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Applied Sciences
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Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems
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Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 13073
Related Special Issue: Pesticide Applications in Agricultural Systems

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giuseppe Ezio Manetto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Section of Mechanics and Mechanization, University of Catania, via Santa Sofia, 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: agricultural machines; pesticide applications (nozzle, sprayers, distribution uniformity, spray drift, worker exposure); mechanical distribution of natural enemies; safety in agriculture (noise and vibrations both in field and food-industry plants); post-harvest (packing lines, mechanical fruit damage); sustainable agriculture (anaerobic digestion plants, biomasses, digestate spreading, erosion, sod-seeding)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Emanuele Cerruto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Section of Mechanics and Mechanization, University of Catania, via Santa Sofia, 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: pesticide application (foliar deposition, ground losses, worker exposure, spray quality); post-harvest (packing lines, mechanical fruit damage); worker safety (noise and vibration exposure); renewable energies (anaerobic digestion plants, digestate spreading)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Domenico Longo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Section of Mechanics and Mechanization, University of Catania, via Santa Sofia, 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: robotics; agricultural machines; precision agriculture; automatic control systems; electronics and sensors; biosensors; measurement system; informatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rita Papa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), Section of Mechanics and Mechanization, University of Catania, via Santa Sofia, 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: pesticide application (foliar deposition, spray quality); integrated/organic pest control (mechanical distribution of natural enemies); worker safety (noise and vibration exposure); renewable energies (anaerobic digestion plants, digestate spreading)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Special Issue on “Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems” in the journal Applied Sciences (MDPI).

Accidents at work are a complex phenomenon linked to a multiplicity of causes, whose analysis is certainly difficult. As any survey carried out on this topic shows, workers of agricultural and agro-industrial sectors remain among the most exposed to the risk of accidents and the causes are varied and difficult to investigate and to interconnect. Certainly, they are structural, organizational and environmental in nature, and the organization of work itself plays a key role. Indeed, agriculture is a sector where the difficulty of structuring environments and procedures is particularly high, unlike in industry and indoor activities. Staff training also plays a decisive role, bearing in mind that a significant proportion of the staff employed are seasonal, temporary and self-employed workers, the latter too often willing to accept situations of risk due to underestimation or other reasons.

Risk situations occur due to the scarcity of information and training. Consequently, it is often believed that the risks often materialize due to the subject's lack of ability, rather than being due to a set of factors now well studied by ergonomics, which should finally be understood as an interdisciplinary technique aimed at analysis, evaluation and design of the interactions of the human operator in complex systems. In addition, the reduction in the number of agricultural workers and the increase in their productivity, obtained with growing mechanization, often leads to work in solitude, so enlarging the conditions of risk. Beside structural and social factors, the training factor is therefore extremely important. It very often leads to the underestimation of important causes of injury, among which is the need to keep the machines adequately efficient, to eliminate obsolete machines, to avoid making inappropriate changes, and to avoid using machines improperly (or for purposes other than those envisaged by the manufacturer).

The lack of knowledge of risk factors and their spreading in relation to working conditions makes an approach aimed at remediation and prevention very difficult. The proposed Special Issue intends to contribute to the collection of information, case studies, improvement proposals, innovative solutions and aspects of the accident prevention problem in relation to the activities examined, useful for improving the safety conditions of agricultural and agro-industrial workers.

So, the topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following (in alphabetical order):

  • Agricultural machines safety
  • Agro-industrial plant safety
  • Legislation and surveys on worker safety
  • Worker safety during agricultural and agro-industrial activities
  • Worker exposure to chemical agents (pesticides, VOC, etc.)
  • Worker exposure to physical agents (noise, vibration, dust, etc.)

Dr. Giuseppe Manetto
Prof. Dr. Emanuele Cerruto
Dr. Domenico Longo
Dr. Rita Papa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • accident risk
  • agriculture
  • agricultural tractors
  • agricultural machines
  • dust
  • emissions
  • ergonomics
  • legislation
  • microclimate
  • muscular-skeletal disorders
  • noise
  • personal protective equipment
  • pesticides
  • physical agents
  • safety
  • vibration

