Abstract
Agricultural work involves heavy physical exertion and is characterized by evidence of high rates of musculoskeletal disorders. Currently ergonomics is a low priority for injury and illness prevention in agriculture. However, based on costs and incidence rates ergonomics risk factors should rank among the highest farm safety priorities.
Analysis of field work jobs by the University of California with support from NIOSH yield an industry generalizable set of high risk tasks which should have high intervention priority. These are:
repetitive and awkward forward flexion, repetitive lifting and carrying heavy loads, and highly repetitive hand work.
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