Priority risk factors for back injury in agricultural field work: vineyard ergonomics

With support of a NIOSH Community Partners grant, the authors reviewed data from three cooperating vineyard companies in Napa and Sonoma Counties, finding both high rates of evidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and identifying priority MSD hazards for intervention. Data from OSHA 200 injury report logs identified 29 reported MSDs and 435 lost workdays in a working population of 194 in a 30-month period. The majority of these (20) involved backstrain. High risk job tasks were identified, including: employer-identified tasks, analysis of injury reports, and ergonomics risk factor checklist survey of task work. Triangulating across these three data groups resulted in identification of high priority tasks, including: hand harvest work, hand pruning, and weeding using shovels. Priority risk factors for back injury in these jobs were: repetitive lifting of heavy loads, repetitive exertion of force by the trunk and upper extremities, and repetitive or sustained awkward postures of the trunk (including full stoop and twisting with loads).