Effect of ergonomic training on saffron picker's postures

Improper body positions such as kneeling, bending and twisting during saffron harvest, cause skeletal disorders. Low levels awareness about the true position of the body during work, is one of the problems of saffron workers. The purpose of this study, was training the correct body position in saffron pickers during work.

This is a semi experimental study. Ssubjects were 30 saffron pickers who were selected by simple sampling method. Devices includes: educational pamphlet, camera and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) chart. Pictures from all postures of the ssubjects during work were taken, and all parts of the body scored upon the REBA method, and calculated after entering codes into tables. After two weeks training about correct work position using pamphlet, the assessment was repeated. Finally, using SPSS (version 16) with Wilcoxon and T-test, the data was analyzed.

REBA assessment showed that the number (percent) people with moderate status (requiring a change in the near future) and those with very poor condition (needs more research and implement changes quickly) before the intervention was 9 (30%) and 21 (70%) changed to 15 (50%) and 15 (50%) respectively. This change was statistically significant. (P=0.003)

This study shows that improper postures of farmers could be changed to better condition. Corrected postures training could be an appropriate interventional method to decrease MSDs risk factors.