Farmers Ergonomics Risk Assessment tool on working posture in comparison with Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The objective of this study was to assess the ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal discomfort from working posture of farmers and to compare the ergonomics risk levels with the REBA. There were 60 rubber plantation farmers in the Northeastern region by cluster sampling with the unit of Province. Data was collected by using the Musculoskeletal Disorders Severity and Frequency Questionnaire, ergonomics risk of working posture by observation forms of the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and the Farmers Ergonomics Risk Assessment (FERA). Farmers have upper limb disorders, mostly found in the forearm area (83.30%), followed by the shoulders and hands and wrists (81.70%), respectively. The disorder in the lower body was found the highest in the lower back and calf (61.70%), followed by the knee area and feet and ankles (60.00%), respectively. The results of the REBA ergonomic risk of working posture assessment showed that the risk level was very high (45.00%), followed by the high risk level (38.30%). The FERA used of ergonomic risk assessment was found to be very high risk (45.00%) and high risk (38.30%), and the ergonomic risk level by FERA was statistically linear correlated with the REBA level (p-value < 0.001), and very good level of that consistency with the Weighted Kappa = 1.00. This FERA tool is therefore good to suggest for farmers to use as posture ergonomics risk assessment by the reason of the findings of reliable with the standard REBA and more simple use by farmers after further study try for self-ergonomic risk assessment tool.