Task Analysis, Risk Assessment and Clinical Evaluation of Work Related Muscoloskeletal Disorders in Viticulture and Olive Culture Farming

Introduction: in international literature the clinical data regarding results of specific epidemiologic studies on prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture are not so numerous. This study carried out an evaluation of risk in some viticulture and olive culture farms in Italy. Methods: to obtain an exposure index in vine-growing the work organization was previously analysed and all working tasks were video recorded. Then the ergonomic analysis using OCRA check-lists and NIOSH method was performed. In Tuscany the workers were submitted to a clinical examination especially finalized to study the spine and upper limb workrelated musculoskeletal disorders. Results: in vine-growing each tasks analysed showed an high risk of biomechanical overload of the upper extremities. Regarding the manual material handling in the grape-harvest, band of risk changed from yellow to green. Considering the total number of the exposed workers studied in risk assessment (no=125), only 42 of them were allowed to submit to a clinical examination by a specialist in rheumatology. The most relevant pathologies were the wrist and fingers tendinitis and the carpal tunnel syndrome. Discussion: the agricultural work certainly causes a marked risk of musculoskeletal disorders as confirmed by our study. Also considering the first results of this clinical examination it is possible to conclude that this specific working population, show a specific occupational musculoskeletal hand disease that we can perhaps call “the pruning hand”.