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 188 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems
by Giuseppe Manetto, Emanuele Cerruto, Domenico Longo and Rita Papa
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1863; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031863 - 31 Jan 2023
Viewed by 626
Abstract
Farming is one of the most hazardous industries, with a high level of accidents affecting the sustainability and viability of the sector [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 1479 KiB  
Article
Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Assessment of Ergonomic Risk Factors on a Coffee Farm
by Carla Estrada-Muñoz, Héctor Madrid-Casaca, Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda, Nicolás Contreras-Barraza, José Iturra-González and Alejandro Vega-Muñoz
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7703; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157703 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
In Honduras, some coffee farms must comply with strict standards of social, economic, and environmental sustainability, due to their organic, gender and fair-trade certifications. The principal research aim is to evaluate the musculoskeletal risks in occupations in a Honduran coffee farm certified in [...] Read more.
In Honduras, some coffee farms must comply with strict standards of social, economic, and environmental sustainability, due to their organic, gender and fair-trade certifications. The principal research aim is to evaluate the musculoskeletal risks in occupations in a Honduran coffee farm certified in sustainable environments and to know the status of its workers within the farm. Musculoskeletal symptom perception during the last twelve months was consulted, assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders using the Quick Exposure Check method. Data regarding 48 workers were analyzed to provide the results. Within the body regions where discomfort is concentrated, the back, shoulders, wrists, knees, and feet stand out, and the highest risk exposures are presented for the coffee cutters at the neck level and in the wrist/hand segment, in the coffee pickers at the back, shoulder–arm segment, and wrist/hand segment, and in the processors in the back area and shoulder–arm segment. It is concluded that, in all the coffee fruit harvesting processes, the people who work in these jobs are exposed to ergonomic risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)
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12 pages, 653 KiB  
Article
Sequential Indoor Use of Pesticides: Operator Exposure via Deposit Transfer from Sprayed Crops and Contaminated Application Equipment
by Angelos N. Tsakirakis, Konstantinos M. Kasiotis, C. Richard Glass, Agathi N. Charistou, Pelagia Anastasiadou, Rianda Gerritsen-Ebben and Kyriaki Machera
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(8), 3909; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12083909 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1239
Abstract
Dermal transfer of pesticide residues to human skin due to contact with treated crops, treated surfaces, or contaminated surfaces is an important route of exposure for operators, workers and possibly for bystanders and residents. However, information on dermal transfer data is limited and [...] Read more.
Dermal transfer of pesticide residues to human skin due to contact with treated crops, treated surfaces, or contaminated surfaces is an important route of exposure for operators, workers and possibly for bystanders and residents. However, information on dermal transfer data is limited and mainly available for workers. The aim of the present study has been to generate both dermal exposure and transfer data related for operators involved in sequential tasks of mixing/loading and application of pesticides in a southern EU zone greenhouse. Exposure measurements were based on the principles of the whole-body dosimetry (WBD) method involving the use of cotton coveralls and gloves as dosimeters. Six field trials were conducted in three tomato greenhouses, on the island of Crete, Greece. The study results showed that the contribution of existing pesticide deposits on the treated crops, i.e., from an application conducted earlier the same day, was in the range of 8–16% for the application task and 0.9–18% for the mixing/loading task in relation to the measured total exposure to this pesticide during a short-term sequential application. The results of this study have been incorporated in the GAOEM (Greenhouse Agricultural Operator Exposure Model) included in the updated EFSA Guidance on the assessment of exposure of operators, workers, residents and bystanders in risk assessment of plant protection products. The low values of the pesticide amount penetrating the coverall (actual dermal exposure) in all cases highlight and confirm the need for the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for operator safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)
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10 pages, 815 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of a Targeted Intervention Method to Improve the Use of Hearing Protection Devices among Agro-Industrial Workers in Malaysia
by Sirri Ammar, Aziah Daud, Ahmad Filza Ismail and Ailin Razali
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2497; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052497 - 27 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1435
Abstract
Hearing-protection devices (HPD) are crucial in protecting workers from hazardous noise exposures. Despite the mandatory implementation of hearing-conservation programmes at the workplace, compliance with proper HPD usage among workers has been shown to be poor. This study aims to develop and determine the [...] Read more.
Hearing-protection devices (HPD) are crucial in protecting workers from hazardous noise exposures. Despite the mandatory implementation of hearing-conservation programmes at the workplace, compliance with proper HPD usage among workers has been shown to be poor. This study aims to develop and determine the efficacy of a targeted intervention to improve the use of HPD among noise-exposed agro-industrial workers. One group of workers was given a targeted training module, while another group received a standard training module. Their self-reported HPD use and the intention to use HPD in the future were compared to evaluate the effect of the interventions. The targeted intervention significantly increased HPD use after four months compared to the control intervention. The findings showed that improving the workers’ compliance with HPD usage is possible by implementing a well-designed training method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)
