How to Assess the Biomechanical Risk Levels in Beekeeping

Journal of Agromedicine
G MainaA Baracco

Abstract

Beekeepers are at particular risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, but many of the studies lack detailed exposure assessment. To evaluate the biomechanical overload exposure in a specific farming activity, a multitasking model has been developed through the characterization of 37 basic operational tasks typical of the beekeeping activity. The Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) Checklist and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Lifting Index methodologies have been applied to these elementary tasks to evaluate the exposure, and the resulting risk indices have been time-weighted averaged. Finally, an easy access, computer-assisted toolkit has been developed to help the beekeepers in the biomechanical risk assessment process. The risk of biomechanical overload for the upper limbs ranges from acceptable (maintenance and recovery of woody material and honey packaging with dosing machine tasks) to high (distribution of the top supers) risk level. The risk for back injury is always borderline in women and increases with exposure time, whereas it ranges from acceptable to borderline in men. The definition of the biomechanical risk levels allows for planning of corrective actions aim...Continue Reading

References

Nov 5, 2002·International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health·Sara HolmbergKurt Svärdsudd
Dec 19, 2002·Occupational Medicine·K Walker-Bone, K T Palmer
Feb 14, 2006·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Esther HartmanJos H M Metz
May 18, 2007·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Kermit G Davis, Susan E Kotowski
Jun 6, 2008·Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health·F A FathallahJ A Miles
May 14, 2009·Journal of Agromedicine·Shane WhelanAngela McNamara
Apr 20, 2010·Applied Ergonomics·Fadi A Fathallah
Nov 10, 2011·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Aoife OsborneCaitriona Cunningham
Jan 4, 2012·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Aoife OsborneCaitriona Cunningham
Nov 17, 2012·Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology·Christina Lunner Kolstrup

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