Musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture
- Introduction
- Causes of musculoskeletal disorders
- Who is at risk
- Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders
- Further information
Introduction
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) cover a broad range of health problems. The main groups are back pain and injuries, and Work Related Upper Limb Disorders, commonly known as “repetitive strain injuries” (RSI). Lower limbs can also be affected.
MSDs are one of the most common work-related health problems affecting millions of European workers across all employment sectors at a cost of billions of Euros to European employers. This is not surprising, as:
- 45% of European workers report working in painful or tiring positions;
- 33% are required to handle heavy loads in their work
European workers commonly report MSDs as a work related health problem:
- 30% complain of backache;
- 17% complain of muscular pains in their arms and legs.
The 30% who complain of backache each year amounts to a figure of 44 million European Workers.
Health problems range from discomfort, minor aches and pains to more serious medical conditions requiring time off work, medical and hospital treatment. In more chronic cases, treatment and recovery are often unsatisfactory, and the result can be permanent disability, with loss of job. However, much of the problem could be prevented or reduced by complying with existing health and safety law and following guidance on good practice.
MSDs in Agriculture
Musculoskeletal disorders are a particular problem in agriculture, as can be seen from these figures:
- Almost 60% of workers in agriculture and fishing are exposed to painful positions at work half the time or more, the highest of any sector
- Nearly 50% of workers in agriculture and fishing carry heavy loads half the time or more
- Over 50% of workers in agriculture and fishing are exposed to repetitive hand movements half the time or more
Workers in the agriculture and construction sectors are most at risk to lower back disorders, and those in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries face the greatest risk of work related upper limb disorders
Examples of the problem from Member States:
- The UK’s self-reported work-related illness survey of 2001/02 revealed that people who had worked in agriculture in the last 8 years had, at 38 per 1000, the highest incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of any industry.
- In the Netherlands, Agriculture has the highest prevalence of repetitive strain injuries, and
- in France a 1994 study indicated that workers in agriculture and fishing are at the highest risk of RSI.
Causes of musculoskeletal disorders
Physical causes of MSD include:
- Manual handling
- Loads
- Poor posture and awkward movements,
- highly repetitive movements,
- forceful hand applications,
- direct mechanical pressure on body tissues,
- vibrations, and
- cold work environments.
Causes due to the organisation of work include:
- pace of work,
- repetitive work,
- time patterns,
- payment systems,
- monotonous work, and also
- psychosocial work factors.
Who is at risk?
MSDs can occur across all types of jobs and work sectors, but:
- Manual workers, both skilled and unskilled, are most at risk;
- Upper limb disorders affect women workers more than men largely because of the type of work they do;
- Older workers in Europe report more MSD problems;
- Workers in precarious employment, such as those on fixed-duration or employment agency contracts, are significantly more exposed to repetitive work and working in painful or tiring positions.
Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders
The European prevention approach for musculoskeletal disorders is as follows:
- Eliminate MSD risks (e.g. by automating or mechanising the task)
- Assess the MSD risks which can not be eliminated
- Combat the MSD risks at source
- Adapt the work to the individual, especially the design of workplaces, the choice of work equipment and the choice of working and production methods.
- Adapt to technical progress
- Replace the risk by replacing high risk tasks with less, or risk free tasks.
- Develop a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work, working conditions, social relationships and the influence of factors related to the working environment
- Give collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures
- Give appropriate instructions to workers
Assessing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders to workers
To prevent musculoskeletal disorders effectively, the risk factors in the workplace must be identified and then practical measures taken to prevent or reduce the risks. This is called risk assessment. Questions to ask when looking at the risk are:
- What are the causes?
- What are the problems?
- What needs to be done?
To find an effective solution to a musculoskeletal problem it is very important to carefully observe the real situation in the workplace, as many factors vary between jobs and every workplace is different. Attention should be paid to all the possible risk factors, especially as a combination of factors may be creating a risk. The workers should be consulted.
When considering what may be increasing the risk of MSDs, consider:
- The load
- The workplace
- The worker
- The task
The load
- Is the load heavy?
- Is the load awkward to lift or move, restricting vision or being difficult to hold?
- Is it a live load (e.g. an animal or a liquid moving in a container)
The workplace
- Is the workplace untidy, with things to trip over?
- Is there sufficient space to carry out the work?
- Is the ground or floor uneven?
- Is the floor slippery or the surface unstable?
- Are the lighting conditions poor?
- Is the work environment (e.g. temperature, humidity, wind going to affect the work)?
- If the task is carried out in a sitting position, is suitable seating provided?
The worker
- Does the worker physically able to carry out the task? – Don’t assume
- Is the worker pregnant or have a particular health problem that may put them at risk?
- Does the worker know what has to be done and how to do it safely?
- Does the worker have any personal protective equipment or clothing that may impede them in the task?
- Is the worker exposed to vibration, pressure or stress that may increase his risk of ill-health?
- Does the worker have sufficient recovery time between tasks?
- Is the worker fatigued when carrying out the task?
- Is the worker in control of the pace of work?
The task
- Does the task require repetitive movements?
- Does it require awkward, forceful or twisting movements including squeezing, hammering or pounding?
- Does the task require handling loads at a distance from the trunk?
- Does the job require an awkward posture such as stooping or reaching upwards?
- Does the task require loads to be lifted or carried excessive distances?
Staff complaints or days off sick with back pain or aches and pains indicate a problem. Consider if the work could be automated or reorganised to avoid the need for any manual lifting. To identify all the risks the task, the working environment and capabilities of the worker all need to be looked at. Include handling, carrying, pushing and pulling of loads as well as lifting.
If the task can not be eliminating, and is able to be carried out manually (i.e. with risks reduced), training and information are an important part of the prevention plan.
Combating MSD Risks
If your general assessment identifies risks from manually handling loads, you should:
- eliminate the job if it is reasonably practicable to do so;
- assess the operations that cannot be avoided;
- take steps to reduce the risk of injury.
Solving MSD problems will often involve a combination of actions, including:
- Physical measures – changing the workplace or load
- Changing work methods
- Information and training for the worker
Often the costs of these solutions are small and they are always tiny in comparison to the costs of disabling and painful injuries. Reducing risks from manual handling will usually improve the efficiency of the task, reduce labour costs and improve staff motivation.
Simple solutions
Physical solutions to manual handling problems are often low cost and easy to apply.
Levers
Simple leverage can be a very cheap and effective solution. Examples of situations where you could use leverage include:
- helping to make minor adjustments when hitching linkage-mounted machines or hanging gates;
- inching a heavy item, such as a water tank, horizontally;
- using a spare post or crowbar when fencing for removing posts, tensioning wire etc;
- purpose-made tools for lifting manhole covers;
- long-handled wrenches or extension handles on some tools (taking care not to damage or over-tighten bolts etc).
Platforms
Tables and platforms, including temporary ones, can help ensure you are working at the best height. Consider:
- a swing-out ‘bench’ over the tractor’s front weight frame for maintenance work at a remote site;
- a trolley or swing-out mounting on a tractor to present a heavy toolbox at a convenient height and avoid lifting;
- a makeshift bench, eg of straw bales, to make livestock husbandry tasks easier;
- storing tractor weights at the same height as the mounting frame, eg on pallets (if you cannot handle them mechanically).
Counterbalances and stored energy
Using a counterbalance or stored energy to help
- Consider applying a counterbalance weight to help when lifting loads such as heavy manhole lids. Remember not to compromise child safety where a lid or cover is secured shut by weight alone.
- Fit and maintain effective tailgate assistors (counterbalances, springs etc) on livestock transporters.
Methods to improve the task of linking equipment to tractors
- Position equipment accurately, using any slope to your advantage.
- Maintain and use the three-point linkage levelling box and the adjustment in a top link.
- Use quick attach/detach systems, eg with an ‘A’ frame.
- Consider auto-attach and demount weight blocks in place of individual front weights.
Further information
Further information on practical steps to preventing MSDs can be obtained from:
Agency’s Factsheet 4 - Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Available in: Español Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ellinika English Français Italiano Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Malti Nederlands Polski Português Slovenčina Slovenščina Suomi Svenska
The main European directives relevant to preventing musculoskeletal disorders are:
- Directive 89/391 provides a general framework for risk identification and prevention.
- Directive 90/269 covers the identification and prevention of manual handling risks.
- Directive 90/270 covers the identification and prevention of risks from work with display screen equipment, including minimum requirements for equipment, work environment and computer interface.
- Directive 89/654 covers minimum standards for workplaces, including seating, lighting, temperature and work station layout
- Directive 89/655 covers the suitability of work equipment.
- Directive 89/656 covers the suitability of personal protective equipment.
- Directive 98/37 covers machinery (replaced directive 89/392).
- Directive 93/104 covers the organisation of working time.
- Common standards for the design of work equipment are set at European level. These are known as CEN standards. The series of CEN standards “Safety of machinery-Human physical performance” is relevant to MSD risks.
- Further information on the European directives (including full text), CEN standards and Member State legislation can be obtained through links from the Agency web site.