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15 pages, 3459 KiB  
Article
Participatory Ergonomic Interventions for Improving Agricultural Work Environment: A Case Study in a Farming Organization of Korea
by Dohyung Kee
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12042263 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2306
Abstract
Farmers are often exposed to risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders through lifting, carrying heavy loads, and sustained or repeated full-body bending. Several relevant studies on ergonomic interventions have been conducted for specific agricultural tasks, such as harvesting and pruning, by experts without involving [...] Read more.
Farmers are often exposed to risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders through lifting, carrying heavy loads, and sustained or repeated full-body bending. Several relevant studies on ergonomic interventions have been conducted for specific agricultural tasks, such as harvesting and pruning, by experts without involving farmers. This study introduces ergonomic interventions to mitigate risk factors in a farming organization that cultivates peaches as the main crop based on ergonomic analysis of the entire peach farming cycle; subjective and objective evaluations of the proposed interventions are also performed. The ergonomic analysis and interventions were established based on consultations provided by an ergonomist, the government, and the organization members. Engineering controls were introduced for powered carts, sorters, and stools to reduce load carrying and awkward postures; moreover, thermal or cooling vests, winter shoes and gloves, and farmer hats were provided to alleviate cold or heat stresses. Administrative controls such as education/training and adjusting work–rest cycles were also recommended after considering the characteristics of the risk factors identified. The scores of the questionnaire survey from the organization members were high (>4.1 out of 5 for five questions), and postural loads for unstable postures by RULA were significantly reduced so as to avoid fast or immediate changes for the postures or working methods assessed. The study results are expected to help promote farmers’ health and enhance farming efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)
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16 pages, 4801 KiB  
Article
Vibration from Electric Hand-Held Harvesters for Olives
by Emanuele Cerruto and Giuseppe Manetto
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 1768; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041768 - 09 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1850
Abstract
Olive harvesting is the most expensive cultivation operation in areas where full mechanization is not possible due to structural conditions such as low tree density, old trees, irregular spacing, and terraced fields, which are very frequent in many small Italian farms. Under these [...] Read more.
Olive harvesting is the most expensive cultivation operation in areas where full mechanization is not possible due to structural conditions such as low tree density, old trees, irregular spacing, and terraced fields, which are very frequent in many small Italian farms. Under these conditions the use of hand-held vibrating harvesters is quite wide spread, because they are capable of approximately three times the productivity of workers using manual harvesting methods. Unfortunately, the use of these machines exposes the operators to hand-arm vibration risk and acceleration values are affected by several factors, including harvester kinematics, rod material and geometry, and load conditions. In this study several models of electrical portable harvesters, obtained by combining six harvester heads and four rods (one telescopic), were tested under idling and load conditions, measuring acceleration values on the rod, near the hand positions. Assuming the use of the machinery for 4 h per day, the result is a level of daily vibration exposure A(8) for the most exposed hand ranging from about 11 to 40 m/s2, much higher than the daily exposure limit value of 5 m/s2 stated by the European Directive 2002/44/EC. With the same harvester head, reduction in vibration may be achieved by using carbon fiber rods rather than aluminum ones or by increasing the rod diameter. The most significant reduction is achievable by designing harvester heads whose kinematics inherently incorporate oscillation compensation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)
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13 pages, 976 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Exposure to Ergonomic Risk Factors among Crop Farmers in Nigeria
by Toyin Samuel Olowogbon, Raphael Olanrewaju Babatunde, Edward Asiedu and Aaron Moses Yoder
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11989; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112411989 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2774
Abstract
This study examined the prevalence and exposure to ergonomic risks factors among crop farmers in selected states in Nigeria. We used cross-sectional data to provide this evidence. Data were collected with the aid of a standardized questionnaire administered to farmers. A total of [...] Read more.
This study examined the prevalence and exposure to ergonomic risks factors among crop farmers in selected states in Nigeria. We used cross-sectional data to provide this evidence. Data were collected with the aid of a standardized questionnaire administered to farmers. A total of 480 smallholder cassava farmers selected across 24 farming communities in Kogi and Kwara states, Nigeria, were engaged in the study. Descriptive statistics and binary regression were used for analysis. About 96% of the respondents reported shoulder pain, 85% reported lower back pain, 82% reported upper back pain, 64% reported neck pain, and 53% reported elbow pain during farming operations. We found that the age of farmers (OR = 2.01) and daily duration of daily chemical spray (OR = 1.17) were risk factors, while previous training on the safe use and application of farm chemicals was found to be a protective factor (α = 0.05). The study identified affordability of farm safety measures and poor access to relevant safety information as top constraints to farmers’ adoption of safe farm practices. We concluded there is a high prevalence of ergonomic risks during cassava operations among respondents. A crop-specific co-designed ergonomic intervention targeted at Nigerian farmers to reduce exposure to ergonomic risks is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Worker Safety in Agricultural Systems)
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