ASSESSMENT OF WORKLOAD MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM OF MILKERS IN MECHANICAL MILKING THROUGH THE USE OF JOB STRAIN INDEX METHOD

During the last years, as a result of the technological development, farming started to include new solution like a machinery or other devices. However, it has also led to the emergence of new risk factors for which agricultural workers are not often well prepared. In fact, moreover to common occupational hazards, farmers can now face specific risk connected with many various tasks performed in farms. Workers in the agricultural sector are exposed to various risk factors such as manual lifting and handling loads, milking or tractor driving. Based on these circumstances the studies were conducted where the main objective was to investigate a workload during milking. The analysis was conducted on 20 farmers in their own farms during the morning and evening milking with the herringbone and carousel milking systems. The analysis of muscle load was conducted with Job Strain Index method. The JSI is a tool used to evaluate the risk level of a job for developing a disorder of the hand, wrist, forearm or elbow. The highest values of muscle tension and force were observed in the forearm muscles during the attachment of teat cups to the udder. The research shows that the milking work in the herringbone parlour generates a higher risk of problems to the musculoskeletal system of the milker.