A running rail to cut the risks of mutual handling in a tomato greenhouse - Cyprus

The issue under discussion

Workers in an agricultural enterprise were being put at risk of developing MSDs through the constant carrying of heavy loads.

Action taken

A Cypriot fruit growing company identified manual handling risks to workers in its greenhouses from the movement of boxes of tomatoes. Female employees, in particular, were identified as being at risk.

The solution was to devise a “running rail” throughout the greenhouse in the form of an overhead pipe supporting a hanging platform onto which can be placed up to 20 boxes of fruit. This hanging platform can then be easily pushed by the worker through the greenhouse and into the adjoining packing area.

Results achieved

This simple load moving system has eased the production process and substantially decreased the manual handling risks to workers. Since its installation, no complaints of back pain have been received from the employees.