Journal of Agricultural Medicine & Community Health  2019;44(3):138-143

doi:10.5393/JAMCH.2019.44.3.138

Risk Assessment and Intervention of Ergonomic Risk Factor in Beekeeping

Chanhwi LEE 1 ; Taesun KANG

Affiliations

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Keywords

beekeeping; beekeepers; ergonomic risk; musculoskeletal symptom; risk assessment

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the ergonomic risk factors in beekeeping, and to evaluate the effectiveness of assistive device hive lift. METHODS: This study included 30 subjects of beekeeper in Pocheon, Korea. We assessed the ergonomic risk of main task in beekeeping with NLE, OWAS and evaluate the effectiveness of hive lift. We also surveyed prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among the subjects based on the Korea Working Condition Survey. RESULTS: Moving to different floral origin, internal inspection of beehives, feeding syrup is the most burdensome to musculoskeletal system (NLE LI value=2~3. OWAS action category=4). The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (lower and upper extremities) among the subjects was over 80 %. The introduction of assistive devices in the three hazardous tasks has dramatically reduced the risk by removing manual lifting hives (OWAS action category<1). CONCLUSIONS: Beekeeping is a heavy workload on the musculoskeletal system because it has a lot of manual lifting task. As a result of applying the hive lift, the burden could be reduced.