POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR BAD LABOUR CONDITIONS IN LETTUCE AND RADISH NURSERIES.

To achieve this, the IMAG Institute of Agricultural Engineering started a major research project in coöperation with the NIPG-TNO Institute for Preventive Health Care in February 1988.

In addition to a general analysis of types of stress occurring in the various branches of agriculture, a detailed analysis was made for a risk group: those engaged in the cultivation of certain vegatables (e.g. radish and lettuce). In the first phase of this analysis the relevant critical elements were determined (Van Dieën, 'Ergonomic analysis of the cultivation of crops harvested in a single operation'). For each of the 20 critical elements found, a weighting factor was applied according to the degree of damage-risk, or rather its effect, in order to indicate priorities for its elimination.

The second phase comprised an inventory of as many solutions as possible for each critical element. This assessment was accomplished in a range of brainstorming sessions by a specialist team consisting of researchers of horticultural ergonomics and labour and mechanization experts of the General Advisory Service.

All suggestions were arranged according to their improvement potential and their feasibility. This arrangement shall support the decision-making procedures during the next phase, when improvements are actually implemented.

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