REBA Method Posture Analysis in Saffron Pickers in Gonabad

Saffron flower picking due to its position on the ground not only causes awkward body postures such as bending, kneeling and crawling but also is a routine job full of physical stress which inevitably leads to muscular and skeletal deformities in farmers’ body. We decided to do posture assessment in these persons while working to determine the posture hazard level and later recommend suitable correcting actions regarding MSDs control and prevention. 150 saffron pickers were selected for this descriptive and analytic study in farms in Gonabad. Sampling method was quotal and nonprobable. The instruments were a digital camera and a REBA posture assessment chart. We took photographs of all parts of body that were marked in REBA chart of all saffron pickers. Then, we coded all of the parts of body (trunk, neck, arm, forearm, foot, and wrist) based on their positions and according to REBA method. Later, REBA scores (A, B and Ground scores) were calculated from A, B, and C tables. Afterwards, these calculated data were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that A score were 6 in 9.3% of the cases, 7 in 50%, 8 in 38% and 9 in 2.7%. B score were 2 in 0.7%, 3 in 2%, 4 in 10%, 5 in 50.7%, 6 in 26%, 7 in 8.7% and 8 in 2%. Grand score were 8 in 0.7%, 9 in 3.3%, 10 in 11.3%, 11 in 49.3% and 12 in 35.3%. According to the findings, Grand score is over 11 in 84.6% of the cases whose hazard levels were very high and their scale is 4 for the purpose of correcting action priority. This means that it is necessary to take immediate action for the proper posture. Also, MSDs risks were very high. Grand score is 8-10 in 49.3% of the cases. This indicates that their hazard levels were high and it is necessary to take immediate action. If the person sits on an object while working, this action can decrease the angles of trunk (it is between 20-30 degrees), knee (it is more than 60 degrees) and neck (it is more than 20 degrees) until Grand score and risk level decreases. Moreover, it is necessary to teach appropriate body postures to the farmers. Consequently, these actions can prevent the MSDs risk.