title: 3D peak and cumulative low back and shoulder loads and postures during greenhouse pepper harvesting using a video-based approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In agricultural field work many tasks have been cited as high priority risk factors for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs). Although video-based biomechanical approaches have been effective in documenting the physical demands and risks associated with various occupational and non-occupational tasks, to date, this method has yet to be used to document jobs such as crop harvesting in a greenhouse environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document and assess the postural characteristics and 3D peak and cumulative low back and shoulder loads associated with greenhouse pepper harvesting using a video-based posture sampling approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine male (28.2 (4.1) years) pepper harvesters from a greenhouse in Southwestern Ontario, Canada were videotaped during a normal shift. 3DMatch was used to document working trunk and shoulder postures, from which 3D peak and cumulative forces and moments were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, workers spent the majority of their time in neutral trunk postures (lateral bend: 99.1%; axial twist: 59.9%; flexion: 89.8%). Consistent results were found for the left and right shoulder, with the arms held in a neutral flexion posture 50% of the time or more. Four participants experienced peak L4/L5 compression forces (between 4116.3 N and 5937.0 N) which exceeded the NIOSH Action Limit (3400 N) during the cart pushing/pulling task, but remained below the threshold during picking. Mean cumulative L4/L5 extension and shoulder flexion moments ranged in magnitude from 18.5 Nm to 28.2 Nm, and between 19.4 Nm and 23.2 Nm, respectively, across all tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The postural characteristics and biomechanical loads associated with greenhouse pepper harvesting were quantified with a video-based biomechanical approach. Further investigations of the physical risk factors for low back and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders is warranted in pepper harvesting, given the postures and loads documented in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Danielle L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gyemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Wyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Statham
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Windsor, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Video-based posture assessment; agriculture; biomechanical loads; vegetable harvesting; work-related musculoskeletal disorders