Agriculture Ergonomic Best Practices

Farm work is hard, labor-intensive work that involves a lot of awkward positions, such as stooping bending, kneeling, and reaching, as well as carrying heavy loads and being exposed to vibration from farm equipment. The following list provides some practical best practices for implementing good ergonomics in agricultural work.

• Reduce stooping by providing stools and attaching long handles to tools.
• Keep materials that need to be lifted below 50 pounds.
• Provide dollies, pallet trucks, or utility carts for objects that have to be carried more than a few feet.
• Use ergonomically designed handles for lifting plant containers, which prevent bending and stooping down to pick up the container.
• Provide multi-level shelves, tables, or racks near the work area for storing materials and tools and for raising work off the ground, such as planting trays.
• Reduce the size of picking tubs, and make sure the tubs have handles. This will decrease the forceful exertion needed to lift the load and reduce contact stress on the hands.
• Put tools, switches, and materials within easy reach.
• Implement the use of a harvesting cart to reduce stooping, kneeling, and fatigue.
• Use power cutters for woody plants to reduce the need for repetition and decrease forceful gripping.
• Use semi-automated, metered liquid applicators for liquids, such as growth regulators and pesticides, to eliminate contact stress and repetitive hand-squeezing motion.

To learn more about Labor & Industry Ergonomics visit our Labor & Industry Ergonomics Online Training web page.