IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i5p793-d210939.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Risk Assessment for Musculoskeletal Disorders in Forestry: A Comparison between RULA and REBA in the Manual Feeding of a Wood-Chipper

Author

Listed:
  • Margherita Micheletti Cremasco

    (Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy)

  • Ambra Giustetto

    (Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy)

  • Federica Caffaro

    (Institute for Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines (IMAMOTER), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Strada delle Cacce, 73, 10135 Torino, Italy)

  • Andrea Colantoni

    (Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Eugenio Cavallo

    (Institute for Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines (IMAMOTER), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Strada delle Cacce, 73, 10135 Torino, Italy)

  • Stefano Grigolato

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35040 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

The analysis of the postural attitude of workers during the interaction with workstation’s elements and working environment is essential in the evaluation and prevention of biomechanical overload risk in workplaces. RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) and REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) are the two easiest methods for postural risk assessment in the workplace. Few studies investigated postural risk in forestry sector with regard to human–machine interaction, in particular manually fed wood-chippers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postures assumed by an operator during the manual feeding of a wood-chipper, and to compare RULA and REBA, in order to identify the more effective and appropriate method for the assessment of the risk of biomechanical postural overload. The results pointed out several postural issues of the upper limbs, and showed that RULA is a more precautionary method to protect operator’s health during the targeted tasks. Implications to improve the human–wood-chipper interaction are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Margherita Micheletti Cremasco & Ambra Giustetto & Federica Caffaro & Andrea Colantoni & Eugenio Cavallo & Stefano Grigolato, 2019. "Risk Assessment for Musculoskeletal Disorders in Forestry: A Comparison between RULA and REBA in the Manual Feeding of a Wood-Chipper," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:793-:d:210939
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/5/793/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/5/793/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrea Colantoni & Francesco Mazzocchi & Vincenzo Laurendi & Stefano Grigolato & Francesca Monarca & Danilo Monarca & Massimo Cecchini, 2017. "Innovative Solution for Reducing the Run-Down Time of the Chipper Disc Using a Brake Clamp Device," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Giorgia Bagagiolo & Vincenzo Laurendi & Eugenio Cavallo, 2017. "Safety Improvements on Wood Chippers Currently in Use: A Study on Feasibility in the Italian Context," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Patrick G. Dempsey & Lydia M. Kocher & Mahiyar F. Nasarwanji & Jonisha P. Pollard & Ashley E. Whitson, 2018. "Emerging Ergonomics Issues and Opportunities in Mining," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Manuel Hita-Gutiérrez & Marta Gómez-Galán & Manuel Díaz-Pérez & Ángel-Jesús Callejón-Ferre, 2020. "An Overview of REBA Method Applications in the World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Federica Caffaro & Giorgia Bagagiolo & Margherita Micheletti Cremasco & Lucia Vigoroso & Eugenio Cavallo, 2020. "Tailoring Safety Training Material to Migrant Farmworkers: An Ergonomic User-Centred Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Yanchen Gong & Longlong Ren & Xiang Han & Ang Gao & Shuaijie Jing & Chunliang Feng & Yuepeng Song, 2022. "Analysis of Operating Conditions for Vibration of a Self-Propelled Monorail Branch Chipper," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Ruan C. M. Teixeira & Walter P. S. Guimarães & Josiel G. Ribeiro & Rubens A. Fernandes & Lennon B. F. Nascimento & Israel G. Torné & Fábio S. Cardoso & Gabriella R. Monteiro, 2022. "Analysis of the Reduction of Ergonomic Risks through the Implementation of an Automatic Tape Packaging Machine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Zhao Xu & Weijie Pan & Yukang Hou & Kailun He & Jian Lv, 2022. "A Decision Tree Model for Analysis and Judgment of Lower Limb Movement Comfort Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-21, May.
    6. Killian Lima & Ana C. Meira Castro & João Santos Baptista, 2023. "MIAR forest Reproducibility and Reliability for Assessing Occupational Risks in the Rainforest," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-14, October.
    7. Muhamad Nurul Hisyam Yunus & Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar & Ahmad Sufril Azlan Mohamed & Nur Zaidi Azraai & Md. Sohrab Hossain, 2021. "Implementation of Kinetic and Kinematic Variables in Ergonomic Risk Assessment Using Motion Capture Simulation: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    8. Marta Gómez-Galán & Ángel-Jesús Callejón-Ferre & José Pérez-Alonso & Manuel Díaz-Pérez & Jesús-Antonio Carrillo-Castrillo, 2020. "Musculoskeletal Risks: RULA Bibliometric Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-52, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andrea Colantoni & Danilo Monarca & Massimo Cecchini & Enrico Maria Mosconi & Stefano Poponi, 2018. "Small-Scale Energy Conversion of Agro-Forestry Residues for Local Benefits and European Competitiveness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Marcello Biocca & Pietro Gallo & Giulio Sperandio, 2022. "Potential Availability of Wood Biomass from Urban Trees: Implications for the Sustainable Management of Maintenance Yards," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Łukasz Warguła & Mateusz Kukla & Piotr Krawiec & Bartosz Wieczorek, 2020. "Reduction in Operating Costs and Environmental Impact Consisting in the Modernization of the Low-Power Cylindrical Wood Chipper Power Unit by Using Alternative Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Giorgia Bagagiolo & Vincenzo Laurendi & Eugenio Cavallo, 2017. "Safety Improvements on Wood Chippers Currently in Use: A Study on Feasibility in the Italian Context," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Mario Fargnoli & Mara Lombardi & Daniele Puri, 2019. "Applying Hierarchical Task Analysis to Depict Human Safety Errors during Pesticide Use in Vineyard Cultivation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Andrea Colantoni & Danilo Monarca & Vincenzo Laurendi & Mauro Villarini & Filippo Gambella & Massimo Cecchini, 2018. "Smart Machines, Remote Sensing, Precision Farming, Processes, Mechatronic, Materials and Policies for Safety and Health Aspects," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Massimo Cecchini & Danilo Monarca & Vincenzo Laurendi & Daniele Puri & Filippo Cossio, 2017. "Mechatronic Solutions for the Safety of Workers Involved in the Use of Manure Spreader," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-11, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:793-:d:210939. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.