Theresia Amelia Pawitra, Lina Dianati Fathimahhayati, Farida Djumiati Sitania

Ergonomic Risk Assessment on Palm-Oil Harvesting Workers in East Kalimantan

Introduction

Ergonomic risk assessment on palm-oil harvesting workers in east kalimantan. Analyze ergonomic risks and WMSD among palm-oil harvesting workers in East Kalimantan. Identifies high-risk activities & body parts, proposing tool redesign and exercises for mitigation.

Abstract

Along with the growth of the palm-oil industry in Indonesia, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) experienced by palm-oil harvesting workers also increased. This paper aims to evaluate ergonomic risk factors among harvesting palm workers in East Kalimantan and to propose suggestions to mitigate the risks. A total sample of 70 workers from 3 plantations in Muara Wahau, Babulu, and Muara Badak was observed in 2023. Gotrak survey and ergonomic risk factor (ERF) questionnaire of SNI 9011:2021 were utilized for determining the WMSD and identifying the ergonomics risk, respectively. The result showed that 91% of workers experienced pain after work, and 72% frequently experienced physical fatigue. The Gotrak survey on cutting and carrying bunches activity revealed high exposure risk for the neck (97%), followed by the shoulder (77%) and knee (55%). Meanwhile, during the activity of loading bunches onto the truck, high exposure risk occurs in the shoulders (73%), elbows (53%), and knees (53%). The result of the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test indicates that there is a difference in Gotrak levels among the three locations. The Gotrak level in Muara Wahau is the highest, followed by Babulu and Muara Badak. The results of the ERF questionnaire showed that loading to truck, followed by carrying FFB to the fruit collection point, were the two activities with high ERF scores, i.e., 39 and 34, respectively. Finally, improvements such as stretching exercises before and during work, as well as redesigning ergonomic T-hook and egrek, will mitigate the risk.

Review

This paper addresses a critical occupational health issue within Indonesia's growing palm-oil industry: work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) among harvesting workers. The authors clearly articulate their objective to evaluate ergonomic risk factors in East Kalimantan and propose mitigation strategies. The study employs a practical, mixed-methods approach, utilizing the Gotrak survey and an ergonomic risk factor (ERF) questionnaire based on national standards (SNI 9011:2021). Applied to a sample of 70 workers across three distinct plantations, this methodology provides a solid foundation for understanding the prevalent ergonomic challenges faced by this demanding workforce, highlighting a significant area for intervention. The findings compellingly reveal the substantial burden of WMSD, with a striking 91% of workers reporting post-work pain and 72% experiencing frequent physical fatigue. The Gotrak survey effectively identifies high-exposure risks across various body parts depending on the specific harvesting activity: the neck (97%), shoulder (77%), and knee (55%) during cutting and carrying bunches, and the shoulder (73%), elbow (53%), and knee (53%) during loading activities. A notable strength is the statistical differentiation of Gotrak levels across the three studied locations, with Muara Wahau exhibiting the highest risk, suggesting potential site-specific factors. Furthermore, the ERF questionnaire pinpoints 'loading to truck' (score 39) and 'carrying FFB to the fruit collection point' (score 34) as the activities carrying the highest ergonomic risk scores. While the paper effectively identifies critical ergonomic risks, the proposed mitigation strategies, such as stretching exercises and redesigning tools like the T-hook and egrek, serve as a valuable starting point. For enhanced impact, the abstract could benefit from elaborating on the specific ergonomic principles guiding these redesigns or referencing successful implementations. Future research could further explore the site-specific differences identified by the Kruskal-Wallis test, perhaps through more detailed task analysis or environmental assessments at each location to understand the underlying causes of varying risk levels. Overall, this study makes a significant contribution by quantitatively assessing ergonomic risks in a high-demand agricultural sector, paving the way for more targeted and comprehensive intervention programs.

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