Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting
Introduction: Pineapple harvesting work contributes to the reporting of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and ergonomic risks. Pineapples are harvested manually in some parts of Malaysia using rattan baskets and workers are exposed to excessive bending, pain and discomfort. This intervention study deve...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia
2019
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/1/2019121207304204_MJMHS_0124.pdf |
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| author | Mezlan, Nurul Shahida Zainal Abidin, Emilia Karuppiah, Karmegam Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ismail, Noor Hassim |
| author_facet | Mezlan, Nurul Shahida Zainal Abidin, Emilia Karuppiah, Karmegam Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ismail, Noor Hassim |
| author_sort | Mezlan, Nurul Shahida |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: Pineapple harvesting work contributes to the reporting of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and ergonomic risks. Pineapples are harvested manually in some parts of Malaysia using rattan baskets and workers are exposed to excessive bending, pain and discomfort. This intervention study developed and tested a prototype of an ergonomic harvesting basket to potentially reduce discomfort and physiological workload during a simulation of harvesting activity. Methods: The development and testing of improved harvesting basket was performed in laboratory and workshop. The improved basket had adjustable cushion straps, foam back pad and an opening for unloading of fruits. Harvesting was simulated using improved and existing basket by human subjects and questionnaires were used to assess discomfort. Physiological workload was assessed by heart rate and energy expenditure. Results: A total of 12 male respondents with average age of 22.4 (2.2) years participated in harvesting simulation. Discomfort as measured in Likert scale (mean (standard deviation) for improved basket 4.13 (6.1) vs existing basket 12.26 (11.2); p<0.05) was significantly reduced. Average heart rate (94.13 beats/min vs 89.05 beats/min) and energy expenditure (6 kJ/min vs 5 kJ/min) improved. Conclusion: The use of improved basket was linked to reduction of discomfort and overall workload. Improving design of agricultural manual tools may be able to improve health of workers and prevent MSS. Future fabrication of the improved basket using lightweight materials has potential to be expanded into plantation sectors not limited to pineapples in Malaysia and across Asia. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:05:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-76431 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:05:56Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-764312020-02-04T04:52:29Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/ Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting Mezlan, Nurul Shahida Zainal Abidin, Emilia Karuppiah, Karmegam Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ismail, Noor Hassim Introduction: Pineapple harvesting work contributes to the reporting of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and ergonomic risks. Pineapples are harvested manually in some parts of Malaysia using rattan baskets and workers are exposed to excessive bending, pain and discomfort. This intervention study developed and tested a prototype of an ergonomic harvesting basket to potentially reduce discomfort and physiological workload during a simulation of harvesting activity. Methods: The development and testing of improved harvesting basket was performed in laboratory and workshop. The improved basket had adjustable cushion straps, foam back pad and an opening for unloading of fruits. Harvesting was simulated using improved and existing basket by human subjects and questionnaires were used to assess discomfort. Physiological workload was assessed by heart rate and energy expenditure. Results: A total of 12 male respondents with average age of 22.4 (2.2) years participated in harvesting simulation. Discomfort as measured in Likert scale (mean (standard deviation) for improved basket 4.13 (6.1) vs existing basket 12.26 (11.2); p<0.05) was significantly reduced. Average heart rate (94.13 beats/min vs 89.05 beats/min) and energy expenditure (6 kJ/min vs 5 kJ/min) improved. Conclusion: The use of improved basket was linked to reduction of discomfort and overall workload. Improving design of agricultural manual tools may be able to improve health of workers and prevent MSS. Future fabrication of the improved basket using lightweight materials has potential to be expanded into plantation sectors not limited to pineapples in Malaysia and across Asia. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2019 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/1/2019121207304204_MJMHS_0124.pdf Mezlan, Nurul Shahida and Zainal Abidin, Emilia and Karuppiah, Karmegam and Rasdi, Irniza and Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah and Ismail, Noor Hassim (2019) Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 15 (SP4). pp. 26-34. ISSN 1675-8544; ESSN: 2636-9346 https://medic.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/2019121207304204_MJMHS_0124.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Mezlan, Nurul Shahida Zainal Abidin, Emilia Karuppiah, Karmegam Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ismail, Noor Hassim Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| title | Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| title_full | Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| title_fullStr | Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| title_short | Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| title_sort | development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/76431/1/2019121207304204_MJMHS_0124.pdf |