Tea harvesting, a prevalent agricultural activity primarily conducted in mountainous terrains, remains heavily reliant on manual labor despite advancements in mechanization. This traditional approach significantly increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among tea farmers. A study aimed at analyzing these risks sheds light on the various factors contributing to such health issues, emphasizing the urgent need for ergonomic interventions in the industry.
Study Methodology and Findings
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of published articles from March 2010 to November 2023, focusing on the prevalence and influencing factors of musculoskeletal disorders in tea harvesting farmers. Utilizing databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, the study filtered relevant articles using specific keywords related to musculoskeletal issues and tea harvesting. Out of an initial 128 articles, 17 were meticulously selected based on the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and PRISMA guidelines for detailed assessment.
The study revealed that tea harvesters primarily experience musculoskeletal problems in the back, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, and knees. These issues arise from various factors categorized into personal, occupational, environmental, and psychosocial domains. For instance, the manual lifting of heavy tea bags, repetitive hand motions, and prolonged working hours are significant occupational hazards. Furthermore, environmental factors such as wet and uneven terrain exacerbate these risks.
Impact on Market Access
The manual labor-intensive nature of tea harvesting directly affects market access by potentially limiting the workforce due to health-related absenteeism. This condition can hinder the timely collection and processing of tea, impacting the supply chain. Enhancing market access requires addressing these ergonomic issues to maintain a healthy and productive workforce capable of meeting market demands efficiently.
Moreover, the study highlights psychosocial factors such as low pay and lack of employer support, which can demotivate workers and further reduce productivity. Addressing these issues through better financial incentives and supportive work environments can improve market access by ensuring a stable and motivated workforce.
Concrete Recommendations for Improvement
Recommended Interventions
• Redesigning tea harvesting tools to reduce physical strain.
• Enhancing the ergonomic design of tea plants and workspaces.
• Implementing ergonomic training programs for proper posture and manual handling.
• Organizing work schedules to include job rotation and adequate rest periods.
These interventions are crucial not only for improving worker health but also for ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of the tea harvesting industry.
The study concludes that adopting ergonomic interventions is vital to mitigate the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among tea harvesting farmers. Such measures include redesigning tools, modifying workspaces, and providing ergonomic education. Additionally, organizing work with job rotation and sufficient rest can significantly alleviate symptoms and enhance worker well-being.
By addressing these health concerns, the tea industry can improve workforce stability and productivity, facilitating better market access and ensuring consistent supply to meet consumer demand.
Original Article:
Work. 2024 Jul 20. doi: 10.3233/WOR-240211. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tea harvesting is a common agricultural occupation, usually conducted in mountainous regions with steep slopes and high altitudes. Despite the utilization of modern technology and mechanized equipment in agriculture, a substantial portion of tea harvesting continues to be traditional and physically strenuous. This dependence on manual labor can lead to a higher likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders among tea harvesting farmers.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was investigation of prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in tea harvesting farmers.
METHODS: In this review study, we analyzed all published articles on the prevalence and factors influencing musculoskeletal disorders in tea harvesting farmers from March 10, 2010, to November 10, 2023 (last search date). We systematically searched for articles using keywords (risk factor, risk assessment, lower limb, upper limb, musculoskeletal disorders, tea harvesting, posture, manual handling, discomfort, ergonomics, prevalence, farmers) in PubMed, Google Scholar, SID, Web of Science, Scopus, Magiran, Iran Medex, Cochrane Library, and Embase. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), 2018 version. Unrelated articles were excluded following PRISMA statement guidelines, and only articles directly related to the study were reviewed. GraySource and BASE databases were also utilized to identify Gray sources..
RESULTS: Initially, 128 articles were found across different databases, and a total of 17 articles were selected for the final assessment. The primary areas of the body that workers are commonly exposed to musculoskeletal issues are the back, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, and knees. The research identified four main categories of factors: personal, occupational, environmental, and psychosocial that contribute to musculoskeletal problems. Among these factors are women working in physically demanding environments, lifting heavy bags of harvested tea, time pressures during tea collection, repetitive hand motions from using harvesting tools, the height of the tea plants in the field, working in wet and slippery conditions, uneven ground surfaces, extended working hours, low pay, and lack of support from employers.
CONCLUSIONS: Ergonomic interventions such as redesigning tea harvesting tools, enhancing tea plants and workspaces, teaching ergonomic principles of body posture and manual movement, and organizing work with job rotation and adequate rest are recommended to alleviate musculoskeletal disorder symptoms.
PMID:39058473 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-240211
This article has been prepared with the assistance of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author.
