Ergonomic Work Analysis at Plant Nurseries of a Portuguese Municipality

An Ergonomic Work Analysis was accomplished at plant nurseries of a Portuguese Municipality aiming at assessing the actual working conditions and the complaints presented by the workers; characterizing each task in terms of the associated MSD development risk and proposing preventive measures. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Quick Exposure Check (QEC) were the methods used to quantify the risk associated to MSDs development. Eleven tasks were analysed and assessed with both methods. The results showed that the risk of developing MSDs was present in all tasks (Risk Level >= 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the results obtained with both methods. However, an overestimation was registered in 45% and 25% of the cases assessed with REBA and QEC, respectively. These results suggest that further investigation and some adjustments are required.