechanical assessment component of these work postures showed interesting inter-relationships between back angle and knee angle under loaded conditions wherein the knee angle had little effect on the back muscle activation levels in more upright postures but had a significant impact on these activation levels when the subject assumed the fully flexed postures. These results led to the development of two ergonomic interventions aimed at reducing the moment about the L5/S1 intervertebral joint during ground harvesting activities. The results of the analysis of these two first level prototypes showed mixed results relative to their ergonomic impact and impact on productivity.

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