Reducing musculoskeletal disorders of viticulture workers through a participatory approach involving video analysis

The work of viticulture (grape producing) workers involves long hours of repetitive movements in awkward postures. For a small viticulture company in France, absenteeism had reached 50% during pruning season.

To address this issue, management requested assistance from the Regional Health Insurance Fund. This case study highlights how a participatory intervention reduced the risk of MSDs. Ergonomics consultants first filmed the workers on site. With the workers, they then analysed the video to determine the biomechanical factors that worsened the workers’ condition.

Following validation of the factors with the workers, solutions were tested by filming the workers again and discussing the results.