ISO/TR 23476:2021
(Main)Ergonomics — Application of ISO 11226, the ISO 11228 series and ISO/TR 12295 in the agricultural sector
Ergonomics — Application of ISO 11226, the ISO 11228 series and ISO/TR 12295 in the agricultural sector
This document is intended to be used alongside ISO/TR 12295, ISO 11226 and the ISO 11228 series in the agricultural sector. This document gives information on how existing standards can be used in a global sector such as agriculture where, albeit with different characteristics, biomechanical overload is a relevant aspect, WMSDs are common and specific preventive actions are needed. The proposed project aims to: 1) define the user(s) and fields for its application (including non-experts in ergonomics); 2) provide examples of procedures for hazard identification, risk estimation or evaluation and risk reduction in different agricultural settings, through: — more synthetic procedural schemes (main test); — more analytical explanations of the procedures, through mathematical models and application examples, also with the use of specific free simple tools, in: — Annex A (pre-mapping with ERGOCHECK); — Annex B (evaluation of Multitask risk of biomechanical overload on typical agricultural macro-cycles, considering upper limbs repetitive movements, manual lifting and carrying, pushing-pulling); — Annex C (study of awkward postures with criteria derived from the actual standards and scientific literature as TACOS method).
Titre manque
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 23476
First edition
2021-06
Ergonomics — Application of ISO
11226, the ISO 11228 series and ISO/
TR 12295 in the agricultural sector
Reference number
©
ISO 2021
© ISO 2021
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Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General outline of work processes in an annual multi-task analysis in agriculture .2
4.1 General structure of a multi-task analysis. 2
4.2 Study of tasks distribution over the year and search for groups of workers who are
homogeneous in terms of risk exposure. 3
4.2.1 General. 3
4.2.2 Macrocycle duration . 3
4.2.3 Phases and tasks identification . 4
4.2.4 Identification of the different homogeneous groups . 6
5 First levels: pre-mapping of danger and discomfort through key questions and
quick assessment . 8
5.1 Foreword . 8
5.2 The pre-mapping model . 9
6 Analytical study of work processes in annual multi-task analysis: description of a
typical working day for each month and quantitative task distribution over the year .12
6.1 General .12
6.2 Phase A – Description of a typical working day .12
6.3 Phase B – Estimation of total number of hours worked every month of the year .13
6.4 Phase C – Assignment of tasks to a homogeneous group (or individual worker)
and calculation of proportional tasks duration in each individual month .14
7 Annual multi-task risk assessment of biomechanical overload for the upper limbs .16
7.1 General .16
7.2 Phase A – Analysis of each individual task using the OCRA checklist to calculate
the intrinsic risk score and prepare the tasks basic risk evaluation for each crop .16
7.3 Phase B – Application of mathematical models and preliminary preparation of
“artificial working day” representative of the whole year and of every month of the
same year .18
8 Annual multi-task risk assessment for working postures .21
8.1 The meaning of postural tolerance .21
8.2 Analysing the tolerability of working postures for the spine when performing
manual lifting tasks, and for the upper limbs when performing repetitive
movements and manual lifting: specific International Standards .22
8.3 Analysing spinal working postures without manual load lifting and lower limb
postures (primarily static) .22
8.4 The TACOS method: contents and criteria for back and lower limb posture analysis .23
8.5 Posture analysis of a multi-task job performed on a full-time or part-time basis
with yearly job rotation .24
9 Annual multi-task risk assessment of manual material handling (MMH) and carrying .31
10 Annual multi-task risk assessment of pushing and pulling .35
11 Manual material carrying (MMC) risk assessment .38
12 Conclusions .38
Annex A (informative) Initial identification and preliminary assessment (pre-mapping)
of potential risks: criteria and presentation of a specific simple tool that allows its
application .40
Annex B (informative) Criteria and mathematical models for analysing exposure to
biomechanical overload in multitask jobs featuring complex macro-cycles (e.g.
weekly, monthly, annual turnover) .69
Annex C (informative) Criteria to evaluate working postures of the spine and lower limbs
using the TACOS strategy in daily or other macro-cycle multi-task analysis: brief
presentation .107
Bibliography .130
iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
Foreword
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electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159, Ergonomics, Subcommittee SC 3,
Anthropometry and biomechanics.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
Introduction
Agriculture is by far the biggest working sector in the world. It is estimated that 2,6 billion people or
40 % of the world's population are farmers. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous sectors in both
the developing and the developed worlds. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the
most common work-related diseases in farmers. In Europe more than 50 % of farmers report disorders
of their lower back or limbs related to their working conditions. WMSDs are caused mainly by manual
handling, heavy physical work, awkward postures and repetitive movements. Increasing attention is
being drawn to the application of practical actions in agricultural settings to help reduce work-related
accidents and illness and WMSDs in particular. ISO 11226, the ISO 11228 series and, more recently,
ISO/TR 12295 are useful for this specific scope.
Experiences in the application of these standards have been acquired in different parts of the world, but
rarely in agriculture. This document extends the scope and methods included in existing standards to
different agricultural contexts (e.g. smallholdings, industrialized farms) based on emerging application
experiences. Special attention is devoted to rendering this document accessible also to non-experts.
Reference is made to easily applicable, non-commercial online tools (simple tools in spreadsheets)
that may be useful for the purposes of this document, making possible the application of the criteria
provided here and therefore the real numerical estimate of the biomechanical overload risks.
The ISO 11228 series, ISO 11226 and ISO/TR 12295 establish ergonomic recommendations for
different manual handling tasks, repetitive movements and working postures. All their parts apply
to occupational and non-occupational activities. The standards provide information for designers,
employers, employees and others involved in work, job and product design, such as occupational health
and safety professionals.
ISO 11228 series consists of the following parts, under the general title Ergonomics — Manual handling:
— Part 1: Lifting and carrying;
— Part 2: Pushing and pulling;
— Part 3: Handling of low loads at high frequency.
ISO 11226 provides recommended limits for static working postures with no or minimal external force
exertion, while taking into account body angles and duration.
ISO/TR 12295 serves as an application guide of the ISO 11228 series and ISO 11226. It offers a simple
risk assessment methodology for small and medium enterprises and for non-professional active.
This document is intended to be used alongside ISO/TR 12295, ISO 11226 and the ISO 11228 series in
the agricultural sector, where the risk from biomechanical work overload from repetitive movements,
from manual handling of loads, from towing and pushing carts and awkward postures is universally
present.
In addition to having deeply used the standards previously mentioned, an extensive review of the
literature on methods for risk assessment of biomechanical overload applied in the agricultural setting
for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) has been conducted, of which the most salient
data are reported.
Regarding crop production (not cattle), the assessment of biomechanical exposures at work results in
800 studies where 58 studies were selected on the basis of title and abstract.
...
